If I was a betting man, I would wager that you are expecting to read four great skill building drills that you could use in your next practice to better develop your players. In some way you would be right, but I am going to offer you four different coaching techniques that will build you a championship caliber baseball team without ever picking up a baseball. One of the mistakes I had made both as a player and a coach, was that practicing different drills would make me a better baseball player. Although to a certain extent that is true, the real power in getting better lies within your approach and how to persevere.
Over this past weekend I received a heart felt text from a parent of a player who I have coached over the last few years. She explained that her son would be giving a speech in one his classes this week about what he had learned on the baseball field. It wasn?t about a special hitting drill or technique that had given him more power, it was what he learned about how to approach something with the right mindset and goals in mind. It was about how to hold yourself to a higher standard, perseverance, and determination. You see, as coaches we have the distinct opportunity to help young players understand success and how to achieve it. Of course we can give them the drills and instruction, but the real connection lies within our ability to develop and impact the intangibles like confidence, and motivation.
The next time you begin a practice or a game, I want you to take a good look around. Players come from all backgrounds and situations. Some are poor, some are rich, great home, broken home, but they are all there to learn about something they enjoy. Unfortunately for many coaches, they forget that the primary reason players play the game is because it is fun and they want to get better. As a result, the average retirement age of baseball players is 12 years old. Player?s are left with such a bad experience, that they don?t want to continue playing a game they once loved.
I am not solely blaming the coaches of the team. I have seen the politics, the parents, and they pressure that these kids are put under each and every practice and game. Just turn on the television and you will see parents attacking parents or a parent verbally assaulting a coach on the news. Unfortunately, it becomes about the parents and the rules of the league rather than helping young baseball players succeed. I understand not wanting a player to be left behind, or be the last one off the bench. But if you take a step back and really focus on the kids, you?ll find out that the thing they want to do most, is to be appreciated for what they have to offer and have fun with their teammates.
The fact of the matter is, there simply are not enough educational programs out there to truly help facilitate the learning experience for young players and inexperienced coaches. They are left to fend on their own to figure out what is best for the team and how to keep the parents happy. The pressure comes from all angles and it can be difficult to take a step back and realize that the only thing that matters is the impact that coming to the ball park has everyday on the kids.
So if you are fortunate enough to be involved in with today?s players, I want you to always keep few things in the forefront of you mind to make your life easier. First, your number one baseball coaching goal is to make sure that all of the kids have fun regardless of the skill level. It is great to win, it really is. But just because you are on a winning team doesn?t mean you had a good experience. I have seen countless kids get shoved to the way side while others get all of the attention. Each player deserves just as much attention as the next. Make sure that happens and give just as much instruction based feedback to every player.
Number two, you are not just teaching baseball, you are teaching life. Integrity, honesty, perseverance, determination, facing adversity, etc. These are the real lessons to be learned on a baseball field, not some unique batting technique or fielding lesson. It is how you work through those lessons to get better that will stay with your player. If you teach your player how to meet the challenge and not quit when things get tough, no matter how skilled your player is, I guarantee he will love coming to ball park every single day.
The third baseball coaching tip, hold every player to the same standard. Whether it be you most skilled player, or the guy last of the bench, if they commit the same crime, they do the same time. Often time?s better players get preferential treatment. This is a sure fire way to create a feeling of resentment on the part of your players and tear your team apart. Not only will they not trust you, they won?t consider you a person they should confide in. Every player is equal regardless of the situation.
The fourth baseball coaching tip for you today, players play the game, not the coaches. You are an authority figure and someone to be respected yes, you are not the one swinging the bat or fielding the ground ball. Put yourself in your player?s shoes, what would you want to do or how would your react in his situation. Take the time to explain situational baseball and never make a decision based on skill level. Make good baseball decisions. If you have ever bunted with your four-hitter, or bunted a kid because you don?t think he is skilled enough to get a hit, you are not making good baseball decisions. Let the kids play and use your coaching authority when it makes sense.
