1 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: What you're trying to do with all of them is 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: just give them these skills so they can operate outside 3 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: of the athletic world, and then this will all translate 4 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: to the. 5 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 2: Athletic world, if you know what I mean. 6 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: Because winning, in my opinion and the lifestyle, it's not 7 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: just on the field. 8 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 3: This is the Reform Sports Project, a podcast about restoring 9 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 3: healthy balance and perspective in all areas of sport through 10 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 3: education and advocacy. Hi, this is Nick Bonacor from the 11 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 3: Reform Sports Podcast. My guest today is TJ. Bruce, associate 12 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,880 Speaker 3: head baseball coach for the TCU Horned Frogs. Coach Bruce 13 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 3: joined TCU in twenty twenty three after seven seasons as 14 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 3: a head coach at the University of Nevada. In just 15 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 3: one season with TCU, he made an immediate impact, helping 16 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 3: guide the squad to a Big twelve Tournament championship, its 17 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 3: second nca Road Regional victory, and a berth in the 18 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 3: College World Series. TJ and I discussed changes in the 19 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:03,639 Speaker 3: college coaching landscape, living by a code, and the importance 20 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:08,320 Speaker 3: of prioritizing values over performance to foster lifelong relationships. 21 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 4: Again, man, I'm really excited. 22 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 3: I have a dude that had on way back in 23 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:16,960 Speaker 3: the early days when I first started just kind of 24 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 3: getting out there and interviewing folks and getting feedback from 25 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 3: people that are in the fight. And he's made some 26 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 3: transitions in his professional life and and I'm really excited 27 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 3: to have him the current associate head coach in one 28 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 3: of the top baseball programs in America, the TCU Hornfrog. 29 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 4: TJ. Bruce coach Man, Thanks so much for hopping on, brother. 30 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: No, I appreciate it. 31 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 3: Man. 32 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 1: It's always always good to be on and touch shop 33 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:41,759 Speaker 1: and always good to catch up. 34 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, no doubt. 35 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 3: Last time I talked to you, I vividly remember that 36 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 3: we were in that we were in the thicke of 37 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 3: COVID and you were building like a motorcross park in 38 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 3: your front yard for your sons to be or like 39 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 3: a BMX thing. You were like, yeah, I'm putting ramps on, 40 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 3: and you know they're doing this, that and the other. 41 00:01:58,200 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 3: But this is when you were still I believe in 42 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 3: because you were the head coach in Nevada, what's going 43 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 3: on with the motorcrossing? Were able to move that with 44 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 3: you to Texas. 45 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 2: I wish I wish. Yeah, it was pretty neat. 46 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 3: Man. 47 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: It's uh, you know, COVID obviously destroyed a lot of things, 48 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 1: and you know, hurt a lot of people, and and 49 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: we had close family or friends passed away because of it. 50 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,839 Speaker 1: But it also brought different joys to two different people too, 51 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,119 Speaker 1: and and one of them for me was to kind 52 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: of get reacclimated to my family. To be honest, I 53 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: was kind of running this coaching circuit and being a 54 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: newly head coach. I guess at that time, I was 55 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,239 Speaker 1: four years in and got back in the end of 56 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: the daily life with my family. And then we built 57 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 1: that that BMX track, and what we did was we 58 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 1: did the national circuit for BMX for almost the whole year. 59 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 2: So it was really cool. 60 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: We were loading up the BMX bikes and driving you know, Sacramento, 61 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: which is two hours from us as the number one 62 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: BMX track in the country, and so we were going 63 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:58,919 Speaker 1: there Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday night racing. Then we were driving 64 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: to Utah, driving to Arizona, doing all these different circuits, 65 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 1: running the national scene. 