quote:

Originally posted by iheartbb:
Knighttime-
Listen brother, I have a kid at a D-1 that is working his arse off. I know the drill.
Read my posts, there is never any excuse for anything other than hard work.

But, I will stand by my post, that some kids are just going to take longer to mature because of their genetic code. This does not mean that they cannot work hard and get strong. It just means that when their bodies say "grow" they will and not before. Gaining strength and conditioning will help prepare them for this next developmental leap. This is not an excuse, just fact.

iheartbb, I agree with you my brother. I was not referring to your post at all, just commenting on the general theme I was reading in this forum.

All I can ask anyone to do is "work hard," and give him the vehicle to reach goals. However, "working hard" is a relative term. The guys in our program who make it to big time programs or get drafted work harder and are more disciplined than 99% of the kids out there. Some of their teammates who claim they "work hard" are laughable to the big time guys.

I have parents who swear to me their kids are working hard, just because their kid walks out the door and tells mom and dad he is going to the weight room twice a week. Mom and dad have no idea what their kid is actually doing in the weight room, but to them, the kid is "working hard." I hear this every year from parents who wonder why their kid's "hard work' is not paying off, and they don't believe me when I tell them their kid is not doing enough. Our highly successful kids work out six days a week, and are on strict diets 24/7. They don't pound down Big Macs and fries to get their calories. It takes a full time commitment, and most kids and parents aren't willing to do that.

Sure, there are a few kids who have not gone through puberty before they are 18, and have trouble building muscle, but those are few and far between. The vast majority of hs players can get better, and the harder they work doing the right things, the more opportunities they will give themselves.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach May:

Talented players that live off their talent will never be great. They will just be talented players that never reach their potential. I want Great players. Players that take whatever talent that God gave them and then strive to be great. All of them no matter what level of baseball they reach , Will Be Great!

Give me a very talented player that strives to be Great and the sky is the limit on the level they can play. Give me a talented player that thinks his talent will be enough. And he will never be great. That is an absolute fact!

Coach, I couldn't agree with you more. We always have young players come into our program with unbelievable young talent. Talent wise, when they are Sophomores they look like sure bets to reach the next level. But in many cases, that's where it ends. They never reach their projected potential because they won't make the commitment to get bigger, stronger and faster. Kids with less natural talent pass him up because they made the decision to put in the necessary work. I see it all the time.

.

quote:

....Everyone on this team needs to be Great. You need to be the greatest player you can be. Now what is Great? Great is working and striving to be the very best YOU can be. Now that might mean you become a very solid HS player. You took what God gave you and you got the absolute most out of it. You have become Great! Great for you Mark might mean you take what God has given you and you work to become the very best you can be. And that takes you to a D-3 school. Now you have become great! Why are you now Great? Because you took what was given by God to you and you did everything you could to be the best you possibly could be. What more could anyone ask from you? If everyone of you strive to be Great we will be Great. Because we will be all that we can possibly be.

Talented players that live off their talent will never be great. They will just be talented players that never reach their potential. I want Great players. Players that take whatever talent that God gave them and then strive to be great. All of them no matter what level of baseball they reach...

44

Control what you can to the absolute best of your ability...let the the rest go, it will play out as it will...
.

knightime - YOU ARE THE MAN!!!!

The problem is when you are doing what everyone else is doing you are on the AVERAGE plan. When you do more than anyone else. When you are more disciplined than anyone else. When you are more dedicated than everyone else. You are on the SPECIAL plan.

Working hard depends on what you are judgeing that against. Are you looking at those around you? If you want to be average just do what everyone else is doing. If you want to be special do what no one else is willing to do. Bury their a**.

Average. The blueprint for average stares you in the face everyday. Its all around us in every walk of life. Average makes me sick to my stomach. Its the easy way out. Average is failure.
Special. Its a place that only the driven , dedicated and disciplined can go. It has no limitations other than what we put on ourselves. I choose to be special. I choose to coach players that strive to be special. I cut those that dont accept the challenge.

My goal - You will choose to be special or you will choose not to play baseball. You will be the best baseball player you can be or you will not play baseball. When your baseball days are over you will be special. You will be the best bus driver , plumber , carpenter , doctor , mailman etc etc. Why? Because the same lessons you learned about being special on the baseball field will be used to make you special in your job , your marriage , your personal relationships etc etc.

If you want to be average just follow everyone else's lead. You wont have any problem reaching this goal.

Coach May is pretty much giving away all the secrets for getting to the next level in baseball and in life. I suggest all the youngsters out there click on his name and select view recent posts. Everything kids need to know is contained in there.

quote:

by Coach May: problem is when you are doing what everyone else is doing you are on the AVERAGE plan.

ouch !!! ... kudos for the balls to say it!!

I don't think most want to hear that

Coach May and Knighttime,
Thank you for your insight and telling it like it is. I'm sure you are both great coaches and your players are lucky to have you. We also have a GREAT high school coach who preaches much the same message as you guys. We are very thankful for him and he paved the way for son's success.

