We need better coaches!!!!!€¦ · Acceptance by friends become very important Fear of ridicule...

We need better coaches!!!!!

Quotes

“We need better coaches!” “We need better players!”

Quotes

“The coaches have forgotten that this is supposed to be fun! We had kids cry in nearly every game last year!”

“The coaches have gotten too politically

correct and too nice and have forgotten that winning is ok as well!”

What does the league expect of you as coaches?

1. We expect you to understand and respect that parents and the league have entrusted their children to you.

2. We expect you to respect the game and respect the league, its mission, and its officials.


3. We expect you to invest sufficient time to learn the game and its rules and become a competent coach.

4. We expect you to arrive at every practice and every game fully prepared.


5. We expect you to communicate with league officials regarding issues and problems that may affect our league, our families, or your ability to coach your team.

Objectives of Training

1. No player gets left behind – every player receives your attention and training.

2. Every child improves as a player.

3. Every child develops a healthy respect for the game.

4. Every child furthers his love for the game of baseball and is likely to play baseball again next season.

Objectives of Training

5. In the American divisions, each player is exposed to a

higher level of training and competition with an eye toward better preparing him or her to succeed at the high school level.

Age Specific Characteristics

5 & 6 Year Old Developmental Characteristics - SHETLAND

Social Need for praise Enjoys group play in small groups

Emotional Restless Behavior patterns unpredictable Egocentric


Physical Good supply of energy

More effective with large objects Initial development in eye-hand coordination

Intellectual Curiosity is active and memory is strong Identifies with imaginary characters



How do we adapt our coaching?

• Understand: Coach = Hero • Focus max = 15-20 minutes • Skills taught by doing, not hearing or seeing • Alternate between focus and fun



• Keep encouragement specific and concrete • Don’t always expect understanding of team concepts • Explanations can be confusing or overwhelming • Great time for nicknames

7 & 8 Year Old Developmental Characteristics - PINTO

Social Able to listen longer Reaction time is still slow Concerned with own lack of skill and achievement

Emotional Dislikes taking much criticism from adults Overanxious to reach goals set by parents and teachers Critical of himself/herself and sensitive to failure


Physical Tires easily Appreciates correct skill performance

Intellectual Curiosity is active and memory is strong Identifies with imaginary characters




• Understand: Coach = Teacher • Focus max = 20-30 minutes • Rewarding activity at end of practice is great motivator • Still need concrete examples



• Still learn by doing, not hearing or seeing • Encouragement should highlight contributions to team • Can begin to make decisions on field (if/then)

9 & 10 Year Old Developmental Characteristics - MUSTANG

Social Moving more into peer-center society Great team loyalties are developing Increasing interest in activities involving challenges and adventures

Wants to know how they fit into the group


Emotional Likes recognition for effort and responds well to praise Does not mind criticism of he thinks it is fair but is indignant if he thinks it is unfair Critical of himself/herself and sensitive to failure

Intellectual Developing a sense of right and wrong

Able to make up his own mind and come to decisions

Understands explanations Some become discouraged and may give up trying when unsuccessful


Physical Interested in the development of more skills Needs and enjoys lots of activity Reaction time is improving



• Understand: Coach = Authority/Skill Instructor • Focus max = 30-40 minutes • Need less frequent rewards • Encouragement needs to be sincere and honest



• Criticism best received one on one • Can learn by seeing but still needs lots of doing to retain info • Need explanations to understand and apply concepts • Ready for strategy and more complex decision making

11 & 12 Year Old Developmental Characteristics - BRONCO

Social Although obsessed by standards of peers, he is anxious for social approval of adults Often engages in silly behavior, such as clowning Getting ready to make the difficult transition to adolescence


Emotional Need for approval to feel secure If unskilled in group games and game skills he may tend to withdraw May be very easily hurt when criticized or made the scapegoat

Intellectual Growing ability to use facts to make decisions May lack maturity of judgment


