Former Bellefontaine, Marysville, and Lehman baseball coach Mark Brunswick teaches bunting skills to a group of young players eager to learn. “Work hard to maximize your skills and ambition. Have fun playing. And don’t chase scholarships. Become the best player you can be and let scholarships chase you.” – Mark Brunswick. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
(Ed. Note: With the start of high school baseball less than a week away, we hear from a number of concerned parents and family members each spring asking about what they can do to maximize the experience of competition and enjoyment for a child who loves to play baseball – and whose goal is to play baseball beyond high school…at the next level. Long-time associate and respected coach Mark Brunswick has taken the time to share some of his own insights on the question. Brunswick is a former professional player, successful high school coach, and sports administrator and we thought you’d find his thoughts on baseball then, and baseball now, to be helpful.)
By Mark Brunswick for Press Pros Magazine
Dateline: Baseball, 2026…As I write this article, I am putting 40 years of past knowledge into this article to help future families and athletes to really look for the most important things a coach and college coach are looking for in their program. This article is to help people to help their athletes with their passion in life. All is good in the neighborhood if you do what is right.
VPP proudly sponsors Ohio State baseball on Press Pros Magazine.com.
Being a professional athlete and a coach and player for more than 40 years, I have lived through the old school, new school and is the coach a player’s coach phrases. We have negotiated about what is right and what is fun in deciding what is right and wrong in the sports arena. We need to get back to what is called ONE SCHOOL, which is the right school that does not waver on self-discipline, accountability and responsibility in the mentorship of the athlete. If an athlete has these three foundations along with their passion for sport, they will have success in their sport as well in their future in life. No excuses as these three foundations cannot be negotiated at any time in life. Please listen as these are the things coaches still look for as society has moved away from these foundations.
Past Athlete
Without mentioning, the past still had its problems and athletes still made choices they would like to have back. The things that come to mind even through choices that may have been wrong are that families, along with their coaches and teachers, still carried out mentorship in instilling the athlete with the three foundation pieces that would help give them the essential to be successful in their sport as well as in their life. We cannot get away from those foundations as they give the athlete structure in their daily lives. We cannot bypass in teaching these intangibles since the athlete is still growing and learning life skills.
I have witnessed many times the athlete that is very athletic but lacks the foundations will fall by the wayside and will not meet their potential in life. On the other hand, I have seen the athlete that is very average in athletic skill become very successful in sport and life because they have that stability in their life. Never let these intangibles be negated as they can be the key piece in a young person’s life. I have found that the parent and mentorship in the past allowed young lives to attain these foundations and be successful in life. Be mentors and supporters of young athletes as you will find out they will have more fun and will develop a great passion for the sport. Working hard and holding yourself accountable everyday will allow you to define the words student-athlete. Live for the day and let the future take care of itself. You carry out those foundations listed above; you will always be a winner in sport and life.
Present Athlete
It takes patience…Parents and support people, don’t be concerned if your athlete fails at times. Just be there during the trying times to encourage and remind them that baseball should be fun.
Today athletes carry more athleticism and more opportunities to be successful but the advancement and development in the game can be lacking. I feel that in some athletes work ethic, commitment and a desire to be a team is lacking. We need to refocus on the foundations and teach young athletes the successful way to go about things. Neglect in the foundations will guarantee many athletes will fall short of their passion and dreams. No handouts are given as hard work will do the talking for your future. No excuses in what may happen, as through failure many grow and learn.
Parents and support mentors, allow your athlete to fail at times. Be there for them in the trying times but allow them to grow in their journey in their sport. Being over the top will hurt the growth process of the athlete and many times will cause them to leave sport because of a lack of fun, and too much pressure put on them. Trust the process because as one major scout and recruiter told me, if you are good enough, they will find you. He went on to say, add hard work and the foundations to the athleticism of the athlete, you will have an athlete that can reach many goals in sport as well as in life.
Coaches and Recruiters
Unfortunately, society has moved away from the foundations which has allowed many athletes to fall short of their potential and their dreams. It does not match up with what coaches and recruiters truly are looking at in an athlete. I have been around some of the great coaches and recruiters in sport, and the intangibles are what separate them in starting or recruiting an athlete. If someone does not have those intangibles built into their personalities, many times the coach or recruiter will go elsewhere to find an athlete that does have that stability in their life. On top of that, the first thing they will look at is how they are doing in the classroom. I have met so many athletes that could have played at the college level, but neglecting the classroom has kept them from their dreams. Coaches and recruiters watch everything you may do, body language, attitude, team player and coachability. These are the separators and once they see this part of an individual personality, many times they will move on from this athlete. Work hard, stay committed and continue your journey and you will see dreams can be reached.
My Purpose for Sharing
Having been a part of sport for 40 plus years and being a draft pick of the New York Mets, I wanted to share a small platform of what I have learned over the years. Some people will listen, while some will not listen. But the key to getting noticed is striving to work hard and build on the necessary foundations for structure in life. Believe me, by staying true to yourself and doing what is right, you will find much success in what you do.
In closing, enjoy your time in high school. Do not go chasing scholarships, for if you are good enough the scholarships will start to chase you. We are trending to want to do the opposite, which is taking the fun out of the athletes’ experience. Feel free to reach out to me if you need advice. I am more than happy to help. I have seen both worlds of the athlete. I am hoping we can move the needle back to the ONE SCHOOL again!! Please it is the key.
Mark A Brunswick
Retired Teacher/Coach
Wilson Health/Orthopedics proudly sponsors the best in area sports and the Ohio State Buckeyes on Press Pros.