How to approach a coach?

[bbb3601]

After posting some clips on this site last month my son is now reaping better hitting results using the rotational swing ideas. Every part of his game is better from results to confidence. (Some parents have approached me to ask what instructor I take him to! I boasted and gave bbf web site) My problem is that when we take bp his coach starts telling him to do linear thigs like throwing hands at ball etc. My son is starting to get confused again. I haven't said anything to the coach because I am not quite sure how to. He overheard some of the parents talking about my kids swing etc and seemed bothered. I want to stand my ground about these things, but I also don't want my kid to pay the price??????????????????any advice? By the way I really like this coach and feel we have a very strong team

[TG Coach]

After posting some clips on this site last month my son is now reaping better hitting results using the rotational swing ideas. Every part of his game is better from results to confidence. (Some parents have approached me to ask what instructor I take him to! I boasted and gave bbf web site) My problem is that when we take bp his coach starts telling him to do linear thigs like throwing hands at ball etc. My son is starting to get confused again. I haven't said anything to the coach because I am not quite sure how to. He overheard some of the parents talking about my kids swing etc and seemed bothered. I want to stand my ground about these things, but I also don't want my kid to pay the price??????????????????any advice? By the way I really like this coach and feel we have a very strong team

Chances are if your son makes solid contact the coach won't notice the difference between linear and rotational. If he knows the difference he won't mess with success.

I feel very fortunate my son has coaching in the 8th grade who understands rotational is the way to go.

[Ursa Major]

Chances are if your son makes solid contact the coach won't notice the difference between linear and rotational. If he knows the difference he won't mess with success. Good point, TG. Most of the time when a coach uses the "throw the hands at the ball" cue, their just trying to get the kid to swing both hard and through the ball. If he fully rotates and completes his follow-through, the coach probably won't notice rotational. Lack of follow-through of course may be a symptom of other problems but it of course has nothing to do with hitting the ball as it occurs after contact, but if you add a big follow-through, linear-oriented coaches usually seem satisfied that you're throwing your hands sufficiently. Go figure . . . :shrug:

It depends upon the coach and his perceptiveness, but often the best thing for a kid to do is to nod to the coach in acknowledgment ... and continue to keep his rotational mechanics.

The times where the distinction becomes evident often is on inside pitches, where the linear hitter will try to get the hands out quickly to avoid getting jammed, whereas a rotational hitter obviously will keep his hands in. Then the coach barks at the kid. Of course, there are two problems with a linear hitting on inside pitches: One, you're not likely to get around to hit the ball other than up near the handle, and two, if you do, you'll just hit the ball foul.

So, you can maybe mollify the coach by saying (a) you're getting some advice from some top level people, (b) it seems to be helping, and (c) let's ride with it for awhile and see where it goes. Maybe send him to Mankin's site (batspeed.com) -- Mankin makes it all seem so sensible to newbies.

[Jake Patterson]

It is often said here to compare what you do against the very best. The same may apply here. Have him check out Siggy's site and Steve's site. There is enough free information out there to help him with basic coaching concepts. Many believe they are doing the right thing ONLY because they don't know the right thing.

[Sparksdale]

I don't think BBB said what age his son was but here is what I did....
I coached a couple of years in the 10 and under league. I always tried to remember that at that age it really really was about fun. I honestly didn't care if we won or not. I allowed kids to play in positions that they really shouldn't have played and so forth and so on....

Anyway I personally had this rule about parents. I always ALWAYS told my kids to do exactly as their parents told them to do (even if I didn't agree). My reasons were because at that age I probably couldn't teach them much anyway and after all it was supposed to be about fun. I just couldn't see how it could be fun for a kid if he was confused about what his dad was telling him to do and his coach was telling him something else.

So maybe I was a bad coach but I allowed the kids to have fun and I figure they could get better coaching next year.

Not that it matters but my teams had a winning record every year. I honestly believe it was because my kids loved to come out and have fun. There is nothing like getting a kid who isn't blessed with the best talent to work hard if he knows he's going to get to pitch. If you want to motivate a kid then let him pitch to a couple of batters. Worst case is he gives up a few runs.....best case is he smiles and has a memory that he will never forget.

I don't know how to approach your coach.....all I can say is as a coach I would never mind what the parents said and I actually liked it when the parents took an interest.

best of luck...

Sparks

[kylebee]

I don't know how to approach your coach.....all I can say is as a coach I would never mind what the parents said and I actually liked it when the parents took an interest.

Yep, as a coach I feel the exact same way.

We're 3-0 so far, btw!

[bbb3601]

thanks guys. by the way he is a 9 yo. over the winter he came to me and said he wanted to try and become a better hitter. as a result we took some clips and posted them on here. he always had good results, but wanted to improve. I took some advice from this site and it was my kid that worked to get better. as far as the team they have been together for a few years everyone gets along well parents included. i was just wondering if i should just let this go because i dont want to look like a jack a$$ by stepping on coach's toes? the coach hasn't taken a stand as far as linear v's rotational he just seems to take some from each......is that good or bad????