How to Build Your Player's Hit Tool This Winter: A Parent's Guide to Cold-Weather Development

It's November in the Chicago suburbs. The fields are frozen, it's dark by 4:30 PM, and the last thing you want to think about is baseball practice. Your kid's bat is collecting dust in the garage, and spring feels like a lifetime away.

But here's what I know after years of coaching and running Gorilla Baseball: winter is where we separate the players who want it from the players who are just killing time until something else catches their attention.

The kids who show up to our first practice in March with better bat speed, cleaner mechanics, and real confidence? They didn't get there by accident. They put in work when nobody was watching. And honestly, it doesn't take what most parents think it takes.

Let Me Be Blunt About Something

Your player will face live pitching in April. Period. The question isn't whether that's happening—the question is whether they'll be ready or spending the first month of the season shaking off rust and fighting bad habits that crept in over the winter.

I see it every year:

Kids who don't touch a bat November through February:

• Timing is off (everything feels like 100 mph)

• Mechanics fall apart (muscle memory is gone)

• Bat speed drops (use it or lose it)

• Confidence tanks (they're behind and they know it)

Kids who put in 15-20 minutes a day:

• Mechanics are dialed in (repetition builds habits)

• Bat speed is UP (not just maintained, but improved)

• Plate discipline is better (quality reps build quality instincts)

• Confidence is sky-high (they KNOW they did the work)

Which kid do you want at the plate in April?

What You Actually Need

Training facilities are great—we have one for a reason. But the reality is that most development happens at home, in between our team practices. And the good news is you don't need much space or equipment to make real progress.

Here's what works in a basement, garage, or even a bedroom:

The Essentials (under $75):

• Batting tee ($30-40)

• Wiffle balls or foam balls ($10-15)

• Resistance band ($15)

• A notebook (you probably have one)

If You Want to Level Up (under $150):

• Add a hitting net ($40-60)

• Get some limited-flight balls ($20)

If You're All In (under $250):

• Better adjustable tee ($50-70)

• Net with strike zone target ($80-120)

• Weighted bat or bat weight ($25-35)

That's it. Less than most families spend on one weekend tournament. And this investment actually changes their swing.

The Daily Commitment That Actually Works

I'm not asking your kid to train like they're trying out for the Cubs. I'm asking for 20 minutes a day, 5-6 days a week.

Not two hours. Not until their hands are bleeding. Twenty focused minutes.

Here's why: quality matters more than quantity. Forty focused swings with a specific goal beats 200 mindless hacks every single time.

What 20 minutes looks like:

Monday: Launch Position

• 50 tee swings focusing ONLY on getting to a perfect launch position

• Write down how many felt "right" in their notebook

Wednesday: Contact Points

• 25 swings on inside pitches (tee inside)

• 25 swings on outside pitches (tee outside)

• Track solid contact vs. mishits

Friday: Opposite Field

• 50 swings driving the ball the other way

• Focus on letting it travel, staying through it

The key is intentional repetition. Random swinging builds nothing but bad habits. Focused work with a clear purpose? That's how we build real hitters.

Your Role as a Parent (It's Simpler Than You Think)

You don't need to be a hitting coach. Honestly, unless you've studied hitting mechanics extensively, please don't try to be. Here's what actually helps:

Do These Things:

• Give them 20 uninterrupted minutes every day

• Flip soft toss 1-2 times a week (just flip it, don't coach it)

• Make them log their work in a notebook

• Celebrate the effort, not the perfect swing

• Record video occasionally so they can watch themselves

Don't Do These Things:

• Try to fix their swing (that's my job and their coaches' job)

• Compare them to their teammates or travel ball rivals

• Make practice feel like punishment

• Expect immediate results—this is a process

Your job is accountability and support. Our job is teaching mechanics. Let's stay in our lanes.

The Notebook Is Non-Negotiable

I'm serious about this. Every player needs a notebook or notes app on their phone.

