My New Year’s Resolutions
Here are my top 10 Coaching New Year’s Resolutions
10. I will learn AND REMEMBER every kid’s name on the team BEFORE the end of the season.
9. I will only say “come on blue” once per inning. (Will probably be the first one to be broken)
8. I will maintain my cool when one of my players runs full speed to the next base on a caught line drive for the 5th time in the game! (Probably not, but again, sounds good)
7. I will be on time to every practice.
6. I will have a plan for every practice. (Yeah right)
5. I will focus on the field and not the pretty moms in the stands! (Again, unlikely)
4. I will draft kids for their commitment to team and not their ability…(sure)
3. I will not argue with anyone from a city who’s name starts with D…(anyone believe this?)
2. I won’t let uniformed parents with nothing better to do with their lives than complain bother me. (This one I will keep)
1. I will remember that 10 years from now, none of this will really matter except the impact I have on the kid’s lives.
Now don’t go gettin’ your panties all in a ruffle…just a little fun for the end of the year.
What’s your resolution?
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Proud Papa
First, I am proud of all my children whether they succeed or fail, it makes no difference to me. I prefer to put them in a position to succeed, then, win or lose, it doesn’t matter, it is a life learning lesson no matter what happens. Tonight, my youngest daughter decided she was going to succeed, and she did!
I think it might have been the large fry and small Dr. Pepper we had before we went to the field, lol, I don’t know for sure, but next time she pitches you can guarantee that is what she will be having on the way to the field!
She has worked hard. She comes to every single pitcher/catcher practice and clinic we hold. She never really has been given the opportunity to pitch even though she has been coming to all of these practices for over 3 years. She has had control problems in the past, and was unable to stay out there. Not tonight! Tonight she was on fire, throwing strike after strike. It was beautiful to watch!
She has been saying for days she could do it, but I have to admit I had my doubts. Our coaching staff was wondering as well, but she was fantastic. The best game she has ever had, bar none. To cap it all off, she finally stayed behind the ball, turned on a pitch, and hit it over the left fielder’s head for a triple! Woohoo!
Why all this success suddenly? Because she is not afraid of failure. We have done everything in our power to create an environment where success is awesome, but failure simply brings you one step closer to success. In the sales world the saying goes, “every ‘no’ you get brings you one step closer to a ‘yes’.” This is also true in sport.
Every strike brings you one step closer to a hit, when pitching, every ball brings you one step closer to a strike, and in life, every failure brings you one step closer to a success.
What is your greatest success story? We would love to hear it.
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Conflict Resolution
I am putting this out there to try and determine how to overcome issues that come up all the time. At all levels of ball there is always more than one way to skin a cat. Different techniques for accomplishing this task, different ways to attack a situation, or different solutions to a problem that may exist. It seems everyone knows how to do this-or-that and everyone has a way to fix something. Often, there is more than one way to do something, and a conflict exists at the coaching level. How do we overcome this?
One of the most common things I hear parents and less experienced coaches tell their kids is to “keep your elbow up”. I used this only as an example, while this is not the worst advice in the world, it is wrong. The elbows should be relaxed and the hands high. Raising the elbow simple increases the swing plane and increases the time from the point the hands release to the point of contact with the ball. What we really want is hands to the ball as fast as we can with the most possible bat speed. This is accomplished by having the hands high, pulling with the lead elbow, and whipping the bat through the zone. Having the elbows relaxed facilitates this.
Another point of contention is the bunt, how to stand, should the batter square up? How should the feet be positioned, should they be running at contact? There are a number of ways to teach this, none in necessarily wrong, but everyone, including myself, thinks they know the perfect way to do this. I still see old school high school coaches to this day having their batters square all the way around and face the pitcher to bunt, this is wrong, but I see it daily.
But what do we do when there is a conflict between the coaches? The worst case is that one coach teaches it one way, and the other another. Then the kid is all confused. Should a coach who feels strongly about their position teach it w/o regard to the other coach? That seems counterproductive. Hopefully a strong manager will step in and make a ruling, but what if they don’t know for sure either?
