Confidence is the Key: More Work Produces Self-Assurance
A lot of the athletes that are coming through the door @ TNT Fastpitch Academy are producing at an expedient pace. They literally come in for one lesson and leave feeling impacted with the powerful teaching and explosive energy that is flowing through this place. The funny thing is, is that these kids are coming in with for the most part with great technique which does come from their own coaches; which we give them the credit for that. It's one thing to have great techniques, but its an entirely different thing to have the confidence to go along with your great techniques! Confidence is defined as "a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's OWN abilities or qualities." A lot of these players are coming in with absolutely no self-assurance, and as a coach I have committed myself to help them grow in that particular area. The confidence arises when players appreciate their own abilities, but quite frankly that appreciation more times than not does not show up until they see better results. To get the results necessary to produce confidence, these players are going to have to put in more work than they already are. I went to a coaching clinic this year at Baylor University (which each year gets better and better), but Head Coach Glenn Moore said that every player out there must practice "on their own (that means without teams, other coaches, and etc...) at least 3 days out of the week to produce". I have heard a lot of excuses recently for not having the time to practice, but its going to boil down to having to take the time! I realize that a lot of the players have two to even three practices a week with their teams, lessons for batting and pitching, have homework and other priorities @ home, but at some point as a parent you are going to have to help your children step this part up! They might be a little more tired in the morning if they stay up an extra 30 mins passed their bed time to hit or pitch, but once they get their body trained and get into a rhythm the exhaustion will go away. If you didn't know already many of your kids go to their beds and play on their phones or iPads (trust me I know I have them on the social media apps) or lay there staring at the ceiling...so you mine as well put them to work!!! If you have the high expectations for your kids, then help find them some time to reach their goals to play at the highest level, play consistently, and get a scholarship to help pay for their education- more work is required for further production so that their confidence can be built up causing more rewards to come their way!