66 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:07,520 Speaker 2: So it was a pretty neat deal. Taught my kids, I'll. 67 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 1: Tell you what. It taught my kids so much than 68 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: just the daily grind of the team aspect, you know, 69 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: because BMX is such an individualized sport, so it just 70 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 1: taught them so many different lessons and how to work 71 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: differently and all that. 72 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 2: It was incredible, dude, I love it. 73 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 3: And you you know now going from head coach to 74 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 3: associate head coach, and I know you were an assistant, 75 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 3: you know when you first got into the game, and 76 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 3: of course you were a high level player as well. 77 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 3: You hear so much and currently we have March Madness 78 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 3: going on and a lot of the talk on you know, 79 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 3: talk radio and such. You often here is a lot 80 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 3: of these, a lot of coaches that have been around 81 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 3: for a long time, right, I'll use you know, my 82 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 3: old coach who I talk about a lot, Mike Fox. 83 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 3: I'm sure you know. He was at Carolina for a 84 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 3: long time. He retired a few years ago. Scott Forbes, 85 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 3: who was his longtime assistant, took over the program. And 86 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 3: I'm really close with Coach Fox. And he said, man, 87 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 3: it's just talking about the culture and today and recruiting 88 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 3: lands gape nil And He's like, man, it's just different. 89 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 3: He actually said to me, like the guys who were younger, 90 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 3: who have kind of come up in it are more acclimate, 91 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 3: they're used to it. You know, someone like him, he's like, 92 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 3: it's a new world. What does that mean? Because you 93 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 3: started your you know, coaching career as an assistant, I 94 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 3: believe you were around the same age and our mitt 95 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 3: and close to our mid forties, so. 96 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 4: You saw you've seen the change. 97 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 3: How much has has the coaching at the college level 98 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 3: changed since you know the transfer portal? And I l 99 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 3: I guess just give your background pros and cons because 100 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 3: so people can understand. 101 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's crazy. I mean, it's you know, I feel 102 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 1: like I'm in that right right in the middle. But 103 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: I wouldn't change how I was raised in the game 104 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 1: and by the people I was raised by, because I 105 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:45,839 Speaker 1: feel like my foundation is solid, better than solid in 106 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:50,039 Speaker 1: terms of what the game was and then where it's 107 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: transforming into. And you know, my foundation goes all the 108 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: way back to Cereals College and Wallykincaid. You know, I 109 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: didn't play for Wally, but he's basically he is the 110 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: West Coast godfather of baseball, and a lot of guys 111 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:10,160 Speaker 1: learned that Mike Gillespie's one of them. George Horton is 112 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 1: one of them, Dave Snow, Mike Weathers, all these guys, 113 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 1: these great coaches have learned on them. And as much 114 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: as the games evolve into different, you know, the computer 115 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: based stuff, it's still you have to throw strikes. 116 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 2: You got to put the ball in play, and you 117 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 2: got to play catch. 118 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: And I think nothing needs to be the foundation on 119 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: the athletics side. Now now where it's gone in the 120 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 1: transfer portal and the nil era is just a whole 121 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: different ballgame in terms of you know, when we were playing, 122 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: you were allowed to transfer. In fact, I was a transfer. 123 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: I ended up being a senior transfer from Texas Tech 124 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 1: to longbea state back to my hometown, and that was okay, 125 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:51,119 Speaker 1: I got to play right away. Then they went into 126 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: you can only have a one time transfer, and then 127 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: now you can have a one time transfer and. 128 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 2: Not set out. 129 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: But now you're just you're paying players and you're you know, 130 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: I'm not so much opposed to the nil EELD, but 131 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 1: I guess I guess I am a little bothered as 132 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:11,600 Speaker 1: to where it's going in terms of now you're just 133 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: you've made amateur baseball professional sport by just paying these guys, 134 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 1: and now a lot of these parents and families and 135 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: kids are searching for the highest payday and then that's 136 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 1: where they're going to play, and not necessarily the best 137 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: developing place, the best place with the right leaders, the 138 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 1: best head coach with a servant heart, you know, all 139 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 1: the things that we value that. I think when you 140 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 1: get to be an adult and you start raising your 141 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 1: own kids, you're going to go back to those value 142 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 1: servant hearts, servant leadership. So why not why not start 143 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 1: now in your amateur sport or your amateur years. And 144 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 1: I'm so thankful that I work for Kirk Sarlos, who 145 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: is all that and more and he does it right, 146 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 1: and he's a servant leader and has a heart of gold, 147 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: and we do things right. 