Get in, Get it Done, Get Out

As a young player, I always wanted to practice. I was always up for playing catch, taking hundreds of swings, throwing long bullpens, etc. I had a drive to get better and thought this was the way to do it. If the older me could give the younger me a piece of advice, it would be this: get a life! Getting better isn’t a function of how much work you put in; it’s a function of how much good work you put in. It isn’t about the hours spent at the field, at the gym, etc. Long hours lead to diminishing returns. Getting better and maximizing talent is best achieved by getting, practicing with a purpose and getting out. We are currently at the start of Spring Training, a time when fans inevitably comment on players who are leaving the facility in the early afternoon to go play 18 holes or spend time with their family. What most fans don’t realize is that these players are intensely focused on getting quality work in and once complete, leaving. They know exactly what they want to accomplish on a particular day, in a particular session of BP, infield or throwing a pen/PFP. Their focus (again, practicing with a purpose) allows them to finish their daily work and at that point, they’re done. Taking an extra 50 swings or throwing an extra 50 pitches would actually be bad for them, not good. I’m a firm believer that this idea should carry through down to the youth levels. I have seen far too many kids spend hours and hours at a facility or field but not be able to answer one simple question: what specifically are you working on today? It is our job as parents and coaches to help the kids come up with a plan and to be there for them, but the burden of practicing with a purpose falls to the player. Checking a box by saying “I hit today” or “I lifted today” is great if you’re trying to stay healthy but virtually useless if you’re trying to maximize your ability. If you don’t have a specific goal, and you are not making progress, it’s no longer “training”, it’s just “exercise” The “purpose” will vary depending on age and ability level, but should always be specific. The tee ball player’s infield practice may be as simple as “I want to catch five throws in a row and make five good throws in a row”, while a high level high school pitcher’s might consist of working on throwing an 0-2 slider at a left handed hitter’s back foot (important note: at almost every level, there should be an element of competitiveness and fun to every single drill and practice as a whole. We adults are here to make kids love and enjoy the game, not to make it feel like doing homework or eating vegetables). In summary, coaches and players should have a clear plan for practice and should understand and compete with themselves in every drill. Without doing so, you’re simply checking the box and if so, don’t be surprised by the results or lack of results.