Order, Timing & Intent

Leadership: Confidence

LEADERSHIP: Confidence

Confidence is a skill.  We normally think about confidence as a characteristic or trait, but then we tend to confuse it with “cockiness.”  Rather than thinking about confidence as a feeling that we experience (like cockiness), let’s consider it as something we can purposefully practice.

First, you must choose confidence.  It may sound fake when you first think about it in this way, almost like cockiness itself, as though you are trying to convince yourself that everything will work out just fine.  But if you take a closer look, you’re actually committing to the work required for true confidence, rather than just hoping you feel good about your luck.  This decision itself doesn’t make you confident, but it unleashes the power of your intention.

Next you must prepare.  “Win first, then fight.”  This is where to apply your effort.  Know the answers on the test before you take it.  Knowyou’re ready to block because you’ve done your drill work.  Know you’re ready to call the game because you’ve done your homework on the opposing hitters.  Know you’re ready to help your pitcher get through potentially tough spots because you’ve talked to him about it beforehand. If you “hope,” you didn’t do the work.  Know you will perform because you’ve already done it.

Finally, you must project confidence.  Let those around you see your confidence by how you carry yourself.  Your very presence should say, “I am prepared.  I’ve already won, and now I’m ready to fight.”  Deliver this powerful message with your chin up and your chest out, calm and steady, in good times and bad.  Speak with clarity and authority.  You’ve earned it.

Have you decided?
Are you prepared?
Do you project?

Are you cocky or confident?  At the end of the day, only one of these options is worth following.

Which will you choose?

“Win First, Then Fight”

It’s not time to fight, but the time to win is now.

Soon, you’ll be fighting for a spot on the team.
Then, you’ll be fighting the other team for a win.
Then, you’ll fight all the teams for the championship.

This is not the time to relax.
This is not the time for days off.
This is not the time to rest.

It’s go time, right now.

Get tired now, so you’re strong when it’s time to fight.
Get sore now, so you’re fresh when it’s time to fight.
Get frustrated now, so you’re focused when it’s time to fight.

Have you earned your roster spot?
Have you won your first game?
Have you won the championship?

Not sure?
Don’t wait to find out.
Win today.

Begin Again

Every year we make New Year’s resolutions.  We promise to work harder, lift more weights, and run more.  We vow to eat better, stay hydrated, and get more quality sleep.  We pledge that we will take more swings, block more balls, and receive more pitches from the machine.  And by January 7th, we have totally forgotten our solemn vows.  It happens every year.

Let’s take a fresh look at this process.  You can make a change in your life any day of the year, so what’s so special about New Year’s Day?  It’s not the promises to “do better” that matter, but the spirit of beginning again.  This day is about taking stock, acknowledging that we’ve taken a trip around the sun, marking our progress toward the goals we’ve set, and renewing our commitment.

So, instead of making a resolution that you’ll forget in a week, take a step in the direction you’ve already chosen.  Tomorrow, take another one.  Then, do it again.

Now, take a deep breath, inhaling through your belly and up into your chest, then release it slowly, slowly, back down through your chest, gently squeezing your core like a toothpaste tube until there is not a whiff of breath in your lungs.

You are now ready to begin again…

Happy Holiday’s

When you’re focused on achieving big goals, it’s necessary to prioritize what matters most, like how we’re spending our free time, what we’re eating, and whether we’re getting the sleep we need to perform at our best.  We end up setting aside some of the things we like because achieving our dream has become more important.

But sometimes that focus can lead us to neglect our most important relationships, and we can get wrapped up in the pursuit of our dream, blocking everything and everyone else out.  It’s a trap that’s easy to fall into, but you don’t have to.

The holiday season gives us a chance to reconnect with family and strengthen our friendships.  It’s the perfect opportunity to set down our projects for a minute to enjoy and appreciate the people closest to us.  Sure, this is an important time of year to train and prepare for the upcoming season, but it’s also a chance for us to pause and spend some time with those who love us the most.

It’s probably the perfect time for them to do the same, as they have their own goals and ambitions, just like you.  So it’s important to take advantage of these natural common breaks in our schedules because, once we get past the holidays, our busy lives will once again begin to accelerate, and those opportunities will begin to slip away.

So, take a break.
Hang out with your friends.
Spend time with your family.
We’re all in this together.

Happy Holidays!

Leadership: DECISIVENESS

You’ve done the work.  You know your pitchers.  You know the opposing hitters.  You created a game plan.  Your instincts are trained and trusted.  You know when to improvise.  What’s left to do?

Decide.