After every session, they write:

• Date

• What they worked on

• Number of quality swings

• One thing that improved

• One thing to work on tomorrow

This turns random basement swings into deliberate practice. And when they show up in March with 60+ logged sessions, they KNOW they put in the work. That confidence is real because it's earned.

"But Coach, My Kid Doesn't Want To..."

Yeah, I hear you. Not every 11-year-old is bouncing out of bed excited to hit off a tee in the basement. That's normal. Here's how I'd handle it:

Start smaller if you need to: 10 minutes beats zero. Build the habit first, extend it later.

Make it part of the routine: Like homework. Like chores. It's not optional, it's just what we do.

Connect it to THEIR goals: "You told me you wanted to hit cleanup and play shortstop. This is how that happens. Or you can skip it and hope someone else skips it too."

Let reality be the teacher: Come March, the kids who did the work will show it. Sometimes watching their teammate who DID the work is the wake-up call they need.

And here's the thing—if your player genuinely doesn't care about getting better? That's okay. Not every kid needs to be a grinder. But if they SAY they want to start, if they SAY they want to hit better, then they need to understand: winter work is the price of admission.

What Spring Looks Like When You Do The Work

Picture this: First game in April. Your kid steps in the box.

Their hands are quick. Their load is automatic. They've taken 2,000+ focused swings since November. They're not hoping to get lucky—they're hunting.

That's the kid who did the work.

Now picture the kid who took three months off. They're fighting their timing. Their hands feel slow. They're frustrated because they KNOW they should be better.

Winter decides which kid yours is going to be.

Let's Make This Winter Mean Something

At Gorilla Baseball, we'll train your player 2-3 times a week once we start in November. We have a great facility with everything they need—cages, HitTrax, training equipment, and expert coaching. But I'm telling you right now: that's not enough. It's never enough.

The players who dominate aren't just the most talented. They're the ones who put in daily work at home when nobody is watching, nobody is cheering, and it's just them and a tee in a cold garage.

This winter, commit to 20 minutes a day. Get the basic equipment (you can do it for under $75). Make them track it. Stay on them about consistency.

Come spring, your player won't just be ready—they'll be ahead.

And THAT is when baseball gets really fun.

Want specific homework plans or help getting started? Reach out to us at Gorilla Baseball Academy. We'll help you build a plan that fits your space, your budget, and your player's needs. And if you want to supplement the home work with facility time, we've got that too—open gym time, HitTrax sessions, and private lessons are all available to help accelerate development.

Let's build some hitters this winter.

Visit: www.gorillabball.com
Location: 958 Corporate Woods Parkway, Vernon Hills, IL 60061

Coach Dolenga owns and operates Gorilla Baseball Academy and coaches for Gorilla Baseball Club travel teams. He's passionate about player development and believes winter work is where championships are built.

HitTrax: Where Data Meets Development (And Fun Meets Facts)

Before we even hung the nets at Gorilla Baseball Academy we invested in a Hittrax system. After several years of being around Travel Baseball and coaching, I understood that the missing piece in most player development was objective feedback. Kids would take hundreds of swings in batting cages with no real way to know if they were actually getting better.

Then we started breaking exit velocity and distance records in 99% of the hitting lessons that I was doing with students for the first several weeks I was working with them. . That's when I knew we made the right investment. And that continues today.

What HitTrax Actually Does (Beyond the Marketing Hype)

HitTrax transforms any batting cage into a high-tech analytics center and virtual ballpark. Every swing gets measured for exit velocity, launch angle, distance, and spray direction. But here's what makes it special – it shows players exactly where their ball would land in real stadiums.

Hit a ball 95 mph at 25 degrees? HitTrax shows you that's a double down the left field line at Wrigley Field, but just a long out at Fenway because of the Green Monster. That's the kind of real-world feedback that creates "lightbulb moments" for players.

Why We Use HitTrax at Gorilla Baseball Academy

Every conversation I have with parents includes the question: "How will I know if my son is actually getting better?" With HitTrax, we don't have to guess. We can track every metric that matters:

• Exit Velocity: How hard is he hitting the ball consistently?

• Launch Angle: Is he creating the right trajectory for line drives and home runs?

