Paper

[Jake Patterson]

I am writing a paper on youth coaching. What do you feel are the elements of a good youth coach.
Jake

[Spencer]

Gives the kids something to aspire too. A purpose for being on the ballfield.

Last summer I umped for T-ball/Machine Pitch and there was one coach there who had complete control of his team. I asked him why his kids were so enthusiastic about playing and he said that he takes his team to watch his other Collegiate Summer team. Then he proceeded to say that the little kids want to be like the big kids :blah: . All that good stuff :dance

[TG Coach]

- patience
- self control
- leadership
- teaching the game fundamentally
- teaching the game mentally, not only thinking the game, but how to deal with it's failures
- teaching the parents how to be youth sports parents

[Jim W.]

Many years ago when I was coaching LL, I was given a plaque that said "A Coach is one who helps us achieve our goals, both in sport and life."

[Jon Doyle]

I think the job of a youth coach is to help develop self-confidence and create a positive, lasting experience.

[TG Coach]

When I ran the baseball and basketball programs for the younger age groups I placed in my opening day program letter from the commissioner ....

Not all these (age) year old players will become high school baseball/basketball players, but with the right perspective from coaches and parents they can all become fans of the game.

Ironically, last year coaching 13/14's I told parents .... these kids know who has the potential to play high school ball and who doesn't. The kids playing on school and travel teams don't need to be pushed by me. The ones not playing school and travel don't want to be pushed by me. So I try to make it all fit together and make it fun. It's up to them how badly they want to win.

[callyjr]

I think a good youth coach instills the values of being competive but doesn't make it the only part of what going on. Teaches the fundamentals, but pushes the kids enough to want more. I tell the kids its not about winning every game, but it sure is fun to win.

and to add to TG's list, Organization. The more organized the coach, usually the more successful the team.

[deaconspoint]

I've only coached the younger ages, 5-10. I judge how well I've done as a coach by wether or not the kids have a strong desire to come back and play another season. Not play for me, but play period. If any kid on the team or any kid that played that season for that matter has no interest in continuing, then someone dropped the ball somwhere. If it happened under my watch then shame on me.

Winning and losing at that age are unimportant other than the fact that it allows for an opportunity to win with dignity and lose graciously. Good lessons. Kids at that age learn more outside the lines than they do inside them in my opinion. Being a teammate, respecting authority, being a leader, encouraging others who may not be as talented, being punctual, being responsible, being thankful, handling adversity, understanding that hard work can make you tired, but it's worth it, getting up and doing it again. All of these and many athers are things that kids and adults can learn from youth baseball. Not necessarily while playing either. Why do we rake the field, why do we tuck in our shirts, why do we show up early, why do we stretch, why do we encourage teammates when they blow it rather than stomping off dejected, who makes it possible for me to play this game, who keeps this field in such good shape, why do some people leave trash all over my ball park, why do I pick it up, how does it feel to do things that make me feel good without getting credit for them, how does that shape me, what is character, do I have it?

These opportunities are out there everyday on every ballfield. Many of them are overlooked while trying to improve a young kids pitching motion, hitting machanics, or placing more importance on what he can do to help the team win than what can be done to help him and others see the bigger picture. The most important lessons taught in youth baseball are not taught between the lines during game time in my opinion.

It's our job as coaches to make sure others realize the value of this experience.

TM

[RayR]

Perspective is #1.

Def: The ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance.

I would also add that the coach treat the players like people first (even if they little people).

[Go Cardinals]

fair.... a person that can be our friend, not just a coach.

[Spencer]

Self esteem can't be served up on a platter. It has to be earned. I grew up in a baseball program that was excellent from LL through Legion. Acheivements and accolades were earned. I wasn't going to sit back and watch my son play in a passive noncompetitive environment. Rec ball here is brutal.



I agree, parents telling their kids that they are good even though they lose makes the kids unable to compete. Win or go home.

[Drill]

I am writing a paper on youth coaching. What do you feel are the elements of a good youth coach.
Jake


Knowing how to draft:


Draft kids with some skill and can think ahead(baseball mind).

Making sure the team stays loose kids having fun, kids being able to tell each other they suck and not really mean it or taking it personally, but having laughs with each other and still being able to learn.

After years of little league my son played on a fall ball team that would laugh and carry on with each other even if they were getting beaten bad. Even had another coach comment saying wish his team was having as much fun. Coach had to stop the game and come yell to the kids to stop picking on each other because they were still joking who should of caught the pop up, from the inning before. You all have seen it when ever one converges on a pop up and know one catches it.

As a parent this was one of the most enjoyable time watching baseball. It was pure fun just listening to the laughter irrupt from the dug out when they were up to bat.

last game this past Sunday and I was sad it was over even after watching baseball since February


drill

[Go Cardinals]

I think it is important (to me it is) that the coach respects his players. He should let the players have a say in some of the games/ drills you do. He shouldn't make stupid rules just to make stupid rules, basically power hungry rules.... I hate that in coaches.... "no sitting at the fence in the dugout, because your not ingaged in the game..." or "Talk about the game...." when your talking about the pitcher.... also, kids especially young ones aren't / can't focus the ENTIRE game, especially in the dugout!

