Figure It Out, Meat: Why Trust Builds Better Players at MADE Baseball
Originally published in 2020, this post has been refreshed to reflect MADE’s evolved mission and insights in 2025.
At MADE Baseball, few phrases carry more meaning than:
“Figure it out, meat.”
It might sound brash at first, but make no mistake — it’s a badge of honor.
It’s something a MADE coach says only after a foundation of respect and relationship has been built with a player. It’s not shouted out on day one — it’s earned.
When a coach says, “Figure it out, meat,” what they’re really saying is:
“I believe in you. You’ve got this. You don’t need me to hold your hand anymore.”
And that belief is powerful.
If you’re interested in how we foster this mindset across all programs, explore our Private Baseball Lessons at MADE designed to develop player independence from day one.
Trust First. Over-Coaching Last.
After we’ve coached a player and made sure they understand the objective, we step back.
We resist the temptation to repeat instructions over and over again — because doing so often becomes noise, not support.
Ask yourself:
“When my boss repeats the same instructions over and over, do I feel trusted — or annoyed?”
Players feel the same way. Especially young athletes.
They need time to process, experiment, and figure it out for themselves — which is part of why the MADE Mindset philosophy is such a core part of our training.
The Power of Patient Trust
When we trust a player — whether a 7-year-old beginner or a 17-year-old prospect — we’re giving them a greater gift than instruction:
We’re giving them ownership.
When players know you believe in them, they naturally want to rise to the challenge.
They connect with a deeper internal motivation, one that no amount of over-coaching can create.
But when coaches micromanage every move?
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Players tighten up.
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Confidence shrinks.
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Joy fades.
At MADE, we want the opposite:
Free, confident, motivated athletes who love the process of learning and playing.
If you’re curious about the simple philosophies we share with our players every day, check out the 5 MADEisms Every Young Athlete Should Learn.
Pump the Brakes on Over-Coaching
Trust me — I’ve been there.
Early in my coaching career, I often gave too much.
Too much talking. Too much correcting. Too much technical overload.
Why?
Because I cared. And sometimes when you care deeply, it’s hard to step back.
But players — especially young ones — don’t need a firehose of information.
They need:
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A clear expectation
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A safe space to make mistakes
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Gentle, timely reminders
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And most importantly… fun
If we flood players with constant corrections (“Get your elbow up! Step this way! Grip it tighter!”)…they burn out.
They disengage.
They stop trusting their own instincts.
Less Is More. Always.
At MADE, we set clear expectations upfront, we revisit them consistently, and we give our players room to breathe, to try, and to figure it out. That’s where the real growth happens.
Know a Coach or Parent Who Needs to Hear This?
👉 Share this post with them.
Sometimes, the best coaching is knowing when to say less — and trust more. Maybe someday, after a solid coaching relationship is built, they’ll hear those words too:
“Figure it out, meat.”
And they’ll understand it’s the highest compliment we can give.
— Coach Isaac
