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10 Tips for Parents of Athletes:

May

1. Control your emotions. Be a consistent example of mental stability. Show them how to properly respond when things don’t go our way. They will be able to get the most out of their skills when they are mentally in control.

2. Support them away from their team. All players should practice their sport on their own time. They will always have more time away from their team to get better than they will while with them. Help them develop this great habit. Help them learn to take their development into their own hands.

3. Be realistic. Put them in a position to thrive. We want them to get better but just because we want them to be ready for a certain level doesn’t always mean they are ready for that level. Just because that’s where their friends are doesn’t mean it’s the right place for them at that moment.

4. Don’t allow excuses and blaming. The longer they do this the longer they will stunt their own growth. Teach them the difference between the controllable’s and the un-controllable’s. Their attitude, effort, energy and focus.

5. Think twice about your conversations. What are you allowing? What are you participating in? What are you instigating? The tone, the message, the impact. Know this too, sometimes the best thing we can say is nothing at all. Silence is okay!

6. Sports are hard. If you played while you were younger, keep perspective on how hard it was. If you never did, I suggest you go out there and practice with them. Try doing everything they are trying to do.

7. Slow down!! It’s a process. They all grow at different rates. Support them, encourage them, motivate them and help them be their best but be careful of comparing them to their peers. The process and journey is different for all. Some are early bloomers while many are late bloomers. The most important years for an athletes performance don’t even happen until after puberity kicks in and again, that even hits at different ages.

8. Look for leaders. Place them in front of those who are great people. People who will help instill the same values you are trying to teach them at home. Raising children is hard. Never underestimate the power of outside voices.

9. Youth sports has a way of becoming a toxic enviornment. From gossip about other players to coach bashing to berating and belittling officials. Don’t be a part of it. Don’t get sucked into the emotions of it. If you want these years to be as enjoyable as possible, beware of the nonsense and stay away from it.

10. Please don’t ever let sports come between you are your child(ren). Don’t let your attitude about their performance cause strain in your relationship. This game is a temporary phase in their life and meant to be enjoyable. Your relationship is forever. Nurture it now to have for life.

Chris Gissell (172 Posts)

Founder of Baseball Dudes. Blessed with three beautiful children and an amazing wife. Baseball is my life, after my family, and I love sharing what I have learned from it. Thanks for taking the time to view what we offer here at Baseball Dudes.

Categories : All Articles, Baseball Life, Chris Gissell, Coaching, Dudes Blog, Parents

13 Things Life Has Taught Me

Apr

2014-09-26-16-30-49 I am 45 years old. Grew up in Concord, CA until I was about 14 years old. We moved to Vancouver, WA the summer before my freshman year of high school and moved to Tyler, TX about 2 years ago.

Let me give you a little history…

My parents recently did the parent thing and broke out old video to enjoy some laughs and some memories. There was a lot of amazing video that was great to see. But one thing I realized was that I didn’t remember any of it. Video from when I was 11/12 years old to video of me playing ball in HS. I remember the people of course, but the moments…Well the memories are few and far between.

One video showed me acting like a complete fool towards my sister. In a teasing manner but when I see my actions, it’s quite embarrassing. In another video, I watched myself pitch in a Freshman HS game. Though I was tall and had a decent arm, my delivery left a lot to be desired compared with what I know now.

Through HS, I wasn’t the best son or student. Especially those first couple years. When I look back, this was right after we moved. The biggest reasoning for this was who I chose to spend my time with. My grades were awful. I spent most of my time around unmotivated people and I constantly disrespected those who had provided the most for me my whole life, my parents.

Blame it on puberty, blame it on moving, blame it on whatever. All I know is that I was going down the wrong path.

Through all this, my parents had faith. Things started to turn around and it all revolved around Baseball. The possibility of being able to play beyond HS started to become a reality but I had to make some big adjustments and improvements, starting with my school work. It was a big uphill battle but I was able to make enough changes to sign a scholarship to a major college.

I was drafted out of HS and chose to go that route. Three days after graduating, I was off. I had to learn how to take care of myself in a hurry.

Seven years into my career, our first child was born. He is now almost 20 years old and looking back, that was the moment in my life that everything changed. All of a sudden I had someone else to provide for and take care of. I realized that there was more to life than myself and baseball.

We were blessed with seven more years of traveling and playing baseball. During those years, we had two more beautiful children. We spent a lot of time apart but we also traveled the country and even overseas together. During all those years, I’m always surprised at what I remember most. Not the games I pitched or the championships we won but the ups and downs of being parents.

After my playing days were done, we found ourselves still fortunate to travel the US but now it was because of coaching. We did that for three years until we decided to step away from the pro game and focus on teaching, guiding and mentoring our local ball players and their families.

