Beyond the Diamond: What We Should Know About Developing Young Athletes

We all want to see our athletes succeed in the game they love. We want to watch them step up to the plate with confidence, take the field with energy, and walk away from practice with pride.

But here’s the truth: developing an athlete is about much more than wins, stats, or highlight reels.

During my five years of Division I baseball, I learned that the players who thrive aren’t always the ones with the flashiest swing or the strongest arm. They’re the ones who build strong foundations — physically, mentally, and emotionally.

It Starts With Loving the Process

Too often, athletes measure themselves against outcomes: batting average, velocity, or whether they made the lineup. But the real growth happens in the process:

• Showing up prepared

• Being consistent in practice

• Learning from failure

When athletes learn to love the process, the results take care of themselves.

Confidence Is Built, Not Given

Confidence isn’t something you can give directly to your child. It’s built rep by rep, challenge by challenge. Parents play a key role here: reinforcing effort, not just results. A young athlete who hears “I love how hard you worked” will keep pushing, even when the scoreboard doesn’t go their way.

The Mental Game Matters

Baseball is a sport of failure — even the best hitters in the world fail 7 out of 10 times. For athletes, learning how to handle strikeouts, errors, or tough practices is just as important as learning to field a ground ball. Mental resilience sets them apart when the competition gets tougher in high school and beyond.

They Don’t Have to Do It Alone

One of the biggest lessons I learned is the power of asking for help. Athletes who are willing to learn from coaches, mentors, and peers grow faster than those who think they need to figure it all out on their own. We can encourage this by surrounding athletes with positive, knowledgeable voices.

What We Can Do Today

• Celebrate effort as much as results.

• Encourage your athlete to set small goals they can control.

• Teach them that mistakes are feedback, not failures.

• Provide access to coaches who understand both the game and the person behind the player.

How We Help at What’s Next Athletics

At What’s Next Athletics, we take a holistic approach to development:

• Personalized programs tailored to each athlete’s age and goals

• Bi-weekly in-person sessions that reinforce progress

• Video analysis and corrective drills for measurable improvement

• Mental coaching to build confidence and resilience

We’re not just coaching baseball. We’re helping players grow into stronger athletes and stronger people.