First Game As A Baseball Coach

[JaybobHoosier 11,839]

I have my first game as a baseball coach tonight. I'm coaching 10u boys baseball, and I can't believe our game is already here. Who else coaches on here?

[BlueDevil 8,661]

[quote name="JaybobHoosier" post="58976" timestamp="1397173271"]I have my first game as a baseball coach tonight. I'm coaching 10u boys baseball, and I can't believe our game is already here. Who else coaches on here?[/quote] Im coaching a 13-15 year old team. It's really rewarding when the kids look up to you for advice and help and helping them improve their game.

[8bucks 6,355]

Never baseball but coached probably 10 or so basketball teams and 15 or so soccer teams. Never would have thought I would coach soccer but have learned to enjoy coaching that most. Looking into starting a running club for elementary aged kids this summer. Keeps you young. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

[mdn82 25,510]

Congrats Jaybob!  Hopefully everyone enjoys themselves.  

[djsalway 4,161]

I definitely plan on coaching my kids when they are in sports, whatever they choose to do. I can figure enough of the sports out that I can help them, just to make them happy.

[OliviaPope40 6,458]

Just don't scare them.

[coachmayhew 1,414]

I have coached my girls in softball & basketball, that is where my name came from. Win or lose there is nothing better than seeing kids try their best at the game. Becoming a team and learning the fundamentals is where it starts. At a young age winning should be second, first is knowledge & fun as in fundamentals is where to start. Also other parental involvement helps a lot. Most parents want to help but don't wanna coach, in this instance put them in the dugout or as a base coach and all they need is simple guidance. You should be great at this every one who puts in time like coaching for instance will see the rewards unfold in front of your eyes.

A lil off topic but I have a plaque given to me by a former player/parents that says "Coach of the Year 2008" it hangs in my garage with pride.


Sent from my iphone 9 using BtownBanners

[Naturalhoosier 15,407]

I'm the Asst Coach on my son's tee-ball team.  The coach is a former D-I lefty.  Really nice guy!  There's no way I could herd these cats at the helm.  There's nothing more pure than watching these kids running around and learning the true spirit of the game.  Lots of fun!

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

I coached a 8 and Under Swimmers for a while and a Little 500 team...the children worked way harder than the riders!

[OliviaPope40 6,458]

My cousin coaches his step daughter's soccer team.

[JaybobHoosier 11,839]

Well, the game didn't go so well haha. We played a team that was just a lot better than us. No sour grapes because they were better, but there is no way they should be in the same division we are. We are Ina middle of the pack division, they should be in the top tier division.

 

The most important thing is the boys had a blast. One of the parents told me their boy had the time of his life. As long as they play hard and have fun, there's nothing better! We have two games tomorrow, so we will see how it goes.

[BlueDevil 8,661]

[quote name="JaybobHoosier" post="59242" timestamp="1397271343"]Well, the game didn't go so well haha. We played a team that was just a lot better than us. No sour grapes because they were better, but there is no way they should be in the same division we are. We are Ina middle of the pack division, they should be in the top tier division.

The most important thing is the boys had a blast. One of the parents told me their boy had the time of his life. As long as they play hard and have fun, there's nothing better! We have two games tomorrow, so we will see how it goes.[/quote]

Don't sweat it Jaybob! We got no hit and lost 22-0 my first game coaching. We turned it around and won the title! That's good the boys had fun and kept their spirits high! Go get em tomorrow!

[BlueDevil 8,661]

Using this thread for a frustration vent. I don't know what to do guys we are the worst team in the league at 2-10 but have a ton of talent on our roster 1-9. These guys are just impossible to coach. I've had a lot of success with the guys I have coached with and we have won a lot of games together but this year is the first year where no matter what we say we just can't get through to the kids. We have gotten so close to winning ball games but we have mental errors and lack of hustle. We've gone as far as sacrificing a chicken before a game (just eating a bucket of fried chicken) just to lighten the boys up. Tonight we trail 10-9 in the last innin and we have a runner on second with 2 outs and our best hitter rips one into left and the guy on second gets a terrible jump and doesn't go all out and gets thrown out to end the game at the plate on a play that he should have been in easy. I know it's key to stay positive and keep reinforcing but I literally don't know what else to do.

[TheWatShot 13,712]

Using this thread for a frustration vent. I don't know what to do guys we are the worst team in the league at 2-10 but have a ton of talent on our roster 1-9. These guys are just impossible to coach. I've had a lot of success with the guys I have coached with and we have won a lot of games together but this year is the first year where no matter what we say we just can't get through to the kids. We have gotten so close to winning ball games but we have mental errors and lack of hustle. We've gone as far as sacrificing a chicken before a game (just eating a bucket of fried chicken) just to lighten the boys up. Tonight we trail 10-9 in the last innin and we have a runner on second with 2 outs and our best hitter rips one into left and the guy on second gets a terrible jump and doesn't go all out and gets thrown out to end the game at the plate on a play that he should have been in easy. I know it's key to stay positive and keep reinforcing but I literally don't know what else to do.

 

I'm far from a coach, but my suggestion would be to ask them what they think needs to change. Have you tried shuffling the lineup? Or even moving some guys to other positions? A change in batting order and place in the field might get them to approach the game differently.

 

 

When I was ten, I played on a team that started off decently, but went through a horrible slump midseason. After we blew a four run lead in the last inning of a game, our coach called for a practice the next day. For every mistake, the entire team had to run a lap around the field. It was 90 degrees and we went for two and a half hours. I thought I was going to collapse at the end of it. We got mercy-ruled our next two games and guys were ready to quit. Fortunately, our other two coaches (one being my dad) constantly reassured us that our struggles would end and we would be rewarded for our efforts. We got back on track and made it to the tournament semifinals before losing by 1 run. 

 

 

Don't practice for 2+ hours in 90 degree weather (what was ok in 1999 would probably spark a lawsuit now, lol), but be firm and let your players know you're working toward a greater goal than simply trying to win more games than other teams or score a ton of runs. After a win, remind them how much they've improved since the last loss. Kids are impressionable, and if you convince them that they'll get more out of this than an athletic accomplishment, they'll have a better attitude toward it and eventually respond. 

[JaybobHoosier 11,839]

WatShot nailed it. Try changing things up, and have a serious talk with the players. We had a game last night where our 2nd best pitcher was struggling. These kids are 10u, and for some is their first year. With this pitcher, it is his first year playing. After the first inning, I pulled him to the side, and after a serious talk, he just broke down and started balling. We needed that conversation, and what sucked is it got cut short because he was 1st up to bat.

 

Just make sure to talk to the kids, and make sure they are having fun. If they don't hustle and continue to display poor effort, call them out, and have the entire team run. Let them know why they are running, and that should start creating accountability amongst the players. I started doing that, and we are down to only one player mow who is like that instead of half.

[BlueDevil 8,661]

Hey guys thanks for the input. We had another game last night lost 7-4 effort was better just more mental mistakes costing us in the end. We had a practice Saturday night just to lighten the mood coaches vs the kids. It was pretty fun. I've come to realize that a lot of the kids just aren't connecting with the head coach. He is a really intense guy but no one cares more about their kids than this guy. I watched him cry in front of the team in 2011 when we won the league and went on to win the tournament championship by ten run rule. It's just been a weird weird season that I'm really ready for it to end.

[BlueDevil 8,661]

Always love all star season! 13 year old district champs off to state next week in logansport.