148 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:02,799 Speaker 2: But there again, he was raised his dad. 149 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: Played for Walikin Kaid, Kirk played at cal State Fullerton. 150 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 1: So we have I don't want to say old school values, 151 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: so I don't want to sound that old, but we 152 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 1: kind of have a really good foundation of how he 153 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: wants to do it. And my job now is to 154 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: serve him in his program in the best possible way. 155 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 3: It seems like it's happened so quickly, like ten years, 156 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 3: it's completely completely changed. And you mentioned the amateurism of 157 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 3: college sports to now I agree with you, it's you know, 158 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 3: more or less professional sports. How do you juggle because 159 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,679 Speaker 3: you got to win, you know, especially at the Power 160 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 3: five look like TCU. I would imagine, you know, Texas Christian. 161 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 3: You guys are going to Omaha, you know, trying to 162 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 3: win national titles. Like if you don't win, you know, 163 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 3: how do you balance the quote unquote old school mentality, 164 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 3: you know, and implementing the values and life lessons and 165 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 3: things and try to develop great people while at the 166 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 3: same time realizing, like you know, you mentioned the pay 167 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 3: or the professionalism like it is borderline transactional. How do 168 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 3: you balance the transformational and transactional so that you not 169 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 3: only can sleep a night, but also sleep at night 170 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 3: knowing that you're still going to be employed, right, I 171 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 3: mean that's that's the reality. 172 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I think it's a good question. 173 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: But I think the foundational skills on what you value, 174 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 1: that's where it comes back to. And I think, you know, 175 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: I've always believed that people have a. 176 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 2: Code and they live by code. 177 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: And your family if you didn't know it, now, your 178 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: family lives by a code. You just may not know 179 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 1: what it is or you just may not, you know, 180 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 1: categorize it as that. But we all live by something 181 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: and stand by something, and I think that's the same way. 182 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: I think you've got to be able to stand by 183 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: and live by the code that you want to live by, 184 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 1: and then you've got to marry that to your program, 185 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: not the other way around. I've seen too many coaches 186 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:48,719 Speaker 1: live the other way, where it's like I'm going to 187 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: set my program's values, but I'm not going to live it. 188 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 2: Off the field. 189 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: And that's that's what I think is number one. 190 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 2: And then number two. 191 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 1: As much as we are chasing went into a degree 192 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 1: or chasing people, you're trying to chase this this servant heart, 193 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 1: like I said earlier, and you're trying to be a 194 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: servant leader of these kids and you're trying to help 195 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:09,319 Speaker 1: them get to where they. 196 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 2: Got to get to. 197 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 1: And if you do it that way and you chase 198 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:16,439 Speaker 1: people instead of winning, I feel I feel like organically 199 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 1: you will evolve into this growth mindset because you're just 200 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: not about the winning. And I'll give you example. You know, 201 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: the winning in terms of well, hey you have to 202 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: do it this way, you can't win. Well, that's all good, 203 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 1: And I'm not saying that it can't be that way, 204 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:32,959 Speaker 1: but I also know there's a lot of different ways 205 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: to win, as you know, And I'll just use those 206 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 1: guys you mentioned at UNC, who are great right Forbes 207 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 1: and Foxy and Scott Jackson right there, all they go UNC. Well, 208 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: they all run different programs now, and they all may 209 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: do it a little bit different. But I feel like 210 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 1: the good ones are chasing people and that will lead 211 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: to growth mindset, which will then create the love and 212 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 1: learning and the resilience that is essential or this bigger 213 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: accomplishment in winning that we all are chasing in a way. 214 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 3: Also, I love your point about the code because you know, 215 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 3: I think most people would agree that a lot of 216 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 3: the values and such that you know are instilled in 217 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 3: our kids start in the house, you know, whatever your 218 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 3: house dynamic looks like. So how do you and your father, 219 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 3: for I believe, two boys, two girls. You mentioned your 220 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 3: daughter's getting ready to go into high school here next year, 221 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:27,199 Speaker 3: So how do you utilize in this ever changing environment. 222 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 3: I mean, you're in the You're in the midst of it, 223 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 3: You're in you're in the thick of the landscape of 224 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 3: college athletics, and it's how you make your living. How 225 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 3: do you juggle you know, trying to extract the core 226 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 3: values of the lessons of sports that will serve our 227 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:44,199 Speaker 3: kids or your kids throughout their life versus the performance 228 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 3: and knowing what you know, Like let's say one of 229 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:49,079 Speaker 3: your kids or all of them, you know, want to 230 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 3: be collegiate athletes like they want to, you know, get 231 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 3: on social media market themselves and you know that that 232 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 3: opportunity is there. How do you juggle that as a 233 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 3: sports parent and a college coach. 234 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,199 Speaker 1: Well, I think the values, like I said, the values 235 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 1: are ever you're forever teaching every single day. I got 236 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 1: a daughter that's going into high school next year, and 237 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: she actually just made varsity dance and she's not even 238 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 1: in high school yet, and so they had their tryouts 239 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 1: and she's a good dancer, and I think she's gonna 240 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 1: dance collegiately just by watching. You know. It's not so 241 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 1: much her athleticism or the way she dances, it's more 242 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: everything else. 243 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 2: It's more of the values that she has. 244 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 1: She's super loyal, she's respectful, she's yes ma'am, yes, sir, 245 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: shows up on time. She is a worker, she's always working. 246 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 1: So I mean, I just named you multiple things that 247 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 1: we're just trying to instill every day. And whether or 248 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 1: not they can dance, or whether or not they can 249 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:48,199 Speaker 1: swing about, or whether or not they can throw. 250 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 2: A football, it doesn't really matter. 251 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: But if you got those five things, or I know 252 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 1: there's more things to it, but if you got those 253 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 1: things that you're pounding in them every single day, the 254 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 1: athletic performance is gonna take care of it so well. 255 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: And I think what we don't do a great jobs 256 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: as parents, and trust me, I'm speaking to myself here too, 257 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,680 Speaker 1: is as raising young kids. And we're in the travel 258 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 1: ball circuit too. We're in the football circuit, lego community football. Man, 259 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 1: if you haven't heard of it, I mean it's it's 260 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:18,559 Speaker 1: a huge deal. My son had a Super Bowl at 261 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: ten years old. There's a thousand people there night. 262 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 4: You're in Friday night light country, right. 263 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, big time. 264 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 1: And so I think what you're trying to do with 265 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 1: him or with all of them, is just give them 266 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: these skills so they can operate outside of the athletic world, 267 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 1: and then this will all translate to the athletic world, 268 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 1: if you know what I mean, Because winning, in my opinion, 269 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:45,319 Speaker 1: is a lifestyle. It's not just on the field. And 270 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: I think that's just kind of how we look at it. 271 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,440 Speaker 1: That's what has been passed down to me, and we've 272 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 1: stood firm on it, and I think a lot of 273 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 1: parents what I was gonna say earlier is they lose 274 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:58,199 Speaker 1: their identity and their kids' sports. They lose their identity 275 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: and the travel ball, they lose the identity in the dance. 276 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 1: And it's super easy to do because trust me, I've 277 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 1: done the same thing. At times, I get in the 278 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 1: car and I'm like, Jackson, why did you swing. 279 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 2: At that pitch? 280 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 1: Hey, that's the last thing he needs to hear from 281 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 1: his dad. He wants me to be as dad, not 282 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: as coach. And so that's something that I think if 283 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 1: we can take a step back as parents and start 284 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 1: building our kids up in a different way, chasing the 285 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:27,200 Speaker 1: growth mindset, chasing the person instead of the winning and 286 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: the success, I think it all just goes hand in 287 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 1: hand at some point and it's all going to marry 288 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:31,840 Speaker 1: and do each other. 