Sitting her Sunday morning sipping my 3rd cup of coffee and thinking about the great week I just had. I had lessons with four new students and combined it may have been my most enjoyable week of all time. There are some things that really make this craft enjoyable so I am throwing out a few and hope others will add their favorites.
1. When the student shows up accompanied by Dad, Mom, little brother. Dad catches, mom videos, and little brother is the best behaved cutest kid in the world...who at the age of 5 can sling a mean fastball. Student is absolutely open to trying new things, working hard, and improving.
2. Student shows up accompanied by Dad, Mom, and two dogs.....Dad catches, mom takes tons of notes, dogs are highly trained and a ton of fun. Student is again absolutely open to new things and works diligently.....and best of all, laughs at my jokes!
3. Student shows up with Dad, a teammate who is a great catcher, and another Dad/prospective student who monitor the lesson to see if they want to sign up. Dad has some of the best questions.....student is very advanced and has such a great smile and can-do attitude. Student has set goals (which actually lined up with what I was thinking) and I know with her work ethic she will achieve them......oh and BTW, student is grins from ear to ear when she tells me she has been invited for a visit to a really great college. Prospective student gets involved in the lesson.....wow, another great kid....signed up for lessons.
4. Student and Dad show up for lesson.....this kids enjoyment of pitching is infectious. Never seen a kid this happy before. The progress in that one lesson was probably the most I've ever seen a kid make. The sky is the limit for her. Told her she has the ability to throw 65 mph.....she says why not 70 mph.....she is only 11 yrs old.....gotta love it. I am about to impress upon her how important location is in pitching.....I ask her what the most important criteria is for successful pitching (hoping she will say location)...she gives me a big smile and says "a great attitude". She was right.
I think I'm going to finish off the week with another cup of coffee. Waiting to hear some others greatest lesson stories.
1. When the student shows up accompanied by Dad, Mom, little brother. Dad catches, mom videos, and little brother is the best behaved cutest kid in the world...who at the age of 5 can sling a mean fastball. Student is absolutely open to trying new things, working hard, and improving.
2. Student shows up accompanied by Dad, Mom, and two dogs.....Dad catches, mom takes tons of notes, dogs are highly trained and a ton of fun. Student is again absolutely open to new things and works diligently.....and best of all, laughs at my jokes!
3. Student shows up with Dad, a teammate who is a great catcher, and another Dad/prospective student who monitor the lesson to see if they want to sign up. Dad has some of the best questions.....student is very advanced and has such a great smile and can-do attitude. Student has set goals (which actually lined up with what I was thinking) and I know with her work ethic she will achieve them......oh and BTW, student is grins from ear to ear when she tells me she has been invited for a visit to a really great college. Prospective student gets involved in the lesson.....wow, another great kid....signed up for lessons.
4. Student and Dad show up for lesson.....this kids enjoyment of pitching is infectious. Never seen a kid this happy before. The progress in that one lesson was probably the most I've ever seen a kid make. The sky is the limit for her. Told her she has the ability to throw 65 mph.....she says why not 70 mph.....she is only 11 yrs old.....gotta love it. I am about to impress upon her how important location is in pitching.....I ask her what the most important criteria is for successful pitching (hoping she will say location)...she gives me a big smile and says "a great attitude". She was right.
I think I'm going to finish off the week with another cup of coffee. Waiting to hear some others greatest lesson stories.