Players With Work Allergies Need Not Apply…

Julie Thompson – A Baseball Factory Parent’s Perspective

We’ve waited all winter for it—Welcome back, baseball! Our northern boys are smiling (despite some numb fingers from of our so-called ‘spring’ weather), and all you guys in the south and west…you lucky dogs….send some of that heat this way!

Hopefully, your player kept in shape in the off-season. If not, strongly suggest he does so next time around. You’ve probably heard by now, tryouts and practices for college baseball players are not for the work-ethic challenged. "Kyle" and friends from the DII and DIII levels report the process is demanding. While every school is different, here is what they’ve experienced:

Tryouts—Tryouts start a week or two into the fall semester. Cuts can take place at any point, with the final roster posted sometime during December or January. About 60 players tried out for the DII team, while roughly 50 players sought the DIII spots. The final rosters for both carried 30-35 players: 13-15 pitchers and 17-20 position players. The names of the players that make the team are posted. The names of those cut simply are missing from the list. Your son could get some feedback from the coach if he questions why he’s been cut; but typically, the player needs to seek out the coach for comments. It would be unusual for the coach to initiate the conversation.

Try-outs resembled a showcase. Coaches evaluated players based on Running—the baseball ‘60’; Hitting; and Arm Strength. Arm strength drills varied with position. For example, outfielders threw to home; infielders took ground balls and threw across the diamond; pitchers threw bullpen; and catchers were measured by pop time.

Practice – Again, coaches have their own approaches. Practice at the DII school was shorter and more intense, and could have been called, “Kill Me Now”. For one hour, five days a week, players would run for 30-45 minutes. Doesn’t sound bad? The running portion would take different forms: sprints; long distance, defined by two or so miles. Does your son run up those stadium steps when he heads to a game? Maybe suggest he try it say, for 20 minutes or so...up and down; first leading with his right foot, then his left, then alternating. When he’s done, have him run half a mile (c’mon you slackers, of course it’s timed…), then have him do some abs work…20-30 minutes of sit-ups, planks or supermans. It should come as no surprise that some players got physically sick on the field. “Kyle”, I said, “You must’ve looked okay—you’re always at the gym.” “You would think”, he replied, “but so is everyone else.” That’s right. All these kids want it as badly as your son does. It’s an eye opener to see the abundance of talent and their crushing work ethic. For these boys, though, it’s more of a challenge, and only partly a punishment. They love what they do and appreciate what it takes to be a part of the program. This routine took place for about a month, before it was replaced by scrimmages.

Players at the DIII school practiced five-to-six days a week for roughly three hours a day. Practice involved fielding balls, as well as hitting. There were several hitting groups, with players checking the lists each day to see which group they were in. Fielding drills depended on the position. Infielders took ground balls and did ‘bare-hand’ work. Outfielders worked on pop-ups. When it rained or practice got cancelled, players headed to the gym. There, they worked specifically on their rotator cuffs, strengthened their core, and conditioned their legs. While routines may be altered when injuries occur, players continue their regimen, resting only the part(s) of their bodies that need to heal.

The pressure is still on when practice is over—the pressure to get to the cafeteria before closing time, that is. Players scarf down a quick dinner, head back to their rooms and settle in to study. After squeezing in some sleep, they go to class and on many days, get on a bus for a game that is several hours away. Some of them play, and some of them root on their teammates. Then the team heads back to their own campus, and these boys do it all over again the next day…and the next…and the next…

As a parent, I’m exhausted just thinking about the schedule. More than that, I’m proud of the dedication and ability shown by my son and his teammates, inspired by their passion, and humbled by their selflessness. Their accomplishments transcend any game or season—the attributes they embody will carry them far in life.





Julie Thompson is a parent of a former Baseball Factory Exclusive Program player. She has volunteered to share her opinions, observations and general thoughts regarding the college recruiting and player development process. She will share what worked and what didn’t for her son, in the hope that other parents and players may benefit from her experience.

