1 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: If that's the long term goal, I think, like just 2 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:08,639 Speaker 1: understanding that being on the best teams that you know 3 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 1: eight nine, ten, eleven, twelve. 4 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:12,120 Speaker 2: Honestly, like aren't all. 5 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: That important because players come from everywhere and their paths 6 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: are all different. 7 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 3: This is the Reform Sports Project, a podcast about restoring 8 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 3: healthy balance and perspective in all areas of sport through 9 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 3: education and advocacy. Hi, this is Nick Bonacor from the 10 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 3: Reform Sports Podcast. Today, I'm speaking with Todd Walter, director 11 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 3: of Pitching Analysis for the Texas Rangers. Todd has worked 12 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 3: with the Rangers for over sixteen seasons and in his 13 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 3: current role, provides input for decisions regarding player development, acquisition, 14 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 3: and pitcher usage. A former professional scout for seven seasons 15 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 3: and a pitcher at Carthage College, Todd and I discussed 16 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 3: the benefits of unstructured free play for kids, the importance 17 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 3: of natural rest for your body and mind, and why 18 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 3: parents have a hard time seeing the forest through the trees. 19 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 3: I am freaking excited. Thanks for coming on, man, let's 20 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:06,839 Speaker 3: get into it, bro. I love how we connected here, 21 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 3: Like it seems kind of crazy. 22 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 2: You know. 23 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:10,839 Speaker 4: A few weeks ago we had a chat. 24 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 3: Next thing you know, you tell me, hey, I'm actually 25 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:15,479 Speaker 3: coming to Wilmington, North Carolina. Then all of a sudden, 26 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 3: I know, a week later, we're at a ball game. 27 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 3: Then we're we're sitting down having a breakfast where I ordered, like, 28 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 3: it's kind of funny. I ordered like the most country 29 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 3: meal you can get with liver, putting, bacon, eggs, all this, 30 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 3: and I'm waiting for Todd to order, and Todd orders 31 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:32,039 Speaker 3: a bullet oatmeal. 32 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:33,479 Speaker 4: I'm like, what the hell's going on here? 33 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, thank you for introducing me to liver pudding. 34 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 2: I never I've never heard of that before. 35 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 1: And you know, I'm glad you're the one that ate 36 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: it because I don't know. 37 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 2: If I was gonna be able to do that. 38 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 3: I will tell you the name and people who are 39 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 3: who are familiar with like Scrapple in the PA area. 40 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 3: Todd looks at my plate, he goes, dude, you think 41 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 3: you got enough protein on that plate. I'm like, yeah, 42 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 3: let's get into it. Man, I'm not worried about the 43 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 3: heart attack. I got to get some flavor to start 44 00:01:58,400 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 3: my day. 45 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 2: That's great, That's great. That place was good. 46 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 3: It was very legit, but man, what a pleasure it 47 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 3: was connecting with you. Here you are, you know, you know, 48 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 3: working in the Texas Rangers organization. You're obviously a sports parent, 49 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:13,959 Speaker 3: you're a former college baseball player, coach, and all the above. 50 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 4: So, you know, really interesting how we came together. 51 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 3: But you know, through our conversation in particular when we 52 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 3: were talking you know, at the baseball game and during breakfast, 53 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 3: you know, very like minded and you reached out. If 54 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 3: I'm not mistaken, because you know, you're you're seeing things 55 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 3: on your end with youth sports. You came across reformed 56 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 3: sports projects. So one thing that we talked about in 57 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 3: particular that I really love to dig into here is 58 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:37,639 Speaker 3: how you mentioned to me, I want to say, you're 59 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:41,679 Speaker 3: concerned with with youth coaches, something that really, you know, 60 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 3: I guess I guess tugs at your heartstrings a little bit. 61 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 3: What is it you're seeing out there in the culture 62 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 3: that I guess, you know, moves you to feel like 63 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 3: there needs to be reform or just improvement in the 64 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 3: overall culture. 