Teaching Your Baseball Team To Be Mentally Prepared For Each Game

Many coaches, especially at the youth level, do not connect the mental toughness and discipline of their team with a daily practice routine. For a team to develop confidence in each other and the philosophy of the coach, there are routines that must be followed each practice. The importance of practice preparation through a practice plan only takes a few minutes and will minimize time and confusion. Our practices follow the same routine everyday, but not all of our practices are the same. We also have the flexibility in our routine, stopping a few minutes to fix something that is not getting done right. Once our coaches and players learn our daily practice routine, there is not as much time spent on writing down the plans each day.

In fact, there are days where I will ask the assistant coaches before practice if we need to add anything. We have the flexibility to adapt and make input where needed. It surprises me to see practices that are slow and confusing. Players stand around and then need to guess at what is coming next. Coaches that lack order in practices set their teams up for failure in a game. For example, the first thing we do each day is take Batting Practice. Our varsity and junior varsity players often practice together, but our varsity team arrives first.

We spend forty (40) minutes with 15-16 varsity players taking a BP session. After BP, we take a 10-15 minute break before the junior varsity is ready to practice. Our varsity Bp involves a routine that our players quickly learn and makes the sessions go quick and smooth. For example, we usually hit in four groups of four batters.

One group is hitting on the field, one group is either in the cage or running bases (depending on our practice that day) and the other two groups are in the outfield. All four groups help to set up the field before we start with each group having a job such as setting up the hitting tunnel, setting up the pitching screen, mats, practice balls, etc. During practices, we also follow what I call "rituals" each day. Rituals are help train the team philosophy into our players and build a strong mind and self confidence. For example, during our BP sessions, we always start by hitting the frist round to the opposite field.

We have a philosophy that all players should feel comfortable in hitting to the opposite field. This is extremely important when the hitter is facing an over powering pitcher or when the hitter has two strikes and needs to protect the outside half of the plate.

Every first round of BP is always a round to the opposite field. If we have a younger player that forgets, our older players remind them really fast. We do not let up until each player is comfortable with opposite field hitting and it becomes a natural part of our practices.

I have other coaches that make comments that our hitters hit to the opposite field so well and are tough to strike out. They think we have some kind of secret or hitting guru, but I know it goes back to our philosophy and what we do every day to instill that in our players minds.

Sometimes it takes time, especially with young hitters that learn to pull the ball at early ages. Patience in helping them learn the importance of using the opposite field (and seeing their batting average climb) will give them confidence in themselves and in you as a coach. Help your teams to be mentally tough through a daily practice routine that avoids confusion and builds self confidence.

As Baseball Coach, Why You Should Never Overlook Any Player

As a baseball coach, I've always enjoyed watching my so called "superstars" perform. Hitting a "seed" up the gap or pitching six scoreless innings is lots of fun to watch. But I also enjoy a player who has been struggling and then overcomes any baseball struggles.

I've had my share of championships and have enjoyed them tremendously. After one of them, my 10-11-12 year old team doused me with many different colors of an athletic beverage. A mother of one of my players asked me, "Larry, doesn't that feel awful?" I was sticky, slimy and multi-colored from head to toe, including my glasses. I looked at her and replied "No not at all, it feels great." Being a very competitive baseball coach, what mattered to me was my kids were celebrating their championship victory.

OK, so we all enjoy winning and I'll put myself at the top of that list.

Now I want to switch gears for a moment and let's forget about winning, home runs, shutouts and all the other things our outstanding players accomplish.

I want to share with you a story about Nick, a 12 year old I coached back in 2002.

I knew Nick off the baseball field and knew he was a great kid with great parents. That's why I drafted him that year and in future years as well. We went to the batting cages about three weeks before our season began. I had never seen several of the kids swing a bat, including Nick. I had my clip board in hand to jot down notes as to what I need to work on with certain players. I watched Nick and after only one or two of his swings, I saw a glaring baseball hitting weakness. Nick had this "long and looping" swing and was over matched by every pitch. Constantly late on every pitch. I jotted this down, considering being short to the ball is one of the more important baseball tips on hitting. I mentioned this to Nick, a very intelligent kid. We went to the cages a couple of more times and he is still "long and looping" to the baseball. I'm not getting through to Nick.

Our regular season begins and Nick is struggling big time. After about ten games Nick is hitless for the year. Hitless as in 0-20 for the year. I'm coaching third base and Nick is up. He has a count of 2-2. For about the hundredth time, I call out to Nick, "come on Nick, short to the ball." I actually demonstrated it to him as if I were holding the bat.

