1 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: Somewhere along the line. The approach of focus on process 2 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:11,559 Speaker 1: emphasize that outcomes will take care of themselves. They can't 3 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: be the sole important thing that became a coaching trend. 4 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:17,279 Speaker 1: But I don't think it's been around long enough to 5 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: lead into how parents act in the stands or how 6 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: youth coaches can can sometimes act. This is the Reformed 7 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: Sports Project, a podcast about restoring healthy balance and perspective 8 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 1: in all areas of sports through education and advocacy. HI. 9 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: This is Nick Bonacore from the Reformed Sports Project podcast. 10 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: My guest today is the head baseball coach from the 11 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: University of Tennessee Volunteers, Tony Vitello. Named the Volunteers head 12 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 1: coach in two thousand seventeen, Coach Vitello has helped turn 13 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: the Tennessee baseball program into a national powerhouse, leading the 14 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: team to College World Series and the SEC Tournament and 15 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:00,639 Speaker 1: regional Championships. Coach Vitello was also named the twenty one 16 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 1: National Coach of the Year. Coach and I dive into 17 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: how to use the scoreboard as a positive tool in 18 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: youth sports, mental health, and how parents can help or 19 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: hurt the recruiting process. Man Freaking fired up. I got 20 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: another awesome guest. We might be related, I don't know. 21 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 1: We're We're definitely Italians. We're definitely Italians. We uh. I 22 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: don't speak to too many Pisans as I like to 23 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 1: call them, but man, I'm pumped to have him. Is 24 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: a stud coach, is a stud program in the in 25 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 1: the SEC head baseball coach, University Tennessee, the volunteers coach 26 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: Tony Vitello coach. Thanks for hopping on, man, Yeah, I 27 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 1: know my pleasure. I appreciate you having me and looking 28 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 1: forward to Jan a little bit for sure. And we're 29 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 1: talking youth sports. We're talking, you know, athletic development. And 30 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: where I like to start is in today's you know 31 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: era of youth sports, a twenty billion dollar industry and 32 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: it's bigger than the NFL. It's it's crazy, but it 33 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: seems like we don't take our kids to just go 34 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: play soccer at five anymore or whatever, baseball, whatever the 35 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: sport is. We're doing it with intent, and the intent 36 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: is like this is step one to becoming a pro 37 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: athlete or getting a D one scholarship. And if you 38 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: can kick a ball or juggle it or swing the 39 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: bat fairly well, we gotta specialize in year round. And 40 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 1: I want to ask you what are your thoughts on 41 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 1: this whole phenomenon of early sports specialization versus kids you know, 42 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 1: playing a multitude or a variety of sports. Yeah, I mean, 43 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:17,799 Speaker 1: just the way you paint the picture there, it kind 44 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:19,799 Speaker 1: of makes me think of what we always tell our 45 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: players is, you know, you gotta have a plan in place. 46 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: If you you know, have practice and tests and the 47 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 1: paper doing all that, You've got to have a plan 48 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: in place in order to have success in a lot 49 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: of different situations. So I think it's good to have 50 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: a plan and an outlook for parents that want to 51 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 1: put their child in a good position to succeed at 52 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 1: what they maybe appear to be good at. Um. But 53 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: I think this may be the one instance we're having 54 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: a plan to wealth put out as a little dangerous. 55 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 1: Kids need to be kids. They need to interact with 56 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:50,959 Speaker 1: the kids their age and kind of have teammates and 57 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: different sports that they get along with. And it's there's 58 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: kind of a social aspect not just an athletic impact there. 59 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: But as you get older and you start using different 60 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 1: muscles and it actually gets can petitive. Um. I'm a 61 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,799 Speaker 1: big believer, as many coaches are. It's better to compete 62 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: than to practice, which is what you're doing. You're just 63 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 1: playing once for it all year long. And then you 64 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: know the other thing is again using different muscles. You 65 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: mentioned soccer, so good for footwork. That may actually be 66 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,679 Speaker 1: a good you know basis for someone who's an infielder 67 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: or you know in basketball, you know, the plying metrics 68 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 1: of being explosive. Um, those are kind of my initial 69 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:27,520 Speaker 1: thoughts on that topic. And it's interesting to bring up 70 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 1: the word compete because it always seems to go there. 