Sportsmanship For Park And Rec

[macncolorado]

Evening,

This is my 1st posting to the site. I have been a silent pair of eyes on the wall reading and getting great info on practice tips and things to teach.

Here is my latest issue. I coach a Park and Rec team here in Colorado Springs, CO. The Sandy Kofax age range. I truely believe at this age is when the sport of baseball is to still remain fun, but the players are at the age of needing to understand how to be competitive. The team we played tonight I thought we where enjoying the game until the other coach called the game on our top half of the 3rd inning. Score 20 to 0. After the 2nd inning I did switch around my players but I left my pitcher in to pitch.

The players need to understand and be able to read different pitchers on there wind up and understand when and how to take off for a lead and steal. I preach defense only because offense will usually take care of itself.

The coach's did not shake my teams hands, nor did they even leave the dugout to talk with the players when they made 4 back to back fielding and threwing erros.

Am I wrong for trying to teach my players to be aggressive in this division and level of baseball? Should I have told my players to ease up and let them get back into the game?

Mac

[Jake Patterson]

How Old??? Not familiar with Sandy Kofax Ball.

[Whitesoxnut]

Evening,

This is my 1st posting to the site. I have been a silent pair of eyes on the wall reading and getting great info on practice tips and things to teach.

Here is my latest issue. I coach a Park and Rec team here in Colorado Springs, CO. The Sandy Kofax age range. I truely believe at this age is when the sport of baseball is to still remain fun, but the players are at the age of needing to understand how to be competitive. The team we played tonight I thought we where enjoying the game until the other coach called the game on our top half of the 3rd inning. Score 20 to 0. After the 2nd inning I did switch around my players but I left my pitcher in to pitch.

The players need to understand and be able to read different pitchers on there wind up and understand when and how to take off for a lead and steal. I preach defense only because offense will usually take care of itself.

The coach's did not shake my teams hands, nor did they even leave the dugout to talk with the players when they made 4 back to back fielding and threwing erros.

Am I wrong for trying to teach my players to be aggressive in this division and level of baseball? Should I have told my players to ease up and let them get back into the game?

Mac

Bad sportsmanship on his part. My kids team got beat bad tonight for much the same reasons. Afterwards both kids, coaches, and parents congratulated the other, regardless of the score. You play the game to win, not to let the other team win, or get back into the game.

You are correct in placing proper emphasis on base running, reading pitchers, your own pitchers controlling the game and base runners, and teaching them the little tricks of the trade that both allow your own runners to turn singles into DBLs and triples with steals, and, prevent opposing teams from doing the same. With kids this age group this is a way to over-looked aspect of the game. It drives me crazy when the coaches of my kids teams dont teach these fundamentals, or, when they just dont know them.

At the same time, however, with such a lop-sided game I'd probably stop stealing bases and use the game to give other pitchers some work, resting my top guy. But its really impossible for any of us to make judgements in a forum. We we rent there and have no firm basis for comment.

I dont believe there is any excuse however for no handshakes after the game. Its only a game, and a kids game at that. And not going out and settling your team after a bad run like that is poor coaching.

[macncolorado]

The age group is 13 14 year old group. Yes, I was at fault for not switching out the pitchers, with everything said, I did have the intent to swap pitchers on the bottom of the 3rd inning before the game, expecting it to go farther. I did play all me players and everyone was into the game. They feed off of each other and everyone had a hit.

Before the game, I did not pass a Steal Sign to the players, I told them they have enough knowledge about taking a lead and stealing and that they where own there own. Bad maybe, good to me because I want them to think without someone telling them to think.

Mac

[swingbuster]

I like Bobby Bowdens comment when reporters asked him about running a football score up at Florida ST.

" they pay me to to score points and they pay the other coach to stop me".



BUT...in Youth Ball there is probably a time to call off the dogs!

[Jake Patterson]

The age group is 13 14 year old group. Yes, I was at fault for not switching out the pitchers, with everything said, I did have the intent to swap pitchers on the bottom of the 3rd inning before the game, expecting it to go farther.

Hey Mac - see the attached. Hope it helps.
Jake

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