During those years as a player and coach, all the traveling, being around so many different people with so many different upbringings and experiences while raising a family in the process… Let’s just say it has all taught me so much.

13 things life has taught me…

1) Relationships are first and foremost. With your family, spouse, friends, students or players.

2) As adults, we most likely won’t remember many of the details of our youth, but all the moments along the way molded us. Think of it like this, in youth Baseball, it’s not the games and the outcomes that a child will remember, it’s the little things like someone showing faith in them when they fail or someone belittling them and pushing them to the side when they make mistakes that will develop their self esteem and teach them how to trust or not trust.

3) Puberty can be hard on anyone. It hits everyone different. My parents persevered. Realizing what I put them through has helped me as a parent of now three teenagers.

4) Baseball is a game. A game that should be fun and played to win. But the life lessons it can teach you, 1000% outweigh one’s physical ability, how many trophies or rings they win, how many homers they hit, how many guys they strike out, how hard they throw or where the game takes them.

5) Character > Athleticism

6) Playing the game is tough. Coaching the game is tough. Parenting is tough. Growing up is tough. Play it the best you can. Teach it the best you can. Raise them the best you can. Learn as much as you can.

7) You can’t teach experience but experience doesn’t always mean better. It means you may have more to share from but not everyone is a teacher. Playing and coaching are two very different things.

8) Knowledge is power. Gain as much information on the subject as you can before you start making choices and decisions.

9) We are a product of what we surround ourselves with. Do the things we choose to have in our life provide positive and encouraging thoughts or do they breed negativity and put us in a place of constant bitterness to what is happening around us? I suggest filling your head with as much motivation as you can. Life is tough enough!

10) Everyone has different opinions. Different feelings on topics. Different ideas and different approaches. IT’S OK! We don’t all have to see eye to eye on everything.

11) There are two kinds of coaches. Transactional and Transformational. Learn the difference between the two. Personally I strive to be Transformational and breathe to help others become this type of mentor.

12) Too many adults often forget how hard it was growing up and how hard this game is. Many have lost perspective that the number one goal is raising people. Developing quality people. They get so caught up in, and become obsessed with, the outcome of a game, that they become blinded to the children that are standing before them learning how to live.

13) FAMILY IS EVERYTHING!!

The game is called “Life.” In our world, Baseball is an amazing tool we get to use to teach with. The lessons that it teaches are endless. It’s not for everyone and very few in this world understand the passion we all have for it, but I recommend we all learn to use it for goodness and not greed.

What the game of Life has taught me.

Chris Gissell (172 Posts)

Categories : All Articles, Baseball Life, Chris Gissell, Coaching, Parents

My Experience Playing in Japan

Apr

The game blessed me with the opportunity to play in Japan for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. I played for the Seibu Lions out of Tokorozawa which is in the Saitama Prefecture. I like to say it is like a suburb of Tokyo. We were a few trains away from famous Shinjuku. We spent a few off days wondering the streets of that extremely busy area.

While we were there our two oldest were a toddler and baby (now almost 20 and 17). Our first season there we had no form of personal transportation so rain, shine, hot or cold we walked. Our closest train station was about a 15 minute walk away! Our second season we picked up some bikes with child seats on the back, what a difference that made!!

The food was absolutely amazing and would love to go back someday just for that. The people were incredible and maybe the most eye opening thing to me was how the fans carried themselves. In those two seasons we never once heard a “Boo” and the amount of love and respect we felt from them on the daily was so humbling. No matter how we did they showed their gratitude for our effort.

As for the game itself, it was different for sure. As pitchers there was a constant level of pressure from holding runners, if you didn’t control the running game they would run on you all day, they were willing, ready and prepared to sac bunt or bunt for a hit from the first inning and they were great contact hitters so hard to strike out. Funny, the easiest to K up were the Gaijin (foreign) players who were most always power hitters.

We traveled the country mostly by train, often bullet trains. Many fields had all dirt infields and they would have a “halftime” break after the 5th inning where they would fix the whole field and cheerleaders would be the entertainment. The fans also had a cheer section in the outfield and had individual chants for every single player. They would come out to the park during batting practice and practice them.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was one of my teammates who would later sign with the Red Sox. At the time he was at the top of the world in Japan. A basbeall idol for so many. His fame grew when he pitched two complete games in their National HS Tournament which is one of their most famous (draws 40-50K fans each game from what I have been told) events and if I recall correctly he threw a no hitter in one. It was fun to watch him compete in MLB.

We will forever be grateful for our time and experience over there and for the hospitality the fans, citizens and the Seibu Lions showed us. Japan, we think about you often and hope to make it back someday.

Domo Arigato Japan!!

