We like to think of sports as an uncorrupted place where you’re judged strictly on the content of your abilities, but anyone who’s been around youth baseball knows that this is not always the case. In fact, I often tell my older son (a pitcher) that he really needs to pay attention to batters 5 through 7 in the other team’s lineup, because the top of the order is often filled by the sometimes undeserving sons of the coaches and their close allies, and really good hitters may be hiding in the later spots.
We can moan all we want about the unfairness of it all, but if you want your kid to be successful in baseball (and life) you need to accept that the politics exist and find ways to thrive in that environment.
What is the Theory of Being 10X Better and How Does It Relate to Baseball?
My son started last year on the bench of his middle school team. He complained to me about the kids playing over him.
“But I’m better than them,” he said.
“So what?” I asked.
“I’m better,” he repeated.
He might be right. He might be a little better. But it doesn’t matter, and that’s where 10X better comes in.
The theory of 10X better is a trendy corporate concept that I actually learned about at work that states you need to be 10 times better than your competition. Incremental improvements or marginal gains, according to this theory, lead to incremental results. To stand out, you must strive for exponential growth and differentiation.
It’s important to note that the concept of being “10 times better” is not always meant to be taken literally. But that you should set ambitious goals and strive to significantly differentiate yourself from competitors.
So what does this 10X stuff have to do with baseball? I tell my son that if he’s incrementally better than the kids he’s competing with for playing time, then he’s leaving decisions about playing time in the coach’s discretion. My son’s goal should be to be that much better that he’s essentially taking it out of the coach’s hands and flying above the politics.
Now I’m sure there are coaches out there who will play their favorites over others no matter how much better those kids are, but most coaches don’t want to look like fools and will play the far superior players.
How Do You Get 10X Better at Baseball?
I’m sure with all the baseball analytics out there, there is a way to quantify how to be 10X better than other kids on your team — and GameChanger will soon have that function! But for now, your kid needs to make the plays that make people raise their heads and sing the SportsCenter “DaDaDa, DaDaDa” theme. He needs to hit a ball over the fence when other kids are one-hopping the wall. If your kid is on the small side, he needs to rack up multi-hit games. If he pitches, he needs to throw 5 miles-an-hour faster than the other pitchers.
This is the goal. This is what your kid should be working towards in the backyard. It’s not that I’m better than Jimmy. It’s that I’m WAY better than Jimmy to the point that you don’t even consider Jimmy.
And if your kid can’t meet this lofty standard, there’s always politics!
HAVE ANY TIPS ABOUT GETTING MORE PLAYING TIME? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS.
For information about the emotional side of baseball, see:
- I Spent 30K on Youth Baseball Last Year; Here’s How
- Anger Management and Youth Baseball: How to Calm Down
- How to Manage Your Kid’s Baseball Tantrums and Meltdowns
- 4 Ways to Respond to a Coach Playing Favorites
- How to Stop Being a Crazy Baseball Dad
- How to Be a Good Baseball Dad in the Backyard
- Is It Now Fashionable to Hate On Baseball Dads?
- Are Local Little Leagues Bad for Baseball?
For information on hitting, see:
- How to Get Out of a Hitting Slump
- 4 Best Baseball Batting Aids (No. 3 is Free)
- 4 Hitting Drills You Need to Do Before Every Game
- 4 Old School Baseball Drills You Need to Be Using
- 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Baseball Bat
For information on pitching, see:
- What You Need to Know About Little League Elbow
- 4 Ways To Increase Your Kid’s Pitching Velocity
- Is the Circle Change Dangerous for Youth Pitchers?
- Why I Don’t Let My Son Pitch in Little League
- How to Make Sure Your Kid Isn’t Overpitched in Basebal
For ways to get faster, see: