DDH Sports Training

This what I fear and there’s zero I can do to stop it.

That’s why I refuse to get tired, always say yes to coaching my boys or someone else’s boys, refuse to waste any time I have left.

Sebastian- 1002 days
Michael- 1732 days

I will not waste time.

Work work work

My Kid Won’t Give 100%

Welcome to the Club.

As a father of two, I’ve learned I can capture the attention of 50 kids, meanwhile the one person interrupting a team meeting or “MAILING IT IN” is my son.

My kids will gladly run through walls to play video games, yet complain when I ask them to clean their room. As Seinfeld said, “It is what it is.” I’ve accepted that. I love my boys and I will always be there for them, BUT this predicament does give me great perspective into the important job I have as a COACH for these other sets of parents.

So, Coaches! With that as your driving force, here’s what I’ve learned about the kids I coach. THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT. They each have their own personality, and they each react way differently to a given command.

So, you must READ THE ROOM, otherwise you will drive yourself crazy.

Most parents are a little surprised when they show up to one of my in- person camps or Sandlots. I’m known as “Mr. Fun.” But I have to earn that title by first setting clear expectations for the group and being firm when need be. Otherwise it’s a straight up dumpster fire.

That word “FIRM” has a balancing act, and I’m not perfect. I actually don’t think perfection is possible here. But I can grow. I’m continuously learning how to READ MY ROOM and react accordingly to my given stimuli.

First things first, put your LENS on. That lens of “Am I making each kid want to come back tomorrow, while simultaneously making them a better person?”

When you put that lens on, you automatically become more patient, and positive. It helps you see THE BIG PICTURE. For me personally, it helps relieve the pressure of the JOB.

With my AWESOME SHADES on, now I express my expectations to the group in a team meeting format. These expectations have nothing to do with performance, and everything to do with effort. “We award GOOD CHOICES” is a common quote at the Sandlot. Home Runs are great, but hustling is better. Kindness is better. Paying attention is WAY BETTER. (Sidebar - As I’ve spoken of in great length, prioritizing wins and performance over character is TOXIC and pushes kids away. Coaches and parents that lead this way are a major detriment to our game. Please STOP.)

As I share these expectations to my team, I’m reading my room.

I see the kid with his back turned to me.

I see the two rambunctious kids climbing the fence.

I see the happy kid laughing at everything I say.

I see the shy kid who wants to go home.

I see the three kids giving me quiet, uncomfortable eye contact.

I see that I have my hands full.

And that is the life of a youth coach.

With my LENS on, I’m reminded I don’t have to fix this entire situation TODAY. It’s a stairwell, and I’ll take one step towards the goal today.

I lean on my energy. I simply won’t let a bad choice slide. Not on my watch. This may seem surprising, but children WANT structure. They REALLY WANT IT. Sometimes that manifests itself in the form of rebelling, crying, or floating off into space.

Take a child not hustling to their position for example.

I buckle up my tool pouch around my waist and go to work.

Tool #1: Encourage them to hustle, because that’s what a ballplayer does.

DIDN’T WORK.

Tool #2: Challenge them to a race to their position.

DIDN’T WORK.

Tool #3: Award the players that ARE hustling by giving them a baseball card.

DIDN’T WORK.

Tool #4: Ignore them for an inning. (Impossible for me to do, but I make it seem that way to the child).

DIDN’T WORK.

Tool #5: Have a quiet chat with them, asking why they are choosing not to hustle.

IT STILL DIDN’T WORK.

BUT, PROGRESS WAS MADE.

I’ve fully READ MY ROOM. My tool pouch is empty. I’ve officially taken 1 step up the stairwell.

For me personally, If I get to Tool #5 and it still isn’t sinking in to the child, I get irritated. I feel like a failure.

So, what brings me back? MY LENS. Above all else, I WILL make this kid want to come back tomorrow, and sometimes that means APOLOGIZING to them for being too firm.

I CAN’T BURY THEM. I CAN’T PUSH THEM AWAY. That’s WAY WORSE than me failing to get them to put in 100% effort.

It’s a marathon. Treat it as such.

Because when that kid puts their head down to sleep that night, one thing is certain to them.

They have a Coach that CARES.

Great job Cbass
2 innings pitched
6 strikeouts
1 walk
No hits

Knowledge of why confidence and mental toughness are NOT the same

Athletes need to learn why mental toughness is more important than confidence. Confidence is a flighty “feeling” that comes and goes. Mental toughness is a gritty attitude that can withstand adversity.

Having a winning mindset teaches athletes mental toughness tactics to stay poised and composed under pressure. Coach to make the distinction: mental toughness drives confidence.

Very proud of Michael Ward winning the starting catching job on the third and fourth grade team as a first grader. Keep pushing, keep fighting and earn every bit of it.

Super proud of all these young men. The first annual PSO All-Star game. very blessed and humbled to COACH and serve these young men.

Registration open for the 2022 Frisco football league. Sebastian and Michael will be prepared

Lesson # 1: Don’t Let the Support System become the Problem.

Yesterday, I had a conversation with a very passionate family from California.

It was clear that this father & son had been ready and well prepared for this meeting for quite some time.

As we discussed his son’s plan for 2022 – the father explained that he had been up since 1:00am preparing the meeting with objectives, listing the problems, listing his son’s strengths & weaknesses, etc.

It was evident that this father would do absolutely anything to help his son achieve success. In this moment, I thought of King Richard, father of Serena & Venus Williams.

They were both 100% attentive, 100% devoted, 100% engaged & willing to listen.

This family was ALL IN.

There was 1 problem.

The father was so eager to help his son, that it was clear that this was on the verge of becoming a problem. I’m not talking about the father having an egotistical issue or living vicarious through his son. This father had a pure, genuine interest to see his beloved son succeed in this sport where is son was so gifted.

You see, when the support system is over eager, even in a genuine way, it begins pulling the player, instead of supporting the player. This is how relationship problems may emerge, this is how pressure seeps in, & this is how players can get derailed. Here are some Rules that I share:

1. Support through the Wrong Decisions. The father knew the right answers. He had played the game at a high level before. He was so eager to instruct, that he wasn’t teaching anything. You see, Experience is the Ultimate Teacher - And the player must learn for themselves, even through the mistakes. The hardest thing as a parent is to support your child through the wrong decision. But this is precisely what is necessary for the child to learn, and therefore grow & improve.

2. Be Receptive. This rule is about communication tactics. Instead of saying “you should do this, or you should do that”, the correct approach is “What do you think you should do? Why do you think you should do that?” Being receptive, having a 2-way dialog, and “giving the child a voice” in this process will allow your child to self-discover, and therefore learn, grow, & develop.

3. Be on their level & Commit to Truth. A parent must be on their player’s level & commit to truth. If your child is struggling to get to bed on time, or if they’re having trouble with tik tok, or if they are having a problem with a girl at school, it’s important to not overlook this, Don’t try to solve a problem that is two steps ahead. Don’t get me wrong – this player is playing at a high level, and will likely become a professional, but it doesn’t make any sense to talk about game tactics, or about positional awareness. Talk to them about the current issues - the root problem. Be on their level.

4. Slow and Steady wins the race: In this particular meeting, I was 100% convinced that this family is going to make it to the top. Like I said, they were ALL IN – you could see it in their eyes. However, based on their current position – There’s likely 1 of 2 outcomes,

Option # 1, they go slow and steady, however painful it may be to go slow & steady, and make their way to the top.

Or Option # 2, Dad lets his eagerness get the best of him, they rush the process, and a year from now they look back in regret, with a spoiled relationship, wishing they had gone slow and steady.

QB Training

Getting it done!