Own Your Development
Two weeks down. Eight to go.
The Class is a free 10 week virtual program built around one belief: Performance Skills Meet Life Skills. We work on the parts of development that do not always show up in the box score: focus, preparation, learning, response, communication and ownership.
Those skills are trainable. Over time, they help build present, resilient players who can handle pressure, adjust and keep moving forward.
Missed the first two weeks? Jump in.
Week 3 Is Tomorrow: TRAIN
Wednesday, September 9
6 PM PDT / 9 PM EDT
This week we’re joined by Blake McDonald, Founder of Mental Beast and a former Division I baseball player and coach.
Our topic:
TRAIN: Owning Your Training
There is a difference between being at practice and actually training.
Showing up matters.
But showing up is the minimum.
Do you understand why you are doing the drill?
Do you know what you are trying to improve?
Can you identify what you need beyond the work your coach already gives you?
Can you create a plan and follow through on it?
That’s where ownership starts.
And that’s what we’ll dig into Wednesday night.
Missed Weeks 1 & 2? Start Here.
Week 1: Own Your Development
We started The Class with a challenge:
Become a hungry learner.
Don’t wait for development to happen to you.
Study successful people.
Ask questions.
Take notes.
Pay attention to what works.
Then figure out what you can use.
One of the ideas we introduced was the Learning Loop:
WATCH → THINK → WRITE → TEACH
Don’t just consume something impressive.
Study it.
What did you notice?
Why did it work?
How does it apply to you?
What can you put into action?
Who could you teach it to?
That’s how information starts becoming development.
We also talked about routines, focal points and learning how to bring your attention back to the present moment.
Because your mind is going to wander.
The game is going to speed up.
You’re going to make mistakes.
The skill is learning how to return.
Week 2: READ — Feed the Mind
Last week we moved into our first weekly skill:
READ
And READ doesn’t just mean picking up a book.
It means:
What are you feeding your mind?
A book can teach you.
So can a coach.
A podcast.
A mentor.
A conversation.
A video.
Studying a great player. By studying the maps of great players you learn their process while discovering one that works for you.
Asking a better question.
The challenge is to become more intentional about what you put into your mind and what you do with it.
We worked on concentration.
We talked about quieting the mind.
We talked about breathing as something you practice, not something you suddenly remember to use when everything starts going wrong.
Mental skills need reps too.
Our guest, longtime MLB scout and former professional player Brandon Mozley, gave us another simple lesson around goals:
WRITE IT DOWN. READ IT. REPEAT IT.
He also reminded us that every athlete may have a different routine, but some foundations don’t change:
Sleep.
Hydration.
Recovery.
Preparation.
And becoming the kind of player your coaches can trust.
16 Minutes Before Week 3
Four short videos. About 16 minutes total.
Watch with a notebook and ask one question:
What do Longoria, Bryant, Lincoln and Jaeger do that I can use?
Evan Longoria — Focus + Reset
11 min
Kobe Bryant — Coachability
1 min
Abraham Lincoln — Learning + Focus
Alan Jaeger — Getting Quiet
4:44
Take one idea. Write it down. Try it.
Tomorrow Night: TRAIN
THE CLASS — WEEK 3
Owning Your Training
Wednesday, September 9
6 PM PDT / 9 PM EDT
Bring a notebook. Bring a question. Bring a friend.
Parents and coaches are welcome too.
Missed Weeks 1 or 2? No problem. Jump in.
Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85644389445
See you in class.
On the Adventure,
Greg Moore & Josh Hammer