I once had a 9/10 all-star team comprised of about 75% of players from my team. They were very good, they knew what to do and had been coached by me for 3 months. I had an assistant from another team who taught hitting differently than me. He was teaching an advanced method of hitting that I did not teach until the kids got to 11/12. Most of the 9/10’s had just started playing, so the goal was to keep them still and have them turn into the pitch. He wanted to teach them to rotate and explode right away, they couldn’t handle that yet, they weren’t at that skill level yet.
Even though I asked him not to continue it, he decided it was his job to teach every girl on the team a new way to hit in less than two weeks. Asinine. He screwed up every girl on the team’s swing and we went from scoring 20 runs a game to 3 or 4. Needless to say, we didn’t win the tournament. This is a tough situation to be in and one that often arises at All-Star time. Hell, I have daily battles w/ my regular season assistants, but that’s just it, we have battles, sometimes arguments even, but we work it out and everyone respects the other’s position, then we move forward.
I don’t have the answer to this situation. It happens in life every day. How many times have you been at work, come up with a plan, assigned tasks, and a week later, everyone shows up w/ whatever they felt like doing, or felt was best to do, rather than what the plan originally called for? You see this in the NFL all the time. When a team is winning they seem to flow like a well oiled machine, but when they are losing it seems the parts are fighting each other.
I guess this is what makes great leaders. Creating an objective, defining success, mapping a plan that offers the best path to success, and getting everyone on the team to buy into it. I have a friend who is a master at this, he is always positive, always encouraging, and always letting everyone know what they are supposed to be doing to achieve success. He is clear, simple to understand, and very motivational. Care to guess where his teams always finish?
Anyway, I guess my solution to any conflict resolution is listening and understanding, but making sure never to stray from the stated objectives. Where most coaches and leaders break down is never having clearly defined objectives in the first place. If we don’t know what we are striving for, how can we work to attain it?
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Water Under the Bridge
Two weeks ago we had a major incident in a game that involved a team and a league with which I have very much respect. They are our closest friends, as far as competitive leagues go, and we often help each other out. It was an unfortunate and disturbing situation that could have festered and grown into a long-term feud.
Today we had to play the same team again. Our coaching staff and team made a conscious decision to “let bygones be bygones” and just show up, play our best, and allow the kids to have fun no matter what the circumstances. It seems their team did the same and, even though we lost the game, we had a fantastic time at their park.
Again Ms. Peevie, both teams truly had a choice. I will repeat again what one of my old girlfriends used to say quoting her mother, “If you are looking for trouble, you will find it.” This is so true. I would translate that to this situation as “If you are looking for a fight, you will find it.” Had either team shown up “looking for a fight” they probably would have found it somewhere.
But that’s not what happened. What happened is all the adults involved took the high road and taught the kids on both teams how to put our differences aside, focus on the objective at hand, and just go out there and play the game. This was obvious from the time warm ups started and I am proud to say that I was part of it.
How many times in your life have you had a dispute, argument, disagreement, or outright fight with another person, only to end up being best friends? Why is it that this happens? So often we look to that person next to us and say to ourselves, “How did I ever end up teaming up w/ this guy?” My assistant coach during the spring is a guy I have the utmost respect for, but when we were on different teams we were always at odds. Now together, we are very powerful.
Who was it that said, “keep your friends close, and your enemies closer?” So what happens when our enemies become our friends? What human dynamic causes this to occur so often? Passion is an emotion from which we derive so much pleasure, but it is also a major cause of dispute. This is prevalent throughout all societies.
My first Real Estate instructor was the most colorful instructor I ever studied under. He used to take the boring legal parts of the real estate game and paint them with passion so vivid that his students would get lost in the particular dispute he was discussing. He would always end every one with one or the other parties saying, “it’s the principal of the thing.” At this point he suggested we pack our stuff up, walk out of the room, and let the attorneys figure it out since they were the only ones who were going to get paid now anyway.
Coaches are passionate about their teams, parents are passionate about their kids, kids are passionate about the game, this is a recipe for conflict. If we recognize and understand this, we can overcome anything that occurs “on the field.”
