A baseball player’s mental attitude when filming a skills video is important for positive results. In this short interview, my son, Ben, answers four questions about his mental attitude when he filmed his skills video—not once, but twice at two separate times during the recruiting process (spring, then summer)—and both times had to prepare himself physically and mentally to execute his skills to the best of his ability.
1) What did you do to prepare the night before your video shoot?
Well, first (and I may be stating the obvious) I got to bed at a decent hour. I can’t say it was “early,” but I knew I needed to get a good night’s sleep to be ready and to be at my best. I got my uniform and gear ready and called my teammates who were going to help me with my video to make sure they were coming.
2) What would you say is the first most important thing for a baseball player to do when filming their skills video?
Show up to play. Plain and simple. I approached the video shoot in the same way I approach a game: I came focused, determined and ready to perform. My mom filmed my skills video for me and she said something to me that really hit home: “This camera is the coach standing here and evaluating you. Execute your skills accordingly.”
3) What should a player be prepared for and expect at a skills video shoot?
Make sure you and your teammates do a real warm-up. No short cuts. Be prepared to do a lot of takes of each skill over and over again, because they’re not all going to be perfect. Every time I did a skill it had to be like the first time I was doing it, and I had to be satisfied with each one before I moved onto the next.
4) What advice would you give to a prospective recruit when executing skills on the ball field?
Make sure every skill is done crisply, confidently and with know-how. I knew that this video was my first opportunity to catch a coach’s eye so I had to make sure I was at my best.
Being prepared to perform at the highest level is a MUST when filming your skills video. During the recruiting process, you will probably attend baseball showcases, camps or clinics, where you will perform LIVE in front of college coaches and recruiters. The mindset that you have in those situations is the same mindset you have to have when filming your video. Do this, and conversations with coaches will start to happen!
I also invite you to read Ben’s interview with Athnet and NCSA after he committed to Kean University and will be playing for The Cougars next Fall!
