For over 25 years, we've opened every season kickoff meeting by asking families the same question: what is your most important goal for your experience this season? The same answer comes back every year. Development. When we ask what they mean by it, it sounds like this: my athlete should be better in March than in October, and I should be able to see it.

A 12-year-old is late on fastballs all fall. His coach says his hands are slow. So the winter plan becomes hands: tee work, one-hand drills, a few hundred swings a week. He shows up to spring tryouts, and he's still late.

Every coach has had this one. The game ends, you're packing up gear, and a parent walks up with a question about playing time. Everybody's still hot. Nothing good comes out of it.

Most hitters look fine in the cage. The tee doesn't lie, but it doesn't ask any hard questions either.