Winning Approach for Hitting by Rob Crews

I want you begin to learn to take a different approach with regards to the game and how you actually play it.

No matter how bad the team is, you should play for the TEAM. Learn to put the Team first no matter how painful that may sound. Believe me, it builds character. There are so many players who have been playing for themselves all of their teen-age life, and then get to the next level and someone says “Play to Win” and they don’t know how. Its sad but so prevalent now a days. That’s what showcasing will do to a player. Playing in tournaments with no trophies or games ending in a tie.

1,  Everything you do should be because you want to help the team win.

2.  Never play for stats. Stats will come in the process of helping the team win.

3.  Never play to compete with what someone else did. You can only be you. Trying to be someone else will cause you to fail at being you. Besides, originals are always better than carbon copies. I never try to compete with other coaches.  Nobody can be a better me than me. And I certainly don’t wanna be anything of them. Lol.

I guess I am concerned with what motivates you. Baseball and Softball are not like golf or tennis. Those are individual sports. When you play softball it is not about you. It’s about the team. It’s not about your stats but about your contribution to the win. So if you didn’t get any hits, then play some great defense. And if you’re having a terrible day in all areas, then cheer your teammates on. It’s really no about YOU! For your parents, its all about you, but don’t take on their mindset. You cannot afford to. You can find a way to help  the team win from the bench.

When I ask a player what position they play, I can get 2 types of answers.

1. “I play shortstop, coach”

2. or “I will play wherever you need me to Coach.”

That was always my answer.
Getting upset for more than 10 minutes about whatever has already happened is immature, selfish, and unbecoming of a good player. Good players know that there are ups and downs and they are perfect examples of pure sportsmanship –through it all. The good and the bad.  The ups and the downs.

I need all my hitters to grow up -right now. And stop being babies about every little thing. Live by these words, “Get it done!” some bitters don’t grow up until their 3rd year in college. They end up wasting 2 years when they could have grew up in HS. This has nothin to do with talent. This is a about ATTITUDE, the one thing we all can truly control.
1. You don’t like your coach
Then quit
2.  The pitching is too slow
Well someone is hitting it. Why not you? Are you so terrible that you can’t adjust?
3.  Stop being so emotional for 2 hours and when the game is over you can go back to being a big baby. There are just way too many players who are good but will never be great because they don’t have a winning appproach.

-Rob Crews

See It and Hit It

Caylyn Carlson - ASU

Well, Assuming you made the team, the season is here. Some of you have worked hard and others have hardly worked. But whoever you are, all you can do is BE ON TIME. There won;t be much room for making major repairs on your swing -just tweaks. therefore, focus on what really matters in-season, and that’s timing. Here is an excerpt from my soon to be released book. Enjoy …

Hitting is Timing. People who have been around me for a significant amount of time know that this premise is the primary basis for my teaching. I structure all of my focus with students around this as primary because even with the perfect swing and the strongest body, without timing it is impossible to be consistent.

The two elements of timing I am most concerned about are recognition, and front-foot discipline.

RECOGNITION

With improved recognition skills, comes the ability to be on time. I like to say that there are 2 types of hitters visually -those who see the pitch and those who read it. Hitters who read the pitch can anticipate where the ball is going and hitters who see it don’t. Certainly, we cannot really measure visual speed and how quickly a hitter can get to the front side of a moving ball objectively. However, an experienced coach will be able to discern hitters with great eyes.

FRONT FOOT DISCIPLINE

When stride lengths are more controlled and timely, then timing is easy. So many hitters don’t realize the importance of establishing the front foot as firm early in the process. Actually, this should happen before commitment but generally happens at the same time –this is the problem. Now this is an oxymoron for sure, because while the swing should remain connected, there must be a separation of stride and actual commitment.

-Rob Crews

S.W.O.T. Check for Athletes

IDENTIFY YOUR

1.  Strengths – Eg., a) I love the inside pitch, b) I have great range to my glove side

2.  Weaknesses – Eg., a) I often hesitate on the outside pitch, b) My arm is around average, c) My speed needs improvement

3.  Opportunities – Eg., a) Getting out of school 2 periods early affords me the opportunity to hit the gym more, b) Now that I am driving, I can drive myself to the field for extra ground balls

4.  Threats – Eg., a) Threats or Potential Threats usually come in the form of distractions. Distraction come to us both on-field and off. I am interested in knowing what are some of the common threats/distractions out there for athletes and how we can avoid them? I welcome your comments … Take the time out to do your own personal SWOT check.

-Rob Crews

MALE COACHES IN FEMALE SPORTS

I will be discussing the topic of “Male coaches in Female Sports” live this afternoon on KIDZ n Sports on Adrenaline Radio. You can log onto Adrenaline Radio and tune in. It should be interesting.

The broadcast will air today at 12pm pacific time and 3pm Eastern. Here is how to listen:
1. Call 704-631-4060 (listen to the short commercial), then…
2. Press 1
3. Press 9
4. Press 1116 for
AdrenalineRadio.com.

Anastasis and Drusella: The Ugly Athletes

The Ugly Athlete is the Hater. The Ugly Athlete is the one who is not satisfied with who they truly are. The Ugly Athlete spends so much time attempting to fit a mold they can never be. The Ugly Athlete does not embrace who they are. The Ugly Athlete does not work towards perfecting that which they truly are, but continually strives to be something else. These are the Anastasis’ and Drusellas of sports.

