A Coach's Diary- Year One

Sorry for the loss of your friend and I look forward to reading this each week.  

One bit of advice that took me a couple of years to figure out is never expect your team to love the game as much as you do but they will respect it.  I think what you're trying to instill is that respect but I've seen a lot of younger coaches (myself many moons ago when I was young) who slowly turn that respect for the game into you need to love the game as much as I do.  Then you're setting yourself up for disappointment.  Hustle, focusing, learning the game are all aspects where you respect the game.  

You will have guys out there who love football or basketball or soccer or golf or whatever but they like baseball.  They can still perform at a high level and help the team win but they may not show up to voluntary workouts.  At the end of the day if they are the best alternative to help the team win then go with it as long as they respect the game.

Another thing is (and I mean this with the deepest respect) don't use your friend too much as inspiration to get the guys to work harder.  It can be a powerful tool and probably needs to be used right now but the more you use it to try and motivate the more they will tune it out - especially if you got a bunch who have lazy attitudes that you will need to phase out.  It will end up with them thinking / saying "Aw man here he comes again with that story of that guy again." To them 13 years ago is ancient history - the seniors were only 5 years old at this time.

One last bit of advice is to always remember you are working for the head coach.  Don't overstep your authority and try to do too much.  I read a lot of "I want to do this" statements in your post because the attitude isn't the same as when you were there.  I don't know the whole story so I could be completely wrong but they got that way because they were allowed to get that way.  Is the head coach the same one who coached you?  If not then don't try to put things in place the head coach will just undermine because at the end of the day he has the final say.  This is where you need to create change by being the role model and example for the kids.  You'll create change without undermining the HC.  If it's the same guy who coached you maybe he allowed it to get that way because he's lost the fire.  Help him get the fire back.  Or maybe it's coming from the admin and there's nothing you can do because they stink.  Absolutely nothing you can do there to make things better.

Good luck this year and keep posting this.  I think it will be a great read and hopefully the awesome posters on here can provide their knowledge / perspective to help you grow as a coach.

Sage advice right there!

Coach S,

Congrats on getting back to the field and grabbing this readers attention with a very personal story from your playing days.  Dave's story is incredibly tragic and sad. Wow.

I recently attended my youngest son's varsity coaches/parent meeting.   His coach has been doing this a long time...I think he said 28 years.  He is a legend and the guy just knows how to coach.  He's not a warm and fuzzy guy to parents but his players love playing for him.  He joked that he has some of the best parent stories and baseball stories over his career and he should write a book when it is over.  We've been a part of some of those baseball stories as my two oldest son's competed against his teams.  It is much better to be behind his dugout than behind the opponents dugout if you like to win and win the right way.  Here is my suggestion.....write a book about your experiences.   Don't wait 28 years.   You can use some of the threads you post here.  Coaches have the best stories, and you have a knack for writing things that are meaningful.   JMO.

What a great thread!  Great story and great advice from coach2709.

Maybe you cannot expect them to love the game like you do but you can sure make them try.  I think it is great that a young coach would try and encourage kids that way.  Someday, maybe one or more of the kids you coach will post here and tell us how much they love the game for many of the same reasons you do.  I am sure there will be frustrating times but always try and encourage them with a positive attitude.

I know, right?  Like this guy.

Drives me crazy! 

coach Sam, I think it has a lot to do with the old staff vs. new staff.  People have a tendency to do what they can get away with.  If the old coach wasn't a stickler for certain things, the players won't be, just out of habit.  There is a new sheriff in town.  You need to set your expectations.  It is setting up a new culture.  Our new football coach had to do a lot to rid the team of the old culture, even getting rid of seniors.  Good luck. 

Great thread that I too will enjoy.

JCG, don't go too hard against Maddon's hat here, it was a tribute parodying Alan Iverson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdDPVtVNP_s 

I wouldn't judge a kids love for the game by the type of equipment they have.

In my experience, a lot of times coaches assume that players know how to be hard chargers and so when they exhibit something less, these players are somehow labeled as lazy or players who "don't want it."  As hard as it might be to believe, some players need to be shown the way and have it explained what constitutes being a "hard charger."  I know, I had to do that myself when I came to my present school. 

Losing begets losing and winning begets winning.  You have to change the mindset of a team and sometimes, even a school.  Winners do certain things at all times where as losers actually practice being losers.  In order to win, you have to have "hard chargers."  In order to have "hard chargers," the coach has to lead by example.  In order for the coach to lead by example, they have to know the difference between building a team and building a program.  JMHO!

Maddon is my favorite manager.His daily quotes he posts for his players are excellent  and puts some great stuff on twitter.

coach2709, wow.  Wise advice.

