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The Top 7 Pitfalls of Private Instruction
Coach Bones here. You know, I’ve been giving private lessons for over fifteen years. I’ve
worked with players of all ages, backgrounds, skill levels, and playing levels. I’ve been
fortunate enough to work with (and continue to work with) players that have gone on to
accomplish great things.
By ‘great things,’ I talking about accomplishments that include players making their summer
All-Star team after coming up short the summer before, or starting on their high school varsity
team after sitting the previous year. Let’s not forget the ball players that make their college
team as a walk ons, or getting college scholarships. Last but not least, I can’t leave out the
players that get drafted by professional teams and even playing in the big leagues.
But I’d being lying if I told you that all of my players have that kind of success...
I have to admit, I’ve come across a small handful of ball players that failed to accomplish even
a small portion of the goals they felt would be a ‘piece of cake’ to reach.
At first, I blamed myself for these players’ failures in my lessons and on the ball field, as well
as their inability to reach their potential as a ball player. After all, it’s my job to teach them how
to become a better ball player than they were before we started working together.
However, it didn’t take that long to realize that a private lesson is not a one-way street. I could
in fact have the perfect private lesson, or series of private lessons in place. But if the player
I’m working with can’t muster up the commitment of time and effort to accept the challenges I
set up for him, my ‘lesson plan’ is no better than the instructor whose idea of a lesson involves
sitting on a bucket, and barking out orders at his ‘clients,’ while he checks the voice mail
messages on his phone.
So I began to ask myself one question:
What stands in the way of ball players from taking full
advantage of private instruction?
© 2009 Know Bones About It Baseball Training
www.CoachBones.com
www.CoachBones.com
In order to answer that question, I decided to start making a list of reasons (excuses, bad
habits, poor mind sets, etc.) that I began noticing on a pretty consistent basis. It took a little
time to make sure I was on the right page, but now I want to share with you what I believe are
the top seven reasons ball players fail to make the most out of private instruction.
Keep in mind, there are a slew of reasons out there (being forced into lessons, only taking
lessons because the player down the street started taking lessons, never really liked playing to
begin with, other outside activities that were more of a priority, a long-term illness, etc). They
are indeed very solid reasons why players come up short, but they are not from the
perspective I will be attacking the question at hand.
I will be answering this question from the eyes of the instructor.
My list is based on the actions, beliefs, and habits of 15 years of private instruction. Many of
‘my students’ know what they’re getting into right from the start and begin to progress almost
immediately. Some players aren’t quite sure what they’ve gotten themselves into, but quickly
make the necessary adjustments and quickly progress as well.
But then there’s the group of players seem to find road blocks at every turn. Bear in mind,
these are not the typical challenges everyone goes through. These are self imposed
hinderances, and from this point forward, I will call them pitfalls, because if you recognize a
pitfall early enough, you can avoid them. However, once you fall into one of these pitfalls, they
are awful hard to get out!
If you’re new to private instruction, this is the perfect time for you to make yourself aware of
these seven pitfalls. You don’t want any of these pitfalls in your way before you sign up for
your very first lesson. Falling into a pitfall right from the get-go will no doubt leave you with a
bad taste in your mouth and possibly convince you to give up on private instruction altogether.
If you’re a veteran to private instruction, this is the opportune time to take a step back and see
if any of these pitfalls have slowed you down along the way, or are just starting to crop up. You
may be working with someone that’s ‘been there’ for a long time, but if any of these pitfalls are
around, you aren’t getting everything you can out of him and the lessons you’re taking.
So I guess it’s time for me to stop babbling and get right to it! Sit back, pay attention, and
beware of The Top Seven Pitfalls of Private Instruction.
© 2009 Know Bones About It Baseball Training
www.CoachBones.com
www.CoachBones.com
1. The Magic Wand Theory
The name of this first pitfall is a bit comical, but the expectation behind it is very real (or else I
wouldn’t have led off the list with it!). Here’s the gist of it:
The Magic Wand Theory states that all instructors carry a magic wand in their back pocket
just in case a ball player absolutely needs a bad habit, flaw in their technique, or prolonged (or
even mini) slump, to be removed instantly. Once the ‘curse’ has been identified, the instructor
will wield his wand over the ball player and completely (possibly only temporarily) remove the
curse in a flash.
For the record, I do not know magic. I do not own a magic wand. I did not attend Hogwart’s
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I do not know Harry Potter, Criss Angel, or any other
‘magically inclined’ person.
