A QB Trainer Is Like Your Favorite Pizza

I’ve never been to New York City. But people from NYC certainly don’t hesitate to tell me how great their NY style pizza is compared to everywhere else, especially Chicago. 

I’ve lived in Chicago for over 20 years now and have had my share of pizza in the city and surrounding suburbs. In Chicago we have two main styles of pizza. We have our own thin crust style, which varies in taste, thickness, texture, etc. depending on where it’s from. The other style, Chicago Deep Dish, is something that first-time Chicago visitors insist on experiencing just like seeing the Bean, a game at Wrigley Field or a walk down the Mag Mile. It’s a staple on the Chicago tour.  

Other styles I’ve come across are Detroit, St. Louis and California style pizza. 

But this article isn’t necessarily about different styles of pizza. It’s about private QB training and how the options working with a QB trainer are just like different types of pizza. 

There are all different types and styles of QB training. And the one you decide to go with as a parent and/or athlete depends on what you prefer, just like thin crust versus deep dish. Some parents and athletes prefer to train with a guy who played at the highest level. Some could care less about where they played and would rather train with someone who develops their son the best. Some care more about the number of QB’s who participate in a training setting, i.e. private versus group. Some value the referral they received from another parent or player more than anything else. And others prefer other factors or even a combination of the factors we touched on above.  

Trainers are also like pizza. Some are really good at what they do. And some simply are not. Trainers can be old school traditional style like a classic pepperoni. Some get a little too fancy with drills that include multiple hurdles, excessive cones and running in circles, much like adding pineapple to pizza. Don’t do it. Some trainers use exaggerated playing and coaching backgrounds, like adding stuffed cheese to the crust. Why do that? Be genuine.     

There can be a special bond between trainer and trainee. I know for me personally, the athletes I connect with most are the ones I want to see more often because they make my day better from start to finish. And that has NOTHING to do with their talent level. Although, truth be told, many of the higher level QB’s I train are also the ones who brighten up the facility and bring an energy that is infectious and one that people want to be around. 

Regardless who you decide to train with, the most important aspect of selecting a trainer is to make sure you try different types and styles until you ultimately settle on the one who fits YOU the best. Just like that favorite style of pizza and pizza place that you look forward to enjoying.