Chris Gissell (172 Posts)

Categories : All Articles, Baseball Life, Chris Gissell, Pitching

Mental Stability

Apr

Besides physical tools, what goes on between our ears is absolutely vital for not just performing well but performing well consistently.

For the mentally weak and those who just can’t get a grip on their emotions when things don’t go their way, this game will chew them up and spit them out. Seen it happen and can only imagine how many talented athletes, and non-athletes, never reached, and will never reach, their full potential because they couldn’t get past “fair” or being so prideful they couldn’t handle being beat by their competition that day or they couldn’t grasp the importance of “stoic” when their teammates made mistakes.

It’s an emotional game, we are human. Excitement and frustration are most definitely part of being a competitor but using that as a reason or excuse to “lose it” is not “competing.” Throwing pitches with anger is not competing. Swinging harder than normal because we don’t like the last call is not competing. Hanging onto whatever happened the last pitch and being so distraught that we make a mistake on the next pitch/ball in play is not competing.

In the real world “Mental In-stability” leads to many mistakes and in some cases those mistakes can be life changing. Not just for us personally but often those around us. In our game this is often referred to as being “soft” or “easy to beat.” You call it what you want but if this is you, you are indeed easy to beat. You may have some special talent but ultimately you are not a strong competitor…YET!

Personal growth is an ongoing process. Some can, and do, fix things like this earlier in life while others take time and unfortunately some never figure it out. Having the ability to remain calm in tense situations puts us in a place to think clearly. To be able to critically think, observe the situation and make better thought out decisions. Breathe, relax your shoulders, give yourself a second.

We work so hard on improving and perfecting our physical tools but let’s make sure we are giving our mind the attention it needs and deserves too.

Chris Gissell (172 Posts)

Categories : All Articles, Baseball Life, Catching, Chris Gissell, Coaching, Dudes Blog, Fielding, Hitting, Parents, Pitching

Teacher of What?

Apr

No matter what level we are coaching at, we are developing minds. We are developing attitudes. We are teaching right from wrong. We are their leader and we are preparing them for life.

Having worked with, coached and trained, players ranging from 4 years old to 30 year old professionals, there’s one common theme with all of them. They need confidence. They will not be able to perform to their potential if they don’t have it. They need to believe and it’s hard to believe when they don’t have the support of those around them. Those being their teammates, coaches, parents, teachers, siblings, friends, etc.

The psyche is a fragile thing. When it breaks, by the players doing or by outside actions, the toughest part can often be putting it back together. This is where great leadership comes in. Just as a moment of poorly timed criticism can break a spirit, a moment of perfectly timed faith and uplifting words can bring ones attitude from the bottom to the top.

Strong leadership understands the levels of mental toughness. They understand and never forget how tough this game is. Quality leadership will never raise it’s voice out of anger to make them feel better but will only raise their voice in a motivating manner. That is leadership. That is looking to bring the confidence out in everyone and not trying to make them feel bad for their shortcomings.

Berating, belittling, putting down, demoralizing, showing up and calling out does no good for anyone. All it will do is instill fear, hatred, anger and break trust. It can break a team. This is poor leadership and can shatter the one thing they need most, their confidence.

Good Leadership is emphathetic. Strong Leadership speaks the truth, even when it’s hard to hear, but will always give a solution. Quality Leadership has trust where poor leadership will struggle to keep it. Great Leadership can relate to different ages and is never biased towards talent and ability. Servant Leadership speaks with confidence to build confidence in those around them and knows the impact their words can have in a moment of failure.

Confidence is key to success on and off the field.

BUILD THEM UP…NEVER PUT THEM DOWN.

Chris Gissell (172 Posts)

Categories : All Articles, Chris Gissell, Coaching

5 Ways to Make Your Stuff Better…

Mar

As pitchers we are always trying to be better. We work to throw harder. We try to get our change up to drop more. We would love for our breaking pitchers to be sharper. This is a constant desire for those that spend years doing it, that’s part of what striving for excellence looks like. Now, there are most certainly things we can do to make our stuff “play” better than what it actually is. “Play” meaning how our stuff appears to the batters. Here are 5 ways to help make this happen…

1. Command the inside part of the plate!! Most hitters DO NOT like the ball inside, especially the higher the velocity. They want to get extended. It’s much easier for most of them to find the sweet spot with the ball further away from them. Throw fastballs inside for strikes AND for balls. Yes our main job is to throw strikes but sometimes purposely throwing a fastball inside off the plate can make them uncomfortable, maybe get them on their heels a little more and open up the outer half a little more. When they are aware we will come inside at any point it will give us more options as a pitcher.