Yeah, I know. Just going for a cheap laugh there. (but it's ironic isn't it that Maddon happens to be the one MLB manager who allows a guy on his club  to disrespect the game by wearing  his cap like a wannabe gansta)

Remember that this is a public forum.  Since you appear to be using your real name, you might not want to post some things.  You need to assume that everything you post will get back to your players, parents, coaches, administrators, etc.

good stuff here y'all. Coach Sampson, i look forward to your weekly updates.

Coach Sampson brought up a topic I always took for granted, love of the game. I was fortunate to play with high school and Legion teammates where all the players loved the game. All the multi sport athletes were baseball first. 

In the three years of teammates my son had in high school only two kids didn't see baseball as their primary sport. But one of them got to the walk off winning runner from the bullpen before any teammate except the on deck batter. He was a winner. He had a passion for winning. When he didn't start he told the other player, "Be better than me." The other kid was me first. I don't think he had a friend on the team. With today's 17u travel all the kids are committed to the game.

Coach one bit of advice in your first year you have to lay down the law and stick to it.  If you have kids that need to be run off you are much better to do it now.  Set an expectation for the type of players and behaviors you want on your team and don't waiver from it. If you don't you will continue to deal with problems each year.

Just a suggestion, your blog will get lost here, why not go to the skills section and post under coaches tips.

Have a good season.

 I crossed linked this into the coach's section.  Thus, it will be updated in this section and the coach's section when you update your blog or someone replies to this topic.

I totally understand what you mean by not trying to make the kids love the game, because it is quite obvious that they don't. From the type of equipment that they have to how they wear their hats and pants show that.

Sampson......When I say this I am not chastising you, I am giving advice from a veteran coach to a younger coach.  We were coaches that grew up watching old school guys play the game.  They were a generation that watched Griffey wear his hat backwards with earrings in the homerun derby.  You can not say they do not love the game because of how someone where their pants or hat because at this point you are making a huge assumption that someone has taught them the right way to do it and they have chosen to ignore it.  Do they know????  Being in So Cal I have kids see Hanley Ramirez wear a do rag when he plays.  Does that mean if a kid came out with a do rag on he doesn't, "love the game."  Be careful making judgments about these kids until you know what lies in their heart.  You can apply the same thing to hustle.  I take my so to minor league and major league games monthly.  I have seen very few players jog from the dugout to the outfield or visa versa before the game and I see not 1 sprint on and off the field.  So what does he see?  Does this mean they don't love the game?  Does this mean my son doesn't love the game?  No, it is what he sees and I have to instill a different attitude.  He is being raised in a culture of cool as is all of the baseball world now.  Don't criticize open their eyes!

Coach Sampson after reading your last post I hope you guys are successful in turning things around based on how disrespectful your kids sound towards you guys.  But that being said I think what you posted still goes into what IESBL said about they don't know any better.  When it comes to doing things the right way I suggest some patience and light punishments and they will come around.  The disrespectful attitude and demeanor towards you coaches should never be tolerated.

In the example of the kid who wore pants like shorts.  Just explain it to him like you did us.  It's not about fashion but about being functional and protection.  If he complies let it go.  If you look back around 10 minutes later and he's like that again then make him run poles or something similar.  I'm not a big fan of make the team run for one guy except for in extreme situations - this will cause more dissension than anything else usually.  This is a case where you teach versus punish.

Now if he mouths off while complying or flat our refuses then this is a situation bigger than playing the game the right way.  You have a cancer on the team.  What I would do is if a kid disrespects me or another coach I'm sending him home for practice.  I'm not kicking him off the team.  What this does is send a message to the rest of the team that practice is a time to get work done and any obstacle distraction will not be tolerated.  By just kicking him out of practice this allows the kid to learn as well it's not a time to play around.  Each day he shows up I would tell him he's now behind everyone else in terms of preparation and he has an even shorter leash now.  Soon as he doe something else then send him home again.  Eventually he will get the message or he will quit.  But what you've done is created a situation where if the parent wants to complain you can now show a patter of behavior not acceptable for the team.

I rarely kick people off my teams because I want them leaving to be their choice.  When you kick someone off they can now use that as a reason to be a victim and play to the school / community.  Let them be the bad guy instead of you.  

If the disrespect is a team wide problem find two or three guys who seem to be the "leaders" of the cancer group and make their life heck until they quit.  Every little thing they do is worthy of getting yelled at, kicked out of practice or at this point make the whole team run for what they do.  They will either quit or the rest of the team will turn on them.

Others will probably come on here and give their advice about just pulling the trigger and kicking them off.  There is nothing wrong with that method either. I have had success in the past with what I do.  Because at the end of the day you have to protect the team.