71 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: And when I talk to the college coaches, you know, 72 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter which sport it is, it seems like 73 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: there's this element of competition, competitiveness that comes out. And 74 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: I always refer to, you know, coach Tracy Smith said, 75 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: I mean, Nick, I'd rather have a kid that I 76 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: have signed to come here. I'm recruiting standing on a 77 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 1: free throw line, you know, shooting a one and one 78 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: in the wintertime first high school. Then you know, standing 79 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: in a batting cage. Because that competitive moment that that's 80 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: going to translate over to the baseball field. Can you 81 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about that compete piece that compete factor. Yeah, 82 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: there's no question. I mean there's right now, there's guys 83 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: and we started scrimmages and uh, there's some guys that 84 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: were our best guys and VP and using the Yakkertec 85 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: or TrackMan numbers. Um some of those guys were ultraate 86 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: confident and how the ball is coming off their bat 87 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: and now all of a sudden they're starting to have 88 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,280 Speaker 1: bad body language or doubt themselves or question their swing 89 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: because we've started the scrimmage season and inevitably what starts, 90 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:24,600 Speaker 1: you know, happening to all hitters. You get out more 91 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 1: than you get a hit. And um, so that competitive 92 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: piece and how you deal with struggles and how you 93 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: try and figure things out as a competitor, and then 94 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: just competing in general, I mean jumping in the box 95 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: and facing ninety two or whatever it might be. Not 96 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: only do you have to overcome fear, but there's a 97 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: lot of other components to competitiveness there. And um so 98 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,919 Speaker 1: I think you know, what other coaches have said is 99 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,039 Speaker 1: right in line with what I feel. I mean, competing 100 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: on a Friday night in football, controlling your adrenaline, those 101 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:57,919 Speaker 1: are lessons and things they're gonna carry over into what's 102 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,840 Speaker 1: most important, and that's a competitive of game for us 103 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: if it's the athlete we're gonna coach. When it comes 104 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: to youth sports, there's almost like this debate, you know, 105 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: and I kind of want to hear your thoughts. It's 106 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,799 Speaker 1: like some people argue that the scoreboards shouldn't be turned 107 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 1: on at all until a certain age because, quite frankly, 108 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: I've heard people say it's because parents are over zealous adults. 109 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: You know, they get crazy and not sit here and 110 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 1: and what should they do right at times? You know, 111 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm at my kids wrestling tournament right now, 112 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: I can get excited. I try to, you know, dial 113 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: it back quite a bit. But my point is I'm 114 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,160 Speaker 1: a big believer that. First of all, I've coached my 115 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 1: kids basketball team when he was five. The kids are 116 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 1: keeping score whether we are or not. I mean, they're counting. 117 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: So I look at it like, why can't we teach 118 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 1: to that? Do you think you could teach kids to 119 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 1: compete to win using the scoreboard as a two at 120 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,119 Speaker 1: the youth level without the emphasis on when at all costs? 121 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:47,280 Speaker 1: You think there's a difference, And if you don't mind elaborating, yeah, 122 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: I do think that, you know, the score is a 123 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: byproduct of doing things well. And if kids are working harder, 124 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: they're competing well together. If the kids gotta skill, it's 125 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: got to be measured. I mean, someone out there that's 126 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: an adult that's trying to lose weight, Um, they got 127 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: away themselves in to to measure the numbers and count 128 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 1: their calories. And so if you don't have a measuring stick, 129 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: I think it throws everything for a loop a little bit. 130 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:13,039 Speaker 1: But like everything in this world, if that scoreboard is 131 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: abused or used in the wrong way, it's gonna become harmful. 