The Cumulative Effect: part 2

Matt Schilling: From the Batting Cage

The "Cumulative Effect" or CE as I like to call it, is incredibly important in all walks of life but especially in baseball. The CE is the result of doing something over and over and over until it just becomes habit for you. Last blog we talked about how this can be good for you or how it can be bad for you. If you as a hitter drop your hands or back shoulder every time you swing the bat, the CE over time will make that a very difficult habit to break.

So how do you get the CE to work in your favor? Obviously you need repetition. You need to swing the bat CORRECTLY over and over again. Get with your local batting professional or better yet come see me at Baseball Factory and get your swing analyzed. Learn what you are doing correctly and incorrectly. Once you have this information you can then set forth at correcting what is wrong through proper repetition.

The best way to hone and correct a repeatable swing is on the batting tee. First learn to use each body part correctly while hitting off the tee. Once you can hit 10 solid line drives in a row up the middle you are probably pretty consistent. Next, move to side toss. If you can hit 10 in a row up the middle in side toss, move on to front toss. Once you become proficient at being able to hit line drives one after the other in front toss, then and only then can you start taking live batting practice.

Very often all the new habits that you have developed in that series of drills will go out the window when you start hitting live. That is normal. When the ball gets moving faster guys tend to revert back to their old habits. Stick with it. Keep working to get it right and you will. That is when you will get the CE working in your favor. The whole series of drills and working up to live hitting may take two to three weeks of consistent work to get it right. This is not going to happen over night. Hitting is a process, a continuous process. If you can get the "Cumulative Effect" working in your favor rather than against you, you will have a much greater chance for success.

Quote of the Week:
"Do not confuse activity for achievement"

In other words just because you are taking swings, doesn't mean you are doing them right and improving. You must work often and most importantly, Correctly.


Matt Schilling is the Senior Director of On-Field Instruction at Baseball Factory. Schilling graduated from Coastal Carolina University, where he was an All-Conference and All-State player while being voted the fourth best second baseman in the country by the Smith Award Group. Schilling went on to coach at Coastal for five years, helping them reach the top 25. He is also a former Associate Scout with the Atlanta Braves.

Your Season is Your Responsibility

Steve Bernhardt: Building the Better Ballplayer

All of the hard work you did throughout the off-season is for one reason: to have a great high school season!

Since you turned in your high school uniform last spring, you most likely have played summer and fall baseball, attended some player development camps and showcases and worked throughout the winter to prepare for this new season. Let’s keep in mind that this is YOUR season. You need to take ownership of it from the first practice through the final out of the last game.

When I speak with players in the midst of their high school season, I love to hear an excited voice on the other end of the phone telling me about a positive contribution he made to his team’s victory. What I don’t like to hear is a player making excuses for a lack of success. I understand that obstacles appear for a player throughout every season, but how you deal with these obstacles usually determines how satisfied you are with your individual performance at the end of the year. Although at times these obstacles are out of your control, how you deal with them is entirely your decision.

For instance, let’s understand going into the season that if you live in the north, you are going to play games in cold weather. A player with some mental toughness who embraces a cold weather game and is just excited to get a chance to play a game outside that day has a distinct advantage over the player on the corner of the bench shivering in a winter coat complaining that his hands are cold. I’ve seen teams beat much more talented teams on bad weather days simply because the less talented team wanted to play despite the conditions while the “better team” was upset to be on the field.

Another issue that arises this time of year involves the limited amount of time certain high schools practice. I understand that the amount of practice time or the actual practice itinerary may not provide you with the number of defensive reps, swings in the cage, or pitches off the rubber that you feel you need. In that case, find other ways and times to get what you need. Play catch with a teammate on the tennis courts, throw to each other at a local batting cage, find an open field and get someone to hit you ground balls or fly balls. You know when you feel prepared for a game; it is your responsibility to do the things outside of organized practice times that get you to that feeling of readiness.

I could go on and list every obstacle/excuse that I have heard over the years, but I think you get the idea. This is your career and you need to take responsibility for it. The beginning of a high school season is an exciting time. I’m sure you have both team and individual goals that you are striving to reach this spring. There will be ups and downs throughout the year and how you deal with them will usually dictate whether you reach those goals. I hope all of you stay positive, overcome obstacles and see successful results from all of your hard work. I hope all of you have a great season.

