How to make an impression with no talent

Here is what I mean by the thread title. I am in no way a baseball talent scout, but I observed a few things at a tryout camp Saturday that any kid can accomplish. As I sat near Freddy Suggs, who you all know is a great talent scout, I saw him on several occasions offer encouragement and tips to 4 or 5 kids. Only one boy that I observed, looked Coach Suggs in the eye, and said, "Yes sir", "no sir", and "thank you". The others' only utterance was something like, "Huh"?, and , "yea". I don't think the boys meant any disrespect, but it sure sounded terrible. Another thing I noticed was the difference in some kids' approach to the tryout as a whole. Don't loll around and be last in every drill if you have a choice. Step up and let someone see you. It shows off your attitude about why you're there. The same ,"yes sir", "no sir" kid above was the first one to catch for BP, and the first one to catch bullpens. He wants it, and I think he'll get it. One last thing and I'll shut up. If you are at someone's field, and you take drinks, or bags of chips, or gatorade to a certain area........pick up your D^MN trash. I was astonished at the amount of trash left near the Bullpen at SSS High School on Saturday.

 

This post reminds me

of an old saying "It doesn't take any talent to hustle." When I go to a work out like I did today at East Chapel Hill High School of course Im looking for the kids that stand out for their ability to play the game. But as soon as I notice that Im looking for the all important intangibles. Does he hustle? How does he carry himself? How does he interact with the other players? Does he lolly gag behind everyone else or is he the first one in line? There are so many ways to make a good impression and just as many ways to make a bad one. Then there are the kids that might not stand out for being better than everyone else but the way they go about their business makes them stand out. I dont think kids understand how many opportunities can be lost by doing or not doing things that have nothing to do with actually playing the game.

I also can speak to the parents on this same post. Please leave your kids alone at these workouts. "Catch it" "Come on hit the ball hard" "Put something on it" "What did he run the 60 in?"

Drop them off and just watch all the kids. You have to learn to let them do it on their own. Believe me people want to know who the parent is that can not do this. Why? They want to make sure that you are not on the team. The best way for a parent to make a good impression is for no one to know who you are when the work out is over.