• Spray Chart: Can he hit to all fields, or is he pulling everything?

• Distance: Are his best swings actually productive swings?

• Point of Impact: Is he making contact in the right spot on the bat?

But here's what I love most – players can see their improvement in real time. When a kid increases his average exit velocity from 65 mph to 70 mph over three months, he knows he's getting stronger. When his launch angle becomes more consistent, he understands why he's hitting more line drives in games.

The data doesn't lie, and it doesn't play favorites.

The "Aha" Moments That Change Everything

Last month, I had a 14-year-old who thought he was hitting bombs in practice. HitTrax showed him his "home runs" were actually 240-foot fly balls that would be easy outs in any real stadium. Instead of getting discouraged, he got motivated. Three weeks later, he was consistently hitting balls 280+ feet with better launch angles.

That's the power of objective feedback. No more wondering if practice swings translate to game results. No more guessing about whether mechanical changes are working. Players see exactly what happens to every swing they take.

Beyond the Numbers: The Engagement Factor

Here's something most facilities won't tell you – getting kids to take enough quality swings is half the battle. HitTrax solves that problem because players actually want to hit when they can see their results immediately.

Want to know which player hit the longest home run this month? Check the leaderboard. Want to play a game against your teammates? HitTrax runs complete simulated games with accurate ball/strike calls and base running. Want to hit in Yankee Stadium? Pick your favorite ballpark and start swinging.

Kids who used to complain about taking 50 swings now ask for 100 because they're competing and having fun while developing.

The Questions You Should Ask Any Facility

• Can you show me objective data on my player's improvement?

• How do you track progress over months and years?

• Can players see immediate feedback on every swing?

• Do you use the technology to actually teach, or just entertain?

How HitTrax Makes Our Coaching Better

Technology doesn't replace good coaching – it makes good coaching better. When I can show a player that his 85 mph swing with a 10-degree launch angle produces a ground ball, but his 83 mph swing with a 20-degree launch angle is a line drive, that player understands why we're working on his swing path.

Visual learners see their swing data. Competitive players chase leaderboards. Analytical players dive into spray charts and trend analysis. Every type of learner gets what they need.

The Bottom Line

HitTrax isn't just about measuring swings – it's about accelerating development through immediate, objective feedback. Players who understand their data become players who can make adjustments. Players who can make adjustments become players who succeed at higher levels.

Every Gorilla Baseball Academy player gets regular HitTrax sessions. Every private lesson includes HitTrax analysis. Because players who know their numbers become players who improve their numbers.

Ready to see what objective development looks like? Come take some swings and see where your best shots would land in the big leagues.

Because comfortable swings don't become great swings. And great swings are what we're building.

The Future of Player Development is Here Gorilla Baseball Academy + Pelotero Player Intelligence AI-Powered, Data-Driven, Individually Personalized Training Plans for Every Player

Why We Chose Pelotero (And Why It Changes Everything)

I've been coaching baseball for over two decades, and I've seen every training fad come and go. Most of them promise revolutionary results but deliver the same cookie-cutter approach with a shiny new name.

Pelotero is different. And here's why it matters for every player in our program.

The problem with traditional training: What works for one player doesn't work for all players. But most programs treat every 12-year-old shortstop exactly the same, give them the same drills, and expect the same results. That's not development – that's just keeping kids busy.

Every conversation I have with parents starts with the same question: "How will you make my son better?" Until now, my answer was based on experience, observation, and gut instinct. Good coaches develop an eye for what each player needs, but we're still limited by time, human judgment, and the sheer number of players we work with.

Pelotero changes that equation completely.

