#𝐌𝐒𝐆𝟐𝟔: 𝐓𝐞��𝐦 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 📋
Team Forest Green is bringing plenty of talent to the 2026 Magnolia State Games, featuring standout players from every corner of the Magnolia State. 👀
Event roster 👉 https://t.co/sKLjsQETNW
My biggest regret…
Was that I didn’t grow up sooner.
I wish I fully comprehended accountability sooner. I wish I understood the difference between the controllable’s and un-controllable’s sooner. I wish I actually knew how to play the game “one pitch at a time” sooner.
I spent too many seasons (from HS until my mid 20’s) wasting time blaming my teammates, whining about umpires, talking about coaches and thinking about any other reason to protect myself from the emotions of failure.
But I was fortunate the game gave me enough time to wake up before it was too late. Unfortunately that’s not the reality for most weak minded athletes.
Once I realized that for as many errors my teammates made behind me, they also saved me hits and runs with the unbelievable plays they made. For as many bad calls I thought the umpires made that hurt me, they also made as many they actually helped me. And it didn’t matter how I felt, the coaches decisions were what was best for the team in that moment.
Playing the game “one pitch at a time” means being all in, being completely present, in that moment. That pitch. I cannot throw that pitch with even a shred of thought about what happened on the last pitch that I thought was negative. That’s not being present. There’s no way I can throw this pitch with full conviction while still emotional about the last (even if no one can see it on my face or body language).
Longevity in the game demands mental toughness. It doesn’t care about your physical tools. When you meet your match and start competing regularly against those who challenge you day in and day out, it will be what happens between your ears that will allow you to keep moving forward.
I highly recommend starting this process towards mental toughness as soon as you can. Parents, be smart with the tones of your conversations. Coaches, be the example they need. Players, focus on the controllable’s and STOP MAKING EXCUSES!!
Young athletic player with tremendous ability shows promise switch hitting but coach shoots him down and says he can’t.
Young quality pitcher had great success calling his own pitches, using off speed in fastball counts, pitching backwards and really learning how to pitch. Changes teams and now has a coach who calls all his pitches. Won’t call off speed when he’s behind in the count, almost always calls for a first pitch fastball and is extremely predictable with pitch selection. Player asks if he can call his pitches but coach says he’s worried he would throw the wrong pitches.
Coach complains and is frustrated with pitchers not backing up bases but doesn’t spend time weekly on cuts & relays.
Team struggles to throw consistent strikes on the mound but their pitchers are never given time to work on pitching.
Let’s be honest, “development” is the most used word when speaking about coaching ball players yet it just might be one of the most misunderstood words in the game.
Development is reps. It’s opportunity. It’s seeing an athletes ability and helping them learn how to use it. It’s teaching them and then letting them play. It’s using failure as an opportunity to get better. It’s helping them learn to compete like bulldogs. It’s not holding them back. It’s pushing them. It’s teaching them to think. It’s allowing them to be different. It’s equipping them with what they will need in the future. It’s teaching them the game.
Coaches, this game IS NOT about us. If they show desire to try something, let them try. If they fail, help them learn from it and then let them try again.
We are here for them, not the other way around.
A bad coach tears people down. An average coach focuses only on results. A good coach teaches skills and systems. A great coach builds confidence and trust. An exceptional coach helps people believe in themselves at a higher level. And the best coaches impact lives long after the scoreboard stops mattering.
Coaches who only correct never connect.
“Negative experiences without teaching kill morale.” - Nick Saban
The hard moment isn’t the problem.
Leaving it without a lesson is.
That’s what transformational coaching actually looks like.