Back when I had a rule. When you were on the field in the dugout leaving the locker room getting off of the bus  you wore the uniform properly. Shirt tucked in buttoned up. Hat never I mean never backwards or sideways. Look like a ball player not a clown in the circus. 

No problem but it will be later in the day before I can get to it though.  Look forward to continuing the discussion.

I agree 100% and have the same rule.

I have a lot of respect for Coach2709 and his advice is sound.  However, I'm that other guy.  I lay out the expectation for what it takes to be in my program and then let it be known that if those expectations are not met, then whomever violates those expectations will be thrown off the team.  I have never cared what might happen in the community or about mom and dad.  When I came to my school, I had a prima donna who didn't want to listen, was last in all of the drills, and who was late.  He was "All Conference First Team" and so, didn't think he had to compete for a job.  I expected the team to be on the field at 2:55.  That is 25 minutes after school got out.  If I could make it from the other side of school, get to the locker room, change and be on the field, then everyone should be able to make it.  3 days after tryouts were done, he had not made it to practice on time once and yet the entire V and JV had.  So, I waited that fourth day but told him the 3rd day that if he can't be to practice on time, he can't play.  I waited up by the school and there he was walking his girlfriend out to her car, talking to friends and having a grand old time.  On that day, he would not have made the field by 3:10 or at least 15 minutes late.  I waited by our tennis courts and stopped him on the way to practice.  He told me his locker jammed which was a lie.  I told him I watched him walk the girlfriend out to the car, joke with his friends and now he lied to me.  We didn't need him and I booted him.  I replaced him with a freshman who became 1st Team All Conference for 4 years and was All State 1st Team his senior year. 

Coach Sampson, I really don't know how I would have responded when the player said that they were not going to do what I said.  I'm positive it would have involved him leaving practice.  That is disrespectful.  I am also positive that it would have involved calling the team together to model what is acceptable and what is not.   A few years ago, I was asked by the Regional Superintendent of Schools to give a coaching presentation to all of the coaches in my county regardless of sport that they coached.  I made several handouts.  Some were used as examples of what I give to students and some were examples of what I distributed to my coaching staff and posted in the coaching office.  I have one of each  attached.  Also, I have a handout for players that is an edited version of what other coaches posted either on this website or others but one I changed to fit my team.  I hope these handouts give you some ideas. 

Coach Sampson,

It really sounds to me like you are having to deal with issues left over from the previous staff.  That's why I really beleive that you have to lay down the law.  If they don't want to comply then boot em.  Kids today (I have two) need to learn nothing is handed to you.  We have created a generation of spoiled entitled kids and you are seeing first hand the consequences.  Good Luck to you.

Prior to reading these posts, I would have been on the kick them off/lay down the law side, but after reading Coach 2709's posts, I believe he has the right idea.  Sending a player home should elicit a response from the player, and send a message to the other players that the coach means business. I would probably set my expectations at the beginning of the season, which I am sure the OP has done, but I would also probably set-up some sort of points system.  After a player reaches a certain amount of points, he would be either suspended for a period of time, or removed from the team entirely.

CoachB25 - that situation sucks but you did the only thing you could have done. The only worse was if the boy never learned from it. What ever happened to him?? I'm glad we dont seem to have any of those type of players on our HS team but I've sure witness a few from travel ball(ie not running balls out).

As someone posted the players may never have been shown how to carry themselves and respect the game. When my daughter was twelve the high school baseball and softball teams were country clubs rostered by spoiled, undisciplined losers.

As my daughter's class hit middle school the new high school softball coach started attending middle school games when he could. He started building a rapport with his future players. One thing he emphasized to the middle school coach was teaching respect for the game. It wasn't hard given four of the future five high school stars had dads who played college ball. My daughter's class was very talented. As freshman the high school varsity went from last to first and won four straight conference titles. By the next year the five soph leaders of the team told any new player who was out of line "that's not how we do things here." The middle school grooming created an environment that lasted.

The baseball team finally hired a new coach when my son (five years younger than sister) was in 8th grade. He was a middle school teacher. He sometimes had lunch with his future high school players. He created a practice uniform. The players were instructed. YOU WILL wear it. THIS IS HOW you will wear it. The country club loser baseball team has now won three conference titles in six years after the previous coach had seventeen losing seasons in twenty years. My son's view on his baseball coach: He intimidated the hell out of me soph year. But we started winning.

In HS, when you are selected for a team and wear the uniform you are representing more than just yourself.  You're representing the game, your teamates, your coaches, the school, and the community. Members of the community want to look at you as being fine scholar/athletes who represent them. They want to be proud of you and by implication themselves.  Wearing the complete uniform properly, being well groomed, taking care of your grades,  and being a good sportsman on an off the field is how you go about being a good ambasador for your community and your school - it's not how many games you win or titles you obtain.  It's very different than playing for your club team.  Coach, maybe your kids don't understand this yet. If not, then tell them why your requirements are important and let them know what will befall them if they choose not to follow your requirements.  Then boot them if they mess up again.

