Where There Is Too Much, Something Is Missing

“Where there is too much, something is missing.” — Leo Rosten

High school athletics have become complicated.

Maybe too complicated.

Take high school baseball. Today, a serious player can have an independent pitching coach, hitting coach, strength coach, travel-ball coach, fall-ball team, private lessons, showcases, camps, advisors and recruiting services. Add school practices, games and tournaments to the equation.

And somewhere in there, the kid is supposed to actually be a high school student.

Classes. Homework. Tests. Friends. Family. Sleep. Eating enough food. Maybe even having a little time to be a teenager.

There comes a point where adding more doesn’t necessarily produce more.

Sometimes more becomes noise.

Talent Usually Reveals Itself

This isn’t always popular to say, but success in athletics requires some degree of natural ability.

You don’t need someone with a clipboard and stopwatch to tell you everything.

Start with the obvious.

Are you playing?

If you’re a starter on your high school baseball team, that’s a pretty good indication that you possess some ability. If you’re hitting .350 with power, getting on base and driving in runs, the numbers are telling you something. If you’re a pitcher consistently getting good hitters out, the results are telling you something.

Statistics aren’t perfect, but over enough games, performance has a way of separating players.

That doesn’t mean a freshman sitting on the bench can’t eventually become a great player. Kids mature at different rates. But eventually, production matters.

Once you’ve demonstrated that you can play, I believe the formula can become surprisingly simple.

Build the Body

The photo accompanying this article has a great quote from professional pitcher River Ryan:

“I just ate a lot of calories and lifted like an animal.”

There’s something refreshing about that.

Don’t misunderstand the message. Intelligent programming matters. Proper technique matters. Recovery matters. Nutrition matters.

But sometimes young athletes become so buried in specialized training that they overlook the obvious:

Get stronger.

Squat. Press. Deadlift. Pull. Row. Jump. Sprint. Carry things. Build your legs, back, shoulders, grip and trunk.

Eat enough quality food to support growth.

Sleep.

Recover.

Then come back and do it again.

You don’t need twelve different exercises to accomplish what five good ones can accomplish better.

Build the Mind

The other half is harder to measure.

Can you compete when you’re tired?

Can you stay composed after striking out?

Can you handle sitting 0-for-3 and still want the fourth at-bat?

Can you execute when everyone in the stadium knows the game depends on you?

Can you accept coaching without making excuses?

Can you continue working when nobody is watching?

That’s why I believe strength training for young athletes should accomplish more than adding pounds to a squat or bench press. Done correctly, the weight room becomes a laboratory for developing discipline, confidence, resilience and toughness.

Heavy squats teach something.

Hard conditioning teaches something.

Missing a lift and coming back for it teaches something.

Simplify the Formula

I’m not against private coaches, travel baseball, camps or specialized instruction (but do your due diligence before hiring anyone or joining any organization). A good coach can absolutely correct a weakness and accelerate development.

But every addition should answer a question:

What problem are we trying to solve?

If you can’t answer that, perhaps you don’t need another coach, camp or program.

For most high school athletes, the formula doesn’t need to be complicated:

Develop your sport-specific skills.
Play and compete.
Let your performance tell you where you stand.
Build a strong, athletic body.
Eat well.
Sleep.
Develop your mind.
Repeat.

Don’t mistake activity for progress.

Don’t become so busy preparing to become a great athlete that you never have enough time or energy left to actually become one.

Sometimes the next level isn’t found by adding something.

Sometimes it’s found by stripping everything down to what matters—and doing those few things exceptionally well.

Keep it simple. Get strong. Compete. Produce.

— Scott York
Scott York Fitness