I am constantly challenging
our current ways of development
and always looking to improve them.
Today I wrote out what I
believe is our the top 10 things
that drive our players success
At Fastball USA.
The secret.
The magic.
What works.
Among that top 10 was one crucial trait.
Mindset. Although mindset
is a general term, I will describe
it like this.
If you're kid is going to be great
he has to have the mindset.
The Aggressive Mindset
You can't be great WITHOUT aggressiveness
in sports. All the lessons, and all the technique
work does not FIX aggressiveness.
The great player
When he makes mistakes they
are super aggressive mistakes.
When he has success it is because
he is also super aggressive. They go together.
In fact if you look around the field
or the court you can quickly spot the
best 1 or 2 players on every team in every sport.
They are the most aggressive players on the field or court.
It's NOT technique that makes them
special. Being aggressive is what
makes them special.
Let's face it -
Sport does not favor the timid.
So the question is......
Why isn't your player more aggressive?
ONE WORD...... FEAR
* Fear of Failure
* Fear of Looking Stupid
* Fear The Coach/Parent will get upset
* Fear of the physical aspects Of the Game
FEAR is what sucks away a players
aggressiveness the most.
Great players are not worried about failure
Great players are willing to look stupid.
Great players are NOT worried about pleasing the coach/parent.
Great players are NOT worried about physical injury.
My Advice To Our Fastball Teams and Students:
If you're NOT willing to look stupid you're
NOT willing to be great.
Think about that. Are you reinforcing this
concept as a parent or coach or ARE YOU
KILLING THE AGGRESSIVENESS ??
What can a coach or parent do?
I do believe as coaches and parents
we can fuel the fire of an aggressive mindset.
Reward and encourage aggressive mistakes.
When a player makes a mistake that is aggressive
he should receive praise the aggressive approach.
Parents/Coaches Don't Be Over Critical
Being over critical on mistakes, only makes
the player more interested in pleasing the coach
or parent. THE SAME COULD BE SAID FOR A PLAYER
WHO IS SO FOCUSED ON JUST LOOKING PERFECT.
If the player is making non-aggressive mistakes than you need
to reinforce this concept. NON aggressive mistakes is clown like.
This applies to every phase of the game.
Create the environment for your team, or your kid
THAT IS willing to look stupid. Make getting him
in this type of environment a HIGH PRIORITY.
MANY PARENTS CHASE THE BEST TRAVEL TEAMS (BY WIN - LOSE RECORD)
OR CHASE SCHOLARSHIPS. CHASE ENVIRONMENT.
Even if your coaches are the greatest brains in the history
of baseball, environment is what will determine his development.
Before you or your kids coaches start looking for perfection keep in mind:
1. Nobody walked more players in the history
of baseball than Nolan Ryan. (Also had the most K's)
2. Nobody was caught stealing more than Ricky Henderson.
(Also had the most stolen bases)
3. Nobody made more outs in baseball than Pete Rose
(Also had the most hits)
4. Nobody struck out more than Reggie Jackson.
(Also hit 563 home runs - Hall Of Fame)
Remember this the next you correct your kid for not
throwing strikes, or NOT making contact.
The greatest players fail far more often than they succeed.
Mindset is far and away the most important trait. You can
take an aggressive athlete and make him better.
You can't make a player better without getting him first
to be aggressive.
If anything help guide him through making adjustments
while staying aggressive. MAKE LESS MISTAKES BY STAYING
AGGRESSIVE AND LEARNING FROM FAILURE.
ABOVE EVERYTHING....
Mindset Matters.
Coach Ryan
www.fastballusa.com