65 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that much like any other area. 66 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 1: I mean, I think that you know, coaches have the right, 67 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: they have the right mentality about you know, what they 68 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: want to accomplish and you know, most coaches are good. 69 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 2: I think what you know, what I've. 70 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: Seen specifically is just those that can't necessarily see the 71 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: forest through the trees, and maybe you know, at least 72 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: at least at the younger youth levels, those that don't 73 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:26,079 Speaker 1: fully understand like the player development process and some of 74 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 1: the things that lead the players becoming you know, the 75 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,519 Speaker 1: best version of themselves. And ultimately you know that the 76 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: key one for me is you know where where their 77 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: intentions are in terms of you know, I'm all about servitude, 78 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: and I think that whether you know, in our organization 79 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: or any other, if I'm working in that arena, my 80 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: goal and I feel like, you know, I like having 81 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: this shared goal is that we serve players to make 82 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: them the best person, the best version of themselves athletically 83 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: and personally they can be. And when we're concerned with 84 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 1: whether or not we're winning, you know, rings and whatnot, 85 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 1: at eight U nine, you and doing push ups when 86 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: they make a mistake. 87 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 2: That's where you know, I just it doesn't resonate with me. 88 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 4: How many years were you a major league baseball scout? 89 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 2: Seven years and you're still doing. 90 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 4: I mean that's kind of how we connected. 91 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 3: You were out there looking at a player in our area, 92 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 3: and we got together and chatted. And you know, from 93 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:31,840 Speaker 3: your experiences as a former collegiate player and someone who's 94 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 3: been out there scouting, I mean, do you see a 95 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 3: direct correlation to the development of the person when they're 96 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 3: in that environment of you know, I guess led and 97 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 3: coached from a holistic standpoint of the overall being versus 98 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 3: just wins and losses, like you actually see the difference 99 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 3: on the player in their makeup overall. 100 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I guess what I'd relate to it is, 101 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: you know, just about any interview I've been in interviewing coaches, 102 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,600 Speaker 1: you ask them, you know, their relation with players, and 103 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 1: how do they get them to buy into you know, 104 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: what their ideas are, what they're what the goals are, 105 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: and any of them will say trust And then you 106 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: know you can unpack that and say, okay, how do 107 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 1: you get trust? And so you know, the way to 108 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: do that is that the players in most cases are like, 109 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 1: they have to know. 110 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 2: That you care. 111 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:24,359 Speaker 1: And it's hard from my perspective, especially at the younger ages, 112 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: to see that players know that you care when you 113 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 1: know there's a certain tone to it. 114 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 2: So they answer your question. 115 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: You know, I think that most coaches make it feel 116 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: as though they're in it together with the player that 117 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: they care about, you know, what the players goals are, 118 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 1: and that it's it's not a top down type of approach, 119 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 1: but more of a you know, eye to eye again, 120 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 1: like the serving piece that you know, serving their needs 121 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: and getting them to where. 122 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 2: They want to be. 123 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 3: Ye, I like how you keep highlighting at the younger ages. 124 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 3: Can you elaborate on that. Is there a distinct difference 125 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,600 Speaker 3: between in coaching kids let's say high school agees en 126 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 3: up versus middle school and lower and why? 127 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,039 Speaker 1: At the core I think like it's the same principles. 128 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: I think at the younger ages, I think that the 129 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: latitude given for accepting and raising failure and teaching the 130 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: kids at that young age. Hey, like, failure is okay, 131 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,600 Speaker 1: you know, now how do we learn from it? How 132 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: do we how do we grow from it? And treating 133 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: it that way in terms of you know, that is 134 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 1: how we get better. We we get better by failing. 135 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 1: You know, you watch any Major League Baseball game, I 136 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 1: mean they're not flawless. So when when punishments are made, 137 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: you know, for failing at those young ages or they're 138 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: yelled at, or any number of things that happen in 139 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 1: the course of the game at a very young developmental age, 140 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 1: like you're shaping them to where they have to be 141 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 1: perfect and really risk averse, which you know, I think 142 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: just proliferates as they get older. So I think the 143 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: large difference there is that, yeah, you want them to 144 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: be able to tighten the screws as they get older. 