In the world of training, my favorite athletes are the ones everyone thought could never do it -the ones who everyone doubted. I love training that right-handed batter who is cursed with great speed and gets moved to the left side of the plate to slap at the ball. The one who gets ignored in practice because they’re not the “gifted one.” That hard worker who has truly made themselves special. That player who barely made team and then goes on to become the number three batter in college.

I love the feeling of telling that player who didn’t think they were going to the dance and had no intention of going to the party, “Hey, get dressed. Your limo is downstairs. You’re going to the show!” These are my favorite scenarios.

Now most people tend to identify with Cinderella, simply because she wins in the end -but what about her haters? Why was Anastasis and Drusella trying to fit into a slipper they knew wouldn’t fit? Why? Because they were ugly.

I see a lot of athletes like this as well. They seem to always want to be something they just aren’t. I guess on some level we all do. They wanna be “That Girl” or “That Dude” when they’re really “This Girl” or “This Guy.” Don’t get me wrong, I am all for having dreams. But dreams are for young children. At some point we will grow out of our fantasy worlds.

Our dreams will become realistic goals when we learn to walk in the reality of who we truly are. So while you are chasing the A-Train, the B-Train has no more seats left for you. All of a sudden you aren’t on any train. I see it time and time again. When we are really young its called dreaming. I always thought one has to be asleep in order to dream. But when we actually wake up, we are no longer in denial. Don’t be the ugly athlete. Be the best YOU possible. Believe it or not, YOU is the only person you really can be.

-Rob Crews

Rob Crews: Live on the Air Tomorrow

Rob Crews, CEO of Complete Game Sports and National Director of Softball Hitting for Frozen Ropes Training Centers will be featured live on Adrenaline Radio (Los Angeles, California).

The Show will air live on Wednesday, December 9^th and 16^th @ 12pm Pacific or 3pm Eastern online at http://www.adrenalineradio.com/adrenalineIndex.aspx

The podcast will be available for download about an hour after the show at http://www.AdrenalineRadio.com/podcast

Hitting Tips: Baseball vs Softball Swing by Rob Crews

Hitting Tips: Developing Hitters and Reaction Time

Athlete Inspiration: IT’S ON ME

I was thinking back to when I was younger and how competitive I was. I also reflected on how driven and motivated I was. I did however, have a turning point. A turning point would be some event or circumstance that changed you or propelled you forward. For me, I know the turning point was when I got beat out for my position one year. In my own mind I felt as though I deserved the spot because I worked hard and attended clinics. But the bottom line was the kid was better than me at the time. So after I realized I had to actually go out and DO IT. The phrase “It’s On Me,” has a special meaning to me. For most of us, it really is on us. YOU actually have to go out and get it done. Results -that’s what matters at the highest levels of competition. The days of recreation and having a guaranteed 3 innings per game and 1 atbat are over -at lest at this level. You get what you earn, not necessarily what you feel you deserve. When I got to the field, I expected the coach to play the best 9. We all did. Believe it or not even the bench warmers didn’t expect to play. They had a pretty good grip on reality. Things were different then. What was your turning point? Or are you still waiting for it? Comments are always welcome.

-Rob Crews

College Recruitment Process 103

College Recruitment Process

I am outlining a few things I have seen over the past 10 years in assisting families with the recruiting process for both baseball and especially softball.

1.  Beware of False Prophets

If you are listening to or seeking counsel from people who do not have any children playing college sports in the last 5 years, you must be crazy. Or coaches of teams who haven’t had a player placed in a similar calibre school as the schools you desire. Would you consult an attorney who has never completed his law credentials? Or a physician who is a known Quack? Okay then? Stop listening to other parents/coaches who are just as clue-less as you are.

2.  Competitive Jealousy

I know a lot of the parents make friends with other parents of teams and the social dynamics of parents on teams can be just as intense as player relationships. But if you think for one moment that they won’t screw you if it benefited them and their child, you are definitely in denial. Let me put it to you like this, people are spending money on bats, batting gloves, lessons, personal trainers, team tuition, airfare, hotel, rent-a-car, food, and missing work (basically all-year). That’s a lot of money. People have gotten divorced over less money than that. People have even killed over less money than that. So what makes you think they wouldn’t put a rumor out on blog that your child has already committed, in order to make room for their own? You’re not that special. My advice is stop running your mouth about what schools you are looking at to people you just met 3 months ago. Trust me, they most likely want your spot. Be very discreet about your business. I know it is tempting to want to brag about these things but it could cost you.

3.  Team Selection

Yes. Your travel team matters. Your HS doesn’t matter. Your HS doesn’t matter. Your HS doesn’t matter. You could bat a thousand in Highschool and no one will care. You need to play competitive travel ball and get out of your home town. You can play Daddy Ball all you want, but prepare to pay tuition. A college team would rather recruit a player who is good at the competitive level, than a player who is great at the less competitive level.

4.  Exactly What is Too Much?

You can be a “Great Kid,” who “works so hard.” You can write wonderful letters and perfect emails to College Coaches. You can even send them flowers. You can attend the camps and email them a million times. You can spend $1000 on a video and have it directed by Stephen Speilberg – But at the end of the day, you have to be good enough. Remember coaches want to win. Their job depends upon it. If they don’t feel you can help them win, then why would they recruit you?

5.  Being On Time

Most people wait till it’s too late to begin to at least educate themselves in the College Recruiting/Selection process. FYI, today is November 3rd, 2009 and most competitive schools are finished with the class of 2011 and now working on obtaining commitments from the class of 2012. I know you don’t believe it, but its true. Begin finding out what you should be doing to prepare yourself N.O.W. No Opportunity Waits!

- Rob Crews