I have used the notion of simplexity in my professional work with players and coaches, in order to assist them in making sense of the simplicity and complexity of playing the game.
In one sense, this interaction of the simple with the complex is what baseball is all about.
Basically, simplexity is a combination of the words, simplicity and complexity. The term recognizes that the simple and the complex occur in a dynamic relationship with one another. The simple and the complex occur before the game when getting ready to compete; during the game, pitch to pitch; after the game when evaluating performance; and at other times away from the ballpark.
Simplexity reflects interactions between the process of playing the game one pitch at a time; the outcomes and expectations of others such as coaches, scouts, and the media; and the larger school and community contexts in which the game is embedded.
The Value of a Simplexity Perspective
Simplexity may have value for you as a coach. This may be the case since the coaching and encouraging of players to execute, no matter what the competitive level of play, is simple, yet complex. This is a fact of baseball life at the professional, collegiate, secondary, and youth levels.
In this regard, consider a professional baseball player: This individual is embedded in an environment which is quiet complex (e.g., contracts, agents, travel, expectations of the front office). However, within that complex context, baseball players also have a simple task of execution---- pitch by pitch, play by play, inning by inning, game in and game out. However, they are preparing, competing, and executing in a backdrop that go beyond the immediate time frame, which, therefore, makes things complex.
Likewise, think about a young baseball player, one who is just learning the sport. This youngster also is involved in a dynamic relationship of the complex (e.g., school, family, friends, and rules of the sport), with the simple (e.g., seeing the ball and making contact with it).
Without doubt, no matter at what the level of competitive play, a good coach will strive to make sure that the complex is recognized, while the simple is stressed, not only for the individual player but also for their team.
Although admitting my bias, a great example of baseball manager who has been able to recognize and balance the simple with the complex for individual major league players and teams is Terry Francona, Cleveland Indians Manager. For example, during our run to the World Series in 2016, Tito, as he is known to us, was outstanding at making sure that each player had a daily plan that was clear and basic, while also talking to the players about a range of media and other complex demands that were of concern to them in the post-season environment.
In contrast to a major league baseball manager, I also observed the same quest for balancing the complex with the simple with the baseball coach of one of my grandchildren. In essence and in a smaller way, this coach did very similar as things as Tito did, albeit on a smaller developmental scale, with five and six year olds.
Reflecting back long ago to my own experiences as a high school and college baseball coach, I wish I had done a better job of balancing the simple and the complex with my players and teams.
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