by Jeff Forney
Proper Instruction
The game of baseball has been my primary focal point for most of my life. I have been blessed to play, coach and be involved with baseball as a business. Throughout the years I have been instructed and coached by some the best baseball minds in the game. As I instruct and teach players and coaches today, I often reflect upon and even emulate some of the advice and methods I was taught. Years removed from these coaches, their impact remains strong because of the time and effort they took to give me the proper training.
Teach The Athlete
In the arena of baseball I speak, teach, and instruct players and coaches on the proper methods and skills of the game. I often share with coaches they should never ask a player to do anything they have not demonstrated or clearly explained. Unfortunately, I often observe coaches demanding of players skills of the game that the player can’t perform because he has not been properly taught. This frustrates both the player and the coach. As a coach we must be willing to take the time to give the players quality instruction. I use a method of application that I encourage coaches to apply; if you can’t demonstrate or clearly explain a drill or situation to a player, you can’t ask that player to perform that skill or know the situation. This keeps us sharp as coaches because we have to continue to learn so we can effectively instruct.
Resources
Question . . . Where do we draw our instruction for the situations encountered in everyday life? Note that we have experts and information residing at our fingertips in any chosen profession. The Internet is packed with millions of pages of information, topics from baseball to medical advice is available to us at the click of a key. But even with all the information out there the most challenging obstacle is proper understanding and application. When I find comprehension difficult it is because I do not understand completely the information that is before me. My grasp or understanding happens when someone has fully explained or shown the concept to me.
A great example of the importance of receiving clear instruction is found in Nehemiah 8:7-8 Now the Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people who were standing there. [8] They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage. (NLT)
Now I know some of the names may be difficult to pronounce, but these two verses remind me of a coaching staff intent on providing the players a clear understanding of the game plan. It is enlightening for an athlete when he understands his objective. He can then properly prepare for the game.
In that same fashion, my encouragement to you is to surround yourself with good instruction in the game of life. Just as there is a lot to be gained from having mentors in baseball, we can benefit greatly from having spiritual mentors in our personal lives. Whether it be through clubs, organizations, or just a one on one relationship, a mentor can help us understand the ultimate playbook on life - God’s Word.
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