What Pelotero Actually Does (In Plain English)

Think of Pelotero as having a hitting coach who never gets tired, never forgets a detail, and can analyze thousands of swings to find exactly what each player needs to work on. Here's how it works:

• Assessment: Players take swings while our technology captures everything – bat path, timing, contact point, exit velocity, consistency

• Analysis: Pelotero's AI compares your son's swing to a massive database and identifies his specific strengths and areas for improvement

• Personalized Plan: In seconds, the system creates a custom training program designed specifically for his swing, his weaknesses, and his goals

• Progress Tracking: Regular re-assessments show exactly how he's improving and adjust his plan accordingly

"Being better is personal. What works for one player doesn't work for all players. Players need to be told what they are good at, what they are not, and what they need to work on." - Bobby Tewksbary, Pelotero Co-Founder

How This Makes Gorilla Baseball Academy Even Better

We've always prided ourselves on individual player development. Now we have the technology to back up what we've been preaching.

For Our Travel Teams:

Every Gorilla Baseball Club player gets regular Pelotero assessments throughout the season. Instead of guessing what each player needs to work on, we know. Instead of one-size-fits-all hitting drills, each player gets a personalized development plan that evolves as they improve.

This isn't just about swings, either. Pelotero helps us understand each player's development trajectory and what it takes to reach the next level – whether that's making their high school team, earning a college scholarship, or just becoming the best player they can be.

Available to the General Public:

You don't have to be on a Gorilla travel team to benefit from this technology. We're offering Pelotero assessments and personalized training programs to any player who wants to get better.

Complete Assessment: 45-minute evaluation covering swing mechanics, timing, bat path, contact consistency, and exit velocity across multiple scenarios

Personalized Training Plan: Custom drills and exercises selected specifically for your player's needs – no generic programs

Progress Tracking: Regular re-assessments show measurable improvement and adjust the plan as skills develop

Universal Rating System: Understand exactly where your player stands compared to high school, college, and professional benchmarks

Why This Matters for Your Player's Future

Remember that blog post I wrote about what college coaches actually want to see? Here's the thing – they want players who can make adjustments, understand their swing, and work efficiently on their weaknesses.

Pelotero develops exactly those skills.

Players who understand their swing data become players who can make in-game adjustments. They learn to recognize what's working, what isn't, and how to fix it. That's the kind of baseball intelligence that translates to every level.

But here's what I love most about this technology: it takes the guesswork out of development. No more wondering if your son is improving. No more relying on batting averages that don't tell the whole story. No more hoping the coach "sees" what your player needs.

The data doesn't lie, and it doesn't play favorites.

Questions Every Parent Should Ask

When evaluating any training program, ask these questions:

• How do you assess what my player needs to work on?

• How do you track improvement over time?

• Is the training program personalized to my player's specific needs?

• Can you show me measurable progress throughout the season?

Most programs can't answer those questions. We can, and we have the technology to prove it.

The Gorilla + Pelotero Advantage

Technology is great, but it's not magic. The reason Pelotero works at Gorilla Baseball Academy is because we combine cutting-edge AI with experienced coaching.

• Data + Expertise: Pelotero tells us what to work on; our coaches know how to teach it

• Individual + Team: Personal development plans that fit into our team-wide development philosophy

• Technology + Fundamentals: Advanced analysis supporting old-school skill development

• Assessment + Application: Regular testing to ensure players are actually improving, not just going through motions

This is what separates us from every other baseball facility in the Northern Chicago suburbs. We're not just using the latest technology – we're using it intelligently to accelerate each player's development in ways that weren't possible before.

Other programs talk about individual development. We can measure it, track it, and prove it.

Other facilities have fancy equipment. We have equipment that thinks.

Other coaches rely on experience and observation. We combine both with AI-powered analysis that never misses a detail.

Ready to See What Personalized Development Looks Like?

Whether you're interested in our travel teams or just want to give your player the most advanced training available, let's talk about how Pelotero can help.

I love answering questions about player development, and I'm excited to show you what this technology can do for your son.

Call Coach Dolenga: 312.504.8439

Because comfortable players don't become great players. And great players are what we're building.

The Travel Baseball Team Red Flags Every Parent Should Know (Before You Write That Check)The Travel Baseball Team Red Flags Every Parent Should Know (Before You Write That Check)

Every year, I hear from parents in other programs mid-season… "Practice is canceled again." "Coach didn't show up." "They want another $500 for 'additional training.'"