Steve Bernhardt is the Executive VP of Baseball Operations with Baseball Factory. Bernhardt played for five years in the Colorado Rockies organization. As Executive VP of Baseball Operations at Baseball Factory, he oversees all events and instruction. Bernhardt formerly served as an Associate Scout with the Colorado Rockies. He received his B.S. from the University of Richmond where he was an All-Conference player.

The Cumulative Effect

Matt Schilling: From the Batting Cage

This is a topic that I could go on and on about for days. It is so overlooked by coaches, players, parents...you name it. So what exactly is it? The "Cumulative Effect" is the result of doing something over and over again. It can be a good thing if you are performing a habit or skill correctly, or a bad thing if you are doing it incorrectly. In fact I am experiencing it right now while typing. The "Cumulative Effect" or CE (as I will refer to it moving forward) of typing every day for the past 15 years, along with a class I took on it in high school, has enabled me to become a fast and effective typist. I can't help it, just doing it over and over again has allowed me to become better at it.

The same thing happens in baseball. The problem in baseball, and especially hitting, is that it very often works in a negative manner. That being said, all players, especially the young ones have the opportunity to get the "CE" working in their favor. (more on this next blog)

A big pet peeve of mine is the amount of games that youth baseball players are playing these days. Yes, game play is extremely important, but quality practice, especially at a young age, is also very important. I hear about 12U teams playing 75 to 100 games in a summer. When I speak with those coaches about it and ask them how often they practice they usually proudly tell me, "We play every day, we don't have time to practice." When I hear this, one thought goes through my mind: So what you are saying is, little Billy who drops his hands and doesn't rotate his hips correctly when he swings, is doing this incorrectly every day over the course of a 90 game season! Little Billy is reinforcing the wrong swing habits over and over and over and over (I think you get my point). This is the negative impact of the "CE."

The positive impact of the "CE" is when a player is able to practice the correct swing fundamentals in the batting cage over and over and over...and then he can go into the game and implement the swing that he has been honing in the cage. Then and only then can a player begin to develop a consistent, repeatable swing that will produce for him and not break down in the clutch or under the pressure of the game situation.

Baseball is a game completely dependent on the "CE." It is the day in and day out grind of being successful over the long haul. As young players you must develop proper swing fundamentals and drive them home EVERY day in order to be successful. Tune in next blog as we will continue to discuss this topic and how it can impact your game. Check out this week's quote, have truer words ever been spoken?

Quote of the Week:
"Practice does not make perfect, PERFECT practice makes perfect."


Matt Schilling is the Senior Director of On-Field Instruction at Baseball Factory. Schilling graduated from Coastal Carolina University, where he was an All-Conference and All-State player while being voted the fourth best second baseman in the country by the Smith Award Group. Schilling went on to coach at Coastal for five years, helping them reach the top 25. He is also a former Associate Scout with the Atlanta Braves.

The Curveball: Part 4

Matt Schilling: From the Batting Cage

We have been discussing the curveball and how to hit it and how pitchers are trying to use it to get you out. Today we are going to discuss some different ways to practice hitting the curveball.

If you think about it, most hitters practice hitting fastballs about 99% of the time. Therefore it is no shock that most hitters are better at hitting fastballs than any other pitch. Imagine if in your daily routine or practice sessions you could change that to 75% fastballs and 25% off-speed pitches. You would make great improvement in your ability to hit off-speed pitches. What I have found is not only does it make hitters better at hitting breaking balls but it actually enhances their ability to hit the fastball and use the whole field. When you only work on hitting fastballs it is easy to develop the habits of lunging at the pitch, not keeping your weight centered, and not keeping your hands back; because you can get away with some of these flaws to hit a fastball. There is no way you could get away with these flaws when facing a pitcher who changes speeds (which most pitchers do).

