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Coach Joe

See the Cues.




Why did I think it was possible to teach players of all ages to see the pitch or see the play before it happens? My Dad and Grandfather were my first coaches to teach me to read the pitch out of a pitcher's hand. Then in College, Coach Noce taught us to "Look and See"- look to see the little things. The game got slower and slower as long as I was looking for those little things. The 90 MPH fast ball looked like a softball. The hard line drive grounder was a simple warm up grounder off the coach's bat. But not always- why?


Here comes the science behind BlinkChallenge.

In the context of brain function, RAS typically stands for the Reticular Activating System. This network of neurons is located in the brainstem and plays a crucial role in regulating wakefulness. It helps filter incoming sensory information and is involved in attention, arousal, and consciousness. The RAS is essential for maintaining alertness and responding to stimuli in the environment. We need to train our brain to stay focused and stay tapped into our consciousness. By training and practicing to look for the little things, we stay alert, engaged, attentive.


Yes, the Reticular Activating System (RAS) can be thought of as being "trained" in a way. While it doesn't train in the traditional sense, you can enhance its sensitivity to certain cues through practice and experience. Here’s how:

  1. Focus and Attention: By consciously focusing on specific stimuli or cues during training, you can increase your awareness of those cues in real situations. This is often used in fields like sports or emergency response training.

  2. Repetition: The more you encounter and analyze specific situations, the more attuned your RAS becomes to recognizing relevant cues. For example, practicing situational analysis in various scenarios can help you identify patterns and important signals more quickly.

  3. Mindfulness and Observation: Practicing mindfulness can heighten your awareness of your surroundings, allowing you to notice subtle cues that you might otherwise overlook. After playing Blinkchallenge take the time to close your eyes and replay what you saw and see the pitch.

  4. Feedback: Engaging in activities where you receive feedback about your situational analysis can help refine your ability to pick up on cues, reinforcing the pathways in your RAS. This is why, I give you the answers.


Those who embrace the challenges and welcome losing to a challenge find themselves winning the battle when in counts. Here is a challenge for you. This pitcher was on my 13u team some time back.




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