This is where a lot of players get hung up.  The decisions feel big, and each one is under a microscope because there are consequences attached to them.  Well, there are consequences, but it’s your job to decide.  So, decide.

This is no time to get stuck on the fence, deliberating on what to do.  You did that before the game.  That part’s done.  This is no time to second-guess yourself.  (That will come later.)  This is the time for the “first” guess.  Follow through on what you planned to do.

Get comfortable with the possibility of making a mistake, but also get comfortable with the probability that you’ll make good decisions.  You are prepared, and you trust your gut.  What is it telling you?  Do what it says, and pull the trigger.

The game can’t start until you throw a finger down.
Well, we’re waiting…

Leadership: GRATITUDE

Your mom drives you to every practice and every game.
Your dad throws batting practice every time you need it.
Your parents together pay for your lessons and travel teams.
Your older siblings are your example.
Your younger siblings cheer at your games.
Your teammates stand by your side.
Your coaches correct your mistakes and teach you a better way.
Your friends celebrate your victories and support you in defeat.

Nobody has ever succeeded on their own.

So take a moment to personally thank the people who give their time, money and emotional support to help you reach for your dreams.

They’ve earned our appreciation.
We couldn’t do it without them…

Leadership: IMPROVISATION

Leadership: INSTINCTS

Leadership: Expertise

Leadership: Mental Toughness

Mental toughness is how much physical, mental and emotional distraction you can endure before losing your focus.  It’s not how much grit, determination or perseverance you have.  It’s how consistently you are present in this moment.

What does that mean for you as a catcher?

Stay on task.   There are a lot of details that need minding, and missing just one can lose a game.  There is only one way to attack the following list, and that’s by focusing on each step at the right time:

• Get the pickoff sign from the coach.
• Choose the best pitch to call.
• Observe the hitter’s feet as he gets in the box.
• Give the signs.
• Set up on time and give a good target.
• See if the runner breaks.
• Judge if the pitch will reach you in the air.
• Receive, block or throw the ball.
• Check the runner again after the pitch.
• Think about how the batter reacted to the last pitch, and choose the next pitch.
• Start the whole process again for the next pitch.

Recognize distractions.  Your legs are sore and you’re moving slowly today.  Is there something you can do about that right now?  Is there an adjustment you can make to help?  If not, will you dwell on this thought at the expense of the other things that need your attention, or can you simply accept it and focus on your task?

Separate your defense and your offense.  Hitting is hard enough, but it gets a lot harder if you’re thinking about catching while you’re in the batter’s box.  Likewise, your last at bat shouldn’t follow you back behind the plate.  Whether you just hit a grand slam or struck out with the bases loaded, it’s over.  Now your butt is back behind the plate, so make sure your head is right above it so you can get this job done now.  And when you step back into the batter’s box later in the game, leave your catcher brain on the bench with your shin guards.

Understand your emotions.  We think our distractions come from the bad plays we make, like the error you just made, the runner at third you failed to drive in, or the fact that your team is trailing by ten runs.  Actually, it’s not the outcome but our emotional reaction to it that drains our focus.  The elation of a grand slam can be just as distracting as the tragedy of a punch out, if that’s what’s on your mind when you’re supposed to be getting opposing hitters out.

Learn to refocus yourself.  You can’t control your emotions, but you can choose how to respond to them.  Whether you feel angry or happy, tired or energetic, train yourself to acknowledge it and move on.   Ask yourself, “So what?”  Then ask yourself, “Now what?”  The first question allows you to let go of the emotion.  The second question allows you come back to the job at hand.

You’re done reading this.

So what?

Now what?

Leadership: Physical Toughness

Physical toughness is measured by the amount of punishment you can endure before giving up or going down.  It’s not how much you can give, but how much you can take.

What does that mean for you as a catcher?

It means accepting the fact that catching is exhausting and painful.  For professional catchers, the first day of spring training is the best they will feel for the next eight months.  Muscle soreness, bruises, sore knees, and sore backs start on day two, not to mention dislocated or broken fingers, concussions, and arm injuries.  None of these are uncommon in our world, but there is a difference in these lists.

It means knowing the difference between being hurt and injured, and acting accordingly.  If your finger gets dislocated by a foul ball, that’s one thing.  But if that foul ball hits you in the thigh, that’s no reason to stop the game and roll around on the ground in apparent agony for what will eventually amount to a colorful bruise.

It means no drama.  What message are you telling your teammates if you’re constantly complaining about your aches and pains, or every time you block a ball you go into full drama mode, just because a baseball hit you?  Yes, it hurts.  But why would you let anyone see that?  Do you need a little sympathy to make your boo-boo feel better?

