The transformation from good to great

L-R: André Paris, Roy Cogdell and Tre’ Hampton

Iris Murdoch once said, “We live in a fantasy world, a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality.”

I have been coaching for more than 25 years and can attest, like millions of others, that coaching is rewarding. It often starts with helping players discover reality through hard work, success, failure and sacrifice.

Coaching is about being transformed, and transformation doesn’t always feel good to me as an adult. And I know it doesn’t always feel good to my young hitters.

I have discovered that when transformation leads to triumph for those I have coached, it is because I have accepted the task, and I have the tools and the time.

I recently fulfilled a task of cleaning the yard and putting up Christmas lights for an Atlanta Grove Park Community resident. I had the help of L.E.A.D. coaches Andre Paris and Tre’ Hampton, Grove Park Foundation Executive Director Gavin McGuire, and Grove Park Foundation Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager, Roy Cogdell.

The yard had more leaves than I’ve seen in a long time. It took us three hours. We needed three leaf blowers, two push brooms, one leaf vacuum and several bags.

What if the task allotted three-hours, but we only had a couple rakes, two people, love in our hearts and a don’t quit attitude.

Task. Tools. Time.

Transformation takes time. November through January is the time of year my hitters commit and discipline themselves to build habits and strength.

Talent is what you do well. Habits are what you do well repeatedly without thought. Skills are what you do well repeatedly without thought while under stress.

There are seven parts of the swing and it takes 3,000 reps to build a habit. That’s 21,000 reps to build a habit each year and another 21,000 reps to convert the habit to a skill.

  1. Stance/Load
  2. Timing
  3. Tempo
  4. Tracking
  5. Approach
  6. Contact
  7. Extension/Finish
Do you want to be elite?

February through April is the time we convert habits to skills, while May through July is the time to maintain skills during national/international competition.

Here are a few tools that I use to develop my hitters.

Tanner Tees 
Duraband 
Dartfish 

As Jeff Duntemann says, “A good tool improves the way you work. A great tool improves the way you think.”

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today.

If you found this inspiring and thought-provoking, or if you have any questions, comments or concerns, add me on Discord and let’s go deeper.

C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.

 

Providing direction for marginalized youth

A compass provides direction, but not directions.

I am a coach, and the players I am responsible for depend on me to provide direction. Providing direction for marginalized youth can be challenging. Thus the need for sports-based youth development (SBYD).

SBYD is a theory and practice model for direct youth services. SBYD’s counterpart is Travel Ball. A difference between the two comes down to who can pay to play.

At age 8 in 1984, I started playing organized baseball with the CYO Braves at Cascade Youth Organization (CYO), which is located in southwest Atlanta.

We had a really good team of athletic players. When I say athletic, I am defining players who have high levels of both physical and critical thinking abilities. Combined, we were able to execute and compete without having all of the fundamental habits.

While our coaches were good men, they were not former professional baseball players or professional coaches. My coaches consisted of Coach Emmett Johnson, the Chairman for the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education; Coach Joshua Butler, an art teacher at Benjamin Elijah Mays High School; and Gus Burns, a diligent working class family man.

I remember paying about $100 to play a three- to four-month season each year that extended through the summer.

We would sell world’s finest chocolates or $1 raffle tickets for a microwave, television or stereo system. These were hot commodities back in the day.

This was the way of life for Black and white boys in Georgia during that time. White boys didn’t have private professional baseball coaches back in the 80s when I was a kid. They didn’t have indoor batting facilities.

But things started to change in the early 90s, which caused the playing field to become unleveled. Baseball was becoming a country club sport for the haves, making it close to impossible for the have nots, which were Black boys like me from the inner city of Atlanta.

I believe the Travel ball was started in 1985 with the establishment of East Cobb Baseball by Guerry Baldwin. This was two years after his East Marietta National Little League of Marietta, Georgia defeated the Liquito Hernandez Little League of Barahona, Dominican Republic, in the championship game of the 37th Little League World Series.

Travel baseball needed to be created because Guerry had a team of winners from a community that wanted to keep winning on a national and global stage.

I cannot tell my success story of playing and coaching without East Cobb Baseball. I played at ECB in the 90s trekking from my inner city Atlanta home to to the suburbs. I also coached there in the early 2000s.

My wife, Kelli, and I are owners of Diamond Directors, a baseball development company that has been providing the blueprint of success for diamond sport athletes since 1998. Our clients pay us on the high end for results. We have been a part of the travel ball tsunami, which has been crushing recreation baseball.

In 2007, Kelli, and I established LEAD Center For Youth, where I serve as co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer. We are a SBYD organization. We use the sport of baseball to help Black boys from Atlanta Public Schools grades 3rd through 12th overcome what we call the “three curve balls” that threaten their success: crime, poverty and racism.

Since 2007, LEAD has invested more than $8 million and has served more than 5,000 middle and high school Black boys, proving that Black boys living in the inner city of Atlanta do want to play baseball and use it to become Major League Citizens.

If LEAD existed during the time that I played at ECB, I would have never played at ECB. LEAD is a methodology that allows us to serve both as a compass and a directional app that helps Black boys win on and off the baseball field in their own community.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today.