So what can you do to work on hitting breaking balls? Here are a few ideas for you:

1. Change of speed side toss
Have a friend flip you normal good old fashion side toss; however, he will need to vary the height of the flips. A low flip will get to you quicker, much like a fastball. A high looping flip will be slower and take longer to come down into the hitting area, much like a curveball. Sometimes have him simply pump fake the pitch without telling you. If you can take the pitch centered and balanced you are in good position, if you have commited yourself forward, your in trouble. This drill will help you to feel yourself get to your launch position without commiting to a fastball or curveball and will give you the chance to hit either one.

2. Change of speed front toss:
Have your buddy set up behind an L-screen about 15 feet in front of you and flip you front toss, but rather than just pumping you straight pitch after straight pitch, have him loop the tosses up a little higher with a little spin on it. This will simulate a slower, looping pitch much like a breaking ball and it will get your eyes in tune with looking for spin.

3. Machine curveballs:
If you have access to a pitching machine, set it up to throw you curveballs. But don't set it up to throw the nasty sharp down breaker. Set it up to throw you hangers. A hanging curve is a mistake, HITTERS MUST KILL MISTAKES! The really good, tight, sharp breaking balls are great pitchers pitches. First train yourself to hit the mistakes, if you get good at that you can start working on the pitchers pitch.

4. Live BP:
If you have a friend or coach who can throw a decent breaking ball in batting practice, have him throw it to you. Have him throw you regular fastball batting practice, then breaking ball batting practice and then have him mix it up.

5. Pitch recognition:
Simply play catch with a buddy who pitches. Get about 60 feet apart and have him throw fastballs, breaking balls and change ups to you. It does not have to be full speed and you can do it standing up. Work to try to recognize the pitch in his release point. Shout out what pitch it is as fast as you recognize it. Sometimes you will be wrong...so what. The goal is to train your eyes and brain to recognize what pitch is coming to you as quickly as possible.

I hope these tips help you. Implement these drills into your practice sessions and see your batting average and hitting ability rise. Good luck!

Quote of the week:

Before everything else; getting ready is the secret of success.

-Henry Ford


Matt Schilling is the Senior Director of On-Field Instruction at Baseball Factory. Schilling graduated from Coastal Carolina University, where he was an All-Conference and All-State player while being voted the fourth best second baseman in the country by the Smith Award Group. Schilling went on to coach at Coastal for five years, helping them reach the top 25. He is also a former Associate Scout with the Atlanta Braves.

A Plan of Action - Part 3

Steve Bernhardt: Building the Better Ballplayer

Last week I discussed two new steps from our player development action plan. So far we have covered the following steps:

Week 1
Step 1: Create an honest evaluation
Step 2: Formulate long-term goals

Week 2
Step 3: Develop a game plan
Step 4: Formulate short-term goals

This week I want to touch on the last two steps in our plan to develop successful young players.

Step 5: Execute the game plan through quality practice – It all looks good on paper, but now it is the player’s responsibility to execute the game plan and begin reaching those short-term goals. Proper repetition at the right intensity is the key to executing the game plan. In order to change muscle memory, the body must perform the task in the new, or proper way, over and over again until it becomes the natural, engrained way for the body to react. Players and parents can benefit from seeking out expert instructors to assure that their practice time is being used most efficiently. Working on swinging the bat is usually a fun exercise for all players, the tougher thing is for catchers to spend time working on blocking balls to the glove side or infielders to perfect fielding slow rollers. Making fundamental changes requires hard work and patience.

Step 6: Perform in games – The final piece to the puzzle and ultimate goal is to be successful when it counts: IN GAMES. By concentrating on the process of player development, successful results will emerge during the games. These game results will provide feedback that will show players the continual adjustments that must be made to their game plan, goals and practice routine.

The process of building a better baseball player is not a short or easy one. Players, coaches and parents must all share in the responsibility of saying no to the seventh tournament of the summer and yes to more practice time. The long-term results will be much more rewarding.

Bernhardt played for five years in the Colorado Rockies organization. As Executive VP of Baseball Operations at Baseball Factory, he oversees all events and instruction. Bernhardt currently serves as an Associate Scout with the Colorado Rockies. He received his B.S. from the University of Richmond where he was an All-Conference player.

