Attitude: a critical component in the baseball recruiting process. It’s comprised of several parts that make up the whole, “the whole” being YOU, the baseball recruit.
According to dictionary.com, attitude is the “manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, especially of the mind”. It is “the mind” that controls performance, character, interaction, and decision-making. Your attitude shapes the kind of player you are. Attitude carries as much weight as skills, grades and stats when a college coach is considering a player for their team.
My son Ben experienced this first hand when, unbeknownst to him, a college coach was watching him after an unsuccessful at-bat where the balls and strikes weren’t called his way. Walking back into the dugout, the coach witnessed him throwing down his bat and helmet while simultaneously kicking his equipment bag. Ironically, aside from that incident, Ben had actually played a great game, but after realizing that the coach had seen his tirade, he learned later that he lost out on a great opportunity.
Ben admitted later that he had always “heard” about coaches turning away players for poor attitudes, but never really believed it until it happened to him. He learned a hard lesson from that experience, but it also made him do a 180° when it came to adjusting his attitude. This adjustment was made not only in game situations, but also in how he interacted with his own coaches, teammates, teachers and friends. (He hasn’t quite pulled off a complete 180° when it comes to his attitude at home, but he’s getting there!)
Attitude is a reflection of character, and everyone sees it. Not just college coaches, but everyone. With the right attitude, you create a positive presence around you that people will naturally gravitate to and want to be around. I believe “attitude” will always be “a work in progress,” but hopefully a “work in progress” towards the better, and from that, only good things will come your way.
