Speaking to the lower levels here (AAA, AA, A etc..).
All too often, coaches over coach. We tell them something every swing at batting practice. Every play in the field. Every throw. All the time we are giving them tips, instruction, reminders.. Too much. We need to shut up. Let them play. Encourage them every play. Then the next inning, maybe a tip.
If you correct your players every play, they will be reliving that play the next play. Thinking about that last play instead of the next one.
Get your kid's head in the next play, not the last one.
I was coaching my sons 9-10 year old team Saturday afternoon and on our 1st time up I was in the 3rd base coaches area pretty close to the other teams dugout. On the very 1st pitch of the game the other teams pitcher threw a pitch that was called a ball. The coach for the other team yells out of the dugout to the pitcher in a very loud voice, "C'mon Josh, settle down out there and throw strikes, Let's Go"
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that coaches do over coach a lot of times but I also believe that when kids are at certain ages like 9-12 they do need more instruction because they still need to learn how the rules are part of the game and this is when you can instill really good fundamentals into the kids.
"Throw strikes"? Isn't that kind of obvious? Wouldn't "Keep firing Josh!" be more motivating?
ReplyDeleteWhy not wait until he heads out for the 2nd inning, pull him aside and remind him how great he throws when he calms down and controls his tempo.
Which approach lets him know his coach believes in him and which puts pressure on the kid?
That's too funny. My 10 yr old son is playing in a new league this year, for a new coach. One of the main changes I'd like him to make is exactly what you're hitting on here: over-coaching, which easily turns into public (and constant) criticism if he doesn't catch himself. And then, at the end of the game, he re-lives all the mistakes of the game and how we need to correct them. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteTed Browne
practice is for coaching - never feel like I can teach too much in practice if words are said in the right tone - games are for letting kids play and as mentioned too much talk is counterproductive - yelling out what kids should do as the play is happening is a definite no
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting Jack. I linked to your site and follow your posts.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree, coach during practice and always move on to the next play during the game.
They know what went wrong, the idea is to get them to move on.
I wonder if Reynolds or Howard think that when they hit the 150 Ks in a season?