It means leading with our body language.  What do think when you see a catcher block a tough pitch that drills him in the elbow, and he pops back up like nothing happened, without flinching, grimacing, or even rubbing it?  I see a guy who prioritizes his team’s success over his personal pain.  I see a stoic.  I see a leader.

But if a stoic approach is too much for you, maybe you should just go stand in the outfield…

Leadership: TRUST

Our most important relationships are with our pitchers.  If they trust us, they will follow our lead.  So, how do you build trust?

Become an unselfish teammate.  We’ve all heard the term “selfless,” but that seems a bit dramatic.  You don’t need to lose your pride, or sacrifice your success for anyone else’s.  Instead, simply focus your pride on your team rather than making it about yourself.  Think and speak about “us” and “we,” rather than “I” and “me.”

Show them you care deeply about their performance.  Catch their bullpens.  Prepare for their starts.  Do your homework on the opposing hitters.  Be ready to help them all the time.  Once they begin to notice, their trust in you will begin to grow.

Take the blame, and pass the praise.  When things go wrong, find a way to take the heat.  Your pitchers will see that you’re willing to share the responsibility instead of pointing fingers.  And when things go right, point that finger right at them!

Always support them, no matter what.  This isn’t always easy, but when they see you by their side, especially in tough times, they know they can lean on you.  They will follow your lead when they see you have their back.

What kind of leader would you follow?
What are you doing to become that guy?

LEADERSHIP: Respect

Respect is the foundation of all leadership, and as catchers we need to establish a reputation of respect in order to lead our team.  So how can you do this, especially as a young catcher?

Respect is never free.  It is always earned, and it starts by respecting yourself.  Carry yourself with dignity and people will take you seriously.  Act like a clown, and they will dismiss you easily.  Sure clowns are funny, but when the game is on the line, can you really depend a guy wearing a wig and a red nose?

Try offering respect before demanding it.  When you respect your teammates, they are much more likely to return it, but if you disrespect them, your path towards leadership only gets more difficult.  The same goes for your opponent.  Don’t be surprised when he shows you up if you do it to him first!

Work and play hard, especially when things get tough.  It’s easy to work hard when you feel good and play hard when you’re winning.  Anybody can do that.  But when push through the exhaustion, blocking every ball in the dirt despite being down by ten runs, your teammates will notice.

Match your actions with your words.  Say what you mean, and do what you say you’re going to do.  The respect your teammates have for you will disappear quickly if you’re caught in a lie, or if you can’t deliver on your promises.

Repair your mistakes.  Respect is quickly lost when we make mistakes, and it’s much harder to regain if we don’t fix the damage.  Own your mistakes and make amends.  The repair itself could very well make the respect they had for you even stronger.

Take your time.  Building a reputation of respect doesn’t happen overnight, so don’t get frustrated when it doesn’t.  Keep laying the bricks for your foundation and the structure will begin to rise.  So, when do you want to start laying the first bricks?

It’s time to start working with pitchers again.  Winter vacations are over, pitchers are taking the mound again to prepare for the upcoming season, and they need you to catch their bullpens.  This is your best opportunity to practice for a couple reasons.

First, catching a bullpen provides game-speed reps with inconsistent locations.  Nothing prepares you to catch in a game like bullpen work.  It can be chaotic and unexpected, much like a game.  Elite catchers use these sessions to mindfully hone their skills.  They set up on time, paying attention to their balance and stability.  They read each pitch and respond accordingly and correctly.  They receive each pitch properly, working it back to the zone and holding it for a count.  They block pitches in the dirt without cheating.  They work on throwing exchange and footwork.  In a nutshell, they see the bullpen session as an opportunity to improve at game-speed.  Mediocre catchers see bullpens as a chore.  They just catch the ball and throw it back without focusing on their technique.

Second, catching bullpens offers an opportunity to build trust with their pitchers.  Before his pitcher even steps on the mound, an elite catcher talks with him about the upcoming session.  What are you working on?  How can I help you?  He establishes a personal connection with the pitcher, and lets him know he cares.  Once the bullpen starts, he works to help his pitcher execute, providing encouraging, but honest feedback.  Afterward, he meets him again face-to-face, and provides any further feedback the pitcher wants.  He develops his communication skills, and at the same time gains the trust of his pitching staff.

So, the next time you strap on the gear to catch a bullpen, consider what you’re about to do.  If you see it as an opportunity to improve your skills and strengthen relationships with your pitchers, then your work will pay off.  If you see it as a chore, and you can’t wait to get it over, then you might as well just set up a catch-net and walk away.