I wish this was rare, but I see it every year. Families invest thousands of dollars in travel baseball programs that fall apart, burn out kids, or worse – damage their love of the game.

Here's how to spot the warning signs before you're stuck.

Red Flag #1: They Can't Answer Basic Questions

I spent every day in July on the phone with potential Gorilla families. Great conversations. Lots of detailed questions about our approach, philosophy, and development plans.

You know what I love about those calls? Parents who ask tough questions usually find programs that have good answers.

If a program can't clearly explain their coaching philosophy, player development approach, or season structure, run.

Good programs love talking about this stuff. Bad programs give you vague answers like "we focus on fundamentals" or "we teach the right way to play."

Red Flag #2: The Financial Shell Game

Watch out for programs that:

• Quote you one price, then add "required" expenses throughout the season

• Can't give you a complete financial breakdown upfront

• Require you to use specific instructors for additional lessons

• Have "mandatory" equipment purchases from preferred vendors

• Keep adding tournament fees without explanation

Legitimate programs give you the total investment upfront. Yes, it might seem like a lot, but at least you know what you're signing up for.

Red Flag #3: Winning is Everything (At 10U)

I’ve seen a kid throw 50 pitches on a Saturday and another 70 on a Sunday to try to keep a team in a tournament.

They were 10 years old.

Programs obsessed with winning at young ages usually sacrifice development for short-term results. Your kid might win some tournaments, but they won't become better players.

Look for programs that talk about improvement, effort, and long-term development before they mention wins and losses.

Red Flag #4: One-Size-Fits-All Development

Every kid is different. Different skill levels, different learning styles, different physical development. Programs that treat all players exactly the same aren't actually developing anyone.

Ask these questions:

• How do you handle players at different skill levels?

• What happens if my child is struggling with something specific?

• Do you have individual development plans for players?

• How do you track improvement throughout the season?

If they can't give you specific answers, they probably don't have specific plans.

Red Flag #5: The "Dad Coach" Problem

Here's something that sets good travel programs apart: coaching decisions based on baseball knowledge, not family dynamics.

You know what I'm talking about. The team where little Johnny plays shortstop and bats cleanup because his dad is the head coach. Where coaching decisions are influenced by who's married to whom, or which family donated the most to the team, or who pays for private lessons the most.

Travel baseball should have coaching based on expertise, not family trees.

Look for programs that:

• Separate coaching from parenting – Coaches can be objective about all players

• Make decisions based on development – Not family politics

• Have qualified coaching staff – People chosen for their knowledge, not their availability

• Maintain professional boundaries – Clear separation between team decisions and family relationships

Some of our best coaches are volunteers who genuinely love the game and know how to teach it. But they're chosen for their coaching ability, not because their kid is on the team.

Red Flag #6: No Clear Communication Structure

How does the organization communicate with families? If the answer is "the coach will text you," that's not a communication plan.

Look for programs with:

• Regular update schedules

• Clear policies on practice/game changes

• Structured ways to address concerns

• Multiple communication channels

Red Flag #7: They Don't Want You Asking Questions

This is the biggest red flag of all. Good programs welcome questions. Great programs encourage them.

If a program makes you feel like you're being difficult for asking about their approach, costs, or policies, imagine how they'll handle your concerns during the season.

What Good Programs Look Like

They're out there. I promise. Good travel baseball programs:

• Answer questions thoroughly and enthusiastically

• Have clear financial policies and communication structures

• Focus on development over winning at young ages

• Treat players as individuals with different needs

• Have qualified, paid coaching staffs

• Welcome parent involvement and feedback

Trust Your Instincts

If something feels off during your initial conversations, it probably is. Don't ignore red flags because you're desperate to find a team or because they have fancy uniforms and a nice website.

Your kid deserves better than a program that's going to waste their time and your money.

We've been having honest conversations with families for since we started putting teams on the field. If you want to know how we avoid these red flags in our program, give me a call. I'll tell you exactly how we do things and why.