2. Mix in a quick pitch. We are seeing it more and more at the highest level. Guys messing with leg lifts, using slide step pitches with no one on base and varying with delivery tempo. This is for one reason, to throw off the batters timing. Believe it or not, slide step change ups can be very affective pitches. The hitter has to rush their load and then try to hold back for the slower pitch. Very hard for most to do. As always, make sure pitchers we incorporate things like this into our weekly bullpens if we intend to do it in a game.

3. Work fast!! Be the first one out of the dugout. Get your warm up pitches done in 60-90 seconds. Put pressure on that first batter of the inning. Take no more than 8-12 seconds between pitches. Most hitters don’t want to feel rushed. They want to take their time. That’s okay as it is what works for them but we don’t necessarily want them to be “comfortable!” And remember this, when they call time out (because that is what they are taught to do when they feel rushed or do to slow us down) don’t get upset about it. It’s a good thing. It means we have them thinking about other things besides what they want to do with the next pitch.

4. Develop the ability to throw all your pitches in any count to any location. THIS is pitching. When the hitter knows you’re going to throw a first pitch FB 95% of the time, it starts to become less effective. When you only throw your breaking ball in two strike counts or when you’re ahead in the count, they will be more prepared for what to look for. Be able to execute your FB inside, outside, up and down. Be able to throw your CH to both righties and lefties whether you are ahead or behind in the count. Have the ability to throw your breaking pitches for get me over strikes, to put away (swing and miss) locations and back door/front door spots for strikes. We MUST become unpredictable to survive long term. Start developing this skill early!!

5. Get better at throwing more strikes!! The more we are ahead in the count the more effective our stuff is. When they are behind in the count the more they “protect” and chase pitches they wouldn’t as much when they are ahead in the count. Keep the pressure on THEM. When we are behind in the count, we are putting pressure on us. Practice pitching more, focus on hitting spots in catch, get more consistent with your delivery, visualize execution and positive outcomes and keep getting better at controlling those emotions to put yourself in a better mindset to think and compete with a clear mind.

Chris Gissell (172 Posts)

Categories : All Articles, Chris Gissell, Coaching, Dudes Blog, Pitching

12 Things I would tell myself as a young player:

Mar

1. The work you put in away from your team is where real growth happens. Take your personal development into our own hands. Stop waiting for others to help you.

2. The game will be hard on your body. Take care of it.

3. Accountability will be one of your biggest weaknesses. Get better at it ASAP!

4. Everyday you play catch you are a pitcher. Even if you’re not slated to pitch that day, while you play catch, be a pitcher. Work on your throwing mechanics, throw your off speed pitches and hit spots on your partner.

5. THROW YOUR CHANGE UP!! Start learning it from day one. Experiment with different grips. Keep it out of your palm. Play catch with it EVERYDAY you throw the ball. It will be a very important pitch you need later. Develop it and your confidence in it early on so you don’t need to later.

6. GET STRONGER!!

7. Be a student of the game. When you watch the game on TV, watch it more like a student than a fan. Watch how they move their bodies. How they move around the field. Read up on mental toughness. Seek out those with more experience and ask questions.

8. You’re a pitcher. Just because you threw a pitch, your job is not over. The only time you should find yourself still standing on the mound after a hit ball is if there is no one on base and a GB is hit to your 3B or SS. Any other time you are either moving towards 1B to cover if needed or backing up a base somewhere. Stop spectating!

9. Your headspace will separate you from your competitors. Please start learning this at a younger age! Mental toughness, baseball IQ, competitiveness and emotional control need to be a constant focus.

10. You will have some great coaches in your life and some who have no business being in that position. But you can learn something from all of them, even if that means learning how you DON’T want to be as a coach someday.

11. Playing with and through discomfort is part of it. You shouldn’t have to feel 💯 to give 💯. You better develop some toughness in that area if you want to last.

12. Enjoy the Game!! Someday you will play in your final game. Be grateful for what the game gave you. Respect the game. Remember as much as you can. Enjoy your teammates and when you’re ready, give back as much as you can.

Chris Gissell (172 Posts)

Categories : All Articles, Chris Gissell, Coaching, Parents, Pitching

20 Reminders For Coaches

Jan

1. Be prepared to repeat yourself. Empathy towards their age, maturity level and aptitude is required.

2. Be an expert at communicating. No fluff. If we say it we BETTER follow through and when plans change there needs to be a clear reason as to why communicated.

3. Be the type of student we want them to be. There is always something to get better at. There are more ways to do it than what worked for us.

4. Team culture and atmosphere starts with us, the standards we set, what we allow and how we handle it when something happens that will affect that.

5. Be organized. Never show up without a plan. Be prepared for an audible at any point but never get caught not ready.

6. Lead by example. They are always watching. They will emulate our behavior.

7. If we want their trust we have to gain it. How we talk to them, how we talk with them, how we follow through and how we hold them all accountable, no matter who they are, who their parents are or how talented they are.

