By Jill E. Wolforth –
I recently attended an event focused on artificial intelligence. There was plenty to learn and no shortage of information about new tools and what we could do with them.
But one idea stuck with me: People don’t necessarily need more information. They need people who can help them apply the information they already have.
Naturally, my mind went to baseball.
Think about how much information is available to pitchers and their parents today. You can open your phone and find a drill for increasing velocity, an exercise for improving mobility, a suggestion for developing command, and three different opinions about how often you should throw, all before you finish your morning coffee (or tea).
Some of that information may be useful. But having access to it doesn’t necessarily mean you know what to do with it.
More information isn’t always what’s missing. Sometimes, what’s missing is clear direction.
For a parent whose son loves baseball, it’s easy to understand how the search grows. You don’t want to overlook something that could make a difference. So you watch another video or look into another program, hoping to find what he needs.
Each new piece of advice can add another decision. Before long, you have a collection of things he could do, but very little clarity about what deserves his attention right now. A motivated athlete can find himself working on so many things that he never gives any one of them enough attention to make meaningful progress.
At the Ranch, we take pride in pursuing what is often described as “the simplicity on the far side of complexity,” an idea associated with Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
To me, that means working through the complicated parts until we can make the practical application clear for the athlete. There may be a great deal of knowledge behind why we teach a specific movement or particular drill. Our job is to turn that knowledge into something each athlete can use.
At the Texas Baseball Ranch®, that is a significant part of why we value an individualized approach. Understanding the athlete helps us identify what needs attention and how to begin addressing it.
Two pitchers can hear the same explanation and take away very different things. Their experiences are different, and so are their physical capabilities. What clicks immediately for one may leave the other scratching his head.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the second athlete isn’t listening. It means we have more work to do to help him make the connection.
The value of coaching extends well beyond knowing which drill to give someone.
It includes helping an athlete understand why that drill was selected and what to pay attention to as he works. His response helps us determine whether the approach is helping or needs to change.
There will always be another video to watch and another idea to explore. We believe in continuing to learn, and we certainly don’t have all the answers.
But learning deserves a next step.
At the Texas Baseball Ranch®, we work to be a steady voice in the frequently negative, often chaotic landscape of competitive baseball. For our staff, that means helping each athlete and his family understand what matters for him right now and how to put that understanding to work.
If clarity is something you’re searching for, we’d love to have you join us at one of our upcoming events.
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Important TBR Updates
- Attention Catchers! Our annual Elite Catcher’s Boot Camp will be held December 11th – 13th. Registration is now open. CLICK HERE to learn more and reserve your spot. $500 Early Bird savings ends this Saturday, October 31st.
- Registration for our Advanced Alumni Camp on January 2 & 3 is over half full. Save $500 with Early Bird registration through November 10th. Space is limited to 32 pitchers. We will be joined by special guest instructor, Brent Strom. You won’t want to miss this. You must have attended a previous Ranch event to participate. CLICK HERE to register.
- Join us for a Fall/Winter Elite Pitchers Boot Camp!
November 21-23 (Sat-Mon) Spots Limited
December 28-30 (Mon-Wed)
January 16-18 (Sat-Mon)
February 13-15 (Sat-Mon)
To register or learn more CLICK HERE
- Our November night classes start next week.Classes are held Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM, and you can choose to attend one or both days each week. Spots are limited. Email Info@
TexasBaseballRanch.com or call our office at (936) 588-6762 to secure a spot or ask any questions.
- There’s still time to sign up for our Pitching Coaches Workshop taking place December 4th & 5th. We’re excited by the response and registrations so far. For more information or to register go to www.CoachesBootcamp.com or email info@texasbaseballranch.com.
- Coach Wolforth is hosting a special 90 minute webinar – “The Velocity Code: 3 Secrets to Improving Velocity and Staying Healthy” on Thursdays at 7pm CST. If you’d like to attend the next webinar, CLICK HERE to register.
