Jason Hedges

Blackburn College Assistant Baseball Coach

[Ben Brewster @TreadAthletics]

Before you play summer ball, genuinely weigh the options against your goal.

Putting on 10-12 lbs and adding 15-20% to your lifts may be a better use of those precious months than getting 20 sporadic innings across 2 months of long bus rides.

You can work on executing that 72 mph curveball all summer, but the best thing for that pitch might actually be not being 170 lbs with average strength and numerous mechanical inefficiencies.

[Steve Magness @stevemagness]

Focus on the effort, not the outcome.

Effort is within your control. The end result is not.

Make the goal to get the most out of yourself, to see how you can navigate discomfort to keep the effort there.

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

How do you kill a Team Culture?

Drip by Drip…

1. Skip reps
2. Show up late
3. Blame others
4. Take-off plays
5. Negative energy
6. No accountability
7. Sloppy in practice
8. No team cohesion
9. No communication
10. Bad body language
11. Complain about calls

[David Watts Consulting @DWCInfo]

💯💯💯

via @coachajkings

#Student1stAthlete2nd

[Ben Brewster @TreadAthletics]

"I can't gain weight" is BS. Tips on what to do instead (part 2)

1) Eat calorie-dense foods (not chicken & broccoli).

2) Don't be afraid of gaining some body fat. "Ab anxiety" holds hardgainers back.

3) You have to want it. Don't go to bed until you hit your calories.

[Troy Silva @TroyPSilva]

"It's only Juco" 😂
"They didn’t offer enough $"😂
"I’m better than D2 & D3"😂
"I don't wanna play NAIA"😂

The “D1 or bust” mentality is hilarious & ridiculous! 😂
All college ⚾️ is an amazing opportunity & you’re entitled to NOTHING! So much great ⚾️ is played at every level and the competition is WAY BETTER than you realize!

#BaseballTruth

[Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness @coachajkings]

Steve Sarkisian said, "Culture beats talent if your culture is really strong. Culture is organic. It's not a sign up in your building."

Your culture comes from your behaviors.

It comes from what you tolerate.

📌Bookmark it - 5 silent culture killers that destroy teams:

[Trent Mongero @CoachMongero]

Many people miss the boat on this. Especially parents. Johnny “works harder” than everyone else… so Johnny deserves X, Y, Z….

[Jon Beck @CoachJonBeck]

Part of team sports is learning to give your best in any situation. Blaming coaches or teammates shifts responsibility. Excuses hide mistakes, lack of preparation & make you feel better quickly, but they stunt growth long term. Don’t be that player. Seek solutions, not excuses.

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

Are you Coachable?

Coachable: “What can I do better?”
Uncoachable: “I already know this.”

Coachable: “I’ll take responsibility.”
Uncoachable: “It’s not my fault.”

Coachable: “I’ll put in the work.”
Uncoachable: “I don’t have time.”

Be Coachable.

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

It only takes ONE.

- One Teammate can set the Tone
- One Teammate can Raise the Bar
- One Teammate can be the Leader
- One Teammate can be the Anchor
- One Teammate makes a Difference

Be the ONE for your Team!

[Jay Yang @Jayyanginspires]

A question that lives rent free in my head...

[USA Baseball Events @USABaseEvents]

🗣️ Be coachable!

[Ben Brewster @TreadAthletics]

Coaches sometimes ask me how to continue learning various skills (S&C, pitch design, biomech, etc).

While I don’t have all the answers, the biggest advantage myself and our coaches have found:

Continuing to throw and train yourself.

If your body is broken, do what you can or undertake a rehab for that injury.

When you can viscerally feel the effects in your own body - how that lift felt on your shoulder, how that new pitch felt off your fingertips, etc. it is such a direct and powerful learning experience.

[Ben Brewster @TreadAthletics]

Athletes who “eat a lot” but can’t gain weight:

Me: So what’s for breakfast?
-“cereal.”

What about lunch?
-“idk, a taco.”

How many calories are you eating?
-“huh?”

So where do you keep track of your daily weigh ins?
-“what?”

…

-“So like, what brand of creatine should I buy?”

[Brandon @SwingAngryLLC]

As summer ball winds down, many players who struggled or had average seasons will jump straight into 2-3 more months of “fall ball” — and still see the same results.

Why?

Because playing more games doesn’t automatically make you better. If you don’t have a plan to improve your skills — and the discipline to train consistently — your performance won’t change.

Games expose your skill level.
Training is what raises it.

[Troy Silva @TroyPSilva]

The best players COMPETE regardless of mechanics!
The best players COMPETE regardless of what position they play!
The best players COMPETE regardless of where they hit in the lineup!
The best players COMPETE regardless of any situation!
The best players always COMPETE regardless!!!
#BaseballTruth

[Drew Maddux @DrewMaddux]

10 Things that Require Zero Talent

[Troy Silva @TroyPSilva]

Every coach cares way more about winning than they do about who’s playing and how many innings they are getting!
And every ballplayer will be given opportunities to compete for spots, during practices, during scrimmages and in the weight room!
Coaches want to win and they will always put who THEY feel can help the team win the most on the field!
You are always “trying out” and battling for playing time in everything you do, be prepared and don’t waste your opportunities during those times!
#BaseballTruth

[Ben Brewster @TreadAthletics]

At some point, we all have to take the uniform off for good.

What matters then is whether you can look yourself in the mirror and say “I gave it everything I had.”