Since Kevin and I started coaching we’ve got a lot of questions from parents and players about what they need to do to get to the next level. Now for every player that means something different. For someone in Little League it may mean making a travel team next summer. For someone in middle school it may mean making their high school team next year. It could also be a high school player that wants to get a college scholarship, or a college player that wants to hear their named announced during the armature draft. No matter the case, you must identify what it is exactly that you want to accomplish, and then decide what you are going to do to make it happen.
Around the age of 14 or 15 is when a player needs to decide if baseball is just a hobby, or if they want something more. Depending on where you live, high school baseball can be very competitive and coaches are not there to do anyone a favor. You must earn your playing time day in and day out. It’s tough, but it’s just simply the way it is. No longer can you pay your player fees and be guaranteed a certain amount of time in the lineup. Those that just expect things to come their way without any effort will be left behind, don’t be one of those players.
As you get older and play at a higher level you will being to notice that there are hundreds of players just like you, if not much better than you. So what are you doing to set yourself apart? Whether is your work ethic, attitude, defense, or speed, you must separate yourself from the average player.
If you wonder why so few people make it past high school baseball, and even fewer beyond college, I have a simple answer for you. Because so few people are willing to do what it takes. It’s easy to do the minimum amount of work and just hope that opportunity finds you. Go out and create your opportunity.
Now this doesn’t mean that all you have to do is work hard and you will automatically play at the next level. Everyone is blessed with a certain amount of skill, and eventually everyone’s playing career will come to an end. If you maximized your potential, however, you can look back with no regrets. Having peace of mind that you did everything you could and never took the easy way out is well worth the effort.
There are many other things you can do to create opportunities for yourself that I don’t have time to explain today. We are here to help players that want to continue their playing career no matter what level. If you have any questions and would like to discuss it more feel free to leave a comment below or on our Facebook page!
No Regrets!
Dennis
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