If you found this inspiring and thought-provoking, or if you have any questions, comments or concerns, add me on Discord and let’s go deeper.

C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.

Getting to the heart of coaching Black boys in baseball

Andre Paris
Tre’ Hampton

I have been developing elite baseball players for more than 25 years. My current and past players have received honors ranging from the “Gatorade High School Player of the Year,” the first pick in the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft, the “Dick Howser Trophy,” MLB “Rookie of the Year” and the MLB MVP, to name a few.

I owe my success to personal experience as an amateur, collegiate and professional baseball player, trusted mentors, a proven development process, devout study habits and the committed coaches I learn from and team with.

Two of the coaches I work with on a daily basis with L.E.A.D. Center For Youth are Tre’ Hampton and Andre Paris.

November through January is the time our coaching staff is committed to teaching our program participants grades 3 through 12th from Atlanta Public Schools how to practice, build habits and strength during our winter workouts.

They receive thousands of repetitions that we track to help us prepare them for February through April when they will convert their habits to skills.

Here are seven questions I recently asked Tre’ and Andre. Their answers will help you understand the heart of coaching Black boys in baseball:

Why did you choose to play baseball when you were younger?

Tre’: I did not choose baseball, it chose me in a way. I got introduced to it by one of my friends (who was playing) mother. She told my mom to sign me up so we could play on the same team. The rest was history as I fell in love with it. It was just fun to play and watch.

Andre: I chose to play baseball when I was younger because my mom signed me up after she noticed I really enjoyed hitting and watching the ball fly.

What’s the best way to get Black boys interested in baseball that have never played it before?

Tre’: Introducing it to them at a young age, but if that’s not an option the next best option is to approach them with it and play it.

Andre: I think the best way to get Black boys interested in baseball is by introducing the sport to them and allowing them to play in an environment where they are encouraged.

What are the top three things that can cause them to lose interest?

Tre’: No. 1 – Not being able to deal with failure. As we know, baseball has a lot of ups and downs and if a kid doesn’t have the mental capacity to deal with that then they will lose interest.

No. 2 – The lack of patience. Baseball players know there’s a game within the game going on at all times. But it doesn’t change the fact that in baseball, we stand around about 80% of the time. So boys who like quick fast-paced movement all the time like some other sports will cause them to lose interest.

No. 3 – Their environment. In the Black community baseball gets the short end of the stick compared to football and basketball. For whatever reason, the Black community has migrated to those two sports. So young black boys who are usually impressionable go for those sports because their environment tells them to.

Andre: I believe they are a lack of results, other sports that are more highly regarded pulling them away and their outside environment causing them to become distracted.

What are the top three things that a Black boy will learn from baseball that can help him become a good Black man?

Tre’: How to deal with adversity and overcome it. What hard work/discipline really is when it comes to the “real world.” How to work with a team/organization environment.

Andre: I believe that baseball will teach them patience, how to think ahead, and how to deal with adversity. I think these three things are critical because they all are necessary in dealing with the unexpected obstacles that appear in life.

What is unique about L.E.A.D.‘s approach to using baseball to develop Black boys on and off the field?

Tre’: The fact that we have Black coaches who can relate to their struggle. We can emphasize with them because we were them.

Andre: LEAD’s approach is unique because it allows young Black men such as myself to help develop the boys to become better players and people. I believe it’s important to do it this way because we are relatable to the environment they are growing up in.

What’s your favorite hitting drill?

Tre’: The Upper Half Load Drill.

Andre: My favorite hitting drill is the Top Hand Drill.

What’s your favorite defensive position to teach?

Tre’: That’s tough, but definitely anywhere on the infield for sure.

Andre: My favorite position to teach is catcher because I believe they are the glue to the team. Catchers have to manage game situations and be the eyes for all other eight positions. They are the only positions facing the opposite direction.

Henry “Hank” Aaron once said, “What you do with your life and how you do it is not only a reflection on you, but on your family and all of those institutions that have helped to make you who you are.”

Black boys are in good hands with strong Black men like Tre’ and Andre.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today.

If you found this inspiring and thought-provoking, or if you have any questions, comments or concerns, add me on Discord and let’s go deeper.

C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.

 

Reminiscing, reliving and loving the road traveled

Potential is not a matter of where you start, but of how far you travel. As we have explored, the original usage of the word coach was a means of transportation. Back then—and still today—a good coach is supposed to get you to your destination.

My first coach was my dad. As a kid, I had lots of different balls and we played a lot of catch. By the time I was 8 years old, I was dreaming of Major League Baseball and playing for the Chicago Cubs. I’d watch their games during the hot Atlanta summers. Then, I would go outside and hit rocks as if I was really at Wrigley Field.

My first coaches at eight years old on an organized baseball team were Emmett Johnson, Joshua Butler and Gus Burns. I played for them on the Cascade Youth Organization (CYO) Braves in Southwest Atlanta.

I remember seeing Hank Aaron at our games along with Maynard Jackson, Andrew Young, Hosea Williams, Ralph David Abernathy, and many other greats because they lived in the Southwest Atlanta community where we played our games.

