What Separates Players at Different Levels?

Quote Of The Week

“Efficiency is doing better what is already being done.” - Peter Drucker

Newsletter Of The Week

In the world of sports, particularly baseball, the distinctions between college, professional, and big league players might seem minimal at first glance. It’s easy to assume that size, athleticism, mental confidence, or hard work are the deciding factors, but the truth is more nuanced.

Breaking Down the Myths

- Size and Athleticism: At the college, pro, and big league levels, athletes are uniformly big, strong, and athletic.

- Confidence: Most players possess high levels of self-belief and confidence.

- Work Ethic: A relentless work ethic is a common trait. Players wouldn’t reach these levels without it. Interestingly, some of the best players, like Barry Bonds, known as one of the greatest hitters, were not necessarily the hardest workers at every practice session. Bonds famously took naps during team batting practice.

These observations might challenge popular views on career success, but they highlight a deeper understanding of what truly matters.

Key Reasons for Career Outcomes

Players’ careers are often determined by a few critical factors:

1. Elite Movement in Swinging and Throwing

- Many athletes struggle with lifelong bad habits formed over 15-20 years and thousands of repetitions performed incorrectly. These habits can be nearly impossible to break, affecting their performance at higher levels.

2. Efficient and Effective Work

- Beyond hard work, the focus should be on efficient work that addresses what truly matters. Much energy can be wasted on poor mechanics and a lack of understanding about necessary adjustments. This is where elite development plays a crucial role.

3. Maintaining a Healthy Perspective

- It’s easy for athletes to get consumed by their identity within the game, creating undue pressure. This can negatively impact mental health and performance. The greats manage to separate their sense of self from the game, seeing it for what it is. This detachment allows them to stay relaxed, make proper adjustments, and excel in life, training, and performance.

Tip Of The Week

Most three important words for this week should be “do it now.” Lets work hard to be better at procrastinating task this week. Many of us know, when we put things off, we end up rushing to get them done at the very last second. When we are faced with a task, let’s do our best this week to “do it now.”

“The U“ Updates

The U will be changing the structure of private lesson packages. We are getting away from offering a 4 private lesson package. We will be going to a 3 lesson package, a 6 lesson package, and a 9 lesson package. You get a better discount per lesson the bigger package you buy!