Heck! I don’t even know a good card trick, or know how to pull a quarter out from somebody’s
ear!
Sorry...
What I do know: while ‘showing up’ may be half the battle, the other half is flat out work!
Any habit, whether it’s bad or good took time to develop, and will take time to ‘modify.’
Assuming that any habit can be instantly changed is like a size 18 bride-to-be, telling her
personal trainer that he needs to get her into good enough shape to fit into her size 4 wedding
dress... by the end of the week!
Sorry sister, it ain’t happenin’.
Anything, and I mean anything that needs to be ‘altered’ in a private lesson will take time to
learn, get used to, and/or master. Even something as simple as changing the way a hitter
grips the bat will take time to get used to.
It’s great that you got yourself to a qualified private instructor. However, that’s just the first step
in a process that requires your time, effort, patience, and willingness to work. There is no
quick fix! If there was, everyone would hit .407, hit 74 HRs, and throw 108 MPH.
© 2009 Know Bones About It Baseball Training
www.CoachBones.com
www.CoachBones.com
2. The Thin Skin Pitfall
The Thin Skin Pitfall is the nasty condition where the slightest critique, suggestion, or lessthan-perfect evaluation, causes a ball player’s eyes to nearly pop out of their head in shock, as
their ego struggles to deal with the onslaught of ‘You’re Not Perfect Bruises.’
O.K. That might have been a little over-the-top. But let me give you an example of what I’m
talking about that illustrates my ‘harsh’ definition. (BTW: This is a true story!)
Subject: A talented pitcher preparing for his first high school baseball season
Location: An indoor three-month winter pitcher’s clinic
Situation: Despite his obvious skill and excellent track record of success, the pitching
instructors at the winter clinic notice a small handful of tiny flaws in the young pitcher’s
technique. Correcting one flaw will in fact rid him of the others, so the greatest instructor of alltime (um, that’s me) politely addresses the situation with the pitcher.
Outcome: After making a half-hearted attempt to pacify the instructors, the pitcher goes home
and tells his rather large and intimidating father, ‘Coach Bones told me I stink!’ The father
contacts the training facility, chews the owner’s ear off, and pulls his son out of the clinic after
one day of the three month program.
Follow Up: One month before the season starts, the same pitcher begins to take private
lessons with an instructor who is still an active player... working on the exact same things he
was told to work on two months earlier.
While I’m glad this pitcher finally decided to correct his obvious flaws, he could have begun the
process much earlier if he had only followed one simple rule that’s followed in gyms across the
world: Check Your Ego at the Door!
It’s great to be confident. All the great players are, that’s a big part of what makes them great.
But great players also know that while they have tremendous strengths in their game, they also
have things to work on, improve upon, or even fix.
They also know that baseball is a game of failure - especially personal failure. Without thick
skin, allowing failure (criticism, critiques, etc) to ‘mess with their head’ they will suffer a
premature ending to their development and eventually their career.
© 2009 Know Bones About It Baseball Training
www.CoachBones.com
www.CoachBones.com
3. Struggle with Struggling Pitfall
The Struggle with Struggling Pitfall states that ball players would much rather keep the
same mediocre techniques in place and settle for moderate success, than accept brief periods
of struggle, in order to improve upon their current skill level.
Why?
In order to try/learn something new, there is the definite possibility that you won’t get it right the
first time.
Or second time... or third time... or until you get it right, consistently.
One of my fellow instructors constantly barks one line to each and every one of his players
once he noticed the frustration of learning something new setting in. It goes like this:
“Relax! You came here to screw up!”
It might be a strange line to hear from the guy who’s getting paid to make you a better ball
player. But at the same time, it’s exactly what you need to hear in order to get a grip on what it
takes to reach a new skill level in what it is you’re working on.
Remember: you are taking private lessons because you want to improve something in your
game that isn’t up to par. It is a weakness and will take time to make it a strength. But as the
saying goes: You have to crawl before you walk, and walk before you run!
If you stick it out, you will stop struggling in that area, and be rewarded with a brand new skill.
Then you’ll be ready for the next challenge! (I love to remind frustrated students where they
were when we first started working together compared to their current skill level. It’s easy to
forget how much work you’ve put in to getting to the point you’re at - especially the struggles so don’t!)
It is very hard to know you’re going to mess up. Nobody wants to do it. Nobody goes out with
the plan to mess up. In fact, I’m sure a strong majority of ‘everyday people’ go out about their
day trying NOT to mess up.
