When you have a player that you think as "star" potential and has not gotten there yet, this is at the HS level now, how do you get help him to get to that plateau ???

Hey Tr. I know you are all for the "Ain't broke, don't fix it" strategy, and I can respect that. But, when I work with a kid with real talent, and there have only been a few, I look for their individual weaknesses, and then work on those areas. If a kid is a natural hitter, but he can improve his mechanics and his mental approach, then we'll work on that. Its never about changing a kid thats already proving he's got something, but making adjustments and improvements. If we can mentally prepare a talented player, we will certainly improve his chances of reaching the next level.

coachric


I hear ya---the kid with the talent sometimes just needs to improve his mental edge to make it all come together

Personally I don't know that it is as simple as "mental." I can think of a player that has TREMENDOUS God given ability. He over thinks everything. If would just play. However, I'd say that it is also a case of everyone telling him he is all that and now, everyone is catching up to him. He hasn't had to have that work ethic along with the ability and as bad as I hate to admit it, those players eventually lose out because work ethic isn't something you instantly have. JMHO!

BTW, I'm not talking about work ethic when his parent tell him to go work. I'm talking about work ethic when he is unsupervised.

'Kid, what do you want to accomplish?" " What do you think you need to do to get there?"

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard...

One of my favorites.

quote:

Originally posted by Flintoide:
'Kid, what do you want to accomplish?" " What do you think you need to do to get there?"

I like this one, because you can "tell" a kid to do something he needs to do, but if he doesn't get the "why" part in his own mind straight, he will never do what it takes.