132 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: So the people you put in position to actually keep 133 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,919 Speaker 1: the scorebook or turn on the scoreboard or coach the 134 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 1: kids is probably the more important thing. And um, you 135 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: know when you just kind of throw a name, I 136 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:30,840 Speaker 1: mean my buddies do it, so not bad mouth them. 137 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 1: But a neighborhood group of dads, you might have some 138 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,279 Speaker 1: guys that just their hearts in the right place, but 139 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: they don't know how to execute it because you know, 140 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: they're actually an insurance salesman or whatever it is. But 141 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 1: if you were to let you know, Rick Barnes or 142 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: coach Fulmer or somebody actually run one of these teams. 143 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: They've learned throughout their career how to use that as 144 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 1: a tool. The score we're kind of like you're alluding to, 145 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: And I think the way you do that is, you know, 146 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 1: to focus on the process over the outcome, which is 147 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: an extremely cliche now the because of guys like Nick 148 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: Saban emphasizing it. But when John Wooden was coaching, you know, 149 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 1: not that long ago, it was a very unique outlook 150 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: on things. I don't think it was commonplace. And somewhere 151 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: along the line the approach of focus on process emphasize 152 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 1: that outcomes will take care of themselves. Um, they can't 153 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: be the sole important thing. That became a coaching trend, 154 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: But I don't think it's been around long enough to 155 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 1: bleed into how parents act in the stands or how 156 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:31,119 Speaker 1: youth coaches can can sometimes act. And I think that's 157 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: the important component for kids to be rewarded for how 158 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 1: they go about things as opposed to what they do 159 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: or when they score or what metal they earn. Brings 160 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: up the word adversity. We kind of touched on it earlier, 161 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: and and I'm a big believer, Like my son, he 162 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: just wrestled, he just lost he won his first match lost, 163 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: and wrestling is one of those sports man. I was 164 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: never in a mill. I never wrestled in my life. 165 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: I'm glad I didn't. I'm not tough enough. It's a 166 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 1: different animal man that But but it teaches like these 167 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: lessons and you can I messed up here. I messed it. 168 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 1: But there's it's one on and you can't blame the 169 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: coach for batting order. You can't blame the umpire, the 170 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: pitch and whatever it is. It's it's mano imano a 171 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: lot of accountability. I feel like nowadays at times I'm 172 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: gonna pick on travel baseball here where everyone thinks that 173 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: if they don't, it's this fear of missing out. Coach 174 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: Vitello won't see my kid if he's not starting. And 175 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 1: if I'm on this travel team and I'm not my 176 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 1: kids not starting, I gotta start. Another one moved to another, one, 177 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: moved to another one. Forget about sitting the bench and 178 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: earning my spot maybe the next year, and using it 179 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: as a tool like we saw in Jordan when he 180 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: when he didn't make the varsity as a sophomore and 181 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:34,199 Speaker 1: came back, his mom told him toughen up or whatever 182 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 1: I would port in his adversity. Do you think we're 183 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 1: missing the boat there? In this culture it's adversities everything, 184 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: And yeah, I don't. I don't think there's enough of it. 185 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: I think the tendency as you want your kids to 186 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: feel good these days, um there there's with social media, 187 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: there's a lot of things out there that can bring 188 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: people down. So it's almost like avoid anything that you 189 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 1: know is controversial or really you know, adverse, you know, 190 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: to kind of stay with the topic and um and 191 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 1: protecting or shielding your your child because you love them, 192 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:06,439 Speaker 1: you feel like you're helping them. But in the end, 193 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: what you got there with your son today, a loss 194 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 1: is gonna help him learn and he's gonna grow from that. 195 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: I mean scar tissue, you know, builds up in a 196 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: thrower's arm and actually ends up protecting them from injury. 