About Seth:
I have17+ yrs coaching at the D1/D2 level including West Chester University, College of Charleston, University of South Alabama and Maryville University.
What is your coaching expertise/focus?
I think with most college coaches you end up with your hand in every area a little bit, ultimately the game starts with recruiting which I loved to do, but was probably viewed as more of an offensive guy. I would say today in GBA/Spects it is more of working with young players and families to understand not only what it looks like to achieve a certain level of baseball but stay and play at that level. For most of our kids they desire to play college baseball, but they don’t understand the real day to day grind of what that looks like.
What is the most powerful insight you have gained in relation to this expertise/focus?
I think the number one thing I have continued to learn is that if you pour everything you can into these kids in terms of teaching the game properly, and showing them how much you and your staff care they know that your honesty is coming from a good place. That honesty will help prepare these young people for their correct path to success on and off the baseball field.
How do you implement this knowledge into your coaching?
I don’t know that being honest makes you knowledgeable, in fact some may say the complete opposite. What it does allow on the field is for myself and our programs to build relationships with kids that they know we are pulling no punches and we can challenge them to be better in areas they need to be better in and that we are going to be their biggest advocate in their successes and do it with real passion.
What is one coaching technique/saying/practice tip/gadget that you use all the time, how do you implement it, and why?
I don’t think it’s a gadget or certain practice. I think it is making sure kids understand the reward of hard work and the failures that will come in not working hard and paying attention to the details that can separate them as baseball payers but also people. Colleges and Universities are recruiting the same type of talent depending on what level your skill set puts you. So how do players separate from the rest of the pack and for me and our programs it is creating an environment that demands effort and holds players accountable
What is your best piece of advice for enhancing player development in the travel ball setting?
Most importantly, surround yourself with the right people that you would want your own kids to grow up around. Those people will make you better as a person and a baseball coach.
As for the players, I think it is most important to find the balance between development in training and development in-game. This depends on where each player is at in their development, but it must be communicated very clearly to the players and the family.
Watch Live Interview with Seth and the GBA Organization: