I Don’t Care if you Win This Weekend

Kids and parents are often surprised when they begin working with me for the first time. I say, “I don’t care if you win this weekend’s tournament or your next varsity game. I am preparing you for your long term goals.” Why do I say that? We see far too many people making poor choices in search of instant gratification.

Recently one of my high school sophomores came to a session and was excited to tell me that she was leading the nation in no-hitters on the varsity level. She was number one in the nation and she is just a high school sophomore. I stood there with my arms folded. She did not hesitate or wait for praise, but simply asked if that meant she was on track. When she did that, I smiled and gave her a high-five. I love the way she thinks.
That may seem like a strange relationship, but you have to understand our background. This kid has high goals. She wants to lead her college team to the College World Series someday. I have worked with five CWS pitchers in recent years so I know how incredibly hard that can be. As soon as this kid began having those dreams, we started training her in that way. If she is doing the right things, and has the right attitude to be a World Series pitcher, then obviously she will get a lot of no-hitters in high school. That is just a step along the way. It is when a kid, or her parents, get consumed with the “here and now” that the future becomes fragile.
Recently a parent contacted me about a college bound pitcher from another state. A video of her pitching showed big issues with her form, and these are leading to significant injuries that require medical treatment. I was taken aback by her parents’ hesitation to fix these. Their biggest concern was whether any changes we suggest might affect her pitching in the next weekend’s tournament. Nothing could make me lose interest more quickly than such a short-sighted approach.
Okay, the short answer to their question is YES, I hope it affects her on the short-term. Isn’t that the goal? If we do not change her movement patterns her college career is in jeopardy. She has some important things to learn. This quick conversation with the parents revealed three things to me that were not encouraging.
1-They have told me that she has been receiving very poor instruction which resulted in injury and they never thought to ask questions.
2-They just told me that they are so concerned about short term success that they will sacrifice her long term health for it.
3-And, they just told me that they have no concept of steady progress and the importance of process. Basically they were in denial and wanted someone to give them affirmation. Now, which of those things do I want in a student and her parents?
When we get a kid with college dreams, the first thing I tell them is that we are going to change their training. Our focus is on preparing them to succeed in college. Everything we do will be measured by that standard. Oh, yes, she will probably win a state championship for her high school or a national qualifier for her travel ball team. Those are the result of planning for bigger things. But, if she cannot look down the road, begin disciplining herself for bigger things, and prepare for the physical and mental demands that come with D1 competition, maybe we are not a good match.
I am looking for something more in the kids I teach and in their parents. If I find that “something more” you can bet I will not sleep until, together, we reach the goals she has set for herself.