If you put these four ideas/principles into practice, I guarantee you will see a change in yourself and in your players. Your will see new life in the approach of your players and they will begin working harder and be more disciplined. You do not need a team full of all-stars to win baseball games, you simply need a team full of players who love to come to ballpark everyday to get better. It is your job as baseball coach to inspire them to do so.
Over this past weekend I received a heart felt text from a parent of a player who I have coached over the last few years. She explained that her son would be giving a speech in one his classes this week about what he had learned on the baseball field. It wasn?t about a special hitting drill or technique that had given him more power, it was what he learned about how to approach something with the right mindset and goals in mind. It was about how to hold yourself to a higher standard, perseverance, and determination. You see, as coaches we have the distinct opportunity to help young players understand success and how to achieve it. Of course we can give them the drills and instruction, but the real connection lies within our ability to develop and impact the intangibles like confidence, and motivation.
The next time you begin a practice or a game, I want you to take a good look around. Players come from all backgrounds and situations. Some are poor, some are rich, great home, broken home, but they are all there to learn about something they enjoy. Unfortunately for many coaches, they forget that the primary reason players play the game is because it is fun and they want to get better. As a result, the average retirement age of baseball players is 12 years old. Player?s are left with such a bad experience, that they don?t want to continue playing a game they once loved.
I am not solely blaming the coaches of the team. I have seen the politics, the parents, and they pressure that these kids are put under each and every practice and game. Just turn on the television and you will see parents attacking parents or a parent verbally assaulting a coach on the news. Unfortunately, it becomes about the parents and the rules of the league rather than helping young baseball players succeed. I understand not wanting a player to be left behind, or be the last one off the bench. But if you take a step back and really focus on the kids, you?ll find out that the thing they want to do most, is to be appreciated for what they have to offer and have fun with their teammates.
The fact of the matter is, there simply are not enough educational programs out there to truly help facilitate the learning experience for young players and inexperienced coaches. They are left to fend on their own to figure out what is best for the team and how to keep the parents happy. The pressure comes from all angles and it can be difficult to take a step back and realize that the only thing that matters is the impact that coming to the ball park has everyday on the kids.
So if you are fortunate enough to be involved in with today?s players, I want you to always keep few things in the forefront of you mind to make your life easier. First, your number one baseball coaching goal is to make sure that all of the kids have fun regardless of the skill level. It is great to win, it really is. But just because you are on a winning team doesn?t mean you had a good experience. I have seen countless kids get shoved to the way side while others get all of the attention. Each player deserves just as much attention as the next. Make sure that happens and give just as much instruction based feedback to every player.
Number two, you are not just teaching baseball, you are teaching life. Integrity, honesty, perseverance, determination, facing adversity, etc. These are the real lessons to be learned on a baseball field, not some unique batting technique or fielding lesson. It is how you work through those lessons to get better that will stay with your player. If you teach your player how to meet the challenge and not quit when things get tough, no matter how skilled your player is, I guarantee he will love coming to ball park every single day.
The third baseball coaching tip, hold every player to the same standard. Whether it be you most skilled player, or the guy last of the bench, if they commit the same crime, they do the same time. Often time?s better players get preferential treatment. This is a sure fire way to create a feeling of resentment on the part of your players and tear your team apart. Not only will they not trust you, they won?t consider you a person they should confide in. Every player is equal regardless of the situation.
The fourth baseball coaching tip for you today, players play the game, not the coaches. You are an authority figure and someone to be respected yes, you are not the one swinging the bat or fielding the ground ball. Put yourself in your player?s shoes, what would you want to do or how would your react in his situation. Take the time to explain situational baseball and never make a decision based on skill level. Make good baseball decisions. If you have ever bunted with your four-hitter, or bunted a kid because you don?t think he is skilled enough to get a hit, you are not making good baseball decisions. Let the kids play and use your coaching authority when it makes sense.
If you put these four ideas/principles into practice, I guarantee you will see a change in yourself and in your players. Your will see new life in the approach of your players and they will begin working harder and be more disciplined. You do not need a team full of all-stars to win baseball games, you simply need a team full of players who love to come to ballpark everyday to get better. It is your job as baseball coach to inspire them to do so.
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