What is Sawed Off Baseball Academy?

Welcome to Sawed Off Baseball Academy and our first ever blog. At Sawed Off, we believe that the development process should be owned by the athlete. Coaches can facilitate that process in a number of ways and this is where we hope to get involved. There are things that we can guarantee, and things that we can’t. Let’s lay those expectations out.

WHAT YOU GET FROM US:

1. Honesty

• Honest feedback is vital to developing a plan and achieving goals. We will be honest with the student-athlete and ask that the student-athlete is also honest with themselves.

2. Engagement

• Coaches will engage with student-athletes on topics away from baseball. Building character OFF the field ensures that the right qualities are exposed ON the field.

• It’s a “family” affair.

  • Student-athletes can learn more from each other when they choose to…that is always a goal of our Group Lessons and Open Workouts.

  • Our athletes bring different perspectives to a single arena and focus on what is essentially the same goal…to be a better baseball player. We want that objective to drive productive interaction within our groups.

3. Tools – a private lesson or group lesson is simply one session…then what?

• We look to provide student-athletes with take-home tools and provide them the opportunity to continue development in the absence of our coaches.

• Our hope is that athletes pick up on Baseball drills, good study habits, time management skills, and so many other things.

4. Dedication – to the student-athletes, their individual objectives, and to ongoing self-improvement.

• Student-athletes have a ton of responsibility off the field…as Coaches, we can sometimes forget that.

• We are dedicated to understanding the student-athletes’ lives off the field, so that we can maximize what we do on the field.

• It’s hard for the student-athlete to feel successful if we are not realizing their definition of success.

  • Learning the goals of our players allows Coaches to develop a more personalized approach to teaching the individuals.

  • Setting their own goals provides clarity and a sense of purpose to the player…both are necessary to achieve tangible success.

• Our Coaches are dedicated to learning the game and gaining perspective so that we can share it with our student-athletes.

  • Sawed Off’s Coaches are active members of the American Baseball Coaches Association.

In addition to what we promise to give, there are also things that we promise NOT to provide our student-athletes and families.

1. Playing time

• We don’t decide this…the Manager does.

• We don’t control who you compete with for playing time. If you’re on the bench, it’s usually because another player has earned the spot…not because you are a bad player.

2. Someone else’s opinion

• Coaches only provide feedback from their perspectives. Not everyone will agree, and that's ok.

• Athletes will learn to define their own success, working to exceed their own expectations rather than someone else’s.

3. Anything outside of our control

• We don’t control umpires, we don’t control weather, field conditions, other players/coaches, spectators, …you get the picture.

• If it’s outside of our own actions and attitude, you won’t find it here.

For all the “failure” involved in baseball, it can bring so much joy to those that approach it the right way. It can also include a lot of struggle and seem daunting at times. Focus on making small improvements each and every day…all part of a plan to achieve whatever the larger objectives might be. The journey continues here.

Let’s get to work!

Nick Steward

Owner/Coach – Sawed Off Baseball Academy