Nick is a right-handed hitter and the pitcher throws him a fastball over the outside portion of the plate. With this lightning quick motion, Nick throws the head of the baseball bat directly at the ball. It almost looked like a quick karate chop. He hits a seed into the right-center field gap and gets a stand up double. I can't describe the great feeling I had. Remember, this is a great kid who had been severely struggling at the plate. Nick is standing on second base and looking toward home plate in his usual humble fashion. I called out to Nick. Before he completely turned his head toward me, I could already see a very, very huge grin. When we are making eye contact, I wave my right fist in the air at about head height. Nick, who is usually very conservative and on the quiet side, shakes his fist back at me so aggressively that I honestly thought he could have injured his right shoulder. Really.

Sure, I remember many details of baseball playoff victories and championship victories. Who got the big hits, who pitched great, who made game saving defensive plays, etc.

But I remember Nick's seed to right-center like it happened five minutes ago and not seven years ago. If you are into baseball coaching, maybe you have a baseball player similar to Nick on your team. Helping that player will be at least as rewarding as any baseball playoff or championship victory. And believe me, I love to win.

Once in a while, it's good to take a step back and not just focus on baseball tips on hitting, baseball pitching tips, baseball coaching drills etc. Occasionally looking at baseball from a different point of view is very healthy.

Top 10 secrets that other baseball coaches hope you dont read.

Being a baseball coach can be very rewarding. It is a big responsibility, though. You are basically the 'leader' of your team, and how you act will directly affect how the assistant coaches and the players act. There are some tips you can follow to make yourself a better baseball coach. These tips are:

1. Give everyone on your baseball team a responsibility. Make each and every person on the team feel if they don't do something, it won't get done! Any accomplishments made by a member of the team are shared by the whole team. (It is important to give recognition to individuals, though.)

2. Help everyone on your baseball team make good, informed decisions. As the baseball coach, you need to guide and teach the players to make the good decisions you want them to make. Don't bully the baseball team to do what you want them to do, just encourage them to do what is best.

3. Always treat your baseball team like they are winners! If your baseball players feel like winners, they will be more likely to win.

4. Let everyone on your baseball team know you care. Be interested in every individual baseball player. Encourage them and show them your support. Look at your behavior around your baseball team and evaluate it carefully.

5. Help your baseball team understand the meaning of playing with good sportsmanship! Good sportsmanship is just as important as winning. Make sure your baseball players understand the meaning of fair play from the moment you become their baseball coach.

6. Make sure you motivate and reward your baseball team players. Just knowing the basic skills and strategies of baseball won't necessarily make you a very good baseball coach. Being a baseball coach is truly more than just teaching these things. A really good coach can motivate a baseball team to do its best! Good baseball coaches understand and can empathize with the players' feelings of joy, anger, anxiety, frustration, and pride.

7. Don't make your baseball practices boring or repetitious. Shake up practices by playing games and teaching new techniques and plays. Since only 9 players can play at a time, make sure to keep the rest of the baseball team feeling useful by having them keep score or charting pitching and offence. Make sure to keep each baseball player feeling they have an important role in winning.

8. Make sure you have a plan for your baseball team. Just like a teacher needs to plan for the school year, a baseball coach needs a plan for the season. Having no plan is a sure road to failure.

9. Give your baseball team enough time to review things they have learned. Whether at the end of a practice or the end of a game, give your players time to review what has been learned and what could be improved upon. Keep the review as positive in tone as possible.

10. Make sure you communicate with your baseball team. If you cannot get across to your baseball team what you want, how will they know what to do?

Baseball Instruction Tips on Finding the Best Instructor

Baseball Instruction Tips on Finding the Best Instructor

Author: Jack Elliott

If you are dead set on becoming the best baseball player possible, there is no substitute for quality baseball instructor. A quality instructor can save you time, remove bad habits, and get you motivated to play your best ball ever.



In searching for a good instructor, I would focus on three things:



(1) baseball experience,

(2) individual coaching experience and

(3) reputation.



Baseball Experience

For baseball experience, you are looking for someone who has been around baseball for a number of years as either a player or a coach. Preferably you want someone with experience at the college level or higher. If you are trying to become a better pitcher, I would focus on someone with pitching experience. If it is hitting; then, focus on someone with this type of experience. The focus should be on whether you feel the person has enough experience to know what they are talking about.



Coaching Experience

For individual coaching experience, you are looking for someone who has experience training people your age. Ultimately, you want someone who is used to conveying his baseball knowledge to an individual audience and has the patience to convey his teachings to you.



