PREP-about

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Player Remote Evolution Program (P.R.E.P)

What is P.R.E.P.?

With the onset of COVID-19 hitting the world like a jackhammer recently, we have been forced to find other creative ways to get our work in. This program was designed to allow players to train without losing any ground during these times.

It is nothing new to train with a coach that is in another location. I have been doing it for years with college and professional players all over the globe. There is always a solution to find a way to train even remotely.

Technology has allowed us to connect no matter where we are and be able to share information through video analysis and other technical pieces of hardware that track our progress.

What are you waiting for? Jump on board and get the advantage of a virtual coach and an actionable program that will help you to evolve into the complete baseball player you want to be.

 

By joining the P.R.E.P., you will have access to everything seen below in addition to your FREE subscription to Coach Now! with Coach Holmes! Click links to see the details of each component.

Design your Evolution Program NOW!

 

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HOW TO DECIDE IF YOU FOUND THE RIGHT COACH?

Does he…

… talk more than demonstrate?

… focus only on swing mechanics?

… have a system in place to track the progress?

… explain why he is teaching what he is teaching?

… make an authentic connection with you or your player?

… use video/technology to explain mechanical adjustments?

…ask questions and allow you to ask questions in return?

 

AM I THE RIGHT COACH?

“You haven’t taught until they have learned.”
– John Wooden

There are a lot of former players, self-proclaimed experts, and hitting “gurus” out there doing lessons in the park and on the internet. Some are great at what they do and have a real impact on young players. Others flip baseballs at your kid for a few dollars and spew out a bunch of trendy buzzwords with no real plan in mind that will actually help the player get better. 

It doesn’t matter how great of a hitter or at how high of a level they played. If you don’t have a gameplan with a starting point and a process to reach the goal of that plan, you will most likely be wasting your time and effort.

I have spent the past three decades working with players from the grassroots to the Major Leagues. Traveled and worked on four continents learning from coaches at the highest levels of the game from all over the globe. I have been able to acquire many different philosophies and approaches to my teachings. Mix that with my core values, personal development, and my constant and continual thirst for learning and improving myself as a person you get a coach that understands 

Every stable relationship is built on trust. It is the first thing as humans we decide instantly when meeting a stranger. Do I trust this person? It is a two-way street and when it is established, great things can and will evolve in that relationship. I am a firm believer that the first meeting always sets the tone between student and teacher or player and coach and gives both parties a good idea of what methods and drills to implement. More important, learn how to communicate together as the relationship grows. If a coach can relate to that player and connect on their level to show them what you can teach them by earning their trust first, then you are in a critical position to either positively or negatively affect their future on several levels. Not just in baseball.

I have found that teaching from a progressive neutral growth mindset works best for me. I have learned through trial and error that a “cookie-cutter” approach is not the answer. No two players are alike to start, and they all learn differently along the way. I like to refer to players as one big puzzle with many pieces that represent what is going in their current stage in life. Family, school, friends, baseball, other sports, music, hormones you name it. They are dealing with a lot. The job of a coach is to figure out that puzzle. Knowing when to push and when to pull and why? You can’t force a piece where it doesn’t belong. This is where trust is so important.

Individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, the right strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset. They tend to achieve more than those with a  fixed mindset (those who believe their talents are innate gifts, and you get what you get). People with a growth mindset worry less about looking smart; they are humble and far less egotistical while putting more energy into learning. This mindset keeps me on the cutting edge of trends and nuances that are continually changing and rapidly evolving in the game of baseball and life. This is the same mindset I live by and teach my players, coaches, and eight-year-old daughter to inherit and practice. 

If you are dying to hear more about my WORLD BASEBALL EXPERIENCE you can see my journey here (click for full bio)

 

 

ARE YOU THE RIGHT STUDENT?

“To improve; is to change. To perfect; is to change often .”
– Winston Churchill

All players will have many coaches, trainers, and experts giving them “advice ” on how to improve on this drill and that mechanic or technique. It is up to you the player to filter out all of the noise. Find out what works for you in that instance. You have to take ownership of your abilities and your path to the next “dot” by applying what you and only you feel is right.

Learn to question everything that is presented to you until it sinks in, and you understand it fully. That isn’t to say you have to agree with it. It is, however, in your best interest to give new things a solid effort and a reasonable amount of time before you dismiss it.

Give it all a try until you find what works and is repeatable then dispose of the rest. It is ok to have theories, but being a practitioner of those theories will help you find the results you seek.

The practice must have a purpose other than just getting your reps in. Some players and coaches, for that matter, think, “I am practicing, so I must be getting better.” Let me expand.

 

MY PHILOSOPHY ON TECHNOLOGY

“With the landscape of the world changing drastically, and technology exploding, the evolution of athletic training remotely is the new norm.”
– Nick Holmes

I am a big video guy! I am also a gadget guy. Ever since my Dad called me from the car with a phone the size of a shoe plugged into the lighter, I have loved technology.

Technology is not going away. It is only getting better.

You can run from it or embrace it.

Some believe too much of it can do more harm than good. There is the term “paralysis by analysis,” and I can see the point. However, I do believe if used in the right way and with the right approach and balance, you can certainly use it to your advantage and not your demise. You have to know what you are looking at and how you can apply it to the player.

The instant feedback is essential when making minor adjustments. Mechanics still take a back seat to having a good mental makeup, a systematic physical approach, and being on time to contact when it comes to hitting.

Being able to see your swing on video and have it broken down in slow motion when used in conjunction with proper instruction is the best way to show what is real vs. what you feel. Tracking is the only way to see a pattern in growth and be able to know if you are getting closer to reaching your goal. Imagine not using a scale to see if you are gaining or losing weight. Guessing is not a great gameplan Hope is not a gameplan.

I still hold true to some “old school” methodologies and practices, and by mixing the two, it helps me to stay in a constant learning mode. Learn it, practice it, track it.

 

STUDENT/PARENT/COACH COMMITMENT

“Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans.”
– Peter F. Drucker

Time is our most valuable resource. We can’t make more of it. If the teacher and student are committed to each other, we can get the most out of our time together. Starting a plan with the end in mind is the first step into our success pattern and getting from one dot to the next.

Players must show the effort of completing all the work that is given every week. No excuses. Please do not waste my time, your time, or your parents’ money. There are plenty of other kids looking to get better and ready to take your spot and outwork you every day. Parents are encouraged to get involved and ask questions. Your support is going to be a crucial piece in the puzzle. 

 

PLAYERS

  1. Have a plan = INTENT.
  2. Follow that plan = FOCUS
  3. Always work hard = EFFORT

PARENTS

  1. GET involved.
  2. ASK questions.
  3. BE supportive.

 

That’s it!

You will ALWAYS get my best; I can promise you that!

 

 

 

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