youthcoach
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Need Help With My Son In Encourgement/stronger
youthcoach replied to buzzardlips's topic in Youth Baseball
That is a tough question and the answer is even tougher. But first and foremost THE ONLY REASON to take him out of the dugout before the game was over is to take him for medical attention. Because he was bruised or it was raining was no excuse to leave his team and the game. If you want a tough independent son you have to let him know that is what you expect. By leaving with him before the game ended You have sent a strong message to the coaches and the other players. ESPECIALLY IF HE IS 9! He is no longer a toddler. This is much to old to be taking him hone because he was bruised or upset. You can not always protect him in life and the sooner you both realize it the better. He will get it hurt both physically and emotionally in life and sports. It is our job as parents and coaches to prepare them to deal with this. Not to pick him up (rescue him) every time he has a little problem or gets hurt. Save that for when it is a serious issue. (this was not it) We should be raising them to be independent adults. This means letting them fall on their face once in a while or suffering through the pains of life. Bumps, bruises, rain and all! From your post your problem seems to be what you expect from him and the message you are sending to him. While I know it kills you inside, you have to toughen up where he is involved to make him tougher and more independent. In my opinion you need to apologize to the coaches and then make sure you send the right message to your son. He is a big boy and he can handle it. If you believe it so will he. (eventually) You did not create this problem over night and it will not be solved over night either. The question will be do you have the fortitude to withstand it and do what is really best for him in the long run? JMHO ( and don't forget you asked) -
Developing All The Kids On A 9-10 Year Old Team
youthcoach replied to otter's topic in Youth Baseball
There are several issues here. As a coach I try to never put a kid in a position where I know he will fail nor where I feel he could get hurt. However I judge my performance as a coach not by wins and losses but whether the kids improve and most importantly do they come back to play next year!!!! I might not put our weakest kid at shortstop against the best team in the league. But I can certainly get him a few innings at third against our weakest team. Because in that case he is going to see very little action over there. The weakest team is usually late swingers and you are not going to get rockets hit at him. So he will have very few plays to make or kick. I am not going to try a new pitcher in a tie game. But if we are up 9-0 in the last inning then that is the time to give him a shot. You have to look for the times. But it can be done. You can make each kid feel important. You can do the things you should in a participation league. If you try..... In some cases we use the injury thing as an excuse. I mean if you dont like the idea of a participation league then coach in a competition league. But in these leagues for some of these kids these will be their only baseball memories for God's sake make them good ones........... -
I found this on the web. Just wondering what others thought of it? This is for 6-12 yr old participation leagues only. Not AAU style competition leagues....... Youth Participation Baseball Is it about you as the coach or about the kids? Take the test. Answer it honestly no one else will know. Section 1 1. Do the same kids play the same basic positions every game? I.E. Are the same kids always in the infield? 2. Do the same kids always start? 3. Are the same kids substituted for, while a core group, always play the whole game? 4. Do you spend your time working with the same kids in practice while the others are used as training aids, running the bases etc.? 5. Do you find you call some of the less talented players by the wrong name? 6. Do you have kids each year who quit playing all together? 7. Does your son always get the position that is best for him? 8. Have you recruited kids based on talent alone? 9. Do you have a kid on your team that is just hopeless? 10. Have you ever hoped a kid did not show up for a game? Section 2 11. Have your 3 least talented kids ever played in the infield when not required by sheer numbers? 12. Has your most talented player ever not started when he was at a game on time? 13. Has every player on your team set out at least part of one game? 14. Has every player started at some point? 15. Have you given each kid the chance to see game action in the infield if they wish to play there? 16. Have you ever thought about how the parent of the worst player on the team feels? 17. Have you spent one on one time with each kid during practice? 18. Looking back have you ever underrated a kid’s talent or position? 19. Have you spent time teaching the outfielders how to play the position on balls hit to the infield, steal plays etc.? 20. Can you be happy with your team even when they lose? Now count up your score. How many yes answers did you have in section 1? How many no answers did you have in section 2? Total of section 1 and 2 If your total is 16-20 Get out of youth participation sports now! It is all about you! 11-15 you need to seriously re-evaluate what you are doing. It is mostly about you! 6-10 you need to make some changes. It is as much about you as it is the kids! 1-5 Gave you some things to think about. But it is mostly about the kids. 0 You are the perfect youth participation coach. As a coach you have to think about all the kids and as an extension their parents. In youth participation all the parents plopped down their money, signed up their kids, brought them to practice etc. Each kid practiced and put in the effort. This is not yet competitive ball. There will be a time as the kids reach their teenage years for only the best to play but this is not yet that time and you are not that coach. Are you going to refund those 6 kids who only play half of every game half of their fee’s back? If you were their parent how would you feel? Are you breeding discontent on your own team? Are you creating problems for the kids’ ability to jell? How do you think those 6 kids feel while they play only half the game each game? How big a part of the team do they feel when they see their teammates play every minute of every game? What are you doing to their self-confidence and self-opinion? You must never forget that you are dealing with children and almost as importantly the parents of those children. They love and want to protect theirs just as much as you do yours. I pity the poor coach who faces a mother who feels their child is not being treated fairly and equally. Remember as a coach you are a huge role model for the kids. They will look at how you treat them, the opposing coaches, the umpires and how you handle each situation. A team takes its cue from the Coach. What example are you sending?