True DRIP

Welcome to DRIP-- a baseball blog focused on the Discipline, Respect, Intensity, and Passion in which the game of baseball should be approached. 

Let me introduce myself. My name is Chris Shelton and I have been coaching baseball at various levels from travel to high school to college for the past 15 years. Before I really get into this, let me provide a disclaimer: I’m certainly no expert on baseball, coaching, program building, or life in general. However, through years of experience, many failures, and a few successes, I have learned some valuable lessons in those regards and have developed some philosophies about running a program, developing players, and the game itself that I believe in... really believe in. I did not have a spectacular baseball career, if you call it that, or play at a very high level. However, an ever-growing love for the game has allowed me to hang around long enough to learn a few things and develop some sort of philosophy on how the game should be played… which I don’t think is too far off from how it was intended to be played- with Discipline, Respect, Intensity, and Passion. With true DRIP.

You can’t fake those things. You can try, but true baseball people will see right through you.

Why the term DRIP? The main reason is that baseball players now seem to focus on many of the wrong things-- the flash, the style, the jewelry, the fluorescent colors, the gear... I could continue, but I won't. From what I understand, if you have style, if you have flash, if you wear the cool gear, if you have the coolest "celly" then you have drip? It really doesn't matter if you're worth a flip... just have the drip and you'll fit right in. 

But what does true DRIP look like then? 

Discipline is consistently doing the right things the right way and with no excuses, no matter what your feelings are. Reaching your goals requires sacrifice. Sacrifice requires discipline to do things you may not feel like doing, but you know it’s the right thing. Discipline is making choices that allow you and those around you to be the best version of yourself. To reference Nick Saban-- there is the pain of discipline or the pain of regret and if you can endure the pain of discipline, you'll never have to endure the pain of regret. Discipline is accountability: ownership of your development and success. 

Respect is honoring others and treating them in such a way. Respect everyone- your parents, teachers, coaches, peers, teammates, opponents, umpires, and the game. Respect is playing the game the right way! I am a big believer in this: THE GAME KNOWS… and it will reward those who play it the way it is supposed to be played! In simple terms, play and prepare hard, respect your opponent, do your job to the best of your ability, do not make excuses, and see if you are rewarded. In my experience, more times than not, that is the case!

Intensity is energy, enthusiasm, and having a competitive edge that can’t be denied. The best competitors have that edge. They approach every rep, drill, pitch, at bat, play, inning, game, and season with an intense focus. It's not ra-ra energy, but an energy intently directed at the task at hand... that moment. Everything you do must have an intent behind it to make you and everyone around you better. Without intent, there’s no focus. With no focus, there’s no improvement. Intensity doesn't fleet when things aren't going your way. The intense competitor who is 3-4 is the same guy when he is 0-4. It's not about him. It's about everyone who shares that uniform. Intensity shows in your effort... 100%, 100% of the time.

Passion is a burning desire and a love for something for which you’d do anything for. Passion is devotion. Devotion is dedication. Passion shows in the way you practice and play. Baseball is supposed to be fun right? Playing the game with passion will only make you better… that’s the  fun part. But how can one be passionate about a game so cruel? I think of it like this... no one will be perfect in this game, but everyone can be in the pursuit of perfection! That pursuit requires devotion, dedication, PASSION. Passion shows in your attitude... move past the adversities the game brings and commit to the dedication the game requires.

Don't stand out by how how much flash you provide, by letting the game dictate your intensity or passion, by  what kind of celebrations you can do, or what gear you wear. Stand out by the way you play the game— with true DRIP. Few will understand, but those that do will see the true impact of what this game can teach you.