But avoiding messing up is just another way to say ‘playing it safe,’ or ‘staying the same,’ or
even ‘avoiding progress.’
Remember this quote: “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” - F. Douglas
© 2009 Know Bones About It Baseball Training
www.CoachBones.com
www.CoachBones.com
4. Old Habits Die Hard Pitfall
The Old Habits Die Hard Pitfall, is somewhat similar to the Struggle With Struggling Pitfall.
However, there is one major difference.
The Struggling Pitfall is an emotional issue, with frustration leading the way. It can be
overwhelming because the ball player wants to become more skilled, but not have to go
through the struggle it takes to get there.
The Old Habits Pitfall is just flat out stubbornness to change. Sure they want to get better,
but these players are convinced that there isn’t any significant flaw with their current technique,
approach, etc. - and they intend on proving themselves right.
Ball players that fall into this bad habit will ignore countless examples of why they need to
make an adjustment, just as long as they can find one good reason (or more accurately a fluke
occurrence) to shout out something like, ‘See I told you!’
On one hand I can appreciate the player who is that confident in themselves and their ability.
Confidence is king and easily stand above every other ‘skill’ a ball player needs to be
successful.
But there is a fine line between confidence an being hard-headed. Here’s an example:
Hitters love to chase the high fastball - even hitters that know ‘their pitch’ isn’t even remotely
close to the pitch upstairs. It’s an ongoing struggle for me as an instructor to explain why the
pitch up above the strike zone (today’s version) is not the best pitch to attack while trying not to
say, ‘You just can’t hit that pitch.’
Pitch after pitch, swing after swing. Hitters keep trying to take their best hack at a pitch I told
them to lay off. Pop up after pop up, and several swings and misses, these hitters keep trying
to prove me wrong. Then after a boat load of failed attempts, they actually make solid contact
on a ball up and out of the strike zone.
‘See, I told you I can hit that pitch!’
To that I say: Occasionally a blind squirrel finds a nut, and even a broken clock is right twice a
day. I appreciate the effort, but it can be used elsewhere... like in the areas we know will make
you a better player.
© 2009 Know Bones About It Baseball Training
www.CoachBones.com
www.CoachBones.com
5. The Panic/Cram Lesson Pitfall
Originally I listed these two pitfalls separately, because they are a little different. But since they
both stem from the Magic Wand Theory and are very similar, I thought I’d combine them here.
The Panic Lesson Pitfall usually takes place immediately after a game... a bad game. It’s
never requested by a player having a mediocre year, or by a player that isn’t getting much
playing time. It’s common with very good players having very good seasons.
Usually during ‘short’ seasons (high school, fall ball, even summer travel teams) very good
players have very few ‘off games.’ So when they do, it’s not uncommon for these players (or
mom and dad) to panic and think something’s wrong. Often times players will call from the bus
asking if they can come in ASAP. Sometimes a parent will call from the game in a panic and
ask to keep the facility open just a little while longer so they can solve the problem before
midnight.
To appease both the player and the parents, I say ‘O.K.’ but I warn them that we will probably
do very little or any ‘technical work,’ because their technique isn’t in danger of eroding
completely in the next 24 hours. The real answer is easier to address:
• You had a bad day.
• You faced someone either having a great day or (deep breath)...
• You faced someone better than you - at least for that particular game.
Bad games happen. They happen way more often in baseball that they do in any other sport.
If you need to talk it out, fine. If you’re a hitter and you absolutely need to take some swings,
O.K. Just so you know, you’ll be just swinging the ‘bad day’ out, and not really working on
anything. If your a pitcher: sorry, no throwing, but I’m sure I can come up with something to
‘sweat’ the day out of you.
When I talk to these players, I try to find out how they define bad game. Did you have a bad
game because you went 0-3 with a few dribblers back to the pitcher or go 0-3 hitting three
missiles at someone? Did you have a bad outing because you got ‘lit up like a pinball
machine,’ or simply make one or two bad pitches in the midst of a pitcher’s duel?
Big difference, but at the end of the day, it’s probably just one bad game, and you’ll bounce
back tomorrow!
© 2009 Know Bones About It Baseball Training
www.CoachBones.com
www.CoachBones.com
The Cram Lesson Pitfall is a classic! This is exactly like a student cramming for the big test
the next day, despite the fact that he/she hasn’t cracked a book open the entire term. (I guess
they’re hopeful that every bit of information will just sink into his/her skull by osmosis or
something!)