145 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: But I think the thing, you know, core principles applied 146 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: throughout the process of development, you've. 147 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 3: Seen I would say the emergence or the tremendous growth 148 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 3: of travel sports right pay to play sports, because we're 149 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 3: right around the same age, you know, when you I 150 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,239 Speaker 3: think you graduated or stopped playing ball and graduated college 151 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 3: a few years after me in the early two thousands, 152 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 3: the travel sports or even overall youth sports landscape is 153 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 3: totally different than when you and I were in college, 154 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 3: and it's certainly when we were coming up in youth. 155 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 3: Do you feel like the overall impact of you know, 156 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 3: travel or pay to play has been more beneficial to 157 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 3: the development of kids and ballplayers or athletes in general, 158 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 3: or do you feel like there's a detriment or a 159 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,239 Speaker 3: mixture of both and why. 160 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 2: Very very loaded question. There's a lot to unpack here. 161 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 4: Unpack it, baby, unpack it. 162 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 1: First off, I think that you know, if you read 163 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: research on those that have you know, study the development 164 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: only of you know, younger children, but also tetahe athletes 165 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: and then college athletes, a free play environment is ideal 166 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: to allow players to you know, like I said before, 167 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 1: to fail to learn things on their own, be their 168 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: own best coach, all these all these great you know 169 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: things in terms of players continue to be adjustable and improve. 170 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 1: So when the pressures of winning a tournament are their 171 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 1: only exposure to baseball or any sport, really they're not. 172 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 1: They're not given that latitude. There's constant pressure to you know, 173 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: just play within the constraints of the games, and they 174 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: don't get the opportunity. 175 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 2: To really just just try things in play. 176 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: Now, they will practice in preparation of those but really 177 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: what you're doing is, you know, you're shrinking down the experience. 178 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: And you know, let's take pitching. This my that's my 179 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: current discipline that I'm focused on. How do these pitchers 180 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:07,319 Speaker 1: learn how to you know, navigate through games or do 181 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 1: anything else? When you know, on tournaments that are our 182 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: pool play or bracket play. They're throwing one two innings. 183 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 2: And then when they get. 184 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: Into high school and they go to these showcases, they're 185 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: you know, they're letting it go for for one inning, 186 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: and you know, the goal for young pitchers is usually 187 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: just to be a starter and be able to pitch 188 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:31,679 Speaker 1: and play. And so just like those experiences are kind 189 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: of lost. And then aside from that, you know, the 190 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 1: nature of being a part of a team, having that dynamic, 191 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:43,959 Speaker 1: being able to really be a good teammate is kind 192 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: of lost to times because you're more worried about your 193 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 1: path than just being a part of something that's you know, 194 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 1: not only fun but also rewarding. 195 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 3: I want to get into this because you know, because 196 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:57,319 Speaker 3: you and I had this conversation as well as for 197 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 3: ross athletic development and you know, early specialization and such, 198 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,719 Speaker 3: and people often point to take a look at Major 199 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 3: League Baseball, you know, take a look at the best players. 200 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 4: They're all from South America. 201 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 3: They're all from the Dominican they're all from Cuba, they're 202 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 3: all from Venezuela, whatever the country is. They play baseball 203 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 3: year round. You know, no one's telling them to take 204 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 3: a year off or take a season off. They're playing 205 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 3: all the time. United States is the only country that 206 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 3: has coaches and people advocating for not year round play. 207 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:28,199 Speaker 4: YadA, YadA, YadA. 208 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 3: Can you talk about why maybe there is a prevalence 209 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 3: of seeing players in those other countries that are scattered 210 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 3: across Major League Baseball and why aren't they dealing potentially 211 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 3: with some of the same injuries of overuse and such 212 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 3: that we are here. 213 