8. No standing around at practices. Find ways to keep everyone moving. No long lines in drills.

9. The game is relatable to life in many ways. Always be looking for ways to help them develop their character through it.

10. Never forget this is a game. They will only get to play it for a short period in their lives. We are here to teach it to them and help them enjoy it. Make it a memorable phase for them.

11. Coach confidence. If the goal is to get the most out of the players, they need to believe. Everything we do needs to be done with this in mind.

12. Get them talking. Hear their thoughts before we give ours. When they know they will be asked to speak we will see more focus and engagement.

13. TAKE NOTES! Keep a note pad during games/practice to jot down points to discuss. Don’t let those important moments slip through the cracks.

14. Make eye contact, take off your sunglasses. Make them take theirs off. Position yourself so their back is to the sun.

15. Pitchers and catchers need/deserve dedicated time each week for bullpens and dedicated time for catching fundamentals. NEVER IGNORE THEM!!

16. We never know what’s going on in their life. We get an opportunity to possibly be a bright light for them. This is MUCH bigger than the game.

17. Development is a process. The process requires patience and opportunity…And plenty of it.

18. Read your audience. Know when it’s time to move on. Once we lose their attention everything we want them to hear will go in one ear then out the other.

19. Be careful of getting caught up in the emotions of the moment. We need to remain calm and focused to make clear minded decisions.

20. It’s their game. Our playing days are long over. We are the lucky ones to get to be a part of their journey. Be grateful for it and be the best possible leader we can be FOR THEM.

Chris Gissell (172 Posts)

Categories : All Articles, Baseball Life, Chris Gissell, Coaching

Stick Ball

Sep

All dirt fields, mismatched uniforms (if they had them), hand me down cleats, bats and gloves (if they had them), old ratty baseballs and some stories of quitting school as teenagers to support their families.

I was drafted in 1996. Three days after graduating HS, I was on a plane across the country where I would soon find myself sharing a clubhouse and dugout with young men from all over America, to Australia, to the Dominican Republic, to Venezuela, to Mexico. I had no idea that the next 17 years of my life would not only be an experience of a lifetime as an athlete but an experience that would help mold my perspective on the game, development, what it takes and getting to know men all over the country/world, their life, upbringing and what their path was like which led to us being teammates.

Many have seen the video of Mariano Rivera talking about, and showing, how he would use a piece of cardboard to make a glove. This Dude is arguably the best closer of all time yet he didn’t grow up with the shiny stuff.

The energy our latino teammates brought was awesome! Getting to know them, their culture and what life was like for them as kids is something I will never forget. Many of them literally came from nothing yet here they were considered some of the best athletes in the world. Many would send money home from their already small paychecks (as minor leaguers) but they would show up everyday grateful for their opportunity.

Looking back on this experience and playing with these men day in and day out I am certain of one major thing that gets lost in our youth game…

It’s not the team, the uniforms, the bat, the glove, the batting gloves, the cleats, the sunglasses, the name of the tournament, the coach, the instructor or the school that makes the athlete. It’s the ability they were born with, their attitude, their work ethic/desire to be great, their grit, their aptitude and their ability to keep going when things get tough.

Perspective is formed from our personal experiences. Because we all have different experiences through our lives many of us tend to see things a little different. This is a bit of mine.

Chris Gissell (172 Posts)

Categories : All Articles, Baseball Life, Chris Gissell, Coaching, Parents

Change Up Development

Aug

The variations of grips for this pitch seem to be endless. There are common ones for sure but with different thoughts on finger pressure, finger locations and release, there are many options. I suggest experimenting with all ideas until you find what works for you.

The most common we will hear is the “Circle Change Up” meaning the pointer finger and thumb touch in a manner to create a circle. You will see many high level pitchers use a variation of this grip. The issue with this grip comes with teaching it to the young ones. The problem is with their hand size and with the ball in their hand when they adjust the grip to touch their pointer and thumb it pulls the ball closer into their palm and now they are essentially trying to throw a palm ball which is a tough pitch to throw with proper arm speed and when they do it tends to go straight down into the ground so in order to throw it for a strike they slow down their arm speed.

**I’m sure there are some out there that have seen success with this grip. Remember, this is in general, for all, not just you or your child.

Let’s try to debunk the myth that says to throw a change up you need to touch those fingers together. It’s most definitely not a rule and not necessary to throw a change up. Try this…

– Start with your FB grip.
– Leave your thumb where it is and move your pointer to the inside of the baseball while shifting your middle finger to the position where the pointer was and now move your ring finger up to where the middle finger was.
– Now you have your middle finger and ring finger on top with your pointer and pinky on the sides.
– Make small adjustments to find a comfortable feel. This may mean moving the ball around in your hand so the seams touch your fingers different.

