I just copied this from another thread because it's something I've really been puzzling over myself, as a coach, the last year or so.....
"I know parents that have spent a FORTUNE on their kids starting at age 8 for lessons, travel teams, etc, etc, and now are forking out thousands more for showcase ball, and their kids are mediocre ballplayers AT BEST." (with acknowledgment to go3)
This is so true, and it's not easy to understand. Even over here, abroad, I see the same thing and it does impact me as a HS coach living in a very small community. A 'club' sprang up on base about 3-4 years ago. They have the kids out practicing a lot, most of the year......and yet, the kids they turn out are not wizards of the diamond by any means. It's uncomfortable to me when I have to cut some of their proteges, because THEY don't understand it ("What do you mean he cut so-and-so, that kid's worked out with us for two years!"), the kids' parents don't understand it....anyway, it's so often true that some kids can practice harder than anyone else and still turn out mediocre or quite simply unplayable at the HS level.
I think it proves that baseball is THEE most skill-set heavy sport there is. You just can't fake it out there. The player who wants to play at ongoing levels MUST have athletic skill to include things that go on in the brain itself (proprioception, balance, a good mix of fast-twitch and slow-twitch connectivity, 'instinct', etc) - basically the right kind of brain chemistry and neural network - AND physicality - to play the game well.
Any other thoughts?
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