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, I guess, like the best way you can answer 214 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 1: that is, I mean, listen, everybody's different, every athlete's different, 215 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 1: so some. 216 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 2: May need a little bit more, you know, more time. 217 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: On the field just to build this skill because you know, 218 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 1: some of their natural athletic gifts are quite as good 219 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 1: as others are capacity, I should say, but on the whole, 220 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:07,079 Speaker 1: and I guess, like speaking your question, your thought there 221 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 1: is that it goes back to what I was saying 222 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 1: before about a free play environment. So if you go 223 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 1: down there and you watch these players, Yes, once they 224 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 1: get a little older, they get into they call them 225 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 1: boost scones with their agents that will take them in house, 226 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:26,680 Speaker 1: them feed them and they will train them in baseball. 227 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: And you know that way they get proper nutrition, other things, 228 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:31,319 Speaker 1: you know, to prepare them. 229 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 2: What ages is that you know, that's from twelve to 230 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:37,959 Speaker 2: thirteen years old. So up until that point, these children 231 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 2: are all. 232 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: Just it's free play. They're out either in the parks, 233 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:43,719 Speaker 1: in the streets, depending on what their environment is, you know, 234 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 1: what their neighborhoods like or what have you. But the 235 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: difference here for me is that these are very you know, 236 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: unstructured free play environments where they're doing this. And I 237 00:11:57,559 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 1: think I laid out this analogy to you as well. 238 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 1: But you know, if you look at the best soccer 239 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,320 Speaker 1: country in the in the world, I think for most 240 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 1: people would agree that it's Brazil. They haven't won a 241 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: World Cup in maybe twenty years, but still, you know, overall, 242 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: what do they do down there? They play futsal in 243 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: the in the streets, you know, and then the constraints 244 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: and the and the challenges of their face when they 245 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 1: do that are that you know, like let's use we'll 246 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: use the Dominican as an example, is or Venezuela. When 247 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 1: they're playing in these like you know, these challenging environments. 248 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 2: Where they're you know, maybe they're rocks or there's other. 249 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,440 Speaker 1: Things like what do they develop, they develop hand eye, 250 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: they do different things. 251 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 2: And that's where we see all these middle infielders. 252 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: Coming from these countries. So you know, just like the 253 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 1: challenging environment of that type of upbringing and unstructured I 254 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: think is the key, uh with that is that they 255 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: are allowed just to go out and play. And I 256 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:53,599 Speaker 1: know myself, like when you know, we play on a 257 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 1: field that's maybe less than nanicued, I actually kind of 258 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 1: like it because it allows like not only my son, 259 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:01,839 Speaker 1: but the other the other kids it's to really face 260 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: different things and be adjustable than. 261 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:06,200 Speaker 2: They would otherwise. 262 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: And then I'll book on this by by saying, like layout, 263 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:12,599 Speaker 1: A little example is that Ollen White is one of 264 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: our higher level pitching prospects. He's a top hundred prospect 265 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:18,320 Speaker 1: in the game for a few publications. 266 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 2: And Owen grew up you know. 267 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 1: About an hour outside of Charlotte or so and played 268 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 1: three sports, and that was part of what attracted I'll 269 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:29,719 Speaker 1: speak for myself myself to him in the in the 270 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 1: draft process and play of our other scouts, was that 271 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: Owen was a quarterback on the. 272 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 2: Football team in high school. 273 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: He played basketball. He was an excellent shooter in basketball, 274 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:41,199 Speaker 1: and he played shortstop on the high school wasn't a 275 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: po So what you do when you are able to, 276 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: you know, play these different sports is from our perspective 277 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,679 Speaker 1: are my perspective, I should say, and talking to some 278 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:54,439 Speaker 1: of our people on the hitting side too, is that 279 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 1: you know, our goal is to build good. 280 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 2: Movers and by the time they're eighteen. 