If you’ve ever tried to do this (and don’t have a photographic memory), you know that
cramming doesn’t do the trick.
And neither does the Cram Lesson!
Cram Lessons take place the day before the first day of practice, the first day of tryouts, the
big college showcase, or even an ‘open invitation’ professional tryout. They are usually
‘requested’ by a player that hasn’t picked up a bat or thrown a ball in at least a few weeks, but
in many cases, not since the previous season ended. They get mad when they call and find
out that every instructor is booked, or they stand in shock (and anger) when they decide to
‘pop in’ to the facility to find the place packed with players that have been working consistently
for months - not only for the next day, but the season that follows.
Aside from the poor job planning ahead, there is a bigger reason why Cram Lessons are
ridiculous:
Your body will hate you the next day!
If you’ve ever lifted weights for the first time in a long time, you know what your body feels like
the next day. Swinging a bat, throwing a ball, even running the bases is no different!
Let’s say you were able to schedule a cram lesson, and you went all out. You took 100
swings. You threw a 20 minute bullpen. You did everything you thought was going to take
place the next day.
Then the next day comes... and you don’t want to get out of bed!
How do you think you’ll do in the tryout?
I actually had to have a cram lesson with a pitcher with the flu! He had a showcase two days
later... nine hours away! Keep in mind I was not informed of his condition ahead of time.
When I saw him, I insisted on canceling, but the father told me that he would have his son
throw whether I was there or not, so I stuck around to make sure the dad didn’t ‘throw’ his son
into the ground.
The Cram Lesson is pointless. The only thing you’ll take away from it is muscle soreness and
a bad outing on the ‘big day.’
© 2009 Know Bones About It Baseball Training
www.CoachBones.com
www.CoachBones.com
6. The Failure to Communicate Pitfall
Everyone knows that communication is key... period. If you don’t express an opinion, a
question, a concern, etc, how will anybody know if you ‘get it,’ agree or disagree with what
going on?
I am shocked with the lack of questions, comments, or even concerns I get from my players. I
know I’m good at what I do, but I know that I don’t explain everything in a way that everybody
‘gets it’ the first time around. (I do have players that make up for the lack of ‘Q and A,’ but I
want all of my players to follow suit!)
I also know that in each and every lesson (and especially the first lesson), there is a lot to take
in - even if we’re just working on one thing. It’s just flat out hard to remember AND process
everything that happens during a lesson or series of lessons!
Despite what everyone is taught in elementary school (“There’s no such thing as a stupid
question”) many people don’t like asking questions they think have a simple answer.
But what the alternative? Doing something ‘stupid?’ That usually get a bigger reaction you’re
not looking for!
Asking questions, expressing what’s going on in your head, and explaining your take on what’s
being worked on is critical to a private lesson. Yes facial expressions and body language do
tell a story, but keep in mind: most instructors aren’t mind readers! They want to know
what’s going on in your head. They need to know what ‘s going on in your head. That
information is critical to plan of attack for the current lesson and future plans for upcoming
lessons.
Speaking up helps you too - not just the instructor.
• An instructor might assume you know something and not even get into what could be
something very valuable to you and your game.
• You will dictate the pace of the lesson if you feel the it’s moving too fast or too slow for your
needs. This is especially important if you getting pushed when you’re not physically 100%
• You can ‘test’ your instructor to see if he/she knows exactly what they’re talking about. I’m
sad to say there are a few out there that aren’t shall we say ‘top-notch.’
At the end of the day, communication is a two-way street, and needs to be a constant in order
to ‘customize’ and take full advantage of your private instruction.
© 2009 Know Bones About It Baseball Training
www.CoachBones.com
www.CoachBones.com
7. The Dog Ate My Homework Pitfall
I saved this one for last, because I wanted it to be fresh in your memory now that we’ve come
to the last pitfall. This really isn’t tied to any specific pitfall, but if you make a point of NOT
succumbing to numero ocho, you’re chances of wiping out the other pitfalls are almost
guaranteed.
The Dog Ate My Homework Pitfall is the universal excuse for not getting your work done
while your away from ‘the classroom.’
When you’re in school, you ‘endure’ nine months of nightly homework. It’s not done for
punishment (most of the time). It’s used as a ‘practice session’ from the day’s work in class,
preparation from the next day’s lessons, and a way to develop the habit of reviewing and
refining your knowledge on a daily basis.