289 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 3: When we return, TJ and I dive further into youth 290 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:38,559 Speaker 3: sports and the rise of baseball analytics before we had 291 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 3: to break here's a message from industry leader Team Snap 292 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 3: sponsorships go a long way, cutting costs for every player 293 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 3: involved and helping out with big ticket items like travel, equipment, 294 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 3: and facilities. Are you ready to start raising sponsorship dollars 295 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 3: for your youth organization? 296 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 2: Great? 297 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:54,679 Speaker 3: But where do you start and how do you get 298 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 3: in front of sponsors? Team step has just the webinar 299 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 3: for you. Join their up and coming webinar Three Ways 300 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:04,440 Speaker 3: to Attract leading sponsors to your youth sports organization on Tuesday, 301 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:05,439 Speaker 3: April sixteenth. 302 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:07,559 Speaker 4: During this webinar, we'll share. 303 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 3: Tips, best practices, and tools to help you attract leading 304 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 3: sponsors to your youth sports organizations, including how to offer 305 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 3: the most popular sponsorship assets, keys to creating impactful promotional materials, 306 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 3: and how to leverage the team staff sponsorship network. 307 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 4: Go to teamstap dot. 308 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 3: Com to learn more and sign up for the webinar. 309 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 3: On April sixteenth, where we left off, TJ and I 310 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 3: were about to discuss the role and limitations of baseball analytics. 311 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 3: I want to shift gears a little bit because not 312 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 3: really shift gears, but like we've talked about nil and 313 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 3: things have changed in the overall landscape, but I want 314 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 3: to talk about the specific changes that we're seeing in 315 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 3: the landscape of the game of baseball. 316 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 4: And you mentioned the math of the science and the data. 317 00:14:57,400 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 3: And this is not just exclusive to the baseball I mean 318 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 3: watching you know, collegiate basketball right now in the midst 319 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 3: of March madness. You're talking about analytics and football and 320 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 3: it doesn't matter the sport, right data, you know, you 321 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 3: have an abundance of data. You can kind of figure 322 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 3: out algorithms or whatever strategies that could increase the odds 323 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 3: of performance of success. But man, I have a love 324 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 3: hate relationship with baseball Twitter. I have a love hate 325 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 3: relationship because I love looking at this stuff and being 326 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 3: like this is a lot of It's hilarious to me, 327 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 3: like grown adults arguing like swing like this and this 328 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 3: is what works and this is all this and no, 329 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 3: do this, do that. 330 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 4: And I'm like, holy cow, like how do you have 331 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 4: so much energy to do this? But are you at TCU? 332 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 4: Are you guys? 333 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 3: And I know you work specifically with hitters, I believe 334 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 3: in the offense. Are you legit like breaking down swings 335 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 3: like coaching to quote unquote you know certain launch angles 336 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 3: and doing all that I don't. I might not even 337 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 3: be using their terminology properly. But are you how much 338 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 3: is the data really used on a day to day 339 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 3: basis in the TCU program when it comes to hitting 340 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 3: specific you. 341 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 2: Know from I think it just varies on the person. 342 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 1: But I, like I told you earlier, I was raised in 343 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 1: the game, right, So my foundation or what I believe 344 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: is right. 345 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 2: But my foundation isn't from the background of. 346 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 1: Analytics and the background of launch angle and swing planes 347 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 1: and all that stuff. 348 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 2: It wasn't there. 349 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: We were taught to evaluate based on setup, evaluate based 350 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:27,479 Speaker 1: on hand position, evaluate based on so many other factors 351 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 1: that I believe now as we're getting into the analytics world, 352 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: I think it's helped me rather than just the guy 353 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: that's like I feel like the guy that's just getting 354 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 1: into the coaching ranks and he is just behind the 355 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: computer the whole time. I don't think he's as well 356 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: versed because the experience a isn't there and he's just 357 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: seen things through a computer screen. We use them, but 358 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: we're not living off them, if that makes sense. 