Reputation

For reputation, I would ask for references or ask around to other baseball players to see who they really liked getting instruction from. This is important because if you believe that your instructor wants you to succeed and has helped others, it will go along way towards your acceptability of his teachings.



If you are having difficulty finding an appropriate instructor, contact local select baseball teams, adult baseball teams, batting cage businesses, Baseball equipment stores or professional baseball teams. Any of these teams, should have coaches who are knowledgeable in these areas or at least be able to point you in the right direction.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/baseball-articles/baseball-instruction-tips-on-finding-the-best-instructor-415482.html

About the Author:
Jack Elliott, is a former player and fan of the game. To read more tips and techniques like the ones in this article, please click here: http://www.baseballtrainingtechniques.com.

Four Steps to Becoming the Best Baseball Coach on and off the field.

These ideas are for managers, coaches, players, and parents. While this is written primarily for the beginner in baseball - the Little Leaguer - the reader will discover that the same fundamentals work in all branches of baseball. The right way to execute a play and the right attitude get the same results in the major leagues as in the Little Leagues, and the wrong way is just as inimical to good results.

The surprising thing is that so many major leaguers make mistakes - correctable mistakes - which proves that we shouldn't expect too much of boys and that we should always remember that it is human to err. At the same time, we should never lose sight of the opportunity to teach fundamentals of play and of constructive living.

It was Herbert Hoover who observed that team sports are the greatest training in morals, second only to religious faith, and one of the greatest stimulants of constructive joy in the world. We can provide this joy and be a part of it if we realize the potentialities of a program like Little League and make the most of them.

Know Your Players

If you get to know your boys, their physical limitations and capabilities, their environment and their personalities, you will able to help them grow and develop. Thus you may find a boy whose parents take little interest in him and who has limited ability. A little praise will give a big boost to his morale. Remember that boys have a short interest span. Vary your instruction program and keep it fun.

To serve youngsters well, you must know their needs, interests, and ability, and you must know your own limitations, too.

Attitudes Are Important

Perhaps the greatest opportunity comes to the adult leader in developing attitudes. Since his own attitude will be reflected by a majority of his players, it is important that he understand and instruct that the relationships with umpires, managers, coaches, and other players should be a friendly one.

Keep in mind that players should participate for the enjoyment and benefit they derive. Too often the tendency is to shower attention and awards on the talented lad and to ignore the benchwarmer. Achievement is its own reward, and a boy who hits a home run gets sufficient satisfaction from performing that feat. He doesn't need additional honors.

Too often on the playing field participants develop an escapist complex by blaming defeat on the officials, teammates, or "dirty work at the crossroads". Youngsters should learn that the best teams don't win all the time-even when they put forth their best efforts - and that the worst teams don't lose all the time. There are days when the pennant-winning team gets the bad bounces, all the close plays go against it, and "bloop" hits land between the fielders.

The team that continues to hustle from day to day, profits by its mistakes and learns not to repeat them, and learns to accept the fact that the "breaks" will even up over a season is the team with the right mental approach to the game. It has come to recognize that a majority of games can be decided by good or bad play on the field and by the type of leadership provided, and it conducts itself accordingly.

Develop All Players

You will build morale by developing all of your players - not just the nine or ten best boys. The day may come when several of your players are absent, and you will be in trouble if you haven't given your reserve players "game experience". Every manager can find a way to play all of his players at regular intervals, and he will have a stronger and happier team at the end of the season and in forthcoming seasons if he gives all of the boys a chance to play and develop.

The dividends for making these extra efforts to prepare for leadership come to the manager through the privilege of building better boys through baseball.

Coaching Your Own Child

Question: I have a stepson who is 13 and I coach his team. I feel that he is not giving me the respect of a head coach and he is not trying as hard as the other kids on the team. So my question is: How can I get him to try harder in practice and in the games? Also how can I get him to show me the respect as a regular head coach?

Question: I have two sons, 9 and 11. Both are active in sports and play well. My older son is somewhat on the small side; the 9-year old is big (he outweighs his older brother). Next year I will have the opportunity to have them play on the same baseball team - the first time this has happened. I am concerned that the younger brother may perform close to the level of his older brother, or better, and the effect this will have on my 11-year old. I can have them play on different teams. Your thoughts? (Ed. note: I couldn't tell whether this parent was actually coaching the children or not.)

Question: My son (11) has a coach that is always insulting the players on the team, such as selecting his son and two players on the team that never played before and telling the rest of the team they are the best players and the rest of the team can go jump in the lake. How does a parent approach this?