Just because you have the power to kick a kid off a team, doesn't mean you have to exercise it.

Every kid is redeemable.  Don't give up on him.

Of course, they don't have to start, or even play until redemption.

I don't usually read the Huffington Post but this article directly relates to anyone in a turnaround situation.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...t-cha_b_4933838.html

You hear a lot about rules. If you have them then enforce them. selective enforcement will only make things bad. Start from day 1. 

When John Wooden ran the legendary dynasty at UCLA the first practice was how to wear your socks and sneakers. Talk about disciple and consistanty, when Bill Walton told Wooden he wanted to keep his off season beard Wooden responded, "That's fine. We'll miss you." Walton shaved.

Sultan, I used to believe that.  Here is a tale of two kids.  One that demonstrates your point and one that does not.

In fact, that is not always the case.  One year I coached a young man (Player 1) in two sports and tried everything I could do to turn him around.  At the same time, I coached another (Player 2) on those two sports teams who I was told to cut because he was, "foul."  Both spent time with me including at my house and my wife and I spent considerable money trying to buy them better clothing etc.  Player 2 actually had a twin brother who refused to try at all to act right. 

Player 2 was the toughest kid in school regardless of grade level.  Player 2 did try to change and in fact, did change.  He tore his ACL and so, the wife and I paid his doctor bill and for him to get a CTI Brace.  In fact, when he acted bad at home which was easy because his twin brother was there, his mom would call me to come over to make him act right.  I can't tell you how proud I became of this young man.  He went on to demonstrate much of what you suggest in that every player can be redeemed.  In fact, this young man went on to play MLB and tried to give me his signing bonus which was substantial. 

Then, there was Player 1 who remained a problem and to the point that I kept a list of everything he had done wrong on the inside of my locker in the coaching office.  The school that I coached at during this time did not have a sophomore basketball team and I was the JV coach.  Still, to get some of these players playing time and help them out, I created a sophomore schedule and we took that team on the road for every game.  Remember, the school didn't have a sophomore team and so, they could never play at home.  In this time, this young man needed arc supports and so, my wife and I paid for him to go to a podiatrist and get fitted.  They cost us a substantial amount of money then.  When Player 1 reached 44 times on the list where he caused trouble etc. I threw him off of the team.  For that 44th time, he received a Technical for his bad behavior in the championship game of a tournament that I had to pay the entire bill for us to enter.  In fact, he was ejected from the game as he tried to fight the Referee and another player.  I realized that no matter what, he could not be saved! 

Player 1 made the local St. Louis news the other night as he was armed and tried to rob an apartment in his community.  Back in the day, I had a poster made which is up in my classroom right now.  It say, "You can't Feed a Rock."  It states that you can't teach someone who doesn't want to learn.  You can't help someone who doesn't want help.  You can't coach someone who refuses to be disciplined.  I am sad to say this but this is my experience. 

Edited to add:

I forgot to mention that Player 2's twin brother is in prison. 

Sampson,

  Are you and the head coach on the same page?  The issues that you are discussing are truly going to fall in the lap of the HC.  If the HC doesn't follow through then it won't happen.  In our program, in the fall, we split the days up into different things we want accomplished.  There is always 2 days of defense and that is the only day they are required to wear pants.  The first day this year a group forgot and they spent some time running.  Didn't have that problem again.

Great post coach and I also have a lot of respect for you as well.  In fact I don't even see this as a disagreement between he and I.  It's just two paths people take to get to the same destination in having a good and disciplined team.  I have no problem with a coach who kicks off players for not acting right.  I've done it myself.

I do completely agree with coach about not every player is redeemable.  There are some who just won't realize how much people try to help them and end up burning many bridges.  I used to think everyone was redeemable but now I think every one deserves the chance to be redeemed but the actual redemption is left up to them.  

I don't believe in a lot of rules because that means I have to remember all of them in order to enforce them.  Way too much effort required for this.  I like keeping it simple.

This has been a great thread and I can't wait to read Coach Sampson's updates.

One thing you'll learn quickly is that you have to be in control of your emotions as a coach. You seem like an emotional guy which isn't necessarily a bad thing in life but players tend to mimic the coaches behavior and emotions.

Coach,

How does your team stack up in your conference, based on talent alone?

(not including quality of coaching, intangibles, etc.)

