League-wide policy on coaching the swing?

[skipper5]

Do any of you coach in a recreational league that has adopted a league-wide policy about how to coach the baseball swing?

I'm not trying to start a thread on hitting methods--just wondering if any rec leagues are making a concerted attempt to get everybody on the same page--any page, as long as it's the same one.

[bob_r]

seems to me that would be ridiculous

[Rufus67]

Skipper
It wasn't a mandate for our park but we did have one of the local hitting/pitching establishments host a one-day seminar for coaches. They taught basics about hitting, fielding, and pitching and it was geared mainly to the newer coaches or guys with younger kids. They also produced a "skills template" of basic things to teach as well as sample practice planners.

It was received very well, especially by coaches who may be far-removed from their playing days or who have never had an opportunity to coach the sport before.

[RodCarew]

seems to me that would be ridiculous

It might be ridiculous.. but what I see happening is kids are getting so many different styles of hitting advice it is really screwing them up.

I am helping coach my older sons team 11-12 year olds.. and I am going to have to ask the other coaches to stop giving instruction to my kid. They are killing me with, stuff like "level Swing" "Squish the bug" " "power V at contact".

I've already told my kid to just nod his head politely and continue to do the things that I am trying to teach him.. my real concern is that the High School coach in this area teaches some of that stuff and it could be a problem in a few years when my kid is going to try out for the team.

[Jake Patterson]

I do not believe this to be a bad idea. Having leagues train coaches in the basics of the game eliminates (somewhat) the coaches relaying bad information to the kids.

[skipper5]

When I started coaching in the 1990s, we were all on the same page without trying to be. (Not saying it was the best page.)

I've been helping at a large, well-attended in-town clinic for the young-uns the past couple of nights. It's run by the parent-coaches. Lots of varying advice thrown around, most of it out-of-date.

No big deal. Most of the kids will figure out how to hit in some way, shape, or form. But I can't help wondering how long before the simple-ist/basic new principles will filter down to the masses.

It would help if the national organizations (eg LL and CR) endorsed a drastically simplified principle of hitting--how about, "use the core of your body to help your arms swing the bat"-- on their website.

At least there aren't any new discoveries about fielding...right?

[rkbenn]

I don't think it is a bad thing as well. If I didn't research and educate myself on this sport I'd be teaching the same cr@p my coaches taught me.

Too many coaches, coach to make sure little Timmy plays SS, pitches and plays the whole game, and not on educating themselves and passing it on to the players they coach.

I just hate it when coaches go right to BP, and infield outfield without spending anytime working on fundamentals. I don't think they do it because they don't know!

1.5 hrs for a practice should include 30min at least on fundamentals.