359 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 2: And I think you have to be able to speak 360 00:16:58,760 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 2: the language to the. 361 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 1: Kids, and you have to be able to show them 362 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 1: because that's all they're coming up in now. So you 363 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 1: have to be able to show them certain things, but 364 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:10,159 Speaker 1: you also have to be able to adapt. They have 365 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,119 Speaker 1: to be able to adapt to you and understand that 366 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,679 Speaker 1: if you set up this way, it doesn't really matter. 367 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:19,399 Speaker 2: Xyz, or if you do this, or if you stride. 368 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 1: Here, it doesn't really matter what you're trying to do. 369 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:24,199 Speaker 1: I think there is a way to marry both of them. 370 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 1: And I think there again, that's where the coach, like myself, 371 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 1: has to have a growth mindset. We keep asking kids 372 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: to have a growth mindset. Well, the coach is going 373 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: to have a growth mindset too, So you have to 374 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 1: know it. You have to talk the language. I just 375 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 1: I would I'd choose rather not to live off of it. 376 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 1: I think now, if you have the foundational if you 377 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:46,640 Speaker 1: use let's just talk hitting from it, if you use 378 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 1: the ground, and you know how to use the ground correctly, 379 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: then I think you can get into other things. 380 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 2: If you don't use the ground, which is. 381 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:55,680 Speaker 1: A pretty foundational thing here. 382 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 2: For us it's TCU, then. 383 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 1: The computer is not going to help you. 384 00:17:58,960 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 2: You know, you know what I mean. 385 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: It's just it would be like on a pitching side, 386 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:04,679 Speaker 1: I believe if you can't throw strikes the computer is 387 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 1: not going to help you. Now, if you can throw strikes, 388 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: the computer may help you manipulate or change a grip 389 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 1: on a ball, or get your fingers over the ball 390 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:14,440 Speaker 1: a little bit more. 391 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 2: Because you're on the side of the ball, whatever it 392 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 2: may be. 393 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: But there are foundational pieces you have to do in 394 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 1: order for this stuff, this other stuff to help you. 395 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 3: There's a great quote that Mike Reinold, who works with 396 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:28,480 Speaker 3: the Red Sox, he has a you know, he does 397 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:31,639 Speaker 3: a lot of rehabilitation, works with a ton of big leaders, 398 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 3: particularly in the Red Sox organization, and he told me, Nick, 399 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 3: you first bake the cake, then you add the frosting. 400 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:39,680 Speaker 3: And I think that that's a great way to describe 401 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 3: kind of what you're saying when it comes to let's say, 402 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 3: all right, so you're at the college level. Your kids 403 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 3: want to play for a travel organization, you know, a 404 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 3: select team or whatever. How important is it for you 405 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:51,919 Speaker 3: for your ten, eleven, twelve year old to know that 406 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 3: the coach or the organization you're working with utilizes data 407 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:58,119 Speaker 3: and analytics. Is that something to think about or is 408 00:18:58,160 --> 00:18:59,120 Speaker 3: that just a marketing thing? 409 00:18:59,200 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 4: Because that's it. 410 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,199 Speaker 3: It's the culture and people think, hey, you know, I 411 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 3: hear I met my son's nine new games now talking 412 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:05,920 Speaker 3: about launching all all this stuff. 413 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:07,119 Speaker 4: I'm like, what do you think? 414 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:08,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't. 415 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 1: In fact, my son doesn't hear that a whole lot, 416 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 1: and he doesn't bring it up a whole lot, and 417 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 1: our travel ball organization does not talk about it at all, 418 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 1: which is really good. Now, I am a coach, and 419 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: I will always back the coach, so you know, when 420 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 1: it gets to that, him and I will have some 421 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 1: discussions on the growth and what it does. But I 422 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 1: think it's good for him to value it. But I 423 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 1: also think right now, at ten years old, he doesn't 424 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 1: need to be worried about a radar gun pitching. He 425 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:42,639 Speaker 1: just needs to worry about throwing strikes, you know, And 426 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 1: he needs to worry about making contact and putting the 427 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 1: ball play and understanding the value of doing all that 428 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,440 Speaker 1: and playing catch and throwing strikes and putting the ball 429 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:54,920 Speaker 1: play rather than just getting hits. Because right now we're 430 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:58,120 Speaker 1: in the stage at ten where everybody is growing rapidly. 