My advice is to pay attention to what Coach May and Knighttime are telling you. There aren't many around who will give you an honest unbiased and unselfish opinion on how to reach the next level. They are obviously "in the know" and I appreciate you sharing your knowledge. Thanks guys, and best of luck to you, your teams, and your players.

Steve I appreciate very much you saying that about your sons HS coach. That is the best thing any parent could say about his coach imo. Im sure they will have a special relationship.

When I first got into hs coaching I was simply amazed. I was amazed at how weak and out of shape the "athletes" were. I started at our HS in 1996. The last time they went to the playoffs was 1982. They had not had a baseball player move on to the next level during that entire period of time. Any level. When we shook hands with the other teams after games my first year I was amazed at how physically weak all the players were not just ours.

My first year as head coach we hit 8 hr's as a team. We do play in a big park. But half our games are away from home on average sized parks. There was no weight training for baseball. There was no off season strength and conditioning program. There was no one doing anything to get better in the off season.

Since we have taken over we started a baseball weightlifting class during school. We started a strength and conditioning program that runs from July to Feb. We started fall workouts for baseball specific instruction. Since 1997 we have finished 1st or 2nd in our conference every year. We have made the state playoffs every year. We have won the conf championship 4 out of the last 5 years. We have won it several other years. We have had three players drafted. And we have had numerous players move on to the next level. This year we have two ACC players. The last three years we have set and broken the school all time hr record. Last year we hit 37 hr's in 28 games. We are so much stronger , mentally tough , more athletic. Its not even close.

Now what are we doing differently that was not being done before we got there? Its listed above. Now are guys dont hope to win. They dont just want to win. They expect to win. They dont hope to go on to college. They dont just want to go to college. They expect to go to college. I believe this with all my heart. WHAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF DOING WHEN EVERYONE IS WATCHING IS DETERMINED BY WHAT YOU DO WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING.

What is everyone doing? They are all hitting. They are all taking ground balls and flys. They are all working on pitching mechanics and team specific drills. What can we do that will set us apart from everyone else? Now I ask the player. Can you not do the same thing? Of course you are going to hit and throw and field and work on these things. But what can you do that will set you apart from your competiton? Do the things that the other guys are not willing to do. Work your a** off at getting bigger stronger and faster.

Every night I go to bed I ask myself this question. Did I do everything today I could have done to make our program better? Is there anything else I could have done? Did anyone outwork me today? If I can say to myself - I did all I could. And no one outworked me today. Then I had a good day.

Now as a player. When you lay down at night. If you really love baseball your going to think about baseball at some point and time before you go to sleep. Ask yourself this question. Did I do everything I could have done today to get better? Did anyone outwork me today? If you can answer that question truthfully and be satisfied with the answer. You had a good day.

you have a good chance to get looks from a DIII, NAIA, and JUCO. They have many, many more 5'11" players than does a D1. However, a D1 DOES have 5'11" players for sure. Just don't overdo the workouts because it will hurt your growth plates. 150 lbs??? come on....drink some protein shakes, take some creatine, take whey products, consume calories by the tons. you need to put some meat on those bones boy! get with it...it's not your metabolism holding you back, it's your lack of weightlifting and building muscle mass. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!!! and put the pounds on and you will get seen....OK? please respond! GET UP OFF YOUR BUTT AND GO DO IT!!! NOW! I'm serious,,,drop and give me 50 right now! Can you do 50 push-ups? you must before we can take you serious....GO!

quote:

you have a good chance to get looks from a DIII, NAIA, and JUCO. They have many, many more 5'11" players than does a D1.

Not sure I agree with that. Lots of D1 guys that height and pros. Keep in mind most rosters add an inch or so to the true height.
Getting a committment from a college does require some effort.

I just looked a few strong D1 programs and found between 8-10 sub 6' rostered players.

quote:

I just looked a few strong D1 programs and found between 8-10 sub 6' rostered players.

quote:

Originally posted by SteveNordie:
Coach May and Knighttime,
Thank you for your insight and telling it like it is. I'm sure you are both great coaches and your players are lucky to have you. We also have a GREAT high school coach who preaches much the same message as you guys. We are very thankful for him and he paved the way for son's success.

My advice is to pay attention to what Coach May and Knighttime are telling you. There aren't many around who will give you an honest unbiased and unselfish opinion on how to reach the next level. They are obviously "in the know" and I appreciate you sharing your knowledge. Thanks guys, and best of luck to you, your teams, and your players.

Steve, thank you for your kind words. I wish we had more supporters like you in our program. Congratulations to your son for his success. He is living proof of what it takes to reach the highest level. There are very few kids with the discipline put in that kind of work, which is probably why very few kids make it to the highest levels. Tell your son to keep up the great work - there are great things ahead for him.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach May:
knightime - YOU ARE THE MAN!!!!

The problem is when you are doing what everyone else is doing you are on the AVERAGE plan. When you do more than anyone else. When you are more disciplined than anyone else. When you are more dedicated than everyone else. You are on the SPECIAL plan.

Working hard depends on what you are judgeing that against. Are you looking at those around you? If you want to be average just do what everyone else is doing. If you want to be special do what no one else is willing to do. Bury their a**.