197 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: You know, whether it's right handed or left handed dude. 198 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: And you know that's I don't know if it's a 199 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:25,319 Speaker 1: great analogy, but somewhat of a parallel to when kids 200 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: build up scar tissue because you know, they got beat 201 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: on the mat or you know, maybe they didn't they 202 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: realize they didn't prepare well enough before an event and 203 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,440 Speaker 1: that's why their performance wasn't quite what it could have been. 204 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 1: They learned from it and they adjust, and those are valuable, 205 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: valuable lessons. But if the sun always has to be 206 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: shining and you always get ice cream after the game, 207 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: I don't think those lessons get learned at a very 208 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:51,079 Speaker 1: very important stage of their life. And then they get 209 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: to college and it's like, wait a minute. You know, 210 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: I just got into SEC conference play and I can't 211 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 1: get a hit. I always get a hit now and 212 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 1: I'm not playing and where's all this adversity coming from? 213 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: And how do I handle it? Because it's all new 214 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: to me? You know, what are things from your experience 215 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 1: so that you see, like, well, any attribute you can 216 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: talk about from any players that stand out and nothing 217 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 1: you don't have to get in detail, but you know, 218 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: maybe something that they experienced, whether it was playing another sport, 219 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:15,680 Speaker 1: that helps them to push through that. Let's say you 220 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 1: get into conference playing, you're you're not performing, well, you're 221 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: a freshman. What are some things that these kids from 222 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 1: your experience can draw back on in the earlier days 223 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 1: that helped them push through that. Yeah, well I hate 224 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: the backtrack, but something you hit on was parents feel 225 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 1: like they're missing out, if you know, Tennessee's their dream 226 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 1: school or oregans or dream school, and the coach walks 227 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:35,960 Speaker 1: by their game and they don't have to be in 228 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: the game, and now they hate the coach and we 229 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: gotta go play for a new team. Um. You can 230 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,239 Speaker 1: control what you can control, and that's for everything wrestling 231 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 1: business world. And you know, I actually helped sign or 232 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: committicant named Rob's a Stress. And the first time I 233 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: ever saw Rob, it was hard to say his last name, 234 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 1: but he was a picture not in the game, but 235 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 1: he was playing catch, warming up the left field and 236 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:02,439 Speaker 1: I was down the line and I saw him playing 237 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: catch and good looking athlete, like the way his armwork. 238 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: I didn't even know who the guy was, but Danksher 239 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 1: made it a point to talk to the coach about him, 240 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 1: and then we end up seeing him pitch. And Rob 241 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: was a first rounder and pitched in the big leagues. UM, 242 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: so that's how it all started with his recruiting process. 243 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 1: So it's a little bit of an extreme story, but 244 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,199 Speaker 1: I think it's so crucial for again parents and the 245 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: kids to understand they don't have control over again. Maybe 246 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:30,640 Speaker 1: Oregon is their favorite school. Well, the coaches there are 247 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: human beings. What if they just mess up and they 248 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 1: don't evaluate well that particular day, and so the player 249 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: doesn't have any control over that, and the parent definitely doesn't. Um. So, 250 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: so hopefully that attaches itself to a point you brought 251 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,439 Speaker 1: up earlier, and then you know, as far as players 252 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:49,839 Speaker 1: handling adversity, the one thing that I've learned in trying 253 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: to get into this mental game, and of course we've 254 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 1: outsourced guys like a lot of other people, is you 255 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 1: have to have self awareness before anything. You know, if 256 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,839 Speaker 1: you don't know what's went on, your panic in or 257 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 1: your breathing, you're not breathing when you're on the mound 258 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:06,839 Speaker 1: when there's runners on. If you don't have self awareness 259 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 1: or a coach that points it out to you and 260 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: then you accept it, then you can't move on to 261 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 1: all those steps that are you know, you could look 262 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: up YouTube, you could read books, there's so many things 263 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 1: on the mental game now. Um but step one to 264 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 1: me is kind of pointing out the issue. Reminds me 265 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 1: of Tommy Boy when he says one's pointing out the 266 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 1: problem when he stinks in the elevator. You know, Um, 267 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: that that's that's kind of stage one for me, as 268 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 1: simple as it is. When we return Coach by Teller, 269 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: when I discussed the importance of adversity and why mental 270 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: health is something we should all be discussing. Welcome back 271 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: to the Reform Sports Project podcast. We're Coach by Teller. 