Don't Mistake Successful for Good

Guest post by Ken Krause, Life in the Fastpitch Lane blog

There is an old saying that many coaches profess to follow: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. In other words, if a player is successful as a hitter, fielder, pitcher, etc. coaches should let them continue doing what they're doing — even if it is less than optimal.

I don't know about you, but I personally have a problem with that type of thinking. Many a player has been set behind on their overall goals by coaches putting short-term wins ahead of a player's long-term development.

One of the most obvious areas is pitching. Coaches prize strikes, especially at the younger ages. "We can't defend a walk," they will yell to their young pitchers. So the message is delivered: do whatever it takes to get the ball over the plate. And that's what their pitchers do — whatever it takes, whether it's mechanically sound or not, and whether it will lead to long-term success or not.

In the meantime, those pitchers who are trying to develop good mechanics, but have not quite gotten them locked in yet, are taken out of the game if they can't throw strikes. When that happens, the message is clear – forget what you've been working on all through the off-season; just get it over the plate, any way, any how.

By this definition, pitcher number one is successful and pitcher number two is not. Pitcher number two is broken, and pitcher number one is not. Yet in truth both are really broken. But pitcher number two is working toward playing at a higher level while pitcher number one is not. Pitcher number one's parents may be surprised someday when their DD is no longer the big gun, because she's still using poor mechanics and simply can't keep up with pitcher number two, who is continuing to develop her game.

The same happens with hitters. One is getting on base consistently with an ugly swing while the other is working on developing a good one.

When the pitching is slow or easy enough, hitter number one (who drops her hands first and then swings with her arms with a long motion) is very successful. Down the road, though, when the pitching gets faster, and pitchers can change speeds and move the ball, that long, loopy swing won't work so well. Yet if all anyone is focused on is today, she's being successful and there's no reason to change. By the time her coaches figure out the difference between successful and good it may be too late for her to be either.

Sure, those are the extremes. But it happens at the older ages as well. It may not be as pronounced, but it does happen. Rather than continuing to help players work on their technique, coaches will let their players do whatever helps them win games now.

Maybe they'll let players field ground balls at their feet instead of out in front. Or let pitchers ignore their changeup because they can't throw it consistently for a strike. Whatever it is, they're doing their players a disservice.

Everyone loves winning. As Nuke LaLouche would say, it's a lot more fun than losing. But mistaking successful for good is doing your team and your players a disservice.

Everyone can improve. Help your players become all they can be and not only will they be more successful. Your team will be as well.

Anyway, that's the way I see it.

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