A Plan of Action – Part 1

Steve Bernhardt: Building the Better Ballplayer

Last week I wrote about the need for more practice time for young players trying to get better. If you are committed to that idea of true player development, then follow the steps I’ve outlined for you this week. There is no overnight fix, but dedication to this process will make you a better player for sure.

Step 1: Create an honest evaluation – This should include a self-evaluation as well as an objective evaluation from a baseball professional. In the self-evaluation phase, players must be honest with themselves. They know their own abilities and shortcomings well, but are often hesitant to admit any weakness. Without addressing these things they can’t formulate a truly helpful game plan. A professional scout is the best person to offer an objective evaluation of the player, but coaches and former players also have the ability to outline a player’s strengths and weaknesses. A player who wants to improve must be able to put away his ego and accept constructive criticism during the evaluation process. Moving forward he must be willing to work not just on accentuating strengths, but on attacking weaknesses as well. Knowing these strengths and weaknesses is the first step.

Step 2: Formulate long-term goals – Players need very specific future goals to work towards. These goals should be realistic and encompass the big picture. They must be more than game statistics; they must drive the player in all areas on and off the field. Once a player determines where he is now as a baseball player and where he realistically wants to be in the future, he is ready to move forward in the player development process.

Check back next week as I will touch on two more steps in the player development process: Developing a game plan and formulating short-term goals.

Bernhardt played for five years in the Colorado Rockies organization. As Executive VP of Baseball Operations at Baseball Factory, he oversees all events and instruction. Bernhardt currently serves as an Associate Scout with the Colorado Rockies. He received his B.S. from the University of Richmond where he was an All-Conference player.

The Lost Art of Player Development

Steve Bernhardt: Building the Better Ballplayer

Twenty high school games, sixty-five summer league games, eighteen fall league games and a handful of practices mixed in. Too many young players follow a schedule that nearly mirrors this one. With many of the practices being relaxed batting practice sessions with a round of infield or a scrimmage included, it is no surprise that youth baseball today is turning out more experienced players but not necessarily better players. Game experience is an extremely important aspect of developing a player, but it is only one of many elements involved in truly building a better baseball player. By shifting more of the already designated “baseball time” from games to practices players can accelerate their development process.

Take a look at what players at higher levels are doing. Professional players at the absolute pinnacle of the sport spend over a month before the season in Spring Training. Most college programs practice exclusively for a full six weeks in the fall and then practice for several more weeks leading up to their spring season. With this being the case, why do younger players—those still needing the most skill development—practice intermittently through their high school season and only a handful of times throughout the entire summer and fall? It’s simple: games are easier and more fun.

Building a better baseball player is a large undertaking that takes a major commitment from both player and coach. It takes desire and time. It takes hours on the field and in the gym as well as the passage of time to allow the hard work to turn into results. The misconception today is that the players have the desire, but not enough time. Quite the opposite is usually true. They want success but don’t have the deep down desire to really work for that success. They have plenty of time, but they just don’t use the time they have the right way. They are spending enough time on the game, but the ratio of game time to practice time is too lopsided.

Baseball should certainly be fun. We want more young players playing the game and that comes from enjoying their time on the field. In most cases, the fun of baseball in a player’s eyes is the result of team or individual success. A player’s chance for success increases by either becoming a better player or by playing more games. Unfortunately the latter is chosen more often today—let’s just play as many games as possible and eventually everyone will have a taste of success. If coaches learn how to make an instructional practice environment fun and effective we can get back to the true development of young players.

This commitment to the development process encompasses much more than hitting in the cage during the winter and showing up for every game throughout the season. Developing as a player involves improving not only baseball skills, but also speed, strength, conditioning, mental understanding of the game and the ability to deal with both failure and success. To truly maximize one’s ability, all of these areas must be addressed. Stressing development more will produce better players, better teams and a better brand of baseball at the high school level.

If you’re ready to commit to becoming a better baseball player then check back next week when I outline the six-step process you’ll need to make it happen.

Bernhardt played for five years in the Colorado Rockies organization. As Executive VP of Baseball Operations at Baseball Factory, he oversees all events and instruction. Bernhardt currently serves as an Associate Scout with the Colorado Rockies. He received his B.S. from the University of Richmond where he was an All-Conference player.