272 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:49,680 Speaker 1: When I left off, we were about to dig further 273 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 1: into mental health and how parents can either help or 274 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 1: hurt during the recruiting process. So do you think and 275 00:12:57,800 --> 00:12:59,439 Speaker 1: you bring up the mental game, and you know, you 276 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 1: hear it's like Kevin Love and you hear other athletes 277 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: that are coming out talking about mental health and Dak 278 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: Prescott talking about depression. It seems to be more mainstream now, 279 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: which is a great thing. What are things that you're doing? 280 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: What are what are you seeing in that in that realm? Yeah, well, 281 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: throw COVID in there, and that's made it worse. I've 282 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,559 Speaker 1: you know, um, probably met with guys more this year 283 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: so far than I have in an entire you know, 284 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:28,439 Speaker 1: twelve month calendar year with guys just you're not feeling 285 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: right or I just kind of this is weird, or 286 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 1: you know, I regret not take care of care of 287 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 1: my body during quarantine, just little things that involve the 288 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 1: virus that's kind of wreaked havoc on everything. Um. But 289 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 1: again you get into that social media deal too, and 290 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 1: these kids are dealing with things that you and I 291 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,719 Speaker 1: didn't have to deal with. And the mental health thing 292 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 1: has to be talked about. And I think guys like 293 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: Dak Prescott, you know, as he was by most needs 294 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: to be applauded because the more people become vulnerable and 295 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 1: are given a platform or just an environment where they're 296 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 1: welcome to share those thoughts, the better. Because it kind 297 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 1: of goes back to I accidentally come full circle to 298 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: my point. You have to have self awareness. A lot 299 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 1: of people in the old days you got to bury 300 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 1: that down. You know, if you play for the packers, 301 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 1: you know, you can't go get a drink and you 302 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: can't say you're hurt, and you can't say you know, 303 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: you're down in the dumps because your wife and you 304 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: argued or whatever. You gotta just kind of man up 305 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: or whatever it is. And and that doesn't work anymore, 306 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: and maybe didn't work back then either, but that that 307 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: platform has got to be available in conversations have got 308 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 1: to be had, and then it gets even more complicated 309 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 1: from there, but it'll turn into an absolute tornado of 310 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: a mess if step one is not taking place. The 311 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: word accountability comes up a lot in these conversations, and 312 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: not to pick on parents, but it's just the culture. 313 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: I mean, no one wants to hold their kids to 314 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: the fire. It's almost like, you know, I watch I'm 315 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: here at this wrestling tournament. I don't see as much here, 316 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: but the parents are carrying their kids bags. You know, hey, 317 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 1: did you make sure you eat? And I'm guilty of 318 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: that stuff too, Like I have to separate myself. A 319 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 1: wait a minute, you're you're fifteen, sixteen years old, man, 320 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: You've got to take some accountability. Can you see on 321 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: the recruiting trail kids that may have been maybe coddled 322 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: a little bit more versus those that may be held 323 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 1: accountable for their actions. Yeah, tremendous difference. And we all 324 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: love the parents that you can kind of tell, you know, 325 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: demands the kid to be respectful or or whatever it 326 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: might be. It reminds me of reading Bobby Night's book. 327 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: He wouldn't did an in home visit, and obviously if 328 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: he's doing an in home visit, the kids a good 329 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 1: player and the kid was disrespectful to his mom, so 330 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 1: he literally packed his stuff up and left. And nowadays, 331 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 1: I agree with you there there's some blame on the parents, 332 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: but I think the parents deserve a little bit of 333 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: read for even this argument. I think now kids challenge 334 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 1: authority more than they ever did, and you know that 335 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: that's been a good thing in in history, especially in America, 336 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: but I kind of think it's boiled over to a 337 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 1: point where you know, parents don't want to be, you know, 338 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 1: too hard on their kids because their kids are rebelled, 339 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 1: and um, you know, again that's a long story to 340 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: going from there. But I think so many kids are 341 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 1: combative with their parents. The parents don't want to step 342 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: on their toes, and it becomes this deal where let's 343 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 1: not hurt anybody's feelings. Whereas back in the day. I know, 344 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: Sinbad the comedian's got a good bit. You know, he's 345 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: always talking about family in his comedy. It's like, not 346 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: that long ago, not only did you do whatever your 347 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 1: parents said, but you did whatever the neighbor's parents said, 348 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 1: whatever your teacher said. And now it's always questioning authority. 349 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: And you know, if a kid gets in trouble at school. 350 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: A lot of times, instead of the parent addressing it 351 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 1: with the kid, they get mad at the teacher that 352 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 1: the teacher was too hard on the kid. Such a 353 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 1: great segue. How much of an impact does the family 354 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: have the pair of the child you were, the kid 355 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 1: you're recruiting, their background, like their parents, their guardians, whomever. 356 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: Can they play a role in the recruiting process with you? Yeah? 357 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: No they can. And I know some I mean, one 358 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: of the best pictures I ever coached. We got him 359 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 1: because his dream school. The head coach there, who's was 360 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 1: tremendously successful, didn't want anything to do with the dad, 361 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: and um, you know, it worked out in our favor. 362 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:13,160 Speaker 1: But there's a lot of things that turned coaches off. 363 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:15,440 Speaker 1: And there's so many good players out there these days. 364 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: Some of them just don't want to mess with it. 365 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 1: And then you know, some of them literally, I hate 366 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:23,399 Speaker 1: to break it down this in depth, but literally, we 367 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 1: may offer I'm not saying we because I can't think 368 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 1: of an example, but you might offer a kid a 369 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,639 Speaker 1: lower scholarship because well, we like him, but we're getting 370 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 1: this baggage with the family, um perceived baggage. So let's 371 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: just kind of throw something out there see if it's sticks. 372 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: I mean, again extreme example, but I think things like 373 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: that have happened. Um, so I think it's important for 374 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 1: parents to educate themselves on you know, just etiquette during 375 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 1: visits at a game, whatever it might be. I mean 376 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:52,879 Speaker 1: back in the day, I used to just wear a 377 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: Hawaiian shirt and would show up to the game. And 378 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 1: I was kind of a young punk that got a 379 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: job earlier than I should have. And uh, a lot 380 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:00,679 Speaker 1: of people didn't know who I was. And you'd be 381 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: amazed at some of the things I heard parents say 382 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 1: because I was just I just look like a guy 383 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: that we was sitting there next to him, not a coach. 384 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:10,439 Speaker 1: You know, unbelievable. Tell me this. And this is another 385 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: topic that I love to bring up. I have a background. 386 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 1: I played for coach Fox right you just retire from 387 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: Carolina his last year at North Carolina Wesley, and was 388 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 1: my freshman year there. I was fortunate to play for 389 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:22,199 Speaker 1: him and Scott Forbes. It was his first year as 390 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:24,159 Speaker 1: a grad assistant. He had just got done playing. A 391 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: had a great experience in North Carolina Wesley and we 392 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: were part of I went to two World Series three regionals, 393 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 1: one a national title, and you know, have great relationships 394 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:33,479 Speaker 1: with those guys to this day. And there's a D 395 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 1: one or bust mentality, you know, and and now it's 396 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 1: like D one, it's first first, forget about D three. 