Why Your 10U Player Doesn't Need to "Commit" to One Position (And What They Should Focus on Instead)

I had a dad call me last week. His 10-year-old son has been playing third base for two years, and he wanted to know if we could "develop him as a third baseman" for our team. When I suggested his son might benefit from playing multiple positions, dad got nervous.

"But he's really good at third base. Won't moving him around hurt his development?"

This is where a lot of travel baseball goes wrong.

The "Early Specialization" Trap

Here's what happens when you lock a 10-year-old into one position: You create an athlete with a very narrow skill set. That third baseman who never plays outfield? He struggles with tracking fly balls. The first baseman who never plays shortstop? His range and arm strength don't develop.

And here's the kicker – the positions that matter most in youth baseball aren't the positions that matter in high school.

Why We Train Everyone "Like Shortstops"

At Gorilla, every player gets shortstop training. Why? Because shortstop requires:

• Quick feet and lateral movement

• Strong, accurate arm from multiple angles

• Ability to field ground balls on the run

• Mental toughness and decision-making under pressure

Guess what? Every position on the field benefits from those skills.

What Actually Matters at 10U (Hint: It's Not Positions)

Instead of worrying about whether your kid is a "third baseman," focus on these fundamentals:

• Throwing mechanics – Clean arm action that translates to any position

• Athletic movement – Footwork, balance, coordination

• Baseball IQ – Understanding situations and making good decisions

• Competitive confidence – Learning to perform under pressure

The High School Reality Check

Here's something most youth coaches won't tell you: The kid dominating at third base in 10U travel ball might not even make his high school JV team if that's all he can do.

But the kid who played six different positions in youth ball? He's the one coaches love because he's versatile, understands the game, and can help the team in multiple ways.

Age-Appropriate Position Development

Ages 8-10: Play everywhere. Seriously. The goal is athletic development and understanding the game.

Ages 11-12: Start identifying 2-3 positions where they show natural ability, but keep rotating.

Ages 13-14: Begin focusing on 1-2 primary positions while maintaining versatility.

High School and beyond: Specialize based on physical development and team needs.

What This Looks Like in Practice

In our program, a typical 10U player might:

• Practice infield skills 3x per week (all positions)

• Get outfield work 2x per week

• Catch bullpen sessions to understand the position

• Play different positions in games throughout the season

The Exception to the Rule

There's one position where early development makes sense: catching. The physical and mental demands are unique enough that dedicated training helps. But even our catchers play other positions regularly.

Questions to Ask Your Current Program

• Does every player get infield work regardless of "position"?

• How often do players rotate positions in games?

• What's the coaching philosophy on position development?

If the answer is "we play kids where they're best," that's not development. That's just trying to win 10U games.

Your kid's athletic future is worth more than a 10U championship trophy.

Give me a call if you want to talk about real position development. We're always happy to explain our approach.

The Real Cost of Travel Baseball (And What Parents Actually Get for Their Money)

Every conversation I have with parents starts the same way. "How much does travel baseball cost?" And I get it. You've heard the horror stories. Families spending $5,000, $8,000, even $10,000+ on travel ball. Some of you are probably wondering if we're all crazy.

Here's the thing – most parents are asking the wrong question.

It's Not About the Total Cost. It's About the Value Per Hour.

Let me break this down for you. If you're paying $3,200 for a travel baseball season and your kid gets:

• 70 practices at 1.5 hours each (105 hours)

• 25 games at 2.5 hours each (62.5 hours)

• Facility access ($99/month for 12 months = $1,188 value)

That's 167.5 hours of baseball instruction and play, plus $1,188 in facility access, for $19.10 per hour. And that doesn't even include uniforms, lesson and camp discounts, equipment discounts, and other perks that add hundreds more in value. Compare that to private lessons at $75-100/hour or elite camps at $50/hour.

Suddenly, travel baseball looks like a bargain, doesn't it?