281 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 1: Nineteen, twenty, twenty one years old, twenty two years old 282 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: when we get them, a lot of those movement patterns 283 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 1: have been grooved already. So we're still making those adjustments 284 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: or helping the players make those adjustments, but at a 285 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 1: young age when they're they have variability and movement, they 286 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 1: can make adjustments as they get older. 287 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 2: Whereas as they mature. 288 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: Physically and do other things, you know, as they just 289 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: actually mature, their ability to adjust is paramount because they 290 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: are going to change one way or the other physically, 291 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: and if they can't adjust, they're not able to do that. 292 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: And then the last thing I'll touch on with that 293 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: in terms of you use the term overuse is I'll 294 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: talk to baseball specifically, is you know it's a rotational sport. 295 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 1: We all know that what we see a lot in 296 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 1: the draft process is we see lower back problems with 297 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 1: these players that you know, if they're going to the 298 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 1: cage at a young age and getting nine to twelve 299 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: months out of the year multiple times a week or 300 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: you know, all week, and maybe even a little less 301 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 1: than that. There's a there's a condition called PR's defect, 302 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 1: and you know, anybody listening to this can google that, 303 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 1: but it's a pretty common condition now and a lot 304 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: of it is just like straight from doing a ton 305 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 1: of stressful rotational activity. So just that natural rest for 306 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 1: your body is you know, especially at a younger age, 307 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 1: is really important, not only you know, physically, but also 308 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 1: just for your mind as well. 309 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 3: When we return, Ton and I discussed why your kid's 310 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 3: environment and who you surround them with is far more 311 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 3: important than the number of tournaments that they win. Heading 312 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 3: into the break, I wanted to share an update with 313 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 3: you from our friends at Team Snap, who was having 314 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 3: a busy summer with exciting announcement after exciting announcement. As 315 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 3: you may recall, we had Peter Francilli's CEO of Team 316 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 3: Snap on an earlier episode of this podcast, and one 317 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 3: of the areas we covered was how he saw technology 318 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 3: evolving within the youth sports industry. Last month, Team Snap 319 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 3: launched Team Snap for Businesiness, its next generation platform and 320 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 3: an all in one solution for sports organizations. Now, Team 321 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 3: Snap is thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of its 322 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 3: brand new registration system, one of the most configurable, cost effective, 323 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 3: and intelligent ways to register players and staff. Team Snap 324 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 3: Registration was built on years of feedback from the Team 325 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 3: snap community, which includes over nineteen thousand organizations and twenty 326 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 3: five million users. In celebration of this launch, Team snap 327 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 3: is inviting you to a live webinar on Thursday July 328 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 3: twenty seventh, one pm Eastern eleven am Mountain Time. During 329 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,960 Speaker 3: the webinar, they will cover everything inside the brand new 330 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 3: Team Snap registration system, including some important new capabilities like 331 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 3: multiple installment options, advance logic, answer dependent add on fees, 332 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 3: and an intuitive setup wizard. Using the new Team Snap registration, 333 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 3: you can effortlessly create forms, collect fees and documents, and 334 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 3: manage your programs with ease, so you can keep your 335 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 3: energy focused on the thing you love, amateur sports. Head 336 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 3: to teamsnap dot com and sign up to save your 337 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 3: spot for the webinar that will be held on July 338 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 3: twenty seventh. 339 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 4: Where we left off, Todd and I. 340 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 3: Were about to talk about the value of parents spending 341 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 3: more time enjoying the moment with their kids as it 342 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:15,959 Speaker 3: goes by too quickly. 343 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 4: You know, I've had so many different experts. 344 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 3: Of course, David Epstein a lot of things you say, 345 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 3: I've read in his book Range, and you know he 346 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:27,880 Speaker 3: talked about it as well, and other doctors and physicians. 347 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 3: And here you are, you know, a parent with young kids, 348 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:33,679 Speaker 3: and you know kids are getting into sports and playing 349 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 3: them and such, and it's like you're you're a professional, 350 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:39,159 Speaker 3: you're working in Major League Baseball, you're involved in you know, 351 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 3: all the processes you're advocating for. The sounds to me, 352 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 3: I'm not trying to put words in the mouth sacrifice 353 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:49,440 Speaker 3: to a certain degree short term performance for long term development. 