Mo Vaughn talks Youth Baseball, Development and Learning the Game the Right Way
Former American League MVP and Boston Red Sox star Mo Vaughn recently joined Greg Olsen on the Youth Inc. podcast to talk about youth baseball and balancing different sports before deciding when to specialize, among other topics. Vaughn has an unique vantage point on youth sports as a special assistant to Perfect Game and the owner of Vaughn Sports Academy. He also coaches his 13-year-old son’s baseball team.
Vaughn is passionate about teaching the game the right way and developing well-rounded kids.
“I tend to feel on the youth baseball side, we’re losing a lot of the coaching aspects,” said Vaughn. “Guys are coming to the ballpark not understanding how to play.”
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Key Takeaways
Showcases are great, but kids need to practice
“Like many things, balance is the key,” said Vaughn. “We need time to practice. We need time to let the youth minds grow. I love the showcases and I love the opportunities, but there needs to be more teaching and there needs to be more time to grow.”
Baseball is really hard
"If you’re not ready to handle adversity, this is not the game for you,” said Vaughn. “It’s easy to play when things are going well. How do you play when things are going wrong?"
Enjoy the Moments and Specialize When it’s Time
When kids are young they should play multiple sports. For top athletes there will likely be a time when they may have to choose, but don’t put to much pressure on yourself to do so. You’ll know when it’s time.
Lessons for Parents
- Games aren’t the only things that matter. Tournaments are sexy, but practice and development are more important. “I think parents are caught up in play, play, play,” said Vaughn. “They’re looking to maximize.”
Lessons for Coaches
- Coaches set the tone on how their players are going to act. Be mindful of that. “There needs to be more guys who understand the game and what it takes to be successful,” said Vaughn.
Lessons for Athletes
- The game is much more than batting average, strikeouts, home runs and RBIs. Coaches are watching to see if you’re a good teammate and how you respond when things don’t go your way. “Baseball is all about the little things you do,” said Vaughn.