Tech Guy or Old School Guy?

My social media feeds are filled with coaches. Lots of different coaches, of varying ages and experience. Coaches with lots of different opinions and approaches and philosophies. I enjoy learning from them all.

If there is one conversation (or debate) I have seen more than any as of late, it is over the use of technology, measuring, gathering data, and using analytics in our coaching. There seems to be a growing separation between those who have embraced the technological age of coaching versus those who have not.

Among those who have not embraced it are coaches who either have not the time nor the resources to implement it, or those who are skeptical and assume technology threatens "old school" coaching methods. Among those who have embraced it are coaches who use the tools to support their communication to players regarding areas in which they need to develop, but then there are some who dogmatically claim that unless everyone has embraced the new technology in their coaching then they are being left in the Dark Ages of baseball and their players and teams are not going to be successful until they do embrace it.

The arguments and debates about technology look something like this:

TECH COACH: "Players, if you have a coach who doesn't use tech to measure your data, then you need to run away fast and find a new coach because this one is wasting your time and cannot develop you in today's game."

OLD SCHOOL COACH: "These nerds with their gadgets have no feel for the game and no idea how to communicate with players. If you're a good coach you can see the same things that a HitTrax gizmo or Rapsodo machine can see."

You're wrong and I'm right!

No, you're wrong and I'm right!

These are my thoughts. I believe the two camps of people are talking over top of one another and unable to comprehend the perspective of the other, perhaps because they are actually talking about two different things. When it comes to "getting better" in the game of baseball, there are two things involved:

1. Player Development

2. Coaching

These are not always the same thing. Sometimes they are, but not always. And the truth is, they don't always HAVE to be the same thing. One is going to involve different variables than the other, and that's okay. One is going require a different approach than the other, and that's okay. Just realize what your goal is and what you are trying to accomplish and go with it. But it won't be the same for everyone.

Many of the advocates for technology and data-measuring are coaches who provide a lot of individual and small group instruction. Many have their own facilities and work with players year-round. For some, providing this service to players is a side-gig to coaching a team. For others, it is becoming a full-time profession. I'm good with all of that. It all has its place in our game.

But understand this. For many (most) amateur coaches, high school and below, they should NOT be attempting to implement technology and data-measuring as much as many of the tech gurus think they should be. Here is why. If those coaches are anything like me, I have limited time with my players and team. I also have limited resources, which is another problem altogether that adds to the frustration; some simply cannot afford to be a tech coach.

One of the greatest issues in coaching is TIME. Most of us in high school levels or below don't have enough of it to invest in our players and teams in all of the ways we would really like to. So, what matters is how we USE the time we have. We have to prioritize what is going to be the most important things to focus on. If we only get to work with our players three or four days a week for a couple hours at a time in the off-season, then how much of that time is going to be focused on strength training? How much on fundamentals? How much on hitting drills? How much on measuring data? How much on communicating that data in such a way that translates into them making the proper adjustments to get better?

If I have a 50-gallon drum full of marbles in front of me that represent all of the wonderful tools, drills, gadgets, and things we could possibly use with our players. But the amount of time I have to work with my players is represented by a one-gallon bucket, then that means it is going to be necessary for me to wade through all of the marbles in the 50-gallon drum and select the things that are going to be the greatest priority for my team.

This is going to differ from team to team, depending on the amount of time they have and the kinds of resources they have. There are so many variables that make player development and coaching not a one-size-fits-all thing. Of course, if I were working primarily with college or pro guys and my primary job was coaching baseball, you can bet I would be getting my hands on every tool available. I would have a 50-gallon drum at my disposal and I could invest in all of those wonderful things.

But I worry about the coaches who are buying into the "you HAVE to use technology" talk and they don't have the proper time to gather enough data in order to make it meaningful, or the proper means to be able to understand it well and communicate it in ways that are beneficial.

I worry that we might have a generation of players who are growing up knowing more about their exit velo and launch angle than they know about how to hit behind a runner or how to hit a curve ball.

I worry that we might have a generation of players who are growing up knowing more about their spin rate and how to throw as hard as they can than they know about how to control the running game or command different pitches.

I say these things not because I am an anti-tech guy. I am actually a pro-tech guy. I am intrigued by the amazing new tools that can supplement my coaching and take me to a different level in understanding what is happening in my players' swings and in their pitching mechanics.

But that is what tech is... a supplement. I love my multivitamin, turmeric, and omega-3 oils. I feel like they provide me with an extra boost of energy and fill in the gaps where my regular nutrition is lacking. But I don't ONLY eat those things, or PRIMARILY eat those things. They are supplements!

Tech is supplemental to coaching. If you're not using it yet, that's okay. You can still be a great coach. If you are using it, great! Just remember, technology can be very useful, but it will never be more useful than the human element of your coaching.

Also, just because you have the data does not mean you are helping your players. Be cautious of paralysis by analysis. Too much info is not good for a lot of players. For many, what they need is to have things simplified. So, if you can take the data you collect and use it to make the game simpler, then by all means, go for it!

To develop and get better, some of your players might need the data-measuring and some might not. As long as you, coach, know who, what, when, where, and how you are using it and delivering it, then jump in and make it part of your program.

But again, if your time is limited, you might want to consider focusing more on things that you KNOW beyond the shadow of any doubt are going to make EVERY player better. Namely, things like strength training. Things like teaching them what to expect and how to react in every situation possible throughout the game. Things like how to hunt certain pitches, how to have a competitive approach in the batters box and on the pitcher's mound.

Don't sacrifice "feel" for information. Don't sacrifice communication for data. Don't sacrifice the relationship between player and coach for a sensor and a video screen. Don't sacrifice the human element for a tool.

Anyone can collect data from a machine. But it takes a coach to be able to develop players into championship teams.

Undoubtedly, some are going to read my words and assume that I am an "old school guy" that poo-poo's technology. Not so. I am "balance" guy. I happen to see technology as a blessing. But the way you use it will determine whether or not it is a blessing or a curse.