397 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: D three is like borderline at least in some kids eyes, 398 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: like borderline intramural. And I'm like, I played with guys 399 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 1: at D three who made it to the big leagues, 400 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:49,800 Speaker 1: like had careers. So I feel like there's a lot 401 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,640 Speaker 1: of great programs at D two, D three, n ai 402 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 1: juco And I feel like I don't know, I mean, 403 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:56,399 Speaker 1: can you talk a little bit about the differences in 404 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 1: division And there's even a big difference between power five 405 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:01,399 Speaker 1: and like mid majors, you know, right, so do you 406 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:03,040 Speaker 1: mind just talk a little bit about that because people 407 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 1: want to figure this out, right, Well, I actually played 408 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 1: in an n A I A college, and then uh, 409 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: I went to a junior college, and then I played 410 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:11,919 Speaker 1: at a Division one school par or five schools, so 411 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: I kind of saw it all and really the big difference. 412 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: It's good baseball everywhere, especially if you're surrounded by good people, 413 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 1: you know, good coaches, academic coordinator. Um, it's a campus 414 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:27,119 Speaker 1: you like and it's baseball, and looking back on it, 415 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 1: I may have done some things differently to make sure 416 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: I had a better chance to be on the field. 417 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 1: Because for a majority of baseball players, they don't realize 418 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 1: that at the time, but the three, four or five 419 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: years you're in college, that's a very small window of 420 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: your life that you'll never get back that you get 421 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: to play. So why not put yourself in a position 422 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: to be happy as a person and a player, as 423 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 1: opposed to what you think will make other people happier 424 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:54,400 Speaker 1: by you tweeting out, Oh, Tennessee is a way cooler 425 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: school than you know, me going to UM you know, 426 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 1: a Division three school as you mentioned, or whatever might 427 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:02,040 Speaker 1: be the first school I went to with spring Hill. 428 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 1: But you know, in the end, it's about what what 429 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:06,879 Speaker 1: brings you peace of mind and what makes you happy 430 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 1: as well as your family as opposed to this label 431 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: and everyone wants to tweet out or wear a shirt 432 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: that's a big time brand name, and it brings about 433 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 1: a problem for us. And I'm gonna kind of, you know, 434 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 1: be on the shrinks couch here invent about a personal problem. 435 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 1: Imagine yourself in our shoes. You spend a ton of 436 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 1: time recruiting a guy, build a relationship, but the writing 437 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:30,959 Speaker 1: is on the wall by the end of the summer. 438 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 1: He's not a scholarship guy for us. He's maybe fits 439 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:37,399 Speaker 1: more into a mid major or maybe should go to 440 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,160 Speaker 1: a junior college and develop and really see what he's 441 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: all about. But he doesn't want to do those things, 442 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: and he's begging, just give me an opportunity. I just 443 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 1: want to go there. I'll walk on and we've invested 444 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:52,119 Speaker 1: all this time. He's begging to do it, but it 445 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: adds to our body count. And so what do you 446 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 1: do there as a coach and what do you do 447 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 1: there as a parent with your son if he's in 448 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:01,040 Speaker 1: love with the place that you know, maybe flirted with 449 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:03,120 Speaker 1: him a little bit in the recruiting process, but it's 450 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 1: not the best place for him as a player, and 451 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 1: it really creates a mess. But I do think it 452 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,679 Speaker 1: all boils down to that thing that you're kind of saying, 453 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:14,199 Speaker 1: kids and coaches look down on these uh you know, 454 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 1: majors or a program that maybe isn't on TV on 455 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:20,679 Speaker 1: football Saturday, and you end up seeing I think a 456 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 1: lot of careers kind of end early because instead of 457 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 1: being the best player at spring hill, they go try 458 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,400 Speaker 1: it at University of Alabama and just use an example 459 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,159 Speaker 1: because they're both in the same state, and you know, 460 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 1: they never really get any innings and eventually they quit 461 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 1: or they're just kind of a roll guy like I 462 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: was sitting on the bench a lot. That's an absolutely 463 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 1: fantastic point, you know, two point question you're talking to 464 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: parents talking to kids. First part with parents what can 465 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:48,080 Speaker 1: they do? What can parents do to help or you know, 466 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:52,400 Speaker 1: maybe not help, What can they do to assist their 467 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: child through the recruiting process? From your mouth, sure, I 468 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:59,399 Speaker 1: think step one is understanding that the player or you know, 469 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 1: their son is the one that's being recruited and it 470 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 1: it could be their daughter too with other sports. So 471 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 1: it's we're not even though we're getting the whole family. 