Development from a coach moves a person from dependence to interdependence and independence. Development is the process of bringing out the capabilities and possibilities of a person. Tragically, in the baseball world, development starts with the effort (work hard). Instead, it should start with an assessment to determine the learning style of each hitter, his personality as well as his physical, mental and emotional strength.
Before the word coach was used in the context of sports, it was reserved strictly for transportation. There was a horse, a coachman (who controlled the horse) and a coach where the passengers rested. A coach took you to where you were supposed to be. That does not happen as much today, oftentimes because of the fear of accountability.
A good coach will develop his players by moving them dependence, interdependence and finally independence.
I love coaching. I have been coaching professionally for 22 years with more than 50,000 hours under my belt. It takes 10,000 to develop a skill.
There are two reasons why I will give up on my hitters:
- Stupidity
- Selfishness
Stupidity
I define stupidity as knowing the right thing to do and not doing it. How do you define it? I know that stupidity is a harsh word, but it is a word. One of my major acts of stupidity is texting and driving. That is wrong and I know it is wrong. My stupidity can cause harm to myself and others. My wife and daughters will not tolerate me texting and driving.
Unless you can prove to me that you have just cause for being rude and disrespectful, I will not work with you. There are too many kids playing baseball who are allowed to be rude and disrespectful because they are kids being kids.
That is why I require all of my hitters to be assessed by me before I teach them. One of the questions I ask in the assessment is, “What should I be concerned about you with regards to me helping you achieve your short and long term goal?”
Selfishness
Great teams are composed of great individuals. I am a great coach and I focus on serving other coaches that are not yet great. I went from good to great when I developed a methodology that I could use that would allow me to repeat successful outcomes for my hitters.
I had a coach that I submitted to who coached me. The point is that regardless of your age, you have an obligation to use your success to serve others. That is what significance is all about. You cannot be significant and selfish at the same time.
What is the cure for stupidity and selfishness? It is humility, which is not thinking less than of yourself. It is you thinking highly of yourself and thinking of others more than yourself.
You cannot give what you do not have. So get good, become great, and bring others along with you.
Diamond Directors has been providing the blueprint of success for diamond sports athletes since 1998. Let us assess your swing in our next Hitting Combine.
Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.
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C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an area scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 12 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and track record of success that can work for you.
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