COACHING BASEBALL: VOLUNTEERS

Hats off to the volunteer baseball coaches, from tee ball through American Legion, who give their time and energy to teach the great game of baseball. There is no monetary gain for their efforts. Why do they do it? That is a good question that must be answered by each and every coach. What motivates them to utilize a great deal of their time on the ball field?

Problems do occur when the reasons are not what they should be. Unfortunately, getting coaches to volunteer their time can be very difficult. It may be necessary to take parents as coaches to keep the league operating. Following are some prerequisites that all coaches should adhere to.

1. Knowledge of the game

It is important that coaches spend enough time learning the game so they can adequately convey needed skills and fundamentals to the players they are involved with. Playing the game as a youngster is not always a good prerequisite. Times have changed. Reading instructional articles and attendance at clinics are two great ways to upgrade their knowledge.

2. Treat all players equally

For team unity and team chemistry, treating all players the same is very important. No player should get special treatment. Team rules should apply to everyone. More talented players and coach's son or daughter should not be exempt to the rules. Winning is not the most important thing at this level. The least talented player on the team is just as important as the other players. Everyone knows where they stand on the team. Too often, the coach who gives special treatment to certain players, such as his son or daughter , leaves himself open to criticism. Parents cry "favoritism" and team morale crumbles. They are more prone to accept coaching decisions if they see they apply to the coach's children also. If the star player breaks a team rule, he should be disciplined just as everyone else. It is an important lesson to be taught.

3. Keep the game fun

Baseball is a game and is meant to be fun to play. Keeping that in mind will go a long way to the players having a great experience. Winning should not be the end-all. Winning is the result of doing things the right way. Yelling at or belittling players when mistakes are made does not help the situation. Patience and understanding are needed at this time. You don't want your players fearful of making a mistakes because of the consequences that follow.

4. Be organized

Organizing practices so that the players learn and have fun is an ideal path to follow. Cover several skills during practice so that your players learn how to properly play the game. Breaking your practice into different stations that cover hitting, throwing, fielding and running would go a long way in making your practice organized and fun. Utilize available parents to help supervise the stations. Having your players stand out in the outfield shagging balls for two hours is not my idea of a productive practice. It is actually quite boring. Make your practice fun and teach at the same time. You won't believe how the time flies. The kids will love it.

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