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Issue
#102
by Wayne Ellis, Sports America
Part II:
What Every High School Baseball
Player Needs to Become an AFLAC
All American
The
following completes our two part
conversation with Jerry Ford, President
and National Director for Perfect
Game (PG).
For
the past 15 years, Jerry’s
company has been dedicated to identifying
the nation’s best pro-prospect
baseball players at the high school
and college levels.
And
for the last five years, PG
has selected the players for
the AFLAC High School All
American Baseball Classic
– the game recognized by MLB
and its Players Association as the
#1 prep all star game in
the country. (To
learn more about the AFLAC Classic,
click here)
In
Part I of this interview, Jerry
revealed what he and the selection
committee think is the single most
important attribute for an AFLAC
player to possess. To learn
this secret, click
here).
But
that’s not all Jerry told
us. He also shared what he
considers the right age
for boys to take their baseball
passion to the next level –
to develop into an elite player.
Creating
a Level Playing Field
When
we asked Jerry Ford at what age
he thought parents and young baseball
players should begin to really focus
on competing at the next level.
Instead
of falling back on the truism that
many coaches, trainers, parents
use to duck a question or to hedge
their bets against being wrong,
Jerry was very definitive:
“13,” he said.
When
asked why 13, Jerry said, “In
most states, that’s the age
that kids begin to play on the larger
field.” The regulation
playing field – the one that’s
used by high schoolers, college
age players and professionals alike.
On
that larger field, the kids who
may end up as AFLAC All Americans
start to separate themselves from
the pack.
Sure,
there may be kids with lesser skills
who “love” the game
as much as the better players.
But, at this level, physical prowess
begins to account for more success
– longer hits, faster pitches,
quicker base runners. And
because the “playing field’s”
level, it makes for easier comparisons.
The Importance
of Failure… And Overcoming
It
Jerry
went on to say that by 14, the players
who think they may have what it
takes to become something special,
should search out the best camps,
try to get into greater and greater
competitive environments, to gain
the recognition of baseball powers
that be.
And
they can begin to see how they stack
up against the best players out
there, to recognize their weaknesses
or strengths, and then move to adjust.
Ultimately,
with greater competition, these
players may face failure for the
first time. Which is also
critical, according to Jerry, for
two reasons:
-
By failing, kids have the opportunity
to learn from their mistakes,
and perhaps more importantly,
give them a chance to strengthen
their resolve, their will to improve.
- For
some, this may become the first
time they’re confronted
by better players… and
it’ll test their love of
the game. If they ultimately
become discouraged by a setback,
and walk away from the game, then
they didn’t have what it
takes to make it at the highest
level.
The
kids who try and fail, and recommit
to getting better, they’ll
be the ones that go on and perhaps
become recognized as special players.
Their reputation will grow, and
they’ll eventually cross Jerry’s
path, and the rest of the selection
committee.
Editor’s
Note: Soon, Sports
America will publish
a report on baseball camps.
In it, we’ll give our opinion,
and the opinions of those considered
to be experts, on which camps offer
young players (14 and up) the best
opportunity to see how they stack
up… and the best opportunity
to get noticed. Once that report
is finalized, we’ll make it
available for free on The
Winner’s Edge.
[SA]
Post
Game Stats RECAP
The
Aflac All-American Baseball Classic
is a showcase which consists of
38 players who are identified by
official selection partner Perfect
Game USA. All participants will
have just completed their junior
year of high school. AFLAC All-Americans
must be in good academic standing
and display redeeming qualities
off the field that embody the ideals
of the sport of baseball, including
discipline, determination and hard
work. For more information
on Perfect Game, click here www.perfectgame.org
The
AFLAC National Selection Tour
is a multi-city tour that travels
to the hometowns of the AFLAC All-Americans
to announce their official selection
to the team. At each tour stop an
AFLAC representative presents the
players with an official game jersey
and a commemorative Mizuno bat.
Over the next two months the Selection
Tour will make stops in cities including
Atlanta, Dallas, Tampa, Philadelphia
and Miami.
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