Getting Tired of Practice? One Source of Inspiration That'll Rekindle Your Love

When I was in high school young, my uncle and pitching coach told me I had potential. He said it often, but he always added, “You have to do the work.” I knew I had some command, and I was getting faster, but I was rough around the edges. I was tall—5’11”—and played different sports, so I was athletic, but I didn’t practice much. My uncle asked me one day, “Do you want to do this or not?” I said I did. I meant it. I wanted to be good. But I didn’t know how or where I could practice my pitching.

My days were long and full. I woke up at 6:30 a.m., ran to the bus stop by 7 p.m., went to school until 3 p.m. , did my homework in the cafeteria, and then had basketball practice at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. My mom picked me up at 8 p.m. I’d eat, finish my homework, and then pass out. My dad was too tired to catch for me after work, or it was winter, or we had no place to go.

I felt like didn’t have time to do more. But - when my dad did make me pitch, or when Uncle John came to catch for me, I did it. If we pitched in our team practice, or if we had to get to practice early, I did it.

The problem was I didn’t know what “doing the work” meant. My time was limited, and I didn’t want to waste it. I wanted someone to tell me exactly how long to pitch and what to do during practice to make it count. But no one did. So I stayed directionless, just trudging along. From the outside, someone could easily say I didn’t want it enough. But now that I coach I see that most pitchers are like me. They’d do it if it was just a little more convenient.

In college, things started to make sense. I walked onto the team as someone willing to do the work to earn playing time. The pitching coach was there every practice. She ran us through drills, told us what pitch to throw next. She gave fewer mechanical instructions than my uncle did, but I trusted her. I could focus on the “work.” Slowly, I started to pitch the ball where I wanted it. My curveball and riseball began to move. The guided, consistent practice paid off. I could hit my spots 80% of the time!

When I started teaching others, I noticed how parents and students desired specific instructions on what to do during practice. While a few people could listen to what I said in a lesson and figure out a practice regimen based on it, most people would ask the at the end of a lesson, “so what should we work on?”

I understand it’s hard to pick out the key things from a full hour of instruction. It’s hard for someone who’s not trained to see the mistakes I see. That’s why I decided to do something about this problem!

This year I created the online practice club. We tested it last year, and now we’re rolling out an upgraded version. The program I created tells you exactly what to practice, pitch by pitch, every day for the ten weeks of pitching school. There are four levels, and as you improve, you move up a level. Each drill has a video so you can review it. Everything is in CoachNow, our app where students currently store their videos and notes. There are rewards, pins, and a community to keep you accountable and to cheer you on.

The players who’ve already completed this program improved drastically in ten weeks. They improved not only based on where they were when they started, but also in comparison to other players their age. The program works whether you have a catcher or just a net in your basement. We have variations for whatever your situation is.

Parents, you know how it is. Isn’t it a little more fun and motivating to go to a class at the gym that to make up a routine on your own? The instructor tells you exactly what to do. You know you’ll feel accomplished when you leave and you wasted little to no time. You’ll be more accountable to a class than you would be if you went without a class. This is what I want to give to the young players with this program.

Here’s what one mom said:

"I work a lot and struggle to help my daughter with her form while managing my job. She’s shy and not always motivated. The quick lessons in the online program have been a godsend for both of us. It’s cold, so we use wiffle balls in the basement, but it works. She’s getting into a better groove. During the run-in drill yesterday, she improved from 31 to 36 after just a week and a half of doing the home drills!" - Mom (IL)

Get ready for the launch of our online program this offseason—it's the missing link you've been waiting for. This program will seamlessly connect the progress you make in lessons with your practice at home. It's designed to help you build strong, lasting habits and give you the confidence that you're on the right track. Plus, you'll receive encouragement and recognition from your coach and teammates as you put in the work. There’s a reason I named it “Practice” Pro—because it’s all about helping you practice smarter and achieve your goals!