"IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE"
What is not that simple?
These words really need To Challenge
Those Who Want to Sound Brilliant.
I am a big believer that
Simplicity is the key to brilliance.
I have repeated this over and over
but the internet guru's want to tell
us it's just not that simple.
ENTER VINNY PAZIENZA -
The boxers life is now on display
in a movie.
This weekend I saw the movie
"Bleed For This" which is the story
of Vinny Pazienza and his incredible
comeback from near death and near paralysis.
Of course it was the last minute of the movie jumped out at
me the most. So much I am writing about it
today.
A reporter asks him about the dirty business
of boxing. Specifically the reporter asks Vinny.....
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST LIE HE WAS EVER
TOLD IN HIS PROFESSION?
Vinny Replies - "It's Not That Simple".
The reporter not understanding - Asks him to clarify
what he means by that. What's not that simple?
Vinny Then Replies - "Thats it!
The lie was I was constantly told -
"it's not that simple".
People kept telling me - Vinny,
it's not that simple.
Why?
"It's how they get you to give up."
Exactly Vinny. You couldn't possibly
Be Great with Simplicity. At least that's
what the Guru's want us to believe.
I think we can draw on many lessons
from this. I choose to apply this specifically
to baseball training and development.
ARE YOU TRYING TO SIMPLIFY YET
TO HAVE SOMEONE NEAR YOU
CONSTANTLY REMINDING YOU...
IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE?
Simplistic Baseball Training
Begins and Ends With one
simple word -
"INTENT"
Even I believe that having the intent
to hit the ball hard with good flight
is only step 1. Players need to have
specific intent, clarity of intent, and be committed
100% to the intent.
The reason
why you practice is so you can work on the
intent and adjusting from failing results to
positive results. Those who know me will say, Coach Ryan
is all about intent.
But - We do work on technique. We spend
a lot of time on technique.
So the question is......WHY?
Why do we work on technique?
The drill work or technique work
is an effort to make the player
more efficient improving precision,
and consistency of results.
For some that will mean improved
performance with the least amount
of effort. For us, it simply means
a connected throwing or hitting motion.
Body parts working together instead
of against each other.
At Fastball USA we work a lot on
technique and efficiency but
for different reasons
than most.
Read Closely -
We work on technique and efficiency in order
to get the player to a point in which he can
spend more training time while working on intent.
Yes- In my world the more efficient you get
the more time you can spend on the intent
of your practice. It's so simple - It's brilliant.
The more time we can work on intent, the more
game ready we can become. Intent allows the
brain to tell the body what to do. It practices
clarity of intent, commitment of intent, and having
a very narrow intent.
We also identify that the right intent is different
for every player. It also allows you to practice in
game like environments.
It allows you to spend more time on the battle. Competitive
practicing. Creating a sense of anxiety that comes
with the game. The true path of a Fastball USA student works on efficiency
combined with intent.
The better the efficiency gets, we get
to spend more and more time on intent.
Efficiency is what people refer to as mechanics. The better
the efficiency/mechanics the more time we can spend on intent.
The goal - Get to a point in which mechanical work is simply
maintenance work. It's to reinforce good mechanics but it
becomes the minority of our work.
Then have intent driven training drive
the environment.
So the question is for you?
1. How much time do you spend on "mechanics"
2. How much time to you spend on "intent"
3. Does the % change based on the time of year OR
are you constantly stuck on mechanics? or stuck only on intent?
4. Does each player have a clear concept of the 1,2 or 3 things they
will work on to improve efficiency to get Connected?
5. What is the plan? How will mechanical work and intent improve efficiency?
6. How does the plan get you game ready? Physically and mentally?
Caution -
1. Don't get caught in the year long mechanics trap.
This means the mechanical stuff you work on in the off-season is exactly
the same in-season. Same problems. Same Corrections.
In my opinion, if you still have mechanical problems during the season, you
probably did not work hard enough, focus enough in the off-season. Either that
or you were led down the wrong path.
2. Don't get caught NOT paying attention to the results. The training results-Game Results - Should drive your work. Too many lessons, instruction, get so caught up on the process that they don't pay attention to the results. They simply HOPE the process
fixes the results. * In Training - Objectively measure (This is tied to intent)
Pay attention to the results and practice making adjustments. 3. Be prepared if you're in a intent driven environment with little direction on technique it can work but....A. Be Prepared for a lot more trial and error (This means you have to practice more)
B. Be Prepared for possibly a lack of efficiency (Work harder for results)
C. Be Prepared for the critics - They will tell you "It's not that simple".
Simply Put -
Measure yourself on the following as a hitter -
Did I hit the ball hard? (This is hands down most important)
Did I hit the ball with good flight? (This is hands down slightly secondary)
Then - How often do you hit the ball hard with good flight?A. In practice (How often) what %
B. In Game (How often) what %
If you're technique is great but you lack the ability to consistently
hit a baseball hard in a game and create good flight then what's
the point?
Simplify your training. Work hard and work smart. Stay committed to what you're doing.
Always be clear with what the intent is on every single rep.
It's complicated if you allow it to be complicated.
It's simplistic if you allow it to be simplistic.
Coach Ryan
www.fastballusa.com
224-209-7547
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Upcoming Events At Fastbal USA
Explosive Hitting Boot Camp Dec 16-18
Explosive Hitting Boot Camp Dec 27-28
Ron Wolforth Pitching Camp Jan 27,28,29
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