Do any of these questions sound familiar? Most volunteer youth sport coaches are coaching a team because their children are participating on that team. This, of course, creates the potential for the kinds of problems addressed in the three questions above.

While each of the questions is about a different specific problem, they have the common thread of coach-player relationship. In an ideal world all youth sport coaches would make sure that all members of their teams got to play about the same amount of time.

Fortunately, most coaches come close to accomplishing this goal. Unfortunately, some coaches "play favorites." That is, they play certain children most of the time and give other team members only occasional playing time. If one of the coach's "favorites" is a son or daughter, the problem is even more noticeable, particularly if the coach's child is not a skilled athlete.

Coaching your own child has the potential for creating an awkward situation. You may feel pressured by your child or spouse (if married) to play the child more than their fair share. After all, you are the coach, giving of your time, and so your child should benefit, right? Or, sometimes, in an effort to be fair to all the members of the team, you put extra pressure on your child to perform so no one can accuse you of favoring your own child.

How can you reduce or prevent problems when coaching your own child? Before you start coaching you must ask yourself: Can I treat my own child the same as I intend to treat all the other members of the team? Will you expect no more or no less from your own child?

You must also discuss the decision with your child. Your child must agree to these same expectations/conditions. They must understand that on the field, at the pool, or whatever, you are the coach and they are just another member of the team. They should not expect to be treated differently than any other member of the team, nor should they treat you differently as their coach.

If you and your child can abide by these conditions, then go ahead and be the coach. If there is any doubt in your mind or the child's mind, then you probably shouldn't. There is an alternative if you are not absolutely sure. Volunteer as an assistant coach first, sort of as a test, and see how that works out. Then go from there.

Regarding siblings playing on the same team, I think only the parents know their children well enough to make this decision. Ask the children how they feel about it. Would they prefer to play together or on different teams? Because either option may produce some type of conflict, the best answer is specific to your family.


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So You're The New Baseball Coach

So you're the new coach. Ok, now what?

Coaching a team sure seemed like a good idea, maybe even easy…until you started thinking and getting into it deeper. All those players, parents, the draft, practices…and those game decisions…ugh. Maybe coaching 3rd base might not be so easy... What were you thinking?

SOLUTIONS:

Rule #1 - Relax, It will work out! You'll probably even turn out to be good at it. How do I know? Why would I think this?

Well, first you are searching for information. Websites like ours with articles like this are sure signs you are at the very least trying, instead of sitting on your hands, ducking your head and relying on your Little League experiences from long ago. And because of…

Rule #2 - You will be organized… And yes, you will have the time to do it. As a matter of fact, there is an article that I strongly urge you to read. It is about how to organize your team and yourself and is titled, "Plan To Succeed."

Please finish this article before you jump there (I'll include the link at the end of this article).

Rule #3 - You will have fun! Look, the more fun you have, the more fun your kids will have…and yes, the opposite is true.

Personally, I think that some of the best things about youth baseball are the adults! I also think they are some of the worst things about youth baseball. I mean this because as we get older…we tend to forget how to have fun and play games. Life just does that to us. Here we are trying to solve problems on a baseball field like we do at work…UGH! We get tight, our kids play tight. We say ugly things in the dugout…well, you get the picture… Let's move on (This lesson either hits the mark or it doesn't).

One final thought (from someone who is privileged to be in baseball for 350 days each year)… IT'S JUST BASEBALL! BASEBALL IS JUST A GAME! (It just happens to be the best game ever!)

Rule #4 - You are here for every player! If you are in this game for any reason other than those kids… every one of them… GET OUT NOW! (This was paraphrased and stolen from a speech given by a friend, Gordie Gillespie, the winningest coach in college baseball history! He is absolutely correct!)

You will get more joy with that attitude than you can imagine!

Every player who doesn't share your last name is not here for the entertainment and support of you and your son! (You have probably seen it happen). Coaching your own child is a trick indeed. I hope you will truly enjoy it (though it can test your mettle). But, I can assure you that embracing an entire team of kids can really give you an idea of how good a coach and person you might be or can be! Personally, I can tell you that the early influences of my youth coaches are indelibly stamped on me…That's how important you are.

Rule #5 - Winning is important…It is just not everything. I determined something many years ago. Take this for what it's worth…

Few 10 year olds have a grasp of the concept of winning! Half of the 11 year olds have a grasp of the concept of winning! Almost all 12 year olds have a grasp of the concept of winning!

