While this is much easier said than done, this approach is vital to a player's developmental progression. As baseball and softball instructors having spent many years playing, coaching, and teaching, we understand first-hand how maddening & challenging these skills can be to master. With that said, we believe that baseball and softball are games played first and foremost for enjoyment and learning how to prepare and compete at a high level matters often times more than the result. Otherwise we as instructors accomplish nothing more than teaching a dog a new trick(s). Additionally, a player can certainly enjoy the experience while earning the ability to compete at a high level. Dedicating many years of playing, coaching and teaching this great game, Pine Tar instructors are deeply rooted in the local baseball community enabling them to teach from an innovative, relevant and timely platform. We believe that there are key distinctions between knowing the game, knowing to play the game, and knowing how to teach the game. Truth be told, this is why former pro players often are ineffective as coaches and teachers of the game... the game was something that more than likely was relatively easy, therefore the key elements of patience, struggle and learning to 'fail forward' were absent the majority of their playing career. Accordingly, students are provided ample opportunity to learn and develop their skills in a controlled environment designed to be extremely positive, persistent and encouraging. Also, it is important to recognize the individual personality and learning style of the student while crafting the conversation accordingly. All this is a concentrated effort to get the player to believe in their ability, importance of quality preparation all while learning to become a complete game-day competitor. Nurturing this growth requires a tremendous amount of patience and conviction that focused-effort and hard work are key to the developmental process. While the student is actively engaged in the learning process, every time we pick up a bat, ball or glove the goal is simple; stay loose, have fun and get better one opportunity at a time. The reality is some kids will play in high school and fewer will have the opportunity to compete collegiately. Some may even reach the professional ranks, but the vast majority will not. However, having solid work ethic, self-awareness, the ability to make adjustments when needed, learning to fail productively, the benefits of mental toughness and how to become a student of the game are all qualities that will take a player as far as their abilities will allow. But more importantly, these habits will allow students to make it in what they will inevitably recognize as the real BIG leagues... |
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| Instructors |
| Instructors |
| Stay loose - Have fun - Get better |
| Stay loose - Have fun - Get better |