I preach to my kids every game, “what is the most important pitch?”. The next one of course. We can’t change the one before it no matter what the outcome. Therefore, if we as the adults put prior “pitches” behind us and focus on “the next pitch”, we are certainly better off. If we hold on to hostilities, no matter how justified, we are simply “looking for trouble”. Do we really want trouble? Is this what we want to teach our kids? Do we tell our kids as they go off to school, “go get in trouble today honey.” Of course not, we say “have a nice day”, or some other semblance of good wishes.
So why do we so often show up at games “looking for trouble”? Don’t we know we are certain to find it? Today anyway, everyone involved decided to put our troubles behind us and let the kids enjoy the game. I am proud to say I was a small part of this situation and know in the future, our relationship with this particular league remains in tact, as it should.
Who is your best friend right now that you fought with initially? Please tell us the story, we would love to hear it!
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Why Do We Hold Grudges?
I ask this question because it seems to be an epidemic in Little League. A coach makes a bad decision, says something that is out of line, loses his temper, or just makes a rookie error. A parent yells too loud, yells at the coach one day, takes their kid off the team, or something along those lines. An umpire has a bad game, makes a bad call, or blows a game for a team. It seems Little League parents, coaches, and umpires have trouble letting this stuff go.
I have been ejected from 5 or 6 Little League games in 19 years. All of those ejections came from the same umpire. See a trend? Likewise, I have had plenty of parents unhappy with something I did, a mistake I made, or maybe a decision I stand by that they didn’t agree with. Those parents still hold something I did years ago against me. Likewise, everyone thinks the board members are out to get them, or stack a team, or something of the like, that is generally hogwash, the board has strict rules with which it must adhere.
Then there are the rare exceptions that I have stood my ground, knowing there was no life lesson in giving in to an individual child’s wants over the betterment of the entire league. I have had players that I drafted on to my team knowing they didn’t want to be there, but knowing that they wanted to play w/ their friends and stack their teams. This usually occurs in the junior or senior division. I drafted them anyway, knowing I could work with them and that they would contribute to the team. We won a championship that year because the very players that protested contributed so greatly.
Just this year a player returned to our league who had left the league because he was not permitted to be placed back in the draft after being part of a Major’s team for the year. This is the manager’s decision and they did not want to release him. Understandable, why weaken your team and strengthen another for the good of one child and the detriment of 23 others? That parent came to me this year and asked if I had any hard feelings, my response? Of course not, he did what he thought was best for his kid and I did what I thought was best for the league. It is rarely personal.
Another situation involves an adult that the board felt was causing trouble. For a few months the two of us didn’t talk even though we had been friendly for years before. He finally started a conversation, we talked things out, and now we are both coaching cordually again. It is silly to have it any other way. But some people don’t see it that way, some people hold grudges. I can do nothing about that, it is their demon, not mine. Who is wrong? Initially, that can be debated, though it really doesn’t matter, but now? Whoever holds the grudge. Is hate what we want to teach our children? Then we wonder why they have so much trouble functioning in a society that will send them on their way if they are unable to cooperate in today’s corporate team structured world?
The fact is, everyone makes mistakes. Coaches, managers, umpires, parents, kids, everyone. Why do we hold on to our hatred and misguided feelings? Why do we put so much effort into negativity? Have you ever felt good about hating someone? But, by contrast, how good does it make you feel when you talk to someone, work it out, and move forward on a whole new plane of understanding? Now that is a good feeling isn’t it? Why do so many deprive themselves of this feeling rather than try and bring good into their lives?
Forgiveness is great. I once had a boss that used to say, “you don’t have to like them, you just have to work with them,” about people that we didn’t really like or customers that were less than cooperative. So many of us smile and are cordial to those we service daily, yet we are nasty and hateful to those that are closest to us who can enlighten our lives so much. I am not talking about family, they love you unconditionally, I am talking about neighbors, friends, teammates, fellow parents and coaches, why can’t we work through our differences and make everyone’s lives better? It does take two to tango though.
Do you have a situation where you worked something out with another and ended up creating a whole different scenario that was better than the original?