Coach,

  First off let me say I look forward to your posts.  It allows me to go back in time and remember the excitement that is involved in being a younger coach before all of the BS starts to build up.  Let me offer a suggestion that I have always used to get them to understand what needs to be done.  During the game on the back side of my lineup cards I track mental errors.  At the start of the next practice we runs a sprint for every mental error.  Prior to the sprint I will explain to them why it is a mental error.  They truly don't know why it is important to have life in the dugout, get foul balls, and get a pitcher warmed up because they have never had to do it at the youth level.  Just a thought.

Just saying, but perhaps you should inquire as to why the kid had to go home as opposed to jumping to your predefined conclusion.

It’s natural to view life through the prism of our own experiences, but we miss a
great deal if we adhere to that exclusively.

I agree with mds1 in finding out why he left.  There may be an actual legitimate reason why he left.  Now the learning objective is to get him to learn to be responsible to inform you.  In this is the case then he needs to learn.  If he left because he wanted a day off then he can be on your list.  But still need to tell him why.  Sadly, he won't (probably) figure it out and blame you for not "getting his chance" although you told him why.

One thing you'll learn as you get older, and most of us are still guilty of it after all the time we've been in it, is that you are going to have knowledge and skills of the game that come so naturally to you from doing it right so long that you overlook it with them.  The thing to remember is at one point you didn't know either but luckily it was taught to you at a much younger age.  They haven't had this chance to learn it because nobody has taught it to them.  While it gets frustrating it's also counterproductive to try and hold these kids accountable for things they don't know how to to do.  Some will get right away and that part of coaching is over.  While some needs a few reminders and there are those who just will never get it.  The thing is you never know when it will click for them.  

Keep trying and try to keep your cool.  It will take some time but as you guys establish "your program" it will get easier because the doing things over and over the same way will become the norm.  This group of freshmen will be your best teachers of the program when they become seniors because they've been through it so much.  Just takes time.

Love this thread

I don't understand how a school could keep a head coach who allows his team to fall apart like you describe Sounds to me like you are the only one that knows anything, maybe they will fire him and hire you.

This is the first year of the head coach as well.  Sounds like to me none of the guys on this staff were around when things went down hill.  Coach Sampson is the only one of the group who's posting about the season / team.  

Coach Sampson - don't let people get you down.  I think you have a desire to do well. and I hope my earlier comment doesn't serve as a launching point for harsh criticism  of you.  One of the life lessons I have learned is to try and soak things in as much as you can before you start to react and make decisions.

Good luck !

I get your point but I think since there was a JV game scheduled and cancelled, there was no reason for that player not to be there if he really wanted to follow the coach's suggestion.  He would have otherwise been there anyway.

Why would you tell only a couple JV to stay around and the other JV is optional? Then... get mad at a kid who A. just had his game canceled, and B. Just been told that his stay is optional, then he left (while a few of his team mates were told to definitely stay with V)? These kids are quick to read the writings on the wall. Here is my suggestion, talk with HC and come up with a plan for ALL things you mentioned-- Team meeting on foul ball duty (which we have kids rotate each inning so no one feels like a glorified ball shagger. They are already on the bench and now they have just been told, after game started, they have to run all over the parking lot.) How to put a helmet on and be eyes for pitchers warming up. Who is expected to clean up, drag, etc. after home games. What is the backup plan after games/practices get canceled? ALL these things must be expressed in meetings to teams. If not, they realize VERY quickly that "coach" is not on top of everything. Trust factors may start to deteriorate. I print out and post pre/post practice and game duties of each kid. Tape it to the dugout wall. 

They didn't... We are a first year staff so there is a lot of overhauling that we have to do. Establishing the procedures we want done and how they are to be done. I'm the varsity assistant. 

I understand completely where you came from with your last post. It is just the fact that there was supposed to be a game that day that got canceled 20 minutes before the JV team was supposed to leave school... then all of the sudden he couldn't stay to work out. I'll never get angry or upset at a player for not being talented, I will if they refuse to work hard and hustle as that takes zero talent.

I appreciate all feedback, positive or not. I can't get better as a coach if I don't get some sort of critisim. Seeing things through other coach's eyes helps me get better.

That is actually a very good idea for the foul ball duty. We have our DH do the outfield warm-up between innings and re-distribute the warm-up balls after our defensive half inning.

The reason we did the optional for some is because the area we have to work with inside is very small. If we have all of the kids from both teams in there we quickly run out of functional room and end up with a lot of standing around. The standing around part is also on the coaching staff as we need to figure out what we can do to keep them active in our small area. It is also on the players, because if we don't tell them EXACTLY what they need to be/should be doing, some of them will do nothing.

It should also be noted that he was the only one of the optional guys that did not stay. 