Physical Shows fatigue more easily Eye hand coordination is well developed Willing to work hard at acquiring physical skills



• Understand: Coach = Mentor/Skill Instructor • Focus max =35-45 minutes (except with video games) • Can identify own strengths and weaknesses • Should set personal goals for season • Encouragement and criticism should be personal and sincere

13 & 14 Year Old Developmental Characteristics - PONY

Social Wants respect Acceptance by friends become very important Fear of ridicule and of being unpopular Testing limits; a “know-it-all” attitude


Emotional Very sensitive to praise and recognition; feelings are easily hurt Caught between being a child and being and adult Loud behavior may hide their lack of self-confidence

Intellectual Can better understand moral principles Identification with admired adults Longer attention span


Physical Range of size and maturity Has realistic view of limits Concern about body image; self conscious about their physical changes



• Understand: Coach = Mentor • Focus 45-60 minutes (except with video games) • Important to recognize individual strengths of each team member • Team members are ready to problem solve and contribute to

coaching • Team bonding most important at this age

Training Expectations by Division

What we expect you to teach them

Shetland Division

Shetland Division • Proper ground ball technique - bend at knees, - butt down - glove out in front - alligator drill • Proper fly ball technique - proper glove position for a ball below the waist, above the head &

chest high

• Proper throwing mechanics - finding the seams - body/shoulder alignment with the target

Shetland Division • Batting skills - focus on making contact and putting the ball in play - no need to worry about hitting for power or hitting to a specific

location - use the tee to create a solid swing foundation

• Base-Running skills - run through the bag at 1st - know how to make the proper turn towards 2nd on an outfield hit - hitting inside corner of base • Force-Outs - where to throw the ball depending on base-runners

Pinto Division

Pinto Division

• Reinforce ground ball techniques • Charging the ball and getting to balls in the hole and up the middle • Reinforce fly ball technique

• Catching a fly ball on the run • Double Plays

• Introduce Cut-Offs - how to hit the cut-off man if you are an outfielder

Pinto Division • Teach 2nd baseman to cover 1st base (when necessary) • Teach the catcher how to throw to 2nd and 3rd - Pinto rules don’t allow baserunners to advance another base if the

catcher throws the ball into the outfield on a steal so catchers should practice these throws every time someone steals.

• Pitching - Basic techniques (anywhere around the strike zone) - Don’t worry about anything other than throwing strikes. • Hitting - Continue focus on making contact - Start focus on hitting line drives and hitting for power

Pinto Division • Base-running skills: - Stealing skills - Proper sliding skills - Tagging up from 3rd base with less than 2 outs - teach base-runners “when to run” and “when not to run” Example. If a player is on 2nd base with no-one on first he/she should

not run on a ground ball to the short-stop or 3rd baseman with less than 2 outs.

Mustang Division

Mustang Division • Reinforce proper ground ball and fly ball techniques.

• Reinforce proper throwing techniques.

• Infield: - Bunt defense - Pitchers and 2nd basemen covering first base - Run-downs (pickle). - Keeping a base-runner close to the bag when they are leading off.

• Outfield: - Throwing to the proper base depending on the situation - Cut-off man techniques.

Mustang Division • Catchers: - Throwing base-runners out on steals, - Covering bunts, and - Catching foul ball pop ups behind the plate - How to block bad pitches. • Batting (More specific skills): - Stance - Loading and weight transfer - Proper bunting technique - Situational hitting - Running on a drop 3rd strike

Mustang Division • Base Runners: - Lead offs, - How to read a pitcher’s move - Stealing technique (American)

• Pitching: - Begin learning to hit spots (corners, high, low) - Introduce the change up - Pick off moves to all bases (American) - How to cover the base if the pitcher throws to his/her base

(American)

Bronco Division

Bronco Division • Infield: - Moving with pitch - Holding runners on base, pick off plays - Position play per game situation - Relays and cut offs on larger field - Defensive plays against base running situations