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Must Wear a Cup
One of the most overlooked rules in the rulebook is that every male player SHALL wear a cup. The shall means this is not an option! Why would you want to send your male players out there w/o a cup? Don’t you want grandchildren?
When I was playing on my over 30 team I used to occasionally forget my cup for practice. Not having it made me tentative when approaching ground balls from first base. When I had my cup, I was fearless. This is the mentality we want to program into the kids heads so they want to wear a cup. They should get used to playing w/ it at all times.
Today they have really cool slider pants that hold the cup. You don’t need the old school jock strap, though there is nothing wrong w/ that. The sliders serve a dual purpose, no strawberries, and a cup! Beautiful!
All coaches must demand that their players where cups and their parents must enforce it. (Hard for the coach to enforce w/o getting arrested!) I advise against that….lol.
I remember in a Pony League scrimmage game we played against the hardest thrower in the league. A player on our team squared to bunt old school style where you square all the way around. He was fully exposed, he took a direct hit, he did not have a cup on. Sounds funny, but he was on the ground convulsing and needed a blanket to keep from going in to shock and an ambulance to carry him off the field.
Think you don’t need a cup? Anyone have any good cup stories?
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If You Can’t Stand the Heat, Get out of the Majors
Little League is comprised of three specific seasons and four divisions of play for kids 12 and under. The seasons consist of fall, an instructional program, spring, a competitive program, and All-Stars a hyper-competitive program. There are many lessons to be learned in each season. The divisions begin at T-ball, then rookie or coach pitch, then minors, then majors. This hierarchy is by design as well and has come about through years of research and feedback.
The division we all see on TV is the major’s division consisting of 9-12 year old kids. The major’s division is intentionally competitive. You must earn your spot, play hard, and contribute 150% to the team. The major’s division is not an extension of the minors, it is a separate division where those that have the talent and mental fortitude compete.
The fall season allows kids to try the majors to see if they are “cut out” for it. Many of the kids fail. This is unfortunate, but it is a fact of life and a fantastic learning experience for all. Major league coaches are looking for much more than talent. Major’s coaches can teach kids how to play, that isn’t the issue, they simply need a reasonably coordinated kid with a will to learn, give me 12 of them and get out of the way, we will be successful.
But give me 12 super talented kids with poor attitudes and there is nothing I can do. I can’t change attitudes, I can try, but it is difficult. It is especially difficult if the parents support these actions. Every mother or father hurts when their little girl or boy is obviously distraught or struggling emotionally, but perpetuating this action does their child no good. Everyone has heard a coach or parent tell a kid to “suck it up”, in the majors you need have thick skin, and while I am not a big fan of that saying, I do believe a major’s kid should be encouraged to fail and learn how to deal with it during the fall season.
If they are not mentally preparing themselves at this time, they will be left behind. The fact is, they have to be tough, physically and mentally, and more so mentally than physically. Again, anyone can play the game, anyone can be taught and work hard to improve, but not everyone has the mental capacity to succeed.
What does it take to succeed? The ability to not care if you fail. If you don’t concern yourself with failure, then success is the only option. A player that is mentally prepared succeeds even when they fail. A player that fails and then is not properly channeled towards success is let down. The coach or the parent can be guilty of this.
Finally, when a player does not put forth the maximum effort they are capable of they have failed themselves. Catering to their actions or their manipulation of our emotions as adults does them no justice. If we baby them, they will be left in the minors in the spring, if we work together to make them stronger, they will succeed and move up in the spring. The great thing about the majors is, if you don’t want to be here, there is always another player waiting in the wings happy to have your spot.
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Top 10 Reason I Love Coaching Kids
10. They are sponges eager to learn
9. They call you coach no matter what the setting
8. They love to have fun
7. They make life fun
6. They keep you young
5. They reward you so often
4. They never quit
3. They make great teammates
2. They strive to succeed at any cost
1. The smile that won’t go away when they succeed
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Safety First
Image by Getty Images via Daylife The Set Up
How often do you watch a game and see a coach down by three or four runs late in the game trying to impose their will on the game by being way too agressive on the base paths? What happens? They often run into an out of course. What ever happened to safety first on the base paths?