[JJA]

Jake,

The #1 most important item a youth coach can do for his team is make it so it is fun. If it isn't fun, kids will go do something else. The second item is that the coach needs to be a good teacher, someone who can improve the skills of the team. It isn't very fun to play any sport if you're not at least a little good at it. If kids are having fun and seeing improvement in their game, then the wins take care of themselves. A good teacher has his/her own set of attributes, a good summary of which can be found in John Wooden's Pyramid of Success.

A friend of mine who has written many books on youth soccer has a saying that is equally applicable to baseball: "The outcome of our children is infinitely more important than the outcome of any game they will ever play". If coaches would remember that maxim, the kids would be a lot better off.

-JJA

[Jake Patterson]

I cleaned up the thread... I asked a simple question What do you feel are the elements of a good youth coach?

The thread digressed.

[Ursa Major]

Deaconspoint, you took an issue I was going to raise -- make it so each kid wants to come back and play next year -- and ran with it better than I could have. Excellent post.

Still, from Jake's last post, we may have digressed to abstract philosophies that may not help him guide him in giving concrete tips to youth coaches. My primary point may be more of the same, but it's just as important. It's a rule I try to use in parenting as well: "Am I doing this for the kids, or for me?" And you've got to be honest. "Am I really sitting little Stuart at the end of the bench because his self-esteem will be damaged if he tries to play infield and he screws up because he's not ready, or is it because it's easier to keep my studs out in the infield because we're more likelty to win the game."

In a similar vein, it's critical that you treat the value of every kid's experience as absolutely identical. You'd be amazed at how the whole team will pick up from you the fact that little Stuart is groping for his first hit or first putout, and will go nuts when he does so. It makes Stuart feel 10-feet tall when he achieves it, and turn your better players into better leaders by the fact that they can appreciate it.

And you've got to be fair. Kids know when favorites are being played; they're smarter than most coaches give them credit for being. Give kids a real chance (not just a token opportunity) and explain to them what's expected of them to get more chances. And keep your word when you make a promise to a kid. They've got longer memories than you can imagine.

[deaconspoint]

Thanks UM. I'm fortunate to have a few kids, 9-10, who may not always be the best players on the field, but they help keep my priorities in line. They play because they enjoy it and they take it just lightly enough to check my competitive nature every once in a while. It never fails. When I start thinking that I need to change something to help us win a game or move one kid or another to give us a better chance, one of them will come and ask me what the score is. That's when I realize that their playing for fun. And their having fun wether they win or lose. I'm sure they know wether they won or lost, but the only way they know they've been on either end of a blow out is if someone tells them. Sure a few may know the score, but they won't be affected by it unless it is given importance by myself or their parents. They all get the same ice cream at the end of the game.

Where I feel it breaks down is when I start to believe that the kids will enjoy playing ball only if they win. Or that they may only want to keep playing if they're on a winnig team. Kids don't give up unless parents and coaches do. What I struggle with is how easy it is to justify not playing lesser skilled players in every position for the sake of the something I feel will help the ego of the entire team. Winning. I tell myself that the kids would have more fun if we win and the best chance to win means playing some kids in less critical positions. I'm not doing it because I don't want to give the kid a chance. I'm doing it because he'll enjoy the experience more if we win. BS. I know it and so does everyone else. But still it happens. Just the way I tell myself that my son needs to pratice more, even if it's not exactly what he wants to do, so he'll get better and therefore will have more fun. He needs to practice when and if he wants to. I need to give him every opportunity to learn and improve his skills, get out of the way and let him enjoy his childhood. Those who want to be pushed will seek it out. Not everyone is built that way and both will enjoy the kind of success they desire.

There are just too many ways to justify our not doing the right thing. Sometimes when you play against the odds and do what you know is right, these kids surprise you. Sometimes they don't. Sometimes you look up and a group of young guys has made you look like you know what you're doing. Again, I am talking about young kids here. So no, I don't know that this would all hold water with the older croud. If you don't believe it will, I respect your opinions and wish you luck. I'll continue doing things that help to mold good kids playing a good game and hope for the best. It's working for now. I don't get into records or personal successes of my own kids, but let's just say we're having an up year.

TM

[Three A's baseball]

I believe it is the same qualifications to be a good dad.

[JJA]

deaconspoint,

:clapping :clapping :clapping :clapping :clapping

Thank you. Great post. It's supposed to be fun. It's a game. Kids these days have so much pressure from school that they should be able to have fun playing baseball. Few kids play the game because of the winning and the losing. They're there to have fun, and sure they want to win, but that's not the primary motivator. Ask virtually any child, younger or older for that matter, whether they would like to win but strike out 3 times, or lose but hit a home run. 99.9% of the kids would select the latter which tells you real the priority of virtually all kids playing the game.

-JJA

[TL_Dad]

Making it fun is number one. I try to make a game out of anything I can.

Here are a couple examples.

In warm ups I tell the kids I want to see what two can make 8 catches in a row first. Then I move them a step farther apart and see who can make 8 catches in a row first. And so on. Its interesting to see that it isn't always the best players that win. They learn to just make good throws and not rush the throw or try to throw it before they catch the ball.

At the end of practice we usually finish with working on running the bases. I ask the kids who is the fastest, and who can run around the bases faster. I will get 4 or 5 say they are the fastest, so I ask again louder who thinks they are the fastest and I will get 7 or 8 players. Now I say prove it.

Sometimes the corny stuff works the best. Especially with the younger ones these kids were 8 and 9.