Where the Hidden Costs Live (And How to Spot Them)

The organizations that end up costing families $8,000+ aren't necessarily better. They're often the ones that nickel and dime you to death:

• "Required" additional training sessions

• Mandatory private lessons with specific instructors

• Equipment "requirements" that happen to be sold by the organization

• Tournament fees that keep getting added throughout the season

• Travel requirements to tournaments 6+ hours away

What You Should Actually Be Paying For

When I talk to parents about our program costs, I explain exactly what goes into that number:

• Quality coaching time – Our coaches aren't volunteers doing this as a side hustle

• Proper facilities – Indoor space, quality fields, equipment that works

• Real player development – Individual attention, skill progression tracking

• Appropriate competition – Tournaments selected for development, not trophies

The Questions That Matter More Than Price

Instead of "How much does it cost?", try these:

• "What does my kid get for that investment?"

• "How will you track his development throughout the season?"

• "What happens if he's struggling or excelling beyond his age group?"

• "How do you choose which tournaments to attend?"

Here's the Bottom Line

Travel baseball isn't expensive because coaches are getting rich (trust me, we're not). It's expensive because doing it right requires real investment in coaching, facilities, and competition. The organizations charging $1,500 are either cutting corners somewhere, or they're subsidizing your kid's development in ways that aren't sustainable.

Your job as a parent is to figure out which organizations are giving you real value for that investment, and which ones are just good at marketing.

We've been answering these questions honestly for five years now. If you want to know what real value looks like in our program, give me a call.

Can Playing Video Games Make You Better at Baseball?

Can playing video games make you better at baseball?

Simply put, the answer is no.  While kids will tell us that playing 4 hours of MLB The Show per day will help them “learn the game” or that playing Fortnite and Call of Duty every day will “improve their hand eye coordination”, nothing compares to time spent actually practicing or playing the game of baseball.

Task Specificity

There certainly are some benefits to learning the game via video games, or improving visual acuity and object tracking in games like Call of Duty and Fortnite, but are those benefits real or large enough to improve your play on a baseball field?  No.  Instead, these benefits are usually just excuse making to make it seem like we are doing something important, rather than doing the thing that will make a difference on the field.

The closer you get to the task that you are trying to practice, the better you will get at that task.  You want to get better at fielding a ground ball?  Field a ground ball at game speed with a runner running.  You want to get better at hitting curveballs?  Hit curveballs.  You want to get better at pitching?  Throw pitches, preferably with a batter in the box.  Certainly, we can’t mimic game conditions at all times, but the closer we can get to the “real” skill, the more that practice will transfer.  Playing basketball might help you get quicker and more agile, but beyond that, it’s not making you a better baseball player.  We’re not saying that to pick on basketball, but rather just how disparate of sitting around and pushing buttons is.  If basketball is not close to playing baseball, how can Call of Duty be?

It’s Real

Ridiculous comparison right?  Well, we’ve had kids in our camps tell us that they play video games 4-8 hours A DAY, and we have to beg them to spend 20 minutes a day to get better at baseball outside of camp and then they argue that playing MLB The Show makes them better at baseball.

Are we against playing video games and having some fun at home in your downtime? No, absolutely not, but let’s not pretend that you’re getting better at baseball, or anything for that matter, other than being better at that game that you are playing 10, 20, maybe 40 hours a week.

The Solution - We need to inspire them

OK…Enough complaining about it.  Here’s how we take action. We take time out from a good number of our classes and camps to remind kids that being elite at a skill, like pitching, hitting, or fielding takes thousands of reps, and needs to be worked on every day.  It’s no different than math, or playing the piano, or gymnastics.  Baseball is not something you can excel at doing it once a week.  Do you have to play all year? No.  But don’t expect to show up after an offseason of not swinging a bat and expect to make the A team in your travel program.  The greats do it every day, and they don’t make excuses, they find a way.  We offer a variety of programs, indoor, that allow kids to get reps however they want.  Hitting leagues, classes, private lessons, and cage memberships.  There are ways to get the work in, even in winter.

We challenge kids to spend 20 minutes a day, 5-6 days a week, on baseball and see what comes of it over the offseason.  They’d be amazed what they can accomplish if they just put the controller down for that much time.  Some will, some won’t.  We’re excited to see what happens with the ones that do.

Rant over.