The Huddle
Let’s assume you are down by 3 going into the bottom of the sixth inning. The first thing I tell my team at the huddle before we go into the dugout (you do a huddle between every inning don’t you?) is SAFETY FIRST on the base paths. I immediately follow this up with "you can’t hit a three run home run with nobody on base".
First Runner
Once a baserunner gets on base I remind them very clearly that it is much more important for them not to make an out than to score. The tying run is still in the on deck circle. Outs are precious at this point and you have to bring the tying run to the plate.
Tying Run at the Plate
Once the second runner gets on, now it is time to sit back and enjoy. Hopefully this is your slugger, but if the baseball/softball Gods have their way, and they always do, it is your number eight hitter. Bunt if you have to, but probably better to sit back and let them come through. Encourage them. Something I have heard coaches say lately is "nobody better in this situation", beautiful. At this time the only important thing is to instill confidence in the batter, let them know you believe in them, and reinforce the fact that even if they fail you will still love them.
They have, after all, been on your team for years, have received all your fantastic training, and have been being prepared for exactly this situation. You will be amazed how often they come through in the clutch.
Back to Normal
Once your tying run puts the ball in play you can go back to standard/agressive ball. That is up to you how you coach it, but you cannot under any circumstances run into an out. If you are agressive, you must be successful.
Why do so many teams ignore this simple fundamental? What other fundamentals do you see violated regularly?
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On Deck Batter Responsibilities
Stupid Little League Rule
One of the stupidest Little League rules is the one that does not allow an on deck batter. Batters on deck gain so much insight into the pitcher and the come to the plate much more prepared to hit. That is the obvious downside of this rule, a more subtle one is the on deck batter’s responsibilities to the runners.
On Deck Batter’s Responsibilities
What you ask? The on deck batter is supposed to help the runners? Yes, this subtle and often overlooked skill can save you a few runs over the length of a season. The on deck batter must help the runner coming home and alert them to:
1. Slide
2. Stand Up
3. Which side of the plate to slide on
This is done very simply. Let’s assume there is a runner on second base, the batter hits a single and there is an inevitable play coming on the the runner at home. The on deck batter should line up beyond home plate, but out of the path of play. Basically, continue the third base line through the batter’s box, over the plate, and into the space where a runner would run if he overran home plate. That is where the on deck batter should position himself.
How to Communicate
This position gives the runner the best opportunity to see him without and additional effort. We do, after all, want the runner going full speed, there is a play being made on him. The runner approaches third, picks up the third base coach and gets the go signal. At this point he rounds third base and heads for home. About halfway home he should pick up the on deck batter. The on deck batter should signal to the runner what to do in the following manner:
Stand Up-The on deck batter should stand tall and hold their arms up in the air while yelling "your up, up, up, up, up"
Slide Left (inside the plate)-The on deck batter should bend down and swipe his hands in the direction right of the line or inside the plate shouting "get down, get down, get down"
Slide Right (outside the plate)-The on deck batter should bend down and swipe his hands in the direction left of the line or inside the plate shouting "get down, get down, get down"
The swipe should be a big two handed wave similar to a "swoosh" or big loco wave motion. How does the on deck batter decide which way to tell the runner to slide? He has to watch the play develop and watch where the throw is going to end up.
How to Decide
If the catcher is moving towards the pitchers mound or "leaning in" to the field of play, he tells the runner to slide outside. If the catcher has to go up the line a bit or has to go into foul territory to make the play the runner should slide inside. If the throw is on the money and the catcher is in perfect blocking position, then the runner is probably going to be out, but since the catcher usually reaches towards the inside of the diamond to catch the ball then reaches back to make the tag, the default location to slide is outside.
So how do we accomplish this in Little League? Well, the first runner is on their own, but if they score standing up, they should turn around and assist any trailing runners.
This often overlooked fundamental of the game will help you pick up a few runs during the season. Don’t neglect it in the older divisions, and make sure to use it for trailing runners in the younger divisions.
Do you have another overlooked fundamental you like to focus on?
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