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” — Isaac Newton

We moved to College Park when I was 11, where I started playing for the Old National Athletic Association (ONAA) A’s and Yankees for Coach Zach Davis. I was the new kid in town and he took care of me.

Next, I was able to play for the ONAA Pirates for Coach Godfrey Milliner, and then for Coach James Holliday on the ONAA Yankees. They knew the game and they loved us.

I met Coach T.J. Wilson my freshman year at Westlake High School. He believed in me. Within a few weeks of knowing him, he was financially investing in me to train with Denny Pritchett. I wasn’t training for fun. Coach T.J. advocated for me to have my first professional tryout with the Chicago Cubs when I was 14 years old.

Coach Dave Whitfield was my high school baseball coach at Westlake High School. I remember he made us clean our cleats and bring our uniforms to school on hangers.

Coach Hudson, my history teacher, JV football and varsity basketball coach, encouraged me to focus on baseball my high school season to help my chances of getting drafted.

Coach Derrick Stafford is an Atlanta native. We both grew up in Zone 1 Northwest Atlanta. He was a standout athlete at Morehouse College, eventually becoming one of the best referees in the NBA. He created a team called the Chico’s All-Stars in honor of “Chico” Renfroe, where I was able to play for him. He taught me how to be punctual and the importance of being prepared to play.

I was drafted by the Cubs right out of high school in 1994, but chose to attend Georgia State University (GSU) to play for legendary Coach Mike Hurst.

Saying yes to Coach Hurst meant I had to say no to another legend, Roger Cador, who has developed so many great men and baseball players at Southern University.

While I played well on the field at GSU, I was academically ineligible after my freshman year. I was able to transfer to Dekalb Junior College to play for another legend, Coach Tom Cantrell. I performed at a high level at Dekalb College, but was academically ineligible again.

I was drafted again by the Cubs. A dream fulfilled.

Sandy Alomar was my first manager at the professional level. He liked me a lot and we still stay in touch today. My professional playing career was short because I lacked the core values required to be elite.

I met Joe Logan in my early 20s. He was a former professional baseball player and had become a sought after professional baseball swing coach. He mentored me to become a professional baseball coach—not just in title, but in intentional repeatable actions. This was the start of the first business with my wife, Kelli. We called it Diamond Directors with the mission to provide the blueprint of success for diamond sport athletes.

As a teenager, I was able to get batting lessons from former Atlanta Braves starter, Terry Harper. He mentored me on being a great coach training kids of varying ages and skills levels in the East Cobb community.

Brandon Smith was another trainer I looked up to. He showed me how to convert my passion to a career.

Ed Hartwell taught me how to scout and challenged me to step out on faith and start a sports management group. I was able to advise 10 clients for the amateur draft. Six of them played in the Majors, with Charlie Culberson being my first client.

For several years, I was journaling so that I could do what was in my head in writing. My hope was that one day I could create a methodology to explain how I was able to do all that I was successfully doing. Bill Mclellan took my content and gave it a name, A.T.B.A.T.S.

Pat Alacqua helped me create a suite of services, including my Hitting Lab, which separated me from my competition. This was important because my business was dying as I tried to compete with others based on price. I had to learn that the good stuff always costs more.

Stan Conway challenged me to be more than an accomplished coach for middle class suburban youth. He challenged me to come back home to the inner city of Atlanta to serve Black boys who wanted to grow up to be me. So, in 2007, LEAD Center For Youth was established.

Thanksgiving is a time of reflection. I am indeed living a blessed life and it is because of a lot of great people that have poured into me.

I am excited about my future as well as for the game of baseball.

My prayer is that everyone is able to convert their passion into a career because it is life giving.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today.

C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.

Getting to the core of excellence

Will Durant once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

I define excellence as meeting expectations. I cannot make it any simpler than that. In order for me to be an excellent coach to my hitters, I must first ask them what they expect from me.

Most times, they struggle to put their expectations into words. When the words come, several have said they expect me to:

  • Be honest with them about how they are doing
  • Communicate with clarity
  • Have a process for them to follow
  • Not to waste time with them if I don’t believe in them

Excellence is a core value for my family. Because I have made it a habit of being excellent starting with the ones I love the most, it allows me to show up with others as my real self.

I am not perfect, but I do make it a habit of living a life of excellence.

Talent is what you do well and a habit is what you do well repeatedly without thought. Habits consist of a cue, routine and a reward.

A cue is a signal for action. Me being honest in love with my hitters is the routine and the reward is me having the feeling of excellence. There are times when my honesty hurts my hitters. There also are times when they have constructive feedback for me that hurts.

Commit to being excellent and building good habits as you complete your winter workouts through the end of January.

Remember, it takes 3,000 reps to build a habit. If you need to build habits for all seven parts, that’s 21,000 reps.

I teach the swing using seven parts that include:

  1. Stance/Load
  2. Timing
  3. Tempo
  4. Tracking
  5. Approach
  6. Contact
  7. Extension/Finish

Here’s a good drill for you to execute 3,000 times to improve your tempo and approach.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today.

C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.