431 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:02,639 Speaker 1: My son has built a lot. Guy was very thin, bone, 432 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: very skinny. He has friends now just getting into the 433 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 1: home run stage, and. 434 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 2: He wants to hit home runs. 435 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:13,040 Speaker 1: Well, he's not going to ever really do that yet. 436 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:15,480 Speaker 1: He needs to be Like I tell him, you better 437 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 1: be a good hitter before you start getting into power. 438 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 2: You know, I would rather. 439 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: Hit three thirty than hit two thirty with fifteen. I 440 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 1: would rather hit three thirty and five or three thirty 441 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 1: and three and be on base. And that creates, in 442 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:33,800 Speaker 1: my opinion, multi dimensional baseball player. Just like you're trying 443 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:37,680 Speaker 1: to recruit multi dimensional athletes and multiple sport athletes. 444 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 2: It all goes the same. 445 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,520 Speaker 1: So we don't really get into it in my house 446 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 1: a whole lot, and thank god our organization doesn't. 447 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 3: So that is something that I mean, I talk about 448 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 3: this a lot, but this is something you're passionate about 449 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 3: as well. 450 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:50,719 Speaker 4: We share this. 451 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 3: You love recruiting, Like is it really still something you 452 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 3: look for? Like like you go out and see kids 453 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:57,399 Speaker 3: that may have played different sports in high school. 454 00:20:57,600 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 2: Oh, we love it. 455 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:03,399 Speaker 1: I mean our head coach, coach Sarlos, played three sports 456 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 1: in high school just like I did. 457 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 2: He was a quarterback. We actually played all the same sports. 458 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:12,879 Speaker 1: He was a quarterback football, he was a soccer player, midfielder, 459 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 1: and then baseball player and I was the same. So 460 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 1: we did all. We did all three. He did three 461 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 1: longer than I did. I did two, and then it 462 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 1: transitioned to one. I think when I would turn seventeen. 463 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: But I'm a firm believer in it. My kids do 464 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:31,159 Speaker 1: the same thing. My kids have no reason to play basketball, 465 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 1: to be honest with you, but I put him in basketball. 466 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 1: And we went from tackle football, which is a whole 467 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: other thing. 468 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 2: It's like, well, why would you let your kid? 469 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:40,880 Speaker 1: Well, football is safer now than ever, So yes, I'm 470 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 1: gonna allow that, and he's gonna be tougher for it 471 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:44,160 Speaker 1: and better for it. 472 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 2: So then we went from football to basketball right away, 473 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 2: right in the gym, and he's. 474 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 1: Asking me how to shoot, and I have no idea 475 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:55,119 Speaker 1: how to shoot. I'm not a basketball player, but I 476 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 1: think it's just so good to be coached in those lessons. 477 00:21:57,880 --> 00:21:59,920 Speaker 1: And then he went we didn't pick up a bat 478 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: from August first to uh February first. I didn't allow 479 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:07,719 Speaker 1: him to pick up a back, and he was behind 480 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 1: it was it was, it's okay. But guess what. Now 481 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 1: we're two months into it and he's fine, it's okay. 482 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: It's it all work out. That's where the identity of 483 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 1: a parent gets caught up in the kid. 484 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:19,160 Speaker 3: It's a good point two months. Yeah, we're a little 485 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 3: behind that kid who may have been swinging in the 486 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 3: cages all winter long or whatever. But you know, give 487 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 3: an athlete a little bit of give them a couple 488 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 3: of weeks, we're going to be just fine. 489 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 2: Yeah. 490 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 1: I mean, I just they're kids, and I think I 491 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 1: think the multiple sport athlete is just I think they're 492 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 1: at a higher advantage in a lot of ways because 493 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 1: I just think their overall motor and athletic development will 494 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:43,359 Speaker 1: increase their playing years. 495 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 2: That's what I think. 496 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: That's what I believe, and that's that's not for everybody. 497 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:49,119 Speaker 2: That's what I believe, and I think it. 498 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:52,199 Speaker 1: I think also doing that, it's an increased ability to 499 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:53,400 Speaker 1: transfer skills. 500 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 2: To other sports. Why not learn how to ride BMX? 501 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,680 Speaker 1: That was one of the greatest things for our kids 502 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,680 Speaker 1: at the they were doing them, which was five and 503 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 1: seven I think, or four and six and whatever. 