Ken Griffey Sr and Ken Griffey Jr. Vladimir Guerrero and Vlad Jr. Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds. Why is it that so many high level performers have sons that become as good, or better, than they were? Is it 100% genetics? Could Griffey Jr have rolled out of bed and been a hall of famer? Obviously, the answer to that is no. Genetics, no doubt, play a role in these instances where we see father and son perform the same activities at a high level. However, it can’t ALL be genetics. There has to be something else that causes this phenomenon. And, more importantly, there has to be something we can take away and apply in our own situations to help improve ourselves as players. What is that something? Glad you asked.
Action Observation
Action observation is the process of one individual observing another perform a complex task, such as swinging a baseball bat, and then using that example as the basis for his or her own performance of that same task. This can also loosely be called imitation learning. We will refer to it as action observation here because that is what the article we will be looking at called it.
So, action observation, boiled down into it’s most basic form, would be a baby, observing all the adults around him walking, and then using those examples to eventually get up and walk himself. Sure it’s going to take many attempts and many trials, but he sees the examples of those around him doing it, which makes him believe he can do it as well. And, even more importantly, he will likely walk with very similar movements as those he is observing. I’m sure we’ve all seen this: Dad and son standing next to each other, in the exact same posture, without even realizing it. We become the examples we are presented with.
The Study
The study we will be looking at is titled: “Action Observation Versus Motor Imagery In learning a Complex Motor Task: a short review of literature and a kinematics study”. This study looked at whether actually observing someone perform an action is better for your performance than trying to imagine yourself performing that action through mental imagery. A quote from the study:
“The discovery of mirror neurons [25,54], first identified in monkey premotor area F5, has revealed a mechanism in the brain which allows one to match an observed action with its motor counterpart in the observer’s brain”.
Essentially, when we see an action being performed, we are able to activate areas in our brain that would be activated if we were to perform the action ourselves. And just so you know this doesn’t only happen in monkeys, but is relevant to us as well:
“A system similar to the one described in the monkey has also been found in humans. A number of neurophysiological studies have shown that the observation of object-directed, as well as non object-directed actions, modulates the activity of those motor areas, normally involved in the actual execution of the observed actions, while brain imaging experiments have shown that during the observation of both object-directed and non object-directed actions different sectors of the premotor and parietal cortex are recruited [2,10,15,21,24,26,30,33,43,62] . In normal adults it has been shown that the activation of the MNS during action observation is related to the experience the observer has of the observed actions [3,8] . This seems to suggest that the development of the MNS runs in parallel with the motor experience of the observer. On the other hand classical studies do suggest that human newborns, only a few days old, are able to resonate with other adult individuals actions [45] , and infants less than two years old can pre- dict other peoples action goals [46] thus suggesting that the brain is endowed with a mechanism subserving a close coupling between action observation and execution from early development”.
In less complex terms, we learn by watching other people.
The Power of Observation
Going back to our original question, the sons of professional baseball players likely benefit in several ways from observing the actions of their fathers:
- Belief: Guys like Vlad Jr grow up in a culture where becoming a professional baseball player is normal. If dad did it, why can’t I? To many of us, who didn’t grow up in that environment, becoming a professional player becomes more of a stretch. We have to continually remind ourselves that it is possible and that it can become our normal, instead of being our abnormal. These are two very different perspectives that we often forget about. For them, being a pro ball player is normal. For us, it’s not. Achieving what is perceived to us as “normal” is much more likely than achieving something we perceive as “abnormal”.
- Imitation and motor patterning: Just like the example of the son and dad standing with the same posture, if you grow up watching your dad, who is a professional baseball player, swing or throw at a high level everyday, you will come away with a much different idea of what that movement is versus someone who’s father only played through high school. And that is not a knock on anyone, it’s simply stating the fact that the actual movements the two fathers’ perform in their swing or throw will be much different and that is the model the son is building their own swing or throw off of. The better the model, the better the resulting swing or throw will be. Hence the advantage the pro ball players’ son will have, without even knowing it.
How Does This Apply to Me?
Since most of us will not grow up with professional baseball players as our models, we must look at other ways to bring about the same effect, as early and as soon as possible. First, we must disregard those who say becoming a professional baseball player is impossible. Again, people are the result of their experiences. If you don’t grow up around people that know people who are professional baseball players, they will look at it as an unachievable goal, because they don’t have any references as to how it may be achievable. So, force yourself into environments that make it seem achievable. Whether that be a training facility, reaching out to current professional baseball players, or continually viewing content yourself that pounds that belief into your mind. I do think your training facility/culture here is important. Whether that be an actual training building where you get your work in, or connecting with someone remotely, you need to have a group of people that believe it’s possible and that provide an example for you. There are levels. People that have achieved or seen others achieve the goal of professional baseball are at a higher level than you if you do not have that. They will help bring you up to their level.
Secondly, we need to watch examples that will be beneficial in our actual motor learning/programming. Remember earlier when I said specific areas of the brain light up when we watch someone perform a complex task? We want the correct areas of our brain to light up and to light up with the correct sequencing. Again, a couple different ways to do that: Train at a facility that has professional baseball players to provide you with that example. Just being around high level movers will influence your own movement as you’ll pick small stuff up from them both consciously and unconsciously. Secondly, if you don’t have access to that type of facility, watch video. We are very lucky in this internet age to have high quality access to any high level swing or throw you could ever imagine. Use it to your advantage! Watch video for 5 minutes before you go to bed (with the blue light off of course), watch it for 5 minutes before you train, watch it when you get up. Continually remind yourself what it looks like to move at a high level and it will eventually begin rubbing off on you. And again, the earlier you can start, the better. So you young guys reading this, get on it right now. Movement patterns can be changed as you get older, but it becomes more difficult. The earlier you can learn to move well, the better.
Wrap-Up
To refresh: Sons of high level performers have a higher chance of success not only because of genetics, but also because they are provided with the belief that a high level of performance is achievable and they are blessed with high quality movement examples from a young age. Those of us that didn’t/don’t grow up in that situation need to substitute those things in different ways. Find a great training facility, surround yourself with people that are positive examples for you, watch video, etc. The biggest thing I want people to take away from this article is this: If you are truly serious about your goal of becoming a better baseball player, action and continually changing and leveling up circumstances is what will help you get there. Working out alone in your basement will only get you so far. Believe me, I learned that the hard way. Get out of your comfort zone. Force yourself to level up and be around people that are at the level you wish to be at. Don’t leave potential on the table!
That’s all for today. Have questions, comments, feedback? Leave them in a comment below or shoot me an email at brady@dacbaseball.com.