Where do players get their skill from?

With one and out in the State tournament, luck is as big a factor as anything.

Put the ball in play and make a high school kid make a play...and, anything can and will happen.

Lots of teams with big reps have gone on to play in the State tournament only to come home with nothing.

Let's not forget rainouts. No offense to Bradley but a couple years back, they would not have won it if it hadn't been for the rain letting them get their stud pitcher in the final game. Again, no knock on their accomplishment because they got it done when it mattered.

I have been on the staff of 2 state champs and a state runner up. We once won 64 games in a row. Not one kid took professional lessons. I think beenthereil can make a good point for luck but I have always felt that luck was opportunity waiting for a place to happen. We speak in terms of one great hit, one great pitch, one great play and you can go. However, you have to do that every game of the state run.

When it all comes down to the basics, it is who has practiced the fundamentals the most seeking improvement in every facet of the game each and every time they practice. It is practicing for a purpose. In practice, "ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS EVERYTHING." Next you have to factor in the kids. It takes an entire team to win state. The kids on the bench have to be able to contribue in various ways. An example would be the backup catcher. He has to be able to go into the game at any point and contribue while also accepting the drudgery of bullpen work. As much as any other factor, the mental toughness of the team will determine success. That is something that can't be coached and is inherit in the players. Winning state is never easy. When you do it, it is a feeling like you can never imagine.

"There comes a time when you have to stop dreaming of the man you want to be and start being the man you have become." Bruce Springsteen

1. Genetics
2. Hard Work
3. Excepting Challenges
4. High School Baseball Coaches
5. Parents
6. Lessons (Fox Valley, Grand Slam.)
13. Travel Coaches

The Question was,What makes a highshcool team a winner! Not what makes a player good ?right?
1 A good hs varsity coach who has the entire program's frosh,soph, with his philosphy,
2.Good freshman and Soph coaches help alot,not just teacher's who are doing it for the money.
3.Good feeder programs like Bronco and pony and travel team's.Three that come to mind are the Oak Park system in house Bronco and Pony league and their coaches are very dedicated. The Praire Gravel travel run by Sam Sorce has helped LT; and the Travel team run by Mr Bocian, I think called the Wolves. And the Lombard lightning travel team ,which i think had 8 starter's in the line up for Glenbard East best season in a long time. Don't get me wrong iam not slighting Norwood or Top tier,but they dont have a team made up of mostly kids from the same highschool. I feel player's playing together from the same hs is very important for the hs program. But I do feel Travel baseball is much better baseball than the hs summer program until the summer play offs which is very good.
4. I think parent's support is very important too, if you have them on your side as a coach it seams the kids then are more intune with the progam.
5. Lesson's I think can help because the hs coach just doesnt have the time to help all player's, he has to get the team concept, and the player's to play as a team, and get the pitching going, if done right I think lesson's can be a plus, just so the instructor's are not teaching opposite of the hs coach,and then the player telling the hs coach will this is what my instructor is saying, That's not good !Cause the hs coach make's out the lineup.lol!

One cannot under estimate the importance of feeder programs a good little league can do a lot. I also I do agree with Reece genetics is as important as anything else, if your good, your going to be good no matter how many lessons you take, they just may help you be even better.

How old are you people talking about LL and PONY feeder programs?? Those days are gone! No LL or PONY program can prepare your son for HS and beyond like a top notch travel program. I'm 56 so you fellows are either ancient or out of touch.

I disagree soxnole in Baberuth baseball at 13 the kids play on a regulation field" 90'bases and 60'6" mound to home plate"so before they get into highschool they have a season of playing on a regulation field ,not so with many travel teams, LL or Pony ball leaguesat that age.So kids in Baberuth are not in awe of the distances in highschool as other kids are coming into the freshman year.Correct me if I'm wrong on those distances.Also for a lot of kids who join travel ball programs at a early age there is too much Daddy ball being played instead of developing those ball players who are not as talented and others. Besides There is great joy when watching a kid who all year long has struggled at the plate,yet work hard in Practice, put it all together midway thru the season and get a line drive up the middle and see him round first and look into the dugout with the widest grin and look to everyone to have grow an inch.Those are memories that will last a life time for some of these kids and their parents.Now isn't that what the game is all about?Granted after 13 or 14 travel ball for those players who are good enough is probably the way to go.But until then let all the kids play and teach them the game at a pace they can learn and enjoy.

My focus was on the coaching at youth leauge age no matter if it be a travling team or a house league team. Just a thought on this while I will agree that travel teams can do a lot for kids that are close to high school ages say 12-14, I think that having younger kids say 9-11 play 60-70 travel games can destroy a kid's love for baseball (in fact I've seen it happen). Also at that age a kid that simply is bigger and stronger than the other kids will be a dominating player (by the team he is 14 and trys out for the freshman team he might get cut, again I've seen it). So in conculsion key thing is coaches teaching skills from a young age and also teaching kids a love for the game.

hsdad, You have it all wrong about bradley. Their top pitcher who had 17 wins did not throw in the championship game. The pitcher that pitched the championship game was a soph.

Daddy ball is close..... Kids at a young age and I mean young,
need to start playing ball. Get them interested first, make it fun (keep it fun). Dads moms ,family or friend someone has to
spend alot of good old fashin quality time playing catch in the back yard.

Ballfan,

Was the pitcher Kyle Arthur?

yes it was Klye Arthur. The kid who was the ace went to Army I think or one of the academies to play football. I scouted him the game before the championship and this kid could flat out pitch. I think he had 17 wins that year. I must wonder how many innings this poor kid pitched. Maybe too many and that is why he is playing football.

I saw him pitch last year at the end of the season and he was really off, it probably was from over pitching. We bounced him out of the game in the first inning. My oldest son hit the same wall at the end of last year, just in time for sectionals.

Where do players get their skill from?

Hard work. Kind and loving parents.

I know of a high school coach who just finished a 10-0 season in basketball...didn't have the tallest kids, nor the best of the best per se...

his players always say, "Coach tells us to keep improving at each practice and to stay focused."

And the word "team" has been key in their efforts..when they get ahead in a game, and the bench is in the game (although this bench is a good as the first group)....no showboating...they pass the ball to those players to get them into the action...it's about the group...not just one player.

my kinda game...to watch...

I consider "team skill" as that which is "untapped" - a reservoir of energy waiting for the right time and place for luck to fall into place...

so that we can call it skill.

short seasons in texas? heh heh !

??...soxnole?

hey tex, just wondering about a 10 game bball season. sounds like the season ended in dec.

oh...sorry for the confusing statement...season for basketball began in December...they're still playing...won the area game just tonight...so I think they're like 30-8...all toll...

not a short season...just a small 3A district...only 6 schools compete in district play...

they're in the playoffs...

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