Every? All? No. I guess I wouldn't include all players on some hot team of 9 year olds who travel the country vying for the many "World Series" out there (how many worlds are there anyway). Those teams and families have adopted a lifestyle. It's a language spoken at the dinner table. They are probably more the exception than the rule anyway.

You simply need to have a strong grasp of the competitive nature of your league and your team.

Rule #6 - You will be the boredom police. Looking for a great way to turn a perfectly good baseball player into a soccer player? (God forbid)… BORE HIM!

A young boy begins his day by opening his eyes with a first thought of…"HEY, WHAT'S FUN TODAY!" And we dare to bore them? Remember my comment on how we tend to want to solve problems in baseball as we do in the office? They are kids. It's a game…and games are fun… It's fun OR THEY FIND A GAME THAT IS MORE FUN!

Rule #7 - Ask for help from other parents. Women are right…Men do not ask for directions. We need to be rock steady and have all the answers…yada, yada!

Personally, I have never had a coach come up to me after a game and ask me anything on how or why I played a situation the way I did! I MEAN NEVER!

WHY? Because this is baseball…and we are guys. We played Little League (20 TO 30 YEARS AGO). We watch Pro Baseball on TV…UGH. What a bad idea to try and teach a group of kids to play the same way the greatest players in the game do. So, we don't ask…and that cheats our kids.

SOLUTIONS: Aside from reaching for information such as reading articles such as this and finding videos, books, etc (did you check out our video and book library?)… Why not incorporate and embrace some of the parents. Have a parents-only meeting for 10 minutes after one of your very first practices. Let them know who you are and how you envision the season (in general).

A team mom is worth her weight in the dozen roses you had better buy her at the end of the season.

Make note of the dad(s), hopefully plural, who hang around the fence during practices. Many really want you to ask for their help. They don't want to horn in so it's up to you to ask because they may not!

Some parents are better served as your scorebook keeper instead of your BP (batting practice) pitcher. Another may be most comfortable helping you set up the dugout and raking and lining the field before games.

Yet others really want to be on the field hitting fungoes or infield.

The bottom line is that I believe that adults play better when they work together…and as a byproduct, you will all be richer for actually developing relationships with your new-found friends.

WARNING: There is one rule I highly recommend… You are the coach, they are the team's parents. One guy has the final say so. You, the coach! This is a no lobbying area, disputes are handled away from the kids and the action and decisions of management (you) are final. There are no politics, just honest decisions made by you…the coach!

Note: Baseball is the greatest game in the world to second-guess!

One Last Important Suggestion Regarding Communication:

Get all of your parent's email addresses and use them for two things:

Communicate - Communicate - Communicate. Not necessarily lengthy, just frequent. Subscribe all your player's parents (and maybe players, if they are a bit older) to our Baseball Tips Newsletter. It is a quick read 2 times each month. We do not rent or sell their names and just want to supply our 14,680 (at last count) baseball families with some added knowledge and fun. Of course, they can delete us easily if they so choose. (You can add them individually. The sign-up box is just below our logo on the www.baseballtips.com home page). Rule #8 -Good Teams Practice Well! Every league is different. Some restrict practice times. Others have limited fields. Some coaches have limited time as well. HAVE A PLAN! Plan tomorrow's practice today. Plan next week, this week. Planning is the operative word. I don't think that any drill should take longer than 20 minutes! (OK, excluding BP - more on that later).

TIME ANYTHING & EVERYTHING! If you will keep a watch, you can get their blood flowing even more. More as in, "OK guys, 10 more minutes, let's do it right. Pick up the pace…Ok, 5 more minutes…Keep it going"…you get the idea. And it becomes more fun! The blood is pumping, the kids are focusing. Just be sure to tailor it to your player's age and skill level.

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW! Teach something new each practice. As importantly, review and drill a particular skill taught in a previous practice using one of your 20 minute segments.

Quality repetitions are vital and incredibly important! Too many coaches teach a skill and then next season, they teach it again; once a year…need it or not! If you think about how counter-productive this is, you will never do it…or do it again.

ARMS - ARMS - ARMS! There are more throwing errors than fielding errors! It may not sound correct and it is not my opinion…It is a fact! Teach proper throwing and work on arms every practice.

Have them constantly throwing to or at a target. (The exception will be when teaching one of your pitchers a new pitch.) You begin by throwing to a tarp, net or fence. The reasoning is that accuracy will not be great until a skill like a new pitch is learned. Accuracy will follow proper mechanics and you can avoid unnecessary shakes in confidence.

