Andrew Pratt

@TrainLikeGame

[Andrew Pratt @andrew_pratt22]

•@3rpratt and I wrote this because we often see skill development overcomplicated.

Athletes need clarity, and we aim to provide that here.

[Function Over Form @TrainLikeGame]

We wrote Feel vs. Real: The Art of Skill Coaching to challenge traditional instruction and simplify performance.

Stop chasing perfect mechanics.
Start building adaptable athletes.
For players, coaches, and parents who care about long-term development.

https://t.co/c48ptNpWMx

[Jon Gordon @JonGordon11]

Joshua Jackson won the Deleware Marathon this weekend in a fantastic finish, passing the 1st place runner (who eased up to celebrate) a few steps from the finish line.

Never give up and never let up!

Finish strong in all that you do!

HT @JoshChambers

[Function Over Form @TrainLikeGame]

Free play might be the most underrated developer in sports. No coaches. No drills. No structure. Just kids figuring it out themselves — inventing rules, solving problems, competing, failing, and adapting in real time. That chaos builds creativity, resilience, decision-making, and a deep love for the game that structured practice often kills.

[Deven Morgan @devenmorgan]

Meanwhile, a youth baseball coach on Sunday starting a kid who pitched on Friday and Saturday:

[Function Over Form @TrainLikeGame]

Everything in sports has become a constant debate. Mechanics vs. natural movement. Data vs. gut feel. Old school grit vs. modern recovery. Specialization vs. multi-sport. Volume vs. quality. Intensity vs. joy. We argue endlessly about the "right" way—while kids quit, parents burn out, and the love of the game fades. The game was never meant to be a debate club. It was meant to be played, felt, enjoyed, and grown through. When enjoyment dies, development dies. When joy is secondary, so is long-term excellence. Let the debates rage online. On the field? Prioritize play, adaptation, and fun that lasts. Because if athletes aren't enjoying the process, no system, no drill, no philosophy wins. Function > Form. Bring back the joy—who's with me? #Sports #CLA #YouthSports

[Drew Carlson @drewcarlsonhp]

Got sent an early copy, these guys did a great job with it!

[Function Over Form @TrainLikeGame]

Great level of creativity! 🇺🇸

[Andrew Pratt @andrew_pratt22]

Worth the listen!

[Lee K. Howard ☀️ @HowardWKYT]

What advice does Mark Pope have for young, aspiring journalists?

I’m teaching an upper‑level journalism course at #UK this semester, and on Thursday, I took my class to Pope’s press conference. I asked him what guidance he’d give the next generation of journalists. His answer was worth hearing.

[SNY Giants @SNYGiants]

Jameis Winston was asked if it's hard for him to potentially go back to the bench after how he played on Sunday:

"I mean, as a competitor, like I’ve said always, what I want for myself, I want for everyone. Yeah, I want to play. That's just my heart. I love this game, I love the excitement that comes with it, I love really being the general that's leading the guys. But at the same time, like, what is my role? Right?

My role if Jaxson isn't playing, okay, I'm playing. My role if Jaxson is playing, I'm supporting him like I would be supporting myself for him to be his very best. I take pride in that because one thing about the quarterback position is it’s only one, unless you're in New Orleans because of Taysom Hill... but anyways, it's only one of us that gets a chance to go out there and lead the pack.

So, we have to be, the whole room, me, Russ, coach Tierney, we have to be all in behind our guy to give him the best chance to just do his best on Sunday or Monday or Thursday."

[Caleb Abney @cabney18]

✔️ Hitter’s Checklist to Get Better:

1️⃣ Ignore all the “experts” who want to “fix your mechanics”

2️⃣ Don’t listen to coaches who want to train explicit “moves” into your swing

3️⃣ Build bat speed/force production

4️⃣ Build adaptability & precision skills

5️⃣ BE YOU!

[Luke McCown @luke_mccown]

Former 4th round pick here..
Former Journeyman backup here..

I think there is a massive misunderstanding about how an NFL practice is structured.

The only time mid round pick rookies and backups get meaningful reps is in training camp, and they are never with the ones unless you are competing or starting that next preseason game.

Regular season practices have 10-12 plays per period.. that’s team run, team pass, team blitz pickup, and some teams still do a 7v7 period…
But for the most part that’s are 30-40 live full speed reps of the actual gameplan practiced on Wed, Thursday and Friday in the NFL.. these all go to the starting QB.. he’s the one that has to be to get ready. And if healthy he gets to make that call.

These team periods alternate between O and D with backups and PS players and even some guys that will play significant roles on Sunday, serving as scout team “look” squads for those periods.

This is where we backups get our reps.
You have to try and translate what the scout team play is into your offense and play it accordingly.
Honestly this is a lot of times more beneficial to you as a QB because you’re getting reps against a full defense of starters at full speed, the minus being that it’s not necessarily your offensive plays your running.

Folks don’t understand, it’s incredibly difficult, probably the hardest job in all of sports!!! to be a backup QB, for this very reason. Because of limited to no reps and same expectations..
And that is you must come in and perform at the same level as the guy you replaced for your teammates, coaches and your own career security.

You come in and struggle an you’re evaluated of that performance, right or wrong, the league makes it’s judgements about you, that’s why it’s so hard for backups to have long careers that weren’t at one point full time starters (nod to guys like myself & my buddies @ChaseDaniel and @danorlovsky7 )

Yes it stinks that that’s the situation SS came into. I’ve been there, LITERALLY, with the Browns, as a rookie, as a mid round pick. So have many other rookies.. you play, you learn and grow and get better.. or you don’t.

Absolutely reps help, Absolutely he’ll be better with a full week of prep.

But those are the hands as backups we’re dealt, and in those moments and we have to make the most of them.

SS will be better with reps for sure. But if DG remains the guy the facts of life in an NFL practice still remains for us backups..

[Andrew Pratt @andrew_pratt22]

This ⬇️⬇️⬇️

[The Gilly Lock @BumpNrunGilm0re]

Vrabel is a great coach. I still don’t get how he didn’t have a job last year.

[Pitch Profiler @pitchprofiler]

John Smoltz: "I really think Snell should establish the fastball..."

*Leadoff, 1st Pitch, Home Run on a Fastball*
** Home Run on Third Pitch, another Fastball**

[Andrew Pratt @andrew_pratt22]

@MagicJohnson @PFTCommenter Strongly disagree!

[Saagar Enjeti @esaagar]

Sports media this AM:

"BREAKING NEWS: Chauncey Billups & Terry Rozier were arrested this morning in a gambling sting, but before we get to that this show is brought to you by [Fanduel, Draftkings, Hard Rock Bet, ESPN Bet]"

[Joe Torres @coachjoetorres]

“You just gotta let it travel and go the other way. He will provide the power”

- Someone’s dad in the living room right now

[Andrew Pratt @andrew_pratt22]

@rand_longevity

[Andrew Pratt @andrew_pratt22]

Good swing Anthony!

[Anthony Silvestro @A_Silvestro11]

Here’s a swing today in my first live AB’s off a division 1 commit. Looking forward to the Founders League showcase this Sunday at Trinity-Pawling with @AOFBaseball.
@ExposNE
@kylehsu_
@603evo

[𝐉. 𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐘 @NVBentley33]

@SBTBH1 Ruined = 6 rings lol

[Andrew Pratt @andrew_pratt22]

3 time Super Bowl champion.

“Disaster”

[Justin @Jwillz18]

@TedyBruschi Why was he such a disaster in his final stint in New England though?