As we all know, not everything on the coaching side is black and white, cut and dry. Every situation needs to be looked at and handled on an individual basis in some instances. With this particular kid, since he was the only one who did not stay, I feel you and/or HC need to have a sit down talk with him. Ask him why he left (albeit optional). Maybe get him talking and he will reveal something interesting you may not have previously known? Home problems? GF problems? Health issues? No food to eat? Seriously! In having an honest heart-to-heart with him may completely change everything. Then again, it may reveal true character as well. 

A couple of years ago I had a player, a very talented player at that, who should have been on the V but made JV both his Soph and Jr years. He would maybe/maybe not show up to practices. During games, he would maybe/maybe not have his cap, spikes, etc... Dad was so gung ho about him playing and always told us coaches that we need to find more motivational factors for kid (as that was what dad said he was trying to do as well). One day, after many motivational speeches from all the coaches, me and another coach decided to have an honest heart-to-heart. We told the player that nothing that was being said would leave the dugout. We made an emotional break through with him and he finally told us that playing baseball wasn't his dream, yet it was his father's dream for him. He and his father's relationship was fractured due to this reality. He understood that he was good, and admitted that he could have actually been better if his heart was in it. I suggested that he found a time to express these exact feeling to his father, and they could process it together and hopefully come to an honest, peaceful conclusion. Player reluctantly finished his Jr. season and had that talk with father. He did not play his Sr. season. He and father came to an agreement to where son would work on academics. 

With all that being said, these type stories are a dime a dozen. Find out directly from your player what exactly is going on in his world...

I was thinking about the kid who asked what he needed to do to improve and then skipped out on an optional practice.  I maybe taking an unpopular position on this but I don’t think the kid should be on any type of sh** list….At least not at this point.

I am guessing that this coach is an educator as well; though I am guessing from the sounds of things he is a younger teacher.  I am not an educator ( but my wife is (administrator) and I have lots of discussions with her over the years about youths, personal responsibility and growth.

******I am about to go off on a tangent here but stick with me, it will help to demonstrate my point later on********

Many people (especially outside the education community) will tell you how much kids look forward to and love Winter/Spring/Summer breaks.  What they do not realize is that there is a percentage of kids who detest these times.  School is their safety zone and during breaks they are going to go home to an alcoholic mother, or a father who beats them, or have no heat or food to eat.  Its sad but this is the reality of their lives. 

So what does this have to do with this situation?  Maybe the kid is currently in a reverse form of this.  Maybe his mom is dying of cancer, or maybe his brother just returned from Afghanistan or maybe his grandparents are in town and he has not seen them in 5 years.   In this case the kids safe harbor is what is going on at home and what is happening at school is secondary to real life.  Is the kid a three-sport athlete?  If so maybe he was just looking for a break.  My son is and he has had a total of 3 weeks all year that he has not had a practice or game 6 days a week.  Or maybe he was burdened with homework.  As they say in our school the word student is the first word in student-athlete.  Before you just go throwing a kid on a list and labeling him as not being dedicated you need to try to understand what is happening with him.

Now lets say he just skipped the optional practice.  You may have to lay some blame on the coaches for not clearly defining expectations.  Did the coaches say Tom, Bill and John stay if your not one of them you can go home if you want and we will hold it against you?”  Or did they say ”Tom, Bill and John stay and the rest of you its up to you if you want to stay”.  If it was the first one then yes you can hold the kid accountable.  If it was the former you need to sit the kid down and layout the expectations that an optional practice means you still need to be there.  Many kids know this but some do not at that age.   Don’t forget they are only 15 (I think he said frosh level) and do not have the life experiences we do as adults to  help them figure out that optional may not really mean optional.

I don't like optional practices.  Too much potential for bad chemistry.

It's the same with optional chores at home.  "While I'm at work tomorrow it would be nice if you guys get up early and help your mom move all the tag sale stuff."  You get home and find out that they slept late. Now you're ticked off at them.  Bad chemistry. Or, son #1 helped, but son #2 didn't.  Bad chemistry.

Coach, I appreciate the intent of this thread.  I would give a word of caution, if you tell these players that they lack heart or that they don't have drive/motivation, etc. they will believe it.  Instead, lead by example.  Be excited to be in practice.  Give 8 (not 4) positives to every negative.  Give them a reason to achieve.  Oh, I know you might think that winning should be their reason.  People/players "win" in a lot of different ways and in your case, perhaps that small step forward is a victory.  Per the "not in this for moral victories," you might want to rethink that if you want to change the climate.  Moral victories might be all you have for a while.  JMHO!

Freddy, never thought of that before.  Thanks for the insight.

Instead of questioning their heart motivation and drive, ask them how much they have in them. Ask them how far they can dig down and bring it to the top. When you question the heart of a team that had a bad day they fight back. When you question the heart of a team that has questionable heart, they may roll over and die.