354 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 3: It seems to be both healthier from a physical, emotional, 355 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 3: and you know, mental standpoint. 356 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,159 Speaker 4: So how do we how do you navigate that? 357 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:00,119 Speaker 3: Because our culture is set up it's almost like, and 358 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 3: David Epstein said to me, he's like, it's almost at 359 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:03,200 Speaker 3: times you feel like, as a parent you have to 360 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 3: kind of go rogue against the system. Now I have 361 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 3: no problem doing that. You know, my son Roco. Uh 362 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 3: he's only eight and a half. But you know, they 363 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 3: do an all star team here for baseball and for 364 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:16,199 Speaker 3: the rec league. But it's a major commitment. I did 365 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 3: it with my older boys later and they wanted to 366 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 3: nominate Rocko. I'm sure he would make the team. But 367 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 3: I mean it is five six days a week, all 368 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,360 Speaker 3: summer long, multiple tournaments, and my wife and I talked 369 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:27,040 Speaker 3: about even before the season, if you were to be 370 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 3: able to do it, We're like, we're not doing it. 371 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:30,240 Speaker 3: You know, we did it before with our older ones, 372 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:32,400 Speaker 3: and it's great. We have so many more kids now, 373 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 3: and you know, we think it's important to go on 374 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 3: vacations and to spend time and to not be maybe 375 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,639 Speaker 3: later on, you know, twelve thirteen years old type thing, 376 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 3: if he shows a real desire, you know, maybe there's 377 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 3: a time to step up the commitment level to a 378 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:48,639 Speaker 3: certain degree. But we think, certainly at these young ages, 379 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:50,640 Speaker 3: like there's no reason for it. But how many kids 380 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:54,439 Speaker 3: do I know that are eight seven nine are playing travel, 381 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 3: they're playing reck they playing as much as they can. 382 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 4: How do how are you playing on navigating this? 383 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 2: I think that. 384 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:07,119 Speaker 1: There's a lot to really consider there. I think what 385 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 1: we struggle with overall is just seeing the force through 386 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,680 Speaker 1: the trees that includes parents, coaches, et cetera. And what 387 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 1: the actual goal is like as a parent, what is 388 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 1: your child's goal? And are you asking him or her 389 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 1: like what their goal is? And then you know for 390 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:23,920 Speaker 1: things that you feel they can't answer themselves, like what 391 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 1: is your goal for them as a parent. So I 392 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: think like the biggest thing is just starting there and 393 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:31,920 Speaker 1: the other thing is just being in the moment and 394 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 1: enjoying the moment because we're thinking about all these you know, 395 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: five six years down the road and not worrying about, hey. 396 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 2: Like what do they need right now? 397 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: So the pressures are really self induced a lot of 398 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:47,679 Speaker 1: times with these things. I'm not worried about it personally. 399 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: What I see overall are one serving my children in 400 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 1: terms of opportunity, like do they have the opportunity to 401 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:57,399 Speaker 1: do different activities, play different sports that they enjoy and 402 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:02,640 Speaker 1: are are they improving enjoying it, et cetera. So that's 403 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:04,919 Speaker 1: number one to me is just providing opportunity. I think 404 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:06,960 Speaker 1: that's important for any child. And that's a lot of 405 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 1: the impetus for why I reached out to you is 406 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 1: just that you know, there's a lot of initiatives by 407 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:16,360 Speaker 1: MLB to make the sport more accessible, and I think 408 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:19,400 Speaker 1: that's that's my goal as well. But as you get 409 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:22,479 Speaker 1: further down the road, obviously those pressures are are very 410 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 1: difficult because if you know, the children are like my oldest. 