Over the years, I have learned some very valuable information about coaching young players on the baseball field. I learned that coaching really isn?t about teaching baseball, and that players take more away from the game then coaches ever will. As a young player, I learned a lot about how to hit, how to field, run the bases, etc. But the things I learned the most were traits like determination, perseverance, and what it means to be a part of a team. Fortunately for myself, I had extremely caring and knowledgeable coaches along the way that showed me how to approach the game, not just play the game.
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.
Take a good look around you next time you are at baseball practice, players come from all different backgrounds and skill levels. On top of that, they all play for different reasons. But they all come to have fun, get better, and be a part of something special. This is precisely why you have to give them something special and unique to be part of. Unfortunately, on a large scale this doesn?t happen which is why the average retirement age of baseball players is 12 years old.
The blame is not solely on the coaches in the community. Parents, rules, and regulations all play a part the baseball experience. I have even seen a player that was told he was too good to participate on a local sports team. Are you kidding me? It?s sad to say, but youth sports has become about politics instead of helping young kids establish positive attributes that can help them long after they are done playing the game. Don?t get me wrong, I am all for protecting kids, but not at the expense of compromising the integrity of the game.
I heard an alarming statistic early on in my playing career. The average retirement age of baseball players is 12 years old. I want you to think about that for a second, 12 years old. My guess is that young players stop playing the game because they have had a bad experience, not because they don?t like to play. I am not placing blame on any one person, but what I am saying is that we need to do a better job of communicating with our players and be aware that we are in a position to make a huge impact on young minds.
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.
The second baseball coaching tip, you are teaching more than becoming a great baseball player, you are teaching about how to become successful in life. If you ask any player what he learned on the baseball field, I can guarantee it will not be some great hitting drill or some amazing game he had. It will be about discipline, integrity, sportsmanship, facing his fears, etc. Do your best to teach your players those attributes along with learning to become a better player. Build their character along with their skill.
Number three, make every player accountable for their actions. If the best player on the team is late to practice, punish the team. If the least skilled player is late to practice, punish the team. No one player is subject to special treatment. I don?t care if it is a big game, sit players down if they have done something out of character. Players respect coaches who treat the team as a team. This will force your players to see the true value of the person next to them and care about each other as people and teammates.
Number four, let your players play the game. If you have ever made a player bunt, because you didn?t feel he was skilled enough to hit, you are not letting your players play the game. Make baseball decisions, not skill level decisions. Teach your kids the importance of situational baseball and why certain decision need to be made and when. And no, if a player asks why a decision was made, ?Because I am the coach? is not a good answer. Communicate with your players so they know what liberties they have as a player and what decisions is best if you control.
I hope these coaching tips have been helpful to you today. If you put these concepts into practice, I guarantee your approach to coaching will change. When you want the best for you players, regardless of who is watching on the outside, you will begin making an impact that will stay with your players for life. They will appreciate your commitment, and will work harder to maximize their potential. At the end of the day, winning baseball games comes down to the coach?s ability to inspire his players to reach new heights.
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.
Take a good look around you next time you are at baseball practice, players come from all different backgrounds and skill levels. On top of that, they all play for different reasons. But they all come to have fun, get better, and be a part of something special. This is precisely why you have to give them something special and unique to be part of. Unfortunately, on a large scale this doesn?t happen which is why the average retirement age of baseball players is 12 years old.
The blame is not solely on the coaches in the community. Parents, rules, and regulations all play a part the baseball experience. I have even seen a player that was told he was too good to participate on a local sports team. Are you kidding me? It?s sad to say, but youth sports has become about politics instead of helping young kids establish positive attributes that can help them long after they are done playing the game. Don?t get me wrong, I am all for protecting kids, but not at the expense of compromising the integrity of the game.
I heard an alarming statistic early on in my playing career. The average retirement age of baseball players is 12 years old. I want you to think about that for a second, 12 years old. My guess is that young players stop playing the game because they have had a bad experience, not because they don?t like to play. I am not placing blame on any one person, but what I am saying is that we need to do a better job of communicating with our players and be aware that we are in a position to make a huge impact on young minds.
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.
The second baseball coaching tip, you are teaching more than becoming a great baseball player, you are teaching about how to become successful in life. If you ask any player what he learned on the baseball field, I can guarantee it will not be some great hitting drill or some amazing game he had. It will be about discipline, integrity, sportsmanship, facing his fears, etc. Do your best to teach your players those attributes along with learning to become a better player. Build their character along with their skill.
Number three, make every player accountable for their actions. If the best player on the team is late to practice, punish the team. If the least skilled player is late to practice, punish the team. No one player is subject to special treatment. I don?t care if it is a big game, sit players down if they have done something out of character. Players respect coaches who treat the team as a team. This will force your players to see the true value of the person next to them and care about each other as people and teammates.
Number four, let your players play the game. If you have ever made a player bunt, because you didn?t feel he was skilled enough to hit, you are not letting your players play the game. Make baseball decisions, not skill level decisions. Teach your kids the importance of situational baseball and why certain decision need to be made and when. And no, if a player asks why a decision was made, ?Because I am the coach? is not a good answer. Communicate with your players so they know what liberties they have as a player and what decisions is best if you control.
I hope these coaching tips have been helpful to you today. If you put these concepts into practice, I guarantee your approach to coaching will change. When you want the best for you players, regardless of who is watching on the outside, you will begin making an impact that will stay with your players for life. They will appreciate your commitment, and will work harder to maximize their potential. At the end of the day, winning baseball games comes down to the coach?s ability to inspire his players to reach new heights.
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