Henry blog: Baseball camps put athletes on center stage

I hope that you had a wonderful holiday weekend. Christmas could not have gone any better for me. It was a weekend of family, food, fun and let's not forget the gifts. I am truly blessed to have a family that spoils me and my wife, Laura Lee.

However, it did not take me long to realize my Christmas mornings will no longer be the same. Far from it.

Our future baby boy, who is not due until April, made out like a bandit. Not that I was counting, but he received just as many presents as me and Laura Lee. It is going to take this whole upcoming year to prepare myself for next Christmas when our boy steals all the thunder and gets spoiled rotten by his wonderful grandparents and great grandparents.

Honestly Santa Claus, we can't wait.

The excitement of the holiday season doesn't end with Christmas for me, though. I am pumped to be back at Dick Howser Stadium on Mike Martin Field this week working the Mike Martin Baseball Camps. It's actually the first time I will be back on the field with Coach Martin since my senior season at FSU in 2007.

I've always enjoyed (baseball) camping.

Baseball camps are great for players of all ages, and they never get old. Younger players can use the camps to learn the fundamentals, and older guys can continue to master the fundamentals while also attracting the attention of college recruiters and pro scouts.

Baseball is a game of repetition. The best players are usually the guys who can repeat their mechanics, whether it be hitting or pitching. That is one of the main differences between minor-league players such as myself and big-league players. I am still trying to learn to repeat my delivery on each pitch, whereas the big-league guys can usually do it in their sleep.

I remember as a high school player counting down the days to the FSU Holiday camps. I looked forward to learning, competing and, most importantly, being on that field. I would stand on what is now Mike Martin Field during those camps and tell myself, "You will play here one day." That was my goal.

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I looked at all the other players in that camp, and I bet most were saying the same thing, too. They wanted to play at FSU and this was their chance to make an impression. It actually sparked a fire in my belly. That is the competition factor of the camp. Not only are you learning from one of the best coaching staffs in college baseball, but your also competing for their attention.

When I attended FSU's Pitcher/Catcher camp my senior year at Florida High in 2003, little did I know the camp featured a handful of future FSU pitchers in DiCarlo Thompson, Tyler Chambilss, Michael Hyde, Brian Chambers and myself.

The Pitcher/Catcher camp is two days and it all builds up to the final day ? a bullpen session in front of the coaches. We worked through stations learning different things like mechanics, pitch grips, holding runners on base, PFP (pitcher fielding practice), video analysis and a tour of the facility on the first day and a half.

Touring the clubhouse and seeing the "Tradition Room" was like Christmas morning. Seeing the uniforms hanging in the lockers, walking by the All-American plaques and reading about the teams that participated in the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., was jaw dropping. And to think this was prior to the stadium's renovation at that time.

I can't even imagine what kids think of the clubhouse and Tradition Room now. The word "unreal" probably doesn't do it justice. Every day I got dressed for a game or practice I tried to soak it in. In my five years of professional baseball, I have not been in a clubhouse better than the one at FSU. And I know many former FSU players in and out of pro ball agree.

That's one of many reasons why players like myself wanted to make it count when we attended FSU's camp.

The last half day for pitchers was what it was all about ? the bottom of the ninth inning. Pitchers got the opportunity to throw a bullpen with then-pitching coach, Jamey Shouppe, standing behind you, and Mike Martin with assistant coach Mike Martin Jr. standing behind the catcher. This was center stage.

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I can remember it like yesterday. Talk about some juices and nerves flowing, knowing deep down that FSU was my dream school and this was my chance to make an impression. I am pretty sure I was more nervous throwing that bullpen than I was actually pitching for FSU against Miami or Florida. I wanted to throw the ball the best I possibly could to grab Coach Martin's attention.

Talk about role reversal. This week as a coach I have the opportunity to watch players probably experience those same feelings. It is going to be an honor and so much fun to help out Chip Baker, FSU's director of baseball operations and camp coordinator, and Coach Martin. After everything they did for me while I attended FSU, this is the least I could do and I appreciate the invite.

For high school-aged players, camps such as FSU's holiday camps feature plenty of competition. That's simply the nature of the sport. For younger youth players, it's more about having fun, learning the game and being part of something special.

Last week, my buddies Jeremy Haynes (Atlanta Braves organization) and Lorenzo Cain (Kansas City Royals outfielder) teamed to hold the annual Jerald Haynes Game for Gifts Camp in Madison County. Haynes used donations from the camp, which he named this year to honor his deceased father, to purchase Christmas toys for hospitalized children. There was also Next Level Baseball's National Select Camp at Tallahassee Community College that featured instruction from professional scouts.

I always knew I wanted to hold some kind of camp in Tallahassee. Four years ago, David Ross, a catcher with the Atlanta Braves, and I created a camp designed for both parents and players. Our fourth annual Father-Son Camp, scheduled for Jan. 14 at Chiles High School, gives fathers (or moms) the opportunity to participate in the camp along side their son.

Our goal is to teach dad and son the fundamentals of the game so they can continue to practice together, not to mention experience that priceless father/son bonding that takes place on the field.

Camps, from youth to high school, can be an instrumental ? and important ? experience in a player's development. For high-school aged players looking to make an impression this week at FSU's Holiday Camps, remember you might never know who is watching you on the field so give it your best at all times!

I hope that 2011 ends on a high note for everyone. A Champs Sports Bowl victory over the Irish would sure help that out! Hope you have a safe New Year's weekend and a blessed 2012. Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing more next week.

? Bryan Henry, a former All-American pitcher at FSU, is entering his sixth season in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Henry is writing a weekly column for The Tallahassee Democrat.

Source: http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20111228/SPORTS/112280323/1002/RSS01

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