An athlete must want it for himself. Many times, I will work hard through a lesson, passionately teaching and coaching an athlete to identify and correct his own mechanical flaws. I’ll assign homework for the rest of the week and then see the same athlete a calendar week later. It blows my mind how many athletes cannot remember what their own flaw was. As I grow older, busier, and less politically correct… I am more and more tempted to toss the athlete out of the bullpen on the spot!

The drive to improve, the willingness to grind, the desire to be great must be present. And, it must originate from the athlete. Dad can’t want it for the athlete. Coach can’t muster it for the pitcher. A pitcher will maximize his potential only with great drive.