In the past Most Valuable Player organized a team of players from all over the country to participate in the USA Baseball National Tournament [formerly Junior Olympics]. My main purpose is for each player is to walk away realizing the game of baseball is, “An Individual Sport in a Team Concept!”
Too many players today never realize the importance or understand the value of their individual play versus focusing on playing as a team. In fact some players never figure it out, while others seem to wait [not by choice] to find out after they get into college or are drafted and waiting their turn in the minor leagues. Most of the time this is too late, or because of their inability to adjust they give up the game. Truth be told, the game, either because of performance or lack of playing time lets them know, it is time to move on.
Seeing those kids who figured it out it what makes me happy! Some say the smart ones, but I believe it is the ones who take a deep breath, restructure their thinking, and realize they make their team better if they play better. A mentor of mine, who just happened to follow his degree from MIT with a MBA from Harvard, described being smart as, “knowing what you do not know!”
I AGREE!
However admitting you don’t know something, especially about the game you are playing is a tough pill to swallow, but improving your game when you are younger, when less is on the line, makes the most sense. Waiting until College or Professional baseball … may be too late. A variation of the FRAM Oil Filter commercial, “Learn it now, or Magnify Your Weaknesses Later!” The clock is ticking.
At some point, failure to fix a weakness will become an issue. A issue or issues that just may keep you out of the line up. Reality and our own ego tends to become that tough Pill, and sometimes our own Pride weakens our desire to keep working hard. We give up. Not because we are not talented, but earlier in their career, when we had the time and the desire, we never took the time to identify what they didn’t know.
At the same time recognize this game is no different than the majority of things we deal with in life. The little things prevent us from getting what we want, so identify those little things. All we need to do is recognize being GOOD eliminates the little things, and when we are good we play at the highest level. Simple – BE GOOD!
So if you want to find out what it takes for You to be GOOD, then I recommend you have your game evaluated once a year. An evaluation filled with constructive criticism to identify fixable flaws, and organize simple drills to reduce the weaknesses. Then it becomes your job to take the knowledge you gain from the evaluation and make it your own. Result, you become GOOD.
When you are GOOD your team becomes Better.
If you need help finding the right person to evaluate your son, Most Valuable Player will certainly assist you.
Until next Blog,
Al McCormick