THE LAST 10 MINUTES OF PRACTICE IS JUST FUN! Preferably doing something that requires players to use oxygen. Leave them with their tongues hanging out. I learned this many years after I began coaching.

Many players think baseball is boring…and that is why they leave the sport too soon. They are kids…and kids want to run, play games, have contests, run races, hit balls, etc. You know…fun stuff.

Well, drills can get boring if that's all there is to a practice. But drills are really important, vital lifelines to improvement and success of both player and team…or not!

But let's not forget the fun aspect and the prime reason most kids play. (It is play ball, not work ball, right?)

Get creative! Here are some of my ideas. (Do not limit yourself to these, got it?)

Relay Races - ½ of team at home plate and ½ at 2nd base with hats on backwards. 1 simple relay race. Then 1 race backwards, then 1 final race for all the marbles, running sideways (or heel to heel side-kicks like basketball teams do....you may have some better variations).

Ball In The Trash Can - Find a trash barrel from the dugout or near the practice field and place it on home plate on its side. Now take your team to a distance where most all players can throw to the target at least on a bounce or two.

Now toss them a short fly ball where they can make like they are the centerfielder throwing the runner out at home. They ooh, aah and cheer on close throws (there are always a bunch of these). I have no idea why but they really like to do this…Go Figure!

Home Run Derby - Find a spot where about ½ or more of the team can hit one over the fence and soft toss 3 per each player (soft toss, also known as flip drills, is the drill our automated Wheeler Dealer machine does automatically. It can be seen on our training aids page if you are still unsure how to do this.) Have a second round, then have a finals. Maybe the player who comes in 2nd gets to go after all the homers. Watch 'em cheer for each other.

Basketball Game - If there's a court or a hoop nearby, simply produce a hidden basketball AFTER dividing them up into teams. Announce a 10 minute game. Watch 'em go. Totally unexpected…and a lot of fun

Water Balloon Toss - Pick a hot day and have a supply of filled baseball-sized water balloons (make sure they are small balloons to begin with so they remain taut). Partner them off in lines (like you do when warming up their arms) with players about 6 to 8 feet apart and with a partner on one row having the balloon.

USE 2 HANDS! Express to players that in baseball, every ball you can catch with 2 hands should be caught with 2 hands. Also, display how the pinkie fingers of both hands should be near and parallel to each other with hands being parallel and held below the waist.

SOFT HANDS Explain that all infielders must have soft hands. This begins when both arms are outstretched (elbows are not locked) and then cradled toward the body as the underhand toss comes toward you. Water balloons will require special focus on soft hands to keep from breaking.

READY…GO! On coaches command… Player underhand tosses to his partner who catches and holds the balloon. His partner then tosses it back to his partner.

After 2-4 rounds, teams with a full balloon step 2 feet further apart. Repeat. Then 2 steps further apart! Keep going until you have a winner.

Once you have a winner, coaches produce as many extra full balloons as there are coaches and the winning team gets to "blast the coaches." Yes, turn around coach…and do use typical precautions as boys will be boys. (Now you tell me that 10 or 20 years from now those players won't remind you of how much fun that was?!)

It's not all about baseball…but it is all about fun!

Thanks for reading. Best of luck this season. Now get out there and Have Some Fun! ----Coach JP

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About the Author

John Peter, presently aged 50 something, is a lifelong student of the greatest game on earth. After being asked to find a more suitable occupation at age 26, many seasons after donning his first uni at age 7, he has transcended his skills into the much more important role of coach and especially as an instructor! He prides himself as never having charged any player or coach for a single lesson!

Important Aspects Of A Baseball Coach

Important Aspects Of A Baseball Coach

Being a baseball coach can be very rewarding. It is a big responsibility, though. You are basically the ‘leader’ of your team, and how you act will directly affect how the assistant coaches and the players act. There are some tips you can follow to make yourself a better baseball coach. These tips are:

1. Give everyone on your baseball team a responsibility. Make each and every person on the team feel if they don’t do something, it won’t get done! Any accomplishments made by a member of the team are shared by the whole team. (It is important to give recognition to individuals, though.)

2. Help everyone on your baseball team make good, informed decisions. As the baseball coach, you need to guide and teach the players to make the good decisions you want them to make. Don’t bully the baseball team to do what you want them to do, just encourage them to do what is best.

3. Always treat your baseball team like they are winners! If your baseball players feel like winners, they will be more likely to win.

4. Let everyone on your baseball team know you care. Be interested in every individual baseball player. Encourage them and show them your support. Look at your behavior around your baseball team and evaluate it carefully.

