An interesting topic came up a few times(GOOD THING!) during the first two weeks of Fall Ball. I wrote a few email responses regarding the topic and I kept repeating 3 questions to myself that I wanted to answer.
1. Did being one of the best players playing with kids my age & younger in little league hurt my baseball development?
2. What plays the biggest roles in development of young baseball/softball players?
3. What am I doing as a Fall League Director and with my business to help these players?
Because of this,I decided to make this a topic on the blog. Maybe others think about similar questions?
Each year, this quote is brought to my attention by a number of parents.
"My son/daughter is one of the best players on his/her team and I want to make sure he is being challenged in the division we signed up for."
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BEFORE READING ON:
LET ME BE CLEAR - I THINK THIS IS A GOOD, HONEST QUESTION WITH ONLY GOOD INTENTIONS. IN WRITING THIS, IT IS NOT TO TALK IN A NEGATIVE TONE BUT TO SHARE MY UNDERSTANDING WITH THE QUESTION AND MY THOUGHTS TALKING AS A FORMER COLLEGE PLAYER, HIGH SCHOOL COACH AND AS A BUSINESS OWNER.
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My first thought when I was asked that question:
I was that son/daughter growing up playing in my local park district. I need to ask myself then, Did that fact hurt my development as a baseball player?
My first thought when I asked myself that question:
I played with kids in my same age division from T-Ball through 8th grade.
AND
I have had great baseball successes as a player and in my professional career. Professionally, I am an Associate Scout for the Florida Marlins, I work with their Major League Hitting Coach and am the Sophomore Head Coach for Prospect High School. In my playing career, I own all time school records at my high school while playing on varisty 4 years; went to the State Finals for American Legion 3 years in a row; received college scholarships to play college baseball at two university's and was an All American during that time. (I am not trying to blow my own horn in any way, I felt it fits with what I am trying to say. If you think I am, let me be the first to say that I am not that awesome.)
My feeling about the little league player:
Growing up, my father was Lake Zurich Varsity Baseball Coach. By age 3, I was the team’s batboy and soaking up every move his players made, trying and trying to immolate them. Needless to say, I was immersed in the game of baseball right away.
Once it was time to play baseball in the Arlington Hts. Park District, because of my great experience, I was always one of the best players in the divisions that I played. It was tough at times not feeling as challenged in each game as when I was with my Dad’s High School team. But I can honestly say, I loved every minute of it!
Looking back now, the reasons for that love as a youth was:
1. The beauty of the game is that there is so much to be learned, even against the most average competition. It is the world's best chess game. It forces you to deal with, and learn from your failures. I teaches you how to work as a team with different people, personalities and abilities. Allows for the chance to make new friends each year.
2. Any baseball, against any ability level was fun to me. Sorry for quoting Happy Gillmore but, baseball was my happy place. If it started to get boring I just made up different games, goals and challenges.
3. Games were fun with friends but my real education came playing catch in the backyard with my Dad; daily swings off of a tee into a net in my garage; endless home run derby sessions with best friends; whiffle ball games in the neighborhood; watching thousands of baseball games (too many Cubs losses!);trying to copying everything Cal Ripken Jr. did.
Finally getting that Challenge in High School and College playing with guys 4-5 years older:
I got the challenge mentioned in the original question. When I made it to high school I was moved up to varsity as a freshman with guys that were 18. I then played in college as a freshman with adults 5(23) years older than me.
What you learn from it:
Reflecting on that playing experience and now as a high school coach, you come to realize that your development doesn’t come from the structured games within a league, park district or age division. It comes from what you do on your own and how much joy it brings you. (i.e.,Watching hundreds of games on tv and in person, playing catch in the backyard, going to the park and playing pick up games against the older kids in your neighborhood, playing whiffle ball, pickle, home run derby.)That is what advances skills the most – repetition and trial and error. The structured games are for fun and a place to learn about games situations that only happen when playing in an actual game.
Final words on my Park District experience:
My only goal growing up was to be the Shortstop of the Chicago Cubs. Even after all my hard work and endless hours of training, it didn't happen. At 28 years old, I have no idea where any of the trophies that I won are and I could not tell you my teams record as an 8th grader. But what I can tell you, is that I got something much more lasting out of playing in my local park district with different kids in my age group. I met 3 of my best friends, who stood up at my wedding, on my 6th grade baseball team. That is what I received from my local park district!
Co-Directing a League and running a business:
All said, I know games are everything at a young age and that is the main purpose for signing up for the Fall League. But I will be giving your son/daughter a training session, as well as giving 3 different baseball fundamental clinics to go to. They will offer a chance to learn the advanced skills one would hope to obtain when signing up for this league.
Other Programs:
Also, I have created a COACHES CORNER -(http://pastimeathletics.sports.officelive.com/testpage1.aspx , a BASEBALL FUN ZONE - http://pastimeathletics.sports.officelive.com/funzone.aspx , a COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM - http://pastimeathletics.sports.officelive.com/CommunityService.aspx as well as other things, to make this a special program about is more than the 1:40 minutes of game time each Saturday. I want to give each player the chance to become a better player and person with this MPPD Fall League.
At the team training sessions, if you would be kind enough to come up and introduce yourselves to me, I can make sure I give some challenging things to work on. That way they can use the Fall games to work on fundamentals that won’t be influenced by the talent level on the field. Parents, who want the very best for their sons/daughters have helped me create this business and give me a reason to keep getting better.
My Business’s Goals are: http://pastimeathletics.sports.officelive.com/aboutus.aspx
1. Introduction to sport in a fun and educational manner.
2. Expose students to advanced teaching techniques / tools by offering high end training.
3. Promote and support Park Districts with the goal of keeping the kids in their community in their programs.
4. Offer affordable pricing to include everyone.
Ultimately, in the same Fall League division, I want to be able to take care of the parent who says they want their son to join a baseball league for the first time (get them to start playing the great game of baseball) But also be able to take care of the parent who asks to make sure that their son’s skills advance while playing with kids of different ability levels (knowing they have a passion for the game and wanting it to stay that way)
What do those reading this think? Did something that I said resonate with you? Did anyone else have any similar experiences?
Trevor Stocking
trevor@pastimeathletics.com
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Coaches Corner
This website is dedicated to all coaches, parents and players looking to further educate themselves on the proper fundamentals of the game. Growing up, I was always looking to learn more about the game. I tried to find some of the best and brightest minds in the game to listen and learn from. I have been blessed to learn from my Varsity Baseball Coach Father, Major League Coaches, Major League Scouts, Hall of Fame Coaches, College World Series School Coaches and more. I am still trying to learn more about the game as a High School Baseball Coach and Associate Scout and will not say that I am the end all in the fundamentals of the game. I will try to bring some of the knowledge aquired from my years of studying under some of the best teachers in the game into these instructional videos. I hope this can stimulate some of the passion for learning the game that was instilled in me at a young age.
Copy and Paste link to go to the COACHES CORNER - http://pastimeathletics.sports.officelive.com/testpage1.aspx
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
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