Challenge them to show heart. Sometimes telling them you know it's in their somewhere works better than questioning if it's there at all.

They have shown heart... it is showing it on back to back days is what the problem is. I don't think they were pushed last year by the coach that was there. I think he saw a bunch of "untalented" kids and never pushed them to be better. It seems like he thought that good enough  was good enough. 

I, as most of you can tell, don't see it that way. You as a coach shouldn't settle for being "good enough" as a coach and I don't want my players to settle for "good enough". In the short time I've been coaching baseball I've done so much studying, watching of videos, and learning from you guys on here. 

Thursday, we had a "Come to Jesus" talk with the boys. We let them know that it is in there, I know it is in there... find it. Show it. Believe it. 

Friday we had to have indoor practice due to 4" of rain falling Thursday and Friday. Our lone senior came and got my keys from me and I told him to readjust the tarps and then head over to the small gym and we would be there to get things going. Some background here... We have had to lead everything by hand. Besides 3-4 kids, if the coaching staff didn't explicitly tell them to do something, nothing would get done besides standing around. 

Well as the head coach and I enter the common's area we hear the ping of bats. We both stopped, looked at each other and smiled. We walked in to the gym... cage was down, bunting, soft toss, and tee stations going. Everyone working. No one standing around doing nothing. I looked at the head coach and said to him, "I think it might have gone off. Let's wait until tomorrow and see if it has." But it was a step in the right direction.

Entry #5 (I think) "I can hear you knocking..."

Well since my last post we finally got our first win. I was very, very ugly but right now a win is a win. We also have lost 3 games. The first lost was the day after my last post in this thread. It was a 1 run loss. The kids fought back in the top of the 7th to tie it up and I was really happy about it. We lost the game on a throwing error by our 3rd baseman with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th that allowed the winning run to score. At least that is how the kids saw it. I saw it as a booted ball by our 2nd baseman in the 4th that would have ended the inning, run scored. Our lead off hitter trying to steal home on his own in the 1st, sac fly on the next pitch would have scored him. That is what lost us the game.

I had to miss this weekend's double header due to my brother getting married. I know, great planning bro. The reports that I got were not good. Had a batter strike out looking to end the 2nd game with the bases loaded and winning run on 2nd. The looking strike outs have become our problem. I'm not sure if it is a lack of confidence, if it is a lack of understanding the strike zone, if it is a lack of understanding how to hit with two strikes, or a combination of all 3. I can tell the kids are getting frustrated and the staff is as well. It always seems to be 1 little thing that is keeping them from kicking the door in... I just need to find that key.

 "Our lead off hitter trying to steal home on his own in the 1st, sac fly on the next pitch would have scored him."

Tried to straight-steal home on his own?

I'm at a loss for words.

Coach Sampson With your energy, passion and desire for your kids to succeed I really wish my son could have a HS coach like you.  His attitude is the total opposite of yours, everything is the kids fault never his.  Yesterday he puts a freshman pinch hitter in for my son with the tying run at 3b because he said he didn't like my sons approach the AB before. He had hit a long fly out to the warning track with two outs and a runner at 1B.  The freshman looks at 3 pitches go by and walks back to the dugout.  Who knows if my kid would have done better but it seems as a senior that has played every game for the past two years he's earned the right to try.

Keep up the hard work and the kids will either buy in or you will weed them out and you will be left with kids that want to work hard.  The lack of hustle on my sons team drives me nuts.  

If you mean that it's hard to get kids motivated to work on defense and bunting at HS practices, then I have to disagree.

Coach, when I read your words here--and read in an earlier post that your catchers aren't dedicated to blocking-- it makes me wonder if you're coaching in a low-income district, in which case I can understand how your players could have bad work habits.

I haven't had to deal with that challenge, and don't know how well I'd deal with it.

Today it is hard to get kids to want to work on defense and bunting. The "non sexy" part of the game turns kids off it seems.

  I disagree with this as well.  I see defense as a priority thing and what is taught.  We preach and work on this DAILY and with the same passion as hitting.  I think the bunting thing has become a lost art do to it not being taught and the little guy level

Coach, when I read your words here--and read in an earlier post that your catchers aren't dedicated to blocking-- it makes me wonder if you're coaching in a low-income district, in which case I can understand how your players could have bad work habits.

Freddy, I take a little offense to this.  My entire coaching career has been spent at schools that would be considered lower income and I do not have any of these issues.  Is there a work ethic that has to be taught sometimes, yes.  But to say it is a low-income school thing I disagree.