5. Help your baseball team understand the meaning of playing with good sportsmanship! Good sportsmanship is just as important as winning. Make sure your baseball players understand the meaning of fair play from the moment you become their baseball coach.

6. Make sure you motivate and reward your baseball team players. Just knowing the basic skills and strategies of baseball won’t necessarily make you a very good baseball coach. Being a baseball coach is truly more than just teaching these things. A really good coach can motivate a baseball team to do its best! Good baseball coaches understand and can empathize with the players’ feelings of joy, anger, anxiety, frustration, and pride.

7. Don’t make your baseball practices boring or repetitious. Shake up practices by playing games and teaching new techniques and plays. Since only 9 players can play at a time, make sure to keep the rest of the baseball team feeling useful by having them keep score or charting pitching and offence. Make sure to keep each baseball player feeling they have an important role in winning.

8. Make sure you have a plan for your baseball team. Just like a teacher needs to plan for the school year, a baseball coach needs a plan for the season. Having no plan is a sure road to failure.

9. Give your baseball team enough time to review things they have learned. Whether at the end of a practice or the end of a game, give your players time to review what has been learned and what could be improved upon. Keep the review as positive in tone as possible.

10. Make sure you communicate with your baseball team. If you cannot get across to your baseball team what you want, how will they know what to do?
About Author:
Sintilia Miecevole, host of http://www.reelbaseball.com provides you with baseball information from games, cards and equipment to teams, gloves, pictures and more. Be sure to visit http://www.reelbaseball.com for the latest news.

Fall Baseball

Fall Baseball – A Great Time To Really Coach!

A few random thoughts on making Fall Ball a bit better experience!
*You may want to read the note at the end of this article

I believe that your ability to communicate will always make your life and your team a better experience. Nothing new so far, right?

Fall baseball is the time when teaching and learning, hopefully in a fun environment, may fight the demons of your competitive side. We like to say that it is fall ball so we are not going to win at all costs, BUT… it is hard not trotting out your stud pitchers at every opportunity… especially if you have history with some of your competition! The risk of looking like a weenie or your team getting crushed can be overwhelming!

Well coach, here’s a few thoughts to keep you on the straight and narrow and possibly allow you to retain some of your dignity (and your won-loss record).

1st – You Need To Have The Come To Jesus Meeting!
You have dads in the stands (and players, dependant on age) who are just as competitive as you. Your goals for this fall season must be outlined in an initial meeting with parents and players (this is two separate meetings for some teams).

You must be abundantly clear regarding your thoughts on winning, which I always encourage, but that playing well and marked improvement from beginning to end of this season are the real barometers.

IF THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ANY PARENT, they don’t get it and should be best advised to find another team.

2nd – You are The Man
You, coach, are the guy who is giving your time and doing your best to help an entire team of other people’s kids to do their best. And trust me on this one, if the kids aren’t having fun, you had better change your ways fast… or you are missing the reason you should be doing this in the first place! So, in general…keep it fun!

And to a player, what could be more fun than to finally have a coach who gave them a chance to earn the position they have dreamed about. Learn to pick your spots, be honest with the younger kids who you know may be in harms way, and be aware of when you can and can’t do this. If your heart is in the right place…you will know!

We talk about how kids simply don’t play games anymore…by themselves, without adults. Well, one of the great things about the pick up games we used to play was that kids eventually got to play most or all the positions. Today, without fall ball…when and how are they going to learn these positions?
We Play Baseball – We don’t work baseball!

3rd - More On Having Fun
If it isn’t fun, why would any kid want to do this? They are kids! No matter what the age and skill level, especially as they get older, they have a lot of choices. Keep ‘em in the game!

Face it… most of the world doesn’t think baseball with autumn in the air. It’s football, back to school, etc. So, any kid who is on a baseball field in September is telling you…I REALLY LIKE (or love) THIS GAME! Don’t you chase them away!

No matter what their present skill level, those skills may change... and fast!
I cannot tell you how many kids I have had in the Fall who grow and get stronger by Spring. What a shame it would be if I was the one who discouraged a kid just as we was finally able to physically do what he couldn’t just a few short months ago!

So, again, play ‘em where they think they can play, along with where you already know they can play. If they stink, don’t worry, they will know it before you do.

Always remember… Players get better. Help them make it happen!

Tough Tip – Bench your kid in game one and maybe other games too
Many amateur coaches have their own son, their “favorite player” on the team. If you simply keep your son on the bench for the first innings of your first game, it will display to all that you are indeed sticking to your guns about playing time, new position opportunities, etc.