472 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:12,679 Speaker 1: The reason we first started talking with family X is 473 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 1: because of the player, and so they're the one that's 474 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 1: the focal point. They're the one that's being recruited. But yes, 475 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 1: the whole family will make the decision and come to uh, 476 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: you know, our particular program or another one. So step 477 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: two would be okay, it is a family decision though 478 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:30,919 Speaker 1: the player is the focal point, but the player is 479 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 1: not paying for their check fil a for dinner. I 480 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 1: bet you they're not deciding their curfew. Um, you know, 481 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 1: so they need some guidance. And I think a parent 482 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 1: should be a part of the process and not just 483 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: handed off to their son or daughter. They should be 484 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: a part, but they're there to guide them, you know, 485 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:49,640 Speaker 1: just like, Hey, this is what I think you should 486 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: eat for dinner. Well, if you think this is absolutely 487 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:54,680 Speaker 1: gross you don't want to eat it, then so be it. Um. 488 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 1: You know. Whether that example fits or not, I don't know, 489 00:22:57,119 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 1: but I think those are the first two major steps. 490 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:02,360 Speaker 1: And then also as a parent, I think a lot 491 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:05,200 Speaker 1: of people think recruiting is like a game of poker 492 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 1: and we don't want to show our hand or don't 493 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 1: tell them this. But the way better decisions and way 494 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:15,440 Speaker 1: more perfect matches occur in the recruiting process, in my opinion, 495 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 1: when parents and the player are honest and open, and 496 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: it just allows things to happen more fluidly and you 497 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:24,920 Speaker 1: end up finding that match because at the end of 498 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:27,199 Speaker 1: the day, that's what it's all about, is what's the 499 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 1: place where everything sinks up for the program and the 500 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 1: family to gather. Well, tell me this coach in a minute, 501 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 1: minute and a half. What are you looking for? You 502 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 1: talking to a room full of ninth graders, tenth graders, 503 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:39,359 Speaker 1: eleventh graders, they want to come play at Tennessee or 504 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:42,119 Speaker 1: just be college athletes. What can they expect coaches like 505 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 1: yourself to look for? You know, a variety of things 506 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 1: like their academic resume. Be able to have as many 507 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 1: positives on your resume as possible. That might be playing 508 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:55,679 Speaker 1: another sport. You're respectful of your parents. You hustle everywhere 509 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 1: you can run. Um, you're not a speed guy, but 510 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:00,679 Speaker 1: you're working on it. You know, all those things you 511 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:02,919 Speaker 1: know could be listed down, but you better have something 512 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:06,919 Speaker 1: attractive on your resume, not just a good velocity you know, 513 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:09,680 Speaker 1: off the bat or out of your hand as a picture. Um. 514 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 1: And then the other thing is just somebody it's important 515 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:15,119 Speaker 1: to you know, you can tell if it's important to 516 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 1: a kid to be good and be competitive and be 517 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:19,920 Speaker 1: working hard at his craft and be a good teammate. 518 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,199 Speaker 1: And you can't fool you know coaches that have been 519 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 1: doing it awhile. So it's got to be important to you, 520 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:26,560 Speaker 1: and if it's not, you might be wasting your time. 521 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: Coach matelo I can't thank you enough for your time. 522 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:32,680 Speaker 1: Coaches has been awesome and appreciate it. That's Tony Vitello, 523 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 1: head baseball coach for the University of Tennessee. Volunteers, thanks 524 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 1: for listening to the Reformed Sports Project podcast. Dominick Voticourt 525 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:41,919 Speaker 1: and Our goal is to restore a healthy balance and 526 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 1: perspective in all areas of sports through education and advocacy. 527 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:49,439 Speaker 1: For updates, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, 528 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 1: or check out our website by searching for the Reform 529 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 1: Sports Project.