Now for the most important and missed part. PLAY CATCH WITH IT EVERY DAY!! Change up development and feel is done during catch. Every young player who is a pitcher should be throwing it a least 10-15 times at the end of their catch play (same thing with breaking balls when they start throwing them). Also make sure your weekly bullpen routine involves multiple reps with it too. Try this…

– Keep your grip loose.
– Keep the ball out of your palm and on your fingers just like a fastball.
– Feel it roll off your middle and ring fingers.
– Take away the snap in your wrist we feel when throwing a fastball. Think loose or limp wrist.
– Think you are throwing an egg with fastball arm speed but don’t want the egg to break in your hand.
– If done properly it will feel slow out of the hand while the rest of our body feels like we are throwing a fastball.

I read a comment somewhere recently on this topic saying this is a hard pitch to throw and takes a long time to master. Sounds a lot like pitching in general to me! With a plan, trial and error and patience it can be done. I’ve found the above tips to be the most helpful and easiest to learn even with the youngest pitchers. It’s not as hard as we make it to be. Coaches, I would HIGHLY suggest you get out there and play catch with it yourself. Learn the feel yourself. Anything is easier to talk about and teach if we have done, and are doing, ourselves.

Chris Gissell (172 Posts)

Categories : All Articles, Chris Gissell, Coaching, Pitching

We Teach…They Play

Aug

June 1996 I was drafted by the Chicago Cubs. Three days after graduating HS I was on a plane to Fort Myers, FL for Rookie Ball. I soon found myself sharing a clubhouse with new faces from all over the country and the world. It was my first true taste of the game outside the small community I was from. I went on to have a strong first season but what I remember most was the teaching that happened.

Our manager was a guy named Sandy Alomar Sr. He was chill, always making us laugh and had the experience and knowledge to help us all. Many years later when I got a shot in the big leagues with the Rockies he was one of our coaches. Talk about full circle.

Development seems to have a different definition out there. People look at it different. For example, because of the baseball world I’ve spent much of my life in I would never sit in the dugout and call all the pitches for my pitchers and catchers. That’s their job, not mine. My job is to teach them, help them know what to look for, understand why and when, talk about their thoughts and choices in the dugout and team meetings and then let them play.

Looking back on that season I now know just how important it was for me to experience. Not just as a player but as a future teacher. To this day I will never forget how our position players were made to play the game. They were taught the game. They put on their own hit and runs. Were given the green light to steal. Put down sac bunts. Perform squeeze plays. Defensive alignment was put on by the players and of course us pitchers and catchers were responsible for ourselves. Were mistakes made…Haha, of course, we were all kids but we all know the best and quickest way to learn is to get our hands dirty.

That season was two and a half months long. I think about the process of that season and it’s awesome to think about how much we all learned in that short period of time. I do remember that we made the playoffs but didn’t win it all. That wasn’t the end goal. Our coaches jobs were to prepare us for the future. We were taught how to play the game. How to see the game. How to read the game. We were taught and then allowed to play.

Development never ends.

We Teach…They Play

Chris Gissell (172 Posts)

Categories : All Articles, Chris Gissell, Coaching, Dudes Blog, Parents

15 Things I’ve Learned As a Coach

Jul

The game has been a part of me since I was 5 which means for the last 41 years it’s been a constant process of learning. I played until I was 32 and have been teaching full time ever since. Here are a few things I’ve learned throughout this process that are necessary, needed and missing…

1. No matter their age, even those big kids we get to watch on TV, they need to believe in themselves. Their level of confidence will determine the quality of their performance. We as coaches (and adults in their lives) are there to help them with this. Mechanical adjustments can help especially when they see a positive change in their ability but helping them get their mind right, teaching them approach, visualization, how to handle adversity, etc. WILL give them the best chance at consistency.

2. Communicate!! The best coaches I’ve been around are great communicators. They explain well, are great with eye contact, they follow through with their words, if they tell a player one thing but plans change they take time to explain. Without communication minds are left to wonder and we all know what happens when that happens.

3. Organization is key. Practice plans should be made well in advance of showing up to practice. Line-ups should be written before you get to the park. We need to be mentally prepared for an audible at any moment but scrambling to make a plan will always lead to mistakes and often confusion.

4. The Player:Coach ratio is vital when it comes to player development. For the younger I’ve found the ratio is best around 4:1 and as they get older 5/6:1 works well. The smaller the ratio the more eyes on reps, the more touches they get, the smoother practices can run. The goal is little to no standing around during practice.

5. We want great competitors out there. Players who play fearless, aggressive, have awareness, know their jobs and have great baseball IQ. So we need to teach them what that means. Some need more help at it than others but that’s why we are out there. We need to teach them the game. Situational baseball. Give them the freedom to be aggressive knowing mistakes will be made. If we want them to have feel for the game we need to teach them and then let THEM play it. When we hold their hands, tell them what to do and when to do ALL THE TIME, we are not giving them those chances to develop that feel.