Average. The blueprint for average stares you in the face everyday. Its all around us in every walk of life. Average makes me sick to my stomach. Its the easy way out. Average is failure.
Special. Its a place that only the driven , dedicated and disciplined can go. It has no limitations other than what we put on ourselves. I choose to be special. I choose to coach players that strive to be special. I cut those that dont accept the challenge.

My goal - You will choose to be special or you will choose not to play baseball. You will be the best baseball player you can be or you will not play baseball. When your baseball days are over you will be special. You will be the best bus driver , plumber , carpenter , doctor , mailman etc etc. Why? Because the same lessons you learned about being special on the baseball field will be used to make you special in your job , your marriage , your personal relationships etc etc.

If you want to be average just follow everyone else's lead. You wont have any problem reaching this goal.

Coach May, you need to write a book. I hope you don't mind if I share some of your words with my team. I'm sure you will always be very successful in your program. Your players and school are very lucky to have you.

You said it better than me knightime. You can use my words anytime. My passion growing up was football. I liked baseball but I did not love it. I loved football. I was a very good hs linebacker. But I went to college and was told "your too small to play lb here son". Well they put me at corner and said "your too slow to play corner here May". So they put me on the bench.

I had a hs coach that taught me some things that I turned to in my hour of need. "Your only too small if you cant get the job done" "Your only too slow if you cant make a play". When the coach tells you you are not good enough to play he will show you by putting your a** on the bench. So its then up to you to show him he is wrong or show him he is right. "What you gonna do son"?

I had never sat the bench in my life. I did not sulk. I did not blame the coach. I did not feel sorry for myself. I went out every practice and I busted my butt harder than anyone on the field. I practiced like it was the Super Bowl every single play every single sprint every single second I was on the field. I sat the first 4 games of the season. Then I got a chance to play when during a game both the starting and second team strong safeties got hurt. I never sat the bench again. I was still too small. I was still too slow. But I was still too good to ever sit on the bench again.

If you want to find reasons to prove a coach right its real easy. I say shove it in his face and show him he is wrong. It may take four games. Hell it make take three years. But sooner or later if your determined enough and man enough you will succeed. I want players that want to shove it in my face. I want players that spend every waking moment proving to me that I am wrong to have them on the bench. And I want players that spend every moment proving to me that I am right for having them in the line up.

Everyone else can go play for my competition. Baseball is my passion now. It became my passion when I started coaching it many years ago. But truly my passion is working with players that have the same passion to succeed and persevere through any adversity that life throws them. Because that is truly the fire that molds the steel.

Just great advice.

And I truly believe that in almost every case - its the mental approach (to any sport) that determines your experience.

I am sure that there are some players that have so much god-given ability - they can just go out and play.

But most players I have ever seen are not seperated by ability. Most - IMO - are seperated by desire - and committment.

Knowing that you got the most out of what God has given you is more important to me than any trophy - and any award - and any level of success.

A burning desire to reach your maximum potential - whatever that potential might be.
An attitude - almost defiant - that says "I will succeed - or I will die trying".
A love for the game you have the good fortune to play - the discipline to act like an ATHLETE (and not like a circus clown) in good times and bad - and a deep respect for the people who give you the opportunity to play it.

These things mean alot to me.

JMHO

This is my wish. When I die I will go to baseball heaven. When I get there God will tell me "Coach your team is right over there. You can practice as long as you like. You can play as many games as you like. And you will never have any rainouts."

Then I will walk over to the field. And my team will be in the dugout waiting to start practice. And I will walk in the dugout and there I will find a whole team of players with the same attitude that Gamer has.

Right then and there I will know , I have died and truly gone to Baseball Heaven.

Dont laugh at this post. Im serious as Hell!

Coach May,

You have shared a lot of good advice here over the years, but I am particularly struck by this:

"WHAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF DOING WHEN EVERYONE IS WATCHING IS DETERMINED BY WHAT YOU DO WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING."

"Now as a player. When you lay down at night. If you really love baseball your going to think about baseball at some point and time before you go to sleep. Ask yourself this question. Did I do everything I could have done today to get better? Did anyone outwork me today? If you can answer that question truthfully and be satisfied with the answer. You had a good day."

Some of the best advice I have ever heard in sports.

Julie

Coach May: like MN-MOM that is by far some of the best advise I have heard. You are a true philosopher. I had to share it with my son. Thank-you

Here is an example of what you can do with a 5'9" frame much less what you have young man.

Ben Allen - EAST TENNESSEE State (D1 school)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year: Jr.
Position: IF
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 170
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
Hometown: Kingsport, Tenn.
Previous School: Dobyns Bennett


2006 Season - Entered the starting lineup against Mercer on April 15 and started every game at third base for the remainder of the regular season... Hit .231 in 18 starts at third with four doubles and five RBI... An exceptional fielder, Allen solidified the left side of the Bucs infield, commiting just one error in 51 chances.



High School: Four-year letter winner in baseball… three-time all-conference performer… twice named All-Northeast Tennessee… two- time member of the Johnson City Press Super 22… held a cumulative batting average of .401, drove in 73 runs and had 25 steals over final three high school seasons.



Personal: Born on August 25, 1986… planning a major in business…