By Pierce Jones-
Across the states, many high school baseball seasons are ending, and it often brings up the question of what an athlete should do next. Do I play for a travel team this summer? Do I take time off? Do I train? All of this can be very overwhelming, especially at a time when you are bombarded with witnessing what everyone is doing while simultaneously listening to everyone else who seems to have the “right” answer. It becomes challenging to filter what you might find to be true or misleading, and I will be the first to say that there will never be a perfect path. What you do one summer may not always be the same and/or most beneficial for the next.
What I will share, though, is how I think times like these present you with an opportunity to grow. Take a step back from the race your brain feels it is in, and map out what you think is the best-fit decision for your summer. If you haven’t had the chance yet, Coach Wolforth’s blog post “Are You A 10?” came out last year, and this is a great time to revisit it. It is a fantastic read with some great questions that I believe can guide you in the right direction in making some decisions about your summer plans. (It also ties in with this blog really well as well.)
Although, when I was at The Ranch in my earlier years of training and didn’t have the “Are You A 10?” blog to refer to, many of the same questions were asked to help me make decisions for my own summer baseball plans. More often than not, it led to me finding myself at The Ranch, which was always a significantly better option for me considering the atmosphere and “touch-ups” I was able to receive and make. Oftentimes, I hear people are more concerned about training in the summer than about playing. To be frank, it doesn’t sit well with me. The biggest answer I always hear when choosing to play instead of train is because, as a player, you must be competing and have that game atmosphere around you to stay used to it. That alone explains to me that your training is subpar, and you have never understood what is genuinely able to be made out of it. That’s why The Ranch was always a “no-brainer” for me to continue to go back and visit over and over again for the summertime. It was a place where you received high-caliber training from the best of the best while also being truly cared for and listened to. It has an unmatched atmosphere. And while there may not be a game being played out at The Ranch, there truly is a competitive environment of “iron sharpening iron” every day that makes a game maybe not as intriguing. The summer is a time that can truly become a separator for those who take it seriously and understand what they are trying to get out of it, and that is crucial and truly invaluable.
As we begin to ramp up for summer, I will go ahead and say that this is, for sure, a summer that you do not want to miss. If you are currently on the fence and trying to decide, I hope this blog helps lead you toward a summer that can truly become a separator for you.
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Important TBR Updates
- Interested in our “Summer Intensive Development Program”? Spots are filling up quickly, make plans to secure your spot now! Join us for 2-11 weeks this summer. For more information on this one of a kind Summer Training experience and for a registration form, CLICK HERE.
- Our Summer Elite Pitchers Bootcamp dates are available on our website. We will have seven bootcamps between Memorial Day and Labor Day. For more information on these 3-Day events or to register, CLICK HERE.
- Would you like to experience both the EPBC and Summer Program? We’ve got you covered. Attend one of our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamps and Add-On one week of our Summer Program immediately after for a total stay of seven days. Call for the details (936) 588-6762 and special savings.
- Have you been considering attending one of our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamp but haven’t yet pulled the trigger? To help, we have a detailed mailing package entitled “What Makes This Boot Camp Different”. If you’d like to receive this package and start making plans for the summer, email Jill@TexasBaseballRanch.com and request a copy.
- NEW VIDEO on our YouTube Channel: “’MLB Roundtrip with Perfect Game’ Interview – Part 1”. Watch it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkRSTTZVn1k and share your opinion in the comments.