6. We preach confidence, believe in yourself, focus on what you can control. The best way to help them with this is to live it. Be that voice for them. Be that example for them. We have to be ultra aware though of how many of our actions go completely against this. Our body language when they make a mistake. Our belittling tone when they make an error. How we respond when we think the umpires are making the wrong calls. Speaking positivity one moment but then going against it in the next is an US issue. BE THE EXAMPLE!

7. Get them to talk. See what they are thinking. Athletes are used to always being talked to, I’ve found talking WITH them helps them be more aware and more engaged and we know better what we are working with when we get to hear how they are processing things. It doesn’t matter how much we know as coaches, when we give them TMI we can’t get upset with them when they simply aren’t ready for it all yet. We need to be aware of our audience.

8. We never know what’s going on at home or on that car ride home. We have the opportunity to make a difference in their lives. Some may see it differently but there are many times when coaching baseball becomes much more than teaching a game. That PERSON may just need one person in their life to show them kindness, understanding, someone to trust or even on the flip side, someone to hold them accountable, call them out and teach them that’s now how we do things.

9. Everyone is a hitting coach!! Where are all the pitching coaches?? As a former pitcher I’m blown away at how few teams/programs out there make preparing pitchers a priority. Every arm on a team that has a chance at pitching in games should be getting weekly time on a mound to practice. Just like hitters take batting practice, fielders take ground balls, outfielders work on catching fly balls. If we can’t throw strikes consistently, we will give away too many runs.

10. Coaches, how often are you working your catchers out? How often do they work on blocking? How often do they work on throw downs? How often do they work on catching high pop foul balls? How often do they work on leadership? Our performance as a team weighs mightily on our pitchers and catchers. Too many coaches are missing this.

11. Fear just may be the hardest thing to help players work through. It’s a powerful emotion that grips many young players. Fear of not doing well. Fear of getting hurt (aka, being hit by the ball). Fear of embarrassment or fear of who is watching and what they might say or how they will react. It requires patience and consistency from us adults to help them work through it.

12. Mechanical adjustments are not always, you could even say rarely, the answer to what’s causing a slump. Sure giving them some attention may help a little and act as a distraction but more often than not that slump is happening because of what’s going on, or not going on, between our ears. Lack of approach. Negative self talk. Poor visualization and/or giving too much attention to the un-controllable’s. Coaches, help them get, and keep, their mind right.

13. The game and what we know about it, how to perform better at it, has really evolved since us in our 30’s, 40’s and over 50’s were growing up in it. We know so much more now. There is a lot of great information out there, we just have to intentionally look for it. We need to be just as coachable as coaches as we want our players to be. None of us know it all.

14. We are their leader out there. They feed off our energy, emotions and actions. If we are complaining about the umpire, so will they. If we talk about focusing on the controllable’s, so will they. The culture and attitude within our group (parent’s included) is a reflection of our attitude, the standards we set, the example we give and the actions we allow.

15. For most of the players we get to teach, the game will not be their lives. They won’t get to play it for long in comparison to how long they will live. The lessons we can use from the game to help them with life are endless. You can find something everyday to relate. In the end they MIGHT remember a few of the moments they had playing the game but we have the opportunity to help them develop as a person which honestly is more important than any outcome of any game.

“Baseball is life but there’s more to life than Baseball.”

Chris Gissell (172 Posts)

Categories : All Articles, Baseball Life, Chris Gissell, Coaching, Parents

More Ways Than One

Jul

When I played (there’s that phrase that kids LOVE to hear!!) I had to learn what worked for me. I had to take bit and pieces from all the things I had learned from others along with what I was learning about myself to get the most out of what I was inherently born with. It look a while (about 25 years), a lot of failing, a lot of success, a lot of trial and error to finally get to the point where I was confident enough to know when a bad day happened that it wasn’t a reflection of my abilities, it was just a bad day. The emotions of that moment/day wouldn’t carry over into the next. When I went home after that day at the park those emotions were gone. My family needed me, not someone else.

When I was given the opportunity to coach I was excited at the chance to help others achieve their life long dreams. But there was one big problem, though I did well with learning what worked for me, I failed to realize there was many more ways to do it than how I did it, how I was taught to do it and how I figured out to do it. I went into that first season much less prepared than I thought I was.

That first year coaching was one of the biggest learning experiences of my life. I was humbled very quickly but just like being a player, I had to use that season as a learning experience top get better if I wanted to continue. To this day and after playing with and working with hundreds, maybe 4 digits, of athletes over the years, I’m still learning but now it’s them who are my most impactful teachers. They may not realize it but their different personalities, abilities and ages force me to find ways to help them all while at the same time not judge them, compare them negatively or treat them differently with the attention I give. They FORCE me to be better.