• Outfield - Moving with pitcher - Throwing for out after fielding of ball - Fence play - Calling off infielder - Moving to proper position based on game situation

Bronco Division

• Pitching: - Fielding position - Holding runners on base, pick off moves. - Backing up plays at third and home - Arm strengthening and injury prevention - Mechanics

• Catcher: - Pitch calling - Throw down to all bases - Fielding the bunt - Defensive plays with 1st and 3rd

Bronco Division

• Hitting: - Situational hitting - Adjusting strike zone per balls and strike count - Bat/ball contact per pitch location - On deck preparation

• Base Running: - Lead offs - all bases (if applicable) - Lead offs per outs - First step on steels - Situational running - Sliding away from the tag

Pony Division

Pony Division • Infield: - Moving with pitch - Position play per game situation - Relays and cut offs on larger field - Separating lower and upper half of body - Defensive plays against base running situations

• Outfield: - Improve jump on ball - Throwing to correct base per game situation

Pony Division

• Hitting - Situational hitting - Redefining strike zone per pitch - Squaring up to ball

• Pitching: - Pitching to game count and game situation - Arm strengthening and injury prevention - Mechanics

Pony Division • Base Running - Aggressive base running - Keys to improve jump - Jab step with left-handers

• Catcher position - Pitch calling - Mechanics - Injury prevention - Talking to the pitcher - Team positioning

Tips to Running an Effective Practice

Have a Plan Give some prior thought – write out a timed schedule – research as needed

Be on Time Start on time – finish on time

Have a Philosophy My goal is to help them…..

Planning Practices

• Plan out your practices: - Limited amount of time, so plan ahead. - Keep all kids busy at all times (stations). - Take advantage of assistant coach skill sets. • Balanced practices: - Use pitching (if applicable), infield, outfield, and hitting drills. - Don't under-estimate the power of hitting off the tee!

Planning Practices

• Off-site facility usage: - We encourage everyone to use Hitting Zone and BYA. (you

might want to collect small amount of $ for these facilities at your team meeting)

Setting Parent Expectations

– Team expectations and realities: (99.9% of kids won’t play MLB – it is more

important to stress sportsmanship and rotate kids to a variety of positions than to obsess about winning).

– Win or lose, kids usually remember the snack

they had after the game; not the score or their individual stats.

Setting Parent Expectations

– Conduct in the stands: keep it positive. Keep it fun. Set your policy for parent complaints,

suggestions, or issues NOW! – No parents in the dug-out or on field

Game Points (from your kids)

1) Don’t yell out instructions 2) Don’t put down the umps 3) Don’t yell at me 4) Don’t put down my teammates 5) Don’t put down the other team 6) Don’t lecture me about mistakes 7) Don’t lose your cool 8) Don’t forget to laugh 9) Don’t forget that it’s just a game

Zero Tolerance Policy 1. We have a no tolerance policy when it comes to abuse of players,

umpires, parents and opposing coaches. 2. If you get out of control on the field, you will be suspended. 3. If you abuse an umpire, you will be suspended. 4. If you physically abuse any human on or near our fields, you will be

removed from our league. 5. If you verbally abuse the “messenger” (i.e., the member or members of

the disciplinary committee delivering the message), your suspension will be lengthened.

Resources for Better Coaching

• Books

• Website Examples:

– www.qcbaseball.com (drills, rotation charts) – www.active.com/baseball – www.weplay.com/youth-baseball/drills

• Attend / observe High School and American Div practices.

http://www.qcbaseball.com/

http://www.qcbaseball.com/

http://www.active.com/baseball

http://www.weplay.com/youth-baseball/drills



Administrative Matters • Certifications • Parents Meetings (parents pledge) • Meetings ( PCA – Rules)

• Sponsorship Money – MUST collect $ before uniforms • All Stars • Chain of command for problems and or issues • Player Ratings • Other

Field Training

We need better coaches!!!!!€¦ · Acceptance by friends become very important Fear of ridicule...

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