If you ‘blow off’ your homework once, you will be one day behind the rest of the class. If you
make a habit of ignoring your homework, you’ll fall further and further behind the class until you
reach the point where nothing in class is making any sense, no matter how hard you try to
figure things out. Eventually you’ll be ‘left behind’ in more ways than one.
Private instruction is no different. (Oh yes... you do have assigned homework in the world of
private instruction!) Actually, homework from a private lesson is a bit more demanding
because you are not only training your brain, but your are training your body to learn a set of
movements that haven’t yet become ‘second nature.’
The only way to make something ‘second nature,’ is to work on it daily.
The perfect example: brushing your teeth.
At the end of my first lesson with a student, I ask them what hand they brush their teeth with.
(I have had players admit they don’t brush their teeth, but that’s a different talk show!) Usually
before they answer, they’ll lift the hand they brush their teeth with to their mouth. Then I’ll ask
them if they had to either think about the answer, or if they have to think about what hand they
normally use when they’re standing in front of the bathroom sink. (They say ‘no.’)
Then I ask them what they think would happen if I told them that tonight I wanted them to
brush their teeth with their opposite hand.
Some will admit that they’d probably forget until halfway through brushing, while others will just
say, ‘It would be tough.’
© 2009 Know Bones About It Baseball Training
www.CoachBones.com
www.CoachBones.com
My response: ‘I’m sure it would be a disaster the first few nights you tried. But what if you kept
at it for a week? A month? A few months? What do you’d think would happen?’
Of course the answer is: ‘I’d get much better.’
Exactly.
Did you know:
• It’s a fact that for every day of training you miss, you lose the effects of the previous two days
of training.
• It’s also a fact that for every week off you take from training, you lose 10% of your overall
fitness levels.
Wow! Talk about ‘If you don’t use it, you lose it!’
The bottom line is pretty simple: daily homework (practice, training, etc) is essential to your
success on the ball field. Not only will you retain everything you’ve worked on much easier.
you will also train your body to perform things you thought you couldn’t do not too long ago,
naturally.
Listen...
I don’t know anybody that likes to do homework, and I know it’s not always fun to ‘get up’ for
something - every day - that you thought would:
• Come easier to you
• Not involve being ‘picked on’
• Not be so frustrating to learn
• Be so different than ‘you’re way’
• Disappear from time to time...
unannounced.
• Cause physical ‘pain’ if you stopped
working at it for a little while
• Involve so much sharing of thoughts
and feelings, or...
Require you daily attention!
Wow! Those reasons sound familiar, don’t they?
© 2009 Know Bones About It Baseball Training
www.CoachBones.com
www.CoachBones.com
Before I wrap things up let me just say this:
• Private instruction is a great ‘tool’ that can potentially transform your game, and take it to
the next level. It should never be looked at something you ‘should do,’ but as something you
want to do in order to get the most out of your ability.
• Private instruction is a privilege. Not everybody gets to take private lessons, but more
than a few wish they could, but can’t for whatever legitimate reason(s). If you are fortunate
enough to take private lessons, don’t take them for granted!
• Private instruction is an investment. An investment of time and money definitely, but more
importantly, an investment in yourself to see what you’re capable of ‘bringing to the table’
when you are challenged to bring your best.
• Private instruction will only ‘work’ if you are ‘on board,’ and you are teamed up with a
capable and competent instructor... like me!
Ha! I couldn’t resist throwing that one in there!
So there you have it! The Top 7 Pitfalls of Private Instruction. If you remember from the very
beginning of this report, I mentioned that private instruction is a two-way street. So it’s only fair
that I reveal the ‘flip-side’ to this report:
‘What Every Player Should Look for in a Private Instructor’
If I haven’t posted it already... keep your eyes peeled. If you’re committed to private instruction
- and don’t have to worry about the 7 Pitfalls - you deserve to work with a qualified, organized,
educated, and reliable private instructor. Sadly, private instructors are a dime a dozen, with
only a few worth your time. This report will reveal what’s out there, what you should avoid at
all costs, and of course, the perfect one for the job.
This is Coach Bones saying thanks for checking out my report. Please feel free to dive into
everything www.CoachBones.com has to offer. If I can be of any help, I’m here for you!
Brian Bowness
A.K.A. - Coach Bones
© 2009 Know Bones About It Baseball Training
www.CoachBones.com