Baseball Training Complex

Seadog, I'll start in reverse order.

Things found lacking:
When a kid walks out of a complex after a lesson and after Dad has shelled out the fee, both the kid and the Dad should feel positive there is a goal to achieve, that the goal is attainable, and that there is a bond between the kid and the instructor in achieving that goal. He should feel your complex has a special baseball friendly atmosphere with class that caters and promotes the game of baseball which is why he continually wants to return. Like a gym for boxers, your complex is for ballplayers. If the customer is a talented high school player help them make connections to colleges and the bigs. Provide baseball friendly stimuli in the complex to them such as library of books, magazines, movies, a station to serve as a TV/VCR/camera/video lounge area while we wait for our lesson, baseball pictures should be on every wall, multi channel TV's should be available in several locations showing games, when there are no games baseball music should be played until it drives the instructors nuts. Got any memorabilia? What about a training / conditioning room? Very important are signs that accent the positive especially local successes, accomplishments, baseball stories, or reflections of baseball humor, baseball bulletin information boards, occasionally bring in guest instructors, hold breif 30-60 minute clinics ons some aspect of the game, have radar guns available, demonstrate training aids, and most of all hire a friendly organizing secretary that returns phone calls. All that gives it the look and feel of baseball instead of a gimmick. Remember, the game is mental and talking baseball rehearses, reinforces, and excites kids into the game. Make your complex a place for people like to come to talk and experience baseball. Also, let them hang and get hooked. Where I live the local baseball card shops sell showdown cards and provide a small area for kids to meet other players for a game of showdown. They talk baseball, stats, and all about their favorite players. Younger kids under 13 love that. For adults your complex is about baseball, so you might want to provide coaches and players with special training aids they may be seeking. Work with local rec leagues, competative leagues, youth thru adult teams, and high schools. Let them know who you are and what you and your staff can provide within reasonable limits.

Baseball Olympics:
I'm lost. Are we talking a variety of friendly challenges scored as competitions in fielding, hitting, pitching, baserunning like olympic gymnastics?

Hitting leagues:
Your complex really is not well suited for this. A rotunda or bubble works best for hitting leagues. Without seeing distance and placement of a hit it gets very subjective not even close to what happens in a game.

With the boom in competative baseball, teams and individual players are willing to make your complex their home for continuous baseball workouts and training. They are looking for an advanced curriculum about hitting/pitching taught by a variety of experienced instructors with differing styles (Splitter makes a good point about variety). Some may teach Lau, some Williams, some may be great at drills and muscle training. Look for instructors that have special skills to offer to the customer. One school like yours that I particularly like in our area has an experienced instructor who does an 8 week clinic once a year just for grooming kids interested in becoming catchers. Forty minutes away I have even heard of a former Green Bay Packer named Don BeBee who if my memory is correct was a speedy receiver or punt returner who now runs the Don BeBee "school of speed." I know a local talented high school player who attended and took a 1/2 second off his time to 1st base learning how to run. What about vision training? Classes on mental conditioning and visualization?

I think you might want to ask the owner and yourself if your going to be a specialized baseball academy or just another general public baseball facility where I stop, buy 6 tokens, hit, then go to my game. Like you said it is not about what gimmick should I use. Provide a baseball service, educate, grow steadily, build, and expand your customer base without overwhelming them or your staff. Maintain and improve the quality of the instruction. Over time word of mouth will keep those cages filled with customers who have sought you out.

I recently watched the movie "Pastime". Give to the game and the game will give it back to you. Run your complex for the love of the game and you will get back the love and money you invest. Wish I was in your shoes. Good luck.