411 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 2: Like he's very competitive, and you. 412 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 1: Know, hey, like the current state of recreational or purple 413 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,119 Speaker 1: is that they get very frustrated by that environment because 414 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: you know, they want to win and they want to 415 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 1: be competitive, and so you know, I think like serving 416 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: that need is important, but also you know, my oldest 417 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: play soccer too, and so he kind of rotates a 418 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:52,160 Speaker 1: little bit between a couple of travel organizations between baseball 419 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:55,680 Speaker 1: and soccer. He's nine years old, and I'm already seeing 420 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 1: the difficulties and speaking on both of those teams. So 421 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,680 Speaker 1: I like, I understand that challenges, but I also like, 422 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: if I have to at some point put him back 423 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 1: in rock ball or park ball, like he's going to 424 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 1: be fine one way or the other if that's for 425 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:10,879 Speaker 1: a season, Because I feel like I see the forest 426 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 1: through the trees because this is my you know, this 427 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 1: is my career, this is my job. But I think 428 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 1: like understanding not only like getting to play on those 429 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 1: best teams and then performing on those best teams at 430 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:26,920 Speaker 1: let's be honest, less than fifteen or sixteen years old 431 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,000 Speaker 1: is not all that important in the long term if 432 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: the goal is to play in college, maybe play professionally, 433 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 1: which you know, these are these are long shots and 434 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:40,639 Speaker 1: everything else. So when I enjoyed the process, But I 435 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: guess where I'm going with this is, I've never been 436 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:45,400 Speaker 1: in a draft room where you know, I've heard statistics 437 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 1: on anything you know, older than like a fifteen or 438 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 1: sixteen year old. 439 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:50,359 Speaker 2: You know, we're we're not. 440 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 1: Really we're not really discussing that. And if you don't 441 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 1: perform up to that point, but the player gets to 442 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 1: a point where they are, you know, pretty good at seventeen. 443 00:21:58,440 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 2: Or eighteen, like you're going to get found. 444 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:03,120 Speaker 1: You know, there are way too many ways to get 445 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:07,120 Speaker 1: exposure now and that you know that doesn't even mean 446 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 1: going to showcases and such. 447 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 2: So there are plenty of ways to do it. 448 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:13,920 Speaker 1: So I think, like, if that's a long term goal, 449 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: I think, like just understanding that, like being on the 450 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:20,440 Speaker 1: best teams that you know, eight nine, ten, eleven, twelve, honestly, like, 451 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 1: aren't all that important because players come from everywhere and 452 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:24,639 Speaker 1: their pasts are all different. 453 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:27,200 Speaker 3: Tod, I freaking love it, And I think that's such 454 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:30,399 Speaker 3: a great point. It's like, enjoy the moment, smell the 455 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 3: roses a little bit, like for crying out loud, enjoy 456 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 3: watching your kid play. You know, as we wrap up here, like, 457 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 3: what is some I know you've given? You've given plenty 458 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:42,360 Speaker 3: of nuggets. You shared your experience, you shared your your 459 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 3: your expertise and your thoughts. 460 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 4: But like a lot of parents are trying to figure 461 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:48,720 Speaker 4: it out. Man, I don't you know. I don't work 462 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:50,119 Speaker 4: for the Texas Rangers, like I. 463 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 3: Didn't play in college, like I got this tug of war. 464 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:54,240 Speaker 4: I don't know. I want. 465 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 3: I guess if you had to give some advice to 466 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:58,359 Speaker 3: parents on how to navigate this thing. And I know 467 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 3: you mentioned staying in the moment, staying, but like, what 468 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 3: are some things they could do to be their kid's 469 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:07,920 Speaker 3: ally and advocate without overstepping that boundary and becoming I guess, 470 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 3: for lack of a better word, over invested or overbearing, 471 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 3: which could be a detriment to not only their athletic experience, 472 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 3: but also the relationship between parent and child. 473 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think like education is key. 474 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:24,720 Speaker 1: So you know, for I guess anybody that is you know, 475 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 1: listening to your podcasts, reading your content like that's a 476 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:32,639 Speaker 1: that's a great first step, but understanding where players come 477 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 1: from is not easy. I think the biggest thing is 478 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 1: just that, like you said, is just be supportive, is 479 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:42,639 Speaker 1: just being straight supportive of your child and understanding like 480 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:44,440 Speaker 1: being the moment enjoy it. 481 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 2: And that's what I try to do. I get a 482 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:49,560 Speaker 2: little tied up at times myself. 