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Reply to "Private Lessons: Help or Hindrance"

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hsballcoach...

Thanks...and I really could relate to this...

quote:
...become very analytical in their swing and pitching mechanics to the point that they cannot let their own athleticism take over and execute what they have learned. They become robots that over think constantly and freeze in situations where they need to perform, rather than think about their mechanics. I think that these kids develop a bad habit of always thinking about the mechanics of the swing every time they have a bat in their hands instead of letting a learned swing work for you.


The good ones (coaches/instructors) see the long term picture...results in games. They understand exactly what to tweak, how much it will impact a player, how long it will likley take to make an adjustment become second nature and then work diligently to integrate technical changes so that they benefit not hinder. It's easy to give a pat "dogmatic" instruction...much tougher, much more long term, and much more skill and experience required to see that change through to continued game day success.

For me when a player is thinking, or mechanical, He is simply letting me know that he does not "own" the skill...yet. Only renting it. In practice he may even have it, but presssure makes fools of us all. For me once a player can "get it" technically in practice, then it is my job to get him reps, and pressure, and my faith until it is second nature.

My experience is that there is a predictable a process of development...Learn the technical details....repetitions with some thought until there is no thinking involved...then test the skill, through pressure/speed until you make the skill break down...then a review of the techincal...more repetitions until there is no thinking involved...then testing once more through higher pressure/speed. This process is repeated over...and over...and over with increasing pressure and speed until the skill is no longer rented, but owned. Tempering.

The wild card in the process is how long such a process will take to complete. I have found that the better the athlete the quicker the change. I found that I was a genius with better athletes as they could adjust quickly. But I also found that my greatest success/satisfaction and admiration for athletes came for those kids who had less talent and worked long and hard without quick results, requiring blind faith in themselves and me...before finally seeing results. Alchemy, Gold out of straw...simply magic for both of us.

High school coaching and player development is not an easy proposition...particularly now. Players are getting advice from parents, hired coaches, travel team coaches, websites....expectations are off the charts...and they demand and expect instant success. My guess is that the players you are seeing are too wrapped up in the technical end, perhaps from multiple sources...and putting too much emphasis/faith on too many technical details and not enough on the second, harder, half of the process...work, diligence, focus, faith, sweat.

I am not at all against private lessons...but they are only a single misunderstood piece in a much bigger puzzle.

Cool 44
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Last edited by observer44
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