01/22/2017 2:48 PM -
This was your first year attending the ABCA and World Baseball Coaches Conventions. Did they live up to the hype?
I have been wanting to go and experience these conventions for the past few years, this year lived up to the hype and then some. To be in an environment where thousands of people come together to talk all things baseball is such an amazing experience. The people you meet and the connections you make are in all ways beneficial to a baseball person.
Was there a speaker/presenter whose philsophies could be particularly beneficial to youth players?
Probably my favorite presenter of the whole trip was Steve Springer. Former Mental Skills Coach for the Toronto Blue Jays and Creator of the "Quality At Bats" Academy, many people don't know that he does a lot of work with youth. Steve said "Parents would die for their kids, but they throw little mental daggers to their kids and absolutely sabotage their sports careers.” "When you try to turn your kid into a perfectionist at age 8, it is no wonder that many of them are quiting at Age 13."
This event is mainly attended by college and high school coaches, why would you encourage youth coaches to attend as well?
It is so important for youth coaches to attend at least one of these conventions, as there are so many different clinics that are held. From effective leadership and team building workshops, to clinics on how to run the most efficient practices, the information that is being shared during the conventions is invaluable. We are all trying to make the world a better place, and as coaches we have the ability to be such a powerful and positive influence on the youth of today. As Jackie Robinson once said, " a life has no meaning except the impact it has on other lives" . Youth coaches have that ability to make a daily impact on the lives of our youth players through the game of baseball and being at the convention only strengthens the power and bond we have as being effective leaders in today's world.
One of the highlights of these conventions is always the trade show, did any items cath your eye?
The trade shows at both conventions were so coooooool! I was able to meet and connect with so many different vendors, not to mention the cool toys they had on display. I felt like a kid in a candy store, walking around and testing out whatever new product was on the tables. I was also able to pick up some very interesting items, such as books on how to coach and compete in the mental game of baseball, as well as equipment that will help me on the field like bats or gloves and other training tools. The Trade is most definitely the place to stock up on anything and everything that is baseball.