504 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:08,359 Speaker 2: And they line up on the gate. 505 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 1: And they're international and they have rankings and all this stuff, 506 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:15,120 Speaker 1: and they're at one of the nationals and if they 507 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:17,440 Speaker 1: slip a pedal, they only get one left. They slip 508 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:19,879 Speaker 1: a pedal or they don't start good. It's not like 509 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 1: you have a motor and you're catching up. You're done, 510 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:26,399 Speaker 1: you're out, you finished last. And I think the accountability 511 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 1: part for them on the training aspect of if I 512 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 1: don't train, it's my fault. And I think that is 513 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 1: such a huge deal for them because, as you know, 514 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:40,600 Speaker 1: if you don't train in a team sport, you may 515 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 1: let your team down in some ways and it's going 516 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: to show up, but you can mask that with eight 517 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 1: other guys in baseball, they may not show up right away. 518 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 2: And so I just I value everything. I value every. 519 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 1: Sport they can play. I value playing wood football in 520 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:58,879 Speaker 1: the front yard. I value shooting hoops. We ride dirt bikes. 521 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:02,119 Speaker 1: The only thing are girls, don't they? They dance full time. 522 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 1: They but my oldest daughter played club soccer until she 523 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:07,720 Speaker 1: was thirteen and then they kind of became we had 524 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 1: to pick one or the other just where it was going, 525 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 1: and we chose dance or she chose dance. 526 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 3: So at the end of the day, coach, I love 527 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:17,120 Speaker 3: following you, you know, I love what you You occasionally 528 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:18,960 Speaker 3: get out there and really put some good, you know, 529 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 3: some good intel out there for the parents. Ca Fiut 530 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:24,720 Speaker 3: where are the best places to find you? I know 531 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 3: you're on ex Twitter, Where where else can people find 532 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:29,359 Speaker 3: if they want to connect? And also on the recruiting piece, 533 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:31,880 Speaker 3: you know, you might hear someone that wants to play TCU, 534 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 3: they want to get looks. How can they maybe get 535 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:35,359 Speaker 3: some film and maybe get on your radar? 536 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean Twitter is always good. I'm not sometimes 537 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:41,240 Speaker 1: I can go on a rent here and there on Twitter. 538 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 1: I actually enjoy Instagram a lot more because I think 539 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:47,880 Speaker 1: we're also in a time where people on Instagram stories 540 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:51,400 Speaker 1: they don't want the Instagram posts. I don't. Just think 541 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: that's kind of where we're at in life, and that's 542 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: okay and that's good. So I like Instagram a lot 543 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 1: because I have a chance to post a lot of videos, 544 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:04,359 Speaker 1: a lot of content on my stories. My family is 545 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 1: heavily into faith, so a lot of it's good Friday 546 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:10,200 Speaker 1: and a lot of it is it's kind of well rounded. 547 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 1: It's a lot of it it's about faith. A lot 548 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,200 Speaker 1: of it's about speaking to kids. A lot of it's 549 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,400 Speaker 1: about speaking to my girls because my girls are on Instagram, 550 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,120 Speaker 1: so they get to go through my feed and it's like, oh, 551 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 1: Daddy is really talking about this or he's posting this. 552 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:29,440 Speaker 1: So Instagram is probably my favorite. So I think if 553 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 1: you just search TJ Bruce. In fact, I think it's 554 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 1: TJ Bruce zero two or something like that. That's my handle, 555 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 1: and it'd be great to connect or have people follow 556 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 1: and I can help in any way. 557 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:46,160 Speaker 4: Possibly you're the man coach. 558 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:48,800 Speaker 3: I'm hoping we will see you guys in a super 559 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 3: regional and ultimately in Omaha. 560 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 4: Keep doing what you're doing. 561 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:54,520 Speaker 3: I can't thank enough for coming on and sharing, bro, 562 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 3: but it's always a pleasure, and I can't thank you enough. 563 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:58,560 Speaker 1: Awesome body. I appreciate you having it. 564 00:25:58,800 --> 00:25:59,439 Speaker 4: That's TJ. 565 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 3: Bruce, associate head baseball coach for the TCU Hornfrogs. Thanks 566 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:07,440 Speaker 3: for listening to the Reform Sports Podcast. If you've enjoyed 567 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 3: this episode, we would appreciate it if you took a 568 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:11,880 Speaker 3: moment to rate and review our podcast. As we work 569 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 3: to grow our community of supporters and advocates for more 570 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:18,359 Speaker 3: reform sports content, please subscribe to our newsletter and blog 571 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,399 Speaker 3: at Reformsports Project dot com. You can also follow us 572 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:24,120 Speaker 3: on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.