Hint – Consider making your son your bench coach to show him that this is not punishment- you certainly can make this a pact between he and you alone. Sit him right next to you in the dugout and give him a real duty such as watching and helping position your defenses or maybe giving you a few quick tips on upcoming batters he may know – get creative. Show him you trust and need him! – Build a memory along with a team.

You can even hold out another of your better players too. Refrain from also placing your frontline players in the positions they always play in the first inning.

Your lesser players will play for you and maybe pay huge dividends come spring! The fact is that you may not be able to make all-stars out of all-stars. They will do most of that by themselves. But you sure can turn the lousy player into an average player, the average player into a very good player. This even happens in pro ball, just check out Marcus Giles, a former 53rd round draft pick, who is now an all-star second baseman for the Atlanta Braves.

Finally, remember that almost every World Series winner has one guy who unexpectedly made a difference. Team guys who were not all-stars or superstars! Remember the names Bucky Dent, Craig Counsell, Gene Tenace, Aaron Boone, Mark Lemke, David Eckstein, and Jim Leyritz?

So, take the high road, even if and when others do not. It is their loss...and their players are who ultimately pay the price with a lack of improvement or leaving the game prematurely. It’s not “daddyball”, it’s just smart fall ball!

Take some risks, show some courage, park your ego, then kick some butt on the scoreboard! You may end up getting more out of this experience than your players!


*Note: This article is aimed and read by many coaches and players of many age and skill levels. If your fall schedule is a win-at-all-cost league, some of this article is not for you. With that said, enter these leagues knowing that your players may be missing some very important instructional time for the long term, possibly even contributing to their premature departure from this greatest of games. After all, when do you allow a player to try a new position or switch hit or break out a new pitch…if not in the fall?
Exceptions – If you are coaching a group of prospects looking to the coming year’s pro draft and/or college ball, your goals are obviously different. Much of the above still applies, however you certainly will play these players at their positions of greatest potential.


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Being A Baseball Coach

Being A Baseball Coach

Being a baseball coach can be very rewarding. It is a big responsibility, though. You are basically the ‘leader’ of your team, and how you act will directly affect how the assistant coaches and the players act. There are some tips you can follow to make yourself a better baseball coach. These tips are:

1. Give everyone on your baseball team a responsibility. Make each and every person on the team feel if they don’t do something, it won’t get done! Any accomplishments made by a member of the team are shared by the whole team. (It is important to give recognition to individuals, though.)

2. Help everyone on your baseball team make good, informed decisions. As the baseball coach, you need to guide and teach the players to make the good decisions you want them to make. Don’t bully the baseball team to do what you want them to do, just encourage them to do what is best.

3. Always treat your baseball team like they are winners! If your baseball players feel like winners, they will be more likely to win.

4. Let everyone on your baseball team know you care. Be interested in every individual baseball player. Encourage them and show them your support. Look at your behavior around your baseball team and evaluate it carefully.

5. Help your baseball team understand the meaning of playing with good sportsmanship! Good sportsmanship is just as important as winning. Make sure your baseball players understand the meaning of fair play from the moment you become their baseball coach.

6. Make sure you motivate and reward your baseball team players. Just knowing the basic skills and strategies of baseball won’t necessarily make you a very good baseball coach. Being a baseball coach is truly more than just teaching these things. A really good coach can motivate a baseball team to do its best! Good baseball coaches understand and can empathize with the players’ feelings of joy, anger, anxiety, frustration, and pride.

7. Don’t make your baseball practices boring or repetitious. Shake up practices by playing games and teaching new techniques and plays. Since only 9 players can play at a time, make sure to keep the rest of the baseball team feeling useful by having them keep score or charting pitching and offence. Make sure to keep each baseball player feeling they have an important role in winning.

8. Make sure you have a plan for your baseball team. Just like a teacher needs to plan for the school year, a baseball coach needs a plan for the season. Having no plan is a sure road to failure.

9. Give your baseball team enough time to review things they have learned. Whether at the end of a practice or the end of a game, give your players time to review what has been learned and what could be improved upon. Keep the review as positive in tone as possible.

10. Make sure you communicate with your baseball team. If you cannot get across to your baseball team what you want, how will they know what to do?
About Author:
Sintilia Miecevole, host of http://www.reelbaseball.com provides you with baseball information from games, cards and equipment to teams, gloves, pictures and more. Be sure to visit http://www.reelbaseball.com for the latest news.