12 things other than ability that earn playing time
A player who isn't gifted with ability can still find himself on the field more often than not. It comes down to some basic things that any player can do.
The truth is that ability is only one of the many things a player needs — and it won’t guarantee a spot on the field by itself. I’ve benched talented kids, and I’ve played kids who couldn’t hit a lick.
Ask yourself each of these honestly…
- Do you hustle all of the time, with no exceptions?
- Do you support your teammates when they’re struggling?
- Do you communicate on the field, or do you wait to be told?
- Do you care more about the team result than your own?
- Do you freak out after you make a mistake?
- Do you learn from your mistakes?
- Do you keep a positive attitude when we’re down by five?
- Do you complain about your role?
- Do you stay focused in the dugout and in the field?
- Do you follow instructions, even the second time I give them?
- Do you know your responsibilities without being reminded?
- Do your actions match the situation? If we’re down one in the last inning, swinging at a bad pitch on a 3-1 count (when we need you on base) shows me you aren’t aware of it.
None of those require size, speed, arm strength or power. All of them require work and preparation.
If a player is talented, he can’t take that talent for granted, because if he skips half of these, he’ll end up sitting next to the player who does all twelve. And if he isn’t talented, he can still earn his way onto the field by doing all twelve.
Still have a question? Ask Coach Fungo.
“While kids have varying levels of ability, every kid can -- and SHOULD -- hustle.”
I wrote the long version of this when I coached the Spiders: 12 Factors Other Than Ability That Impact Playing Time on SpidersElite.
Play like a scout is watching
It can be hard to get players to do the little things that so often decide games. So I tried something different with my team: Play like a scout is watching.
“There is something special about a player who always hustles. He stands out.”
A kid playing baseball vs. a baseball player
Every player gets upset after a strikeout. What I care about is whether he stays stuck on what just happened or starts thinking about the next time he sees that pitch.
“A kid playing baseball doesn't learn from adversity. He just knows that it's an unpleasant situation.”
The Count
Call balls and strikes and watch what the count does to the hitter. Five seasons of big-league numbers.
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