I’ve also been sharing and teaching on SM for the last 10 years and it’s been another great learning experience. I’ve put my foot in my mouth many times as we all have throughout our lives. Learned there are many different views, opinions and thoughts on dang near any topic. There will be some that agree and some that disagree on the same messages. Some feel the same way while others want to straight up argue. The same wording is read one way by some and another by others. Social Media is literally an education in Social Emotions. Keyboard courage is a real thing and something I got caught up in early but not any longer. I’m not here for those people, I’m here for those who are looking for it and realize there is “More Ways Than 1” to look at and do things.

None of us know it all. There are, and always has been, “More Ways Than 1” to do this thing called life. Be open minded, be curious, not confrontational, ask questions, observe, experiment, try to really understand why different things work for others and keep growing.

Chris Gissell (172 Posts)

Categories : All Articles, Chris Gissell, Coaching, Parents

Time

Jun

There are 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week and 8,760 hours in a year. “I don’t have time” is the most widely used excuse for not doing something. We have all used it at some point but we all need to realize that anytime we say it what we are actually saying is “It’s not that important to me” or “There are other things I would rather be doing.”

If an athlete genuinely wants to get better, they WILL find the time to practice on their own. If someone truly wants to get in shape, they WILL find the time to workout and eat healthier. If a business is failing and the owners want to keep it alive, they WILL find the time to make changes. If a relationship is as important to someone as they say it is, they WILL find the time to help it grow. If a coach is passionate about the role they have taken on (even as a volunteer), they WILL find the time to learn how they can be the best they can at it.

How much time do we spend scrolling our phones? How much time to do we spend on YouTube? How much time do we spend on the sofa watching TV? How much time do we spend playing video games? I would bet if every person totaled up those minutes and hours they would suddenly realize they do have time to hit a few buckets on the tee, go play catch with their ball player, learn more about the sport they are coaching, get their school work done early or get in a workout.

We can always find a reason not to do something especially with the number of distractions we have at our fingertips, but the truth is if it’s something we care about enough, we will always find the “Time” to do it. So the next time we choose to say “I don’t have time” remember what we are actually saying is “It’s not that important.”

Chris Gissell (172 Posts)

Categories : All Articles, Baseball Life, Chris Gissell, Dudes Blog, Parents

45 Days

May

Everything happens the exact way it’s meant to happen.

I spent the first 6 years of my career working my way up the Cubs minor league system finally reaching AAA in that 6th season. I was 23 years old at the time and one step away from the big leagues. They asked me to return for a 7th season but I was now a minor league free agent so I chose to give another organization a shot.

That off season I signed with the Astros but was let go with a few days left in minor league spring training. Through contacts I ended up signing with the Rockies a few days later and was assigned to their AAA team and made it there for opening day. This was when I met the coach whose approach would change my career and life. I learned more that year than I remember in all the years prior. I do believe timing and maturity played a part in that. I went on to have the best year of my career but still no call from the big league team.

After the season I became a free agent again and signed with the Giants. I went with their AAA team to start the season but was once again let go before the season even started. I spent the next month at home waiting for the next opportunity which ended up coming from my former organization, the Rockies. Within a week I was back with their AAA team and somehow ended up having an even better season than the one before. I finished that season in the big leagues where I ended up with “45 days” of MLB service time.

That’s not a substantial number in comparison to many of the guys I got to play with and compete against but it was life changing and the result of patience and a lot of work.

After that season they did not offer me a contract making me a free agent once again. That winter the Cardinals called and the next season I was assigned to their AAA team and went on to have a strong season, was in the top 5 in the league in multiple categories and the starting pitcher for the all star game. Though most likely deserved, no call came from the big league team that year either.

That winter came a call we never expected. An offer from a team in Japan. After weeks of negotiation, we agreed on life changing terms. I spent the next two years playing for the Seibu Lions of Japans version of our Major Leagues. What an experience!

After those two years I played for two more seasons, won the AAA championship with the Sacramento Rivercats (then AAA for the Athletics) and walked away on my terms.

Though my career didn’t play out as I thought and hoped it would it played out exactly how it was suppose to. From the phone calls that didn’t come to the days where I was the worst player on the field to the moments I got to spend with men who were true leaders and pioneers in the game, I’ll forever be grateful for those 45 days but even more thankful for what those 14 years gave me.

Life challenges us all in different ways. Take it all in, be in the moment and trust the process.

Chris Gissell (172 Posts)

Categories : All Articles, Baseball Life, Chris Gissell, Coaching, Dudes Blog, Parents

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