483 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:52,199 Speaker 1: You know, like where you get frustrated by the experience, 484 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 1: and I personally, you know, I don't get frustrated with 485 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:59,680 Speaker 1: umpires really at that level or you know, the kids. 486 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 1: It's just more like the. 487 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:04,160 Speaker 2: Adults that typically get in the way of it and don't. 488 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 1: Understand what the real goal is. So you know, I 489 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:14,280 Speaker 1: think just being able to allow them to grow and 490 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:17,639 Speaker 1: then also like just kind of really just being the 491 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:21,200 Speaker 1: pumpers in their experience and keeping them on the on 492 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 1: the train tracks is the biggest thing. And that's for 493 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:26,359 Speaker 1: children of any age. And then you know, we we 494 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 1: still deal with at our level, so with with with 495 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 1: players in our development system and even big leaguers. So 496 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:37,720 Speaker 1: the biggest thing is just considering the environment at all times, 497 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:40,040 Speaker 1: not only the ones that you're setting, but whoever their 498 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:44,159 Speaker 1: coaches is paramount. Is just you know, the coach you 499 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 1: put them in front of for hours a week is 500 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:50,400 Speaker 1: more important than a few more wins and a few 501 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 1: more rings at whatever age they're at, you know. 502 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:56,360 Speaker 2: And I'm speaking in baseball terms right now in terms 503 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:57,159 Speaker 2: of the rings, but. 504 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:02,200 Speaker 1: You know, myself, I'm more concerned with who is coaches 505 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:04,639 Speaker 1: and you know how many tournaments are win it. 506 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 3: I love that's funny because to touch back, my son 507 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 3: rock O lately has been like, hey, Dad, because the 508 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:12,440 Speaker 3: Direct League will have an end of year playoff and 509 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:15,399 Speaker 3: stuff single elimination. It's a lot of fun tournament, you know, 510 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 3: and their team's pretty good. But he's like, well we 511 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:19,480 Speaker 3: get we get rink because he sees some of the 512 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:21,520 Speaker 3: other kids that play travel they get rings like every 513 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 3: other weekend, those little five dollars, like ones that look 514 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 3: like Super Bowl rings, and well. 515 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 4: I get ring. So but I'm listening to you talk 516 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 4: about rings. I'm like, man, that's a real thing. 517 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:30,320 Speaker 2: You know. 518 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:32,359 Speaker 3: We're feeling this stuff as parents who want to do 519 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 3: the best that we can. But but I love how 520 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 3: you keep saying, to the forest through the trees. It's 521 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 3: such a it's such a vital perspective, and it's something 522 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 3: just to keep in the back of our minds and 523 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 3: keep everyone grounded that, uh, you know, we're not going 524 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,920 Speaker 3: to get back this time, but smell the roses a 525 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:46,360 Speaker 3: little bit. 526 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 4: Because it does go by pretty quickly. 527 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:48,360 Speaker 2: Todd. 528 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:50,640 Speaker 3: I know you're with the Texas Rangers. There maybe people 529 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:52,920 Speaker 3: that hear this that would love to follow up and 530 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:55,159 Speaker 3: maybe ask you questions. Where can they reach out and 531 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 3: maybe connect with you? 532 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:58,240 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I you. 533 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 2: Know, I just simply I will many emails. 534 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:03,920 Speaker 1: Like I said, like, I want to be a resource 535 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 1: for anybody, and you know, granted my time is somewhat limited, 536 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:09,760 Speaker 1: but I just want to. 537 00:26:09,760 --> 00:26:12,920 Speaker 2: Be able to help and educate others. So you know, 538 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 2: my my personal email. 539 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:18,440 Speaker 1: Is Todd m as In Michael Walter at gmail dot com. 540 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 1: So you know, for anybody listening, you can feel free 541 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 1: to email me, and you know I will at least 542 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 1: give you a response. 543 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 2: I promise you that. 544 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 4: So I love it, Todd, thanks so much for coming 545 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:28,159 Speaker 4: on in. 546 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 3: I know your time is valuable, and man, I really 547 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 3: appreciate you and I'm glad we connected brother. 548 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:33,520 Speaker 2: Thank me to you, Nick. 549 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:37,159 Speaker 3: Thanks that's Todd Walter, director of pitching analysis for the 550 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:41,160 Speaker 3: Texas Rangers. Thanks for listening to the Reform Sports Project podcast. 551 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:43,440 Speaker 3: I'm Nick Bonacort and our goal is to restore a 552 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:46,600 Speaker 3: healthy balance and perspective in all areas of sports through 553 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:50,760 Speaker 3: education and advocacy. For updates, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, 554 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 3: and Instagram, or check out our website by searching for 555 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 3: the Reform Sports Project.