IEBSL,

I should have said, 'players from challenging home environments.'   My heart goes out to those kinds of kids. I wasn't knocking them.  Just trying to understand why Coach Sampson's players seem behind the curve on player traits that I take for granted.

If he coached my players he'd probably say 'I can't believe how easy you have it,' and he'd be right.   Not talking talent. Talking work ethic, etc.

Freddy,

 Completely understandable

Entry #6-- Enter the Gauntlet

Well it is that time in everyone's schedules that I like to call The Gauntlet. Games on off days that have to be made up. I believe we are going to have at least 8 games in this two week period, including 3 straight days of games this week. 

Here is a question for other coaches here. We were supposed to have a game at a park that has portable pitching mounds. Because of the use of those mounds the school said that the pitchers weren't allowed to wear metal spikes and had to wear rubber bottomed shoes. The head coach and I said absolutely not as I can't make my pitchers go buy a pair of turf shoes or another pair of molded cleats just to pitch in that game and I'm not putting my pitcher at a disadvantage when it comes to fielding his position in tennis shoes on a dirt field. Needless to say their AD isn't happy about it and I believe we had the game moved to our school. What would you do in that situation?

 Exactly like you did!

I would have done exactly what you guys did in that situation.  At that point it becomes an administration issue.  AD tells you to suck it up, then you suck it up.

A HS game on a portable mound?  No way, why does the school even have a team if they can't put in a mound.  kids hear stopped playing on them after 12U.

If this isn't a conference / league / must play team - never schedule them again.  I understand that not every school can have a home field on campus.  The school I was at in Kentucky was at a public complex but we had real mounds.  Surely for one field they can actually bring dirt in for at least the HS season.

Those types of mounds are not that old.  How long have they done this at this school?  There had to be a day in the recent past, last 10 years) where they didn't have that type of mound.  I'm not understanding this. 

Not all that uncommon in my area for them to play on portable mounds.  Usually early in the season, when they have to use the park district turf facilities.  It's the same for both teams, so just play. 

I've seen / used portable mounds before but it was for inside practice.  Never seen them used for a game except for youth league.  Didn't think it was truly possible to be honest.  I guess I've been lucky all the fields I've ever been on had dirt mounds.

2 Steps Forward... 12 Back... 2 More Forward

So it has been an eventful few weeks. But I will focus on the past few days. So on 5-2 we played a conference game against a school who we lost to earlier in this season 2-1 on a throwing error by our 3rd basemen in the bottom of the 7th with 2 outs. It was a payback type of game because we all felt that we should have won the first game. Our starting pitcher had himself a pretty good day going 7 and giving up 7 hits, 2 walks, and 2 earned in a pretty intense 4-3 win. We fought back from 2 down in the 6th to score 4 in the bottom half. We showed tons of heart, fire, and fight. We had a big crowd and everyone was feeling good. I thought we had begun to hit our stride...

Then came Monday 5-5... and things couldn't have been more opposite from Friday night. A team that showed so much heart, fire, and fight on Friday night was totally lifeless on Monday afternoon. We had a kid forget his spikes at school and another one forget his belt. As soon as I found that out I knew we were in for a long day and a long day it was. We got taken to the woodshed 16-4 and I decided that it was time for a "Come to Jesus" talk with the team with districts being a little over a week away. I let them know that what they showed on Friday was the makings of a team that could do somethings in the post season. What they showed me on Monday was a team that would be one and done in districts and that it was up to them to find what they had on Friday night, every night. I told them that every team remaining on the schedule could either be beat or could beat us like we were beaten on Monday. I finished the speech with this,"The outcome of these upcoming games will be determined not by what happens between these white lines but the attitude that you bring to the park everyday. They will be determined by your head and your heart. Friday night you showed the heart that is needed to take this program to the next level and do something special. Today you rolled over and died before you even took the field. Gentlemen, you have two choices. Either roll over and die and continue to be the laughing stock of our conference or you can wake up, get pissed off, and shove it up the collective asses of everyone who thinks you can't do it. The choice is yours and I'll be waiting for your answer tomorrow." Then I walked away with the team in silence. 

Then comes today, Tuesday 5-6... and I got my answer in the form of a 12-1 short game victory in another conference game. The victory takes us to 3-3 in the conference, 5-12 overall, with one conference game left on the schedule on Wednesday 5-7. A win in that game puts us in 2nd place in our conference to end the year and might secure us a top half of the bracket seed in our district. 

We have 4 games remaining this regular season with a chance to end it at 9-12... which is more wins than the program has had in the past 2 years combined. I honestly believe that the kids are getting it and starting to buy into what we've been selling them all year. The mental game is now what we need to work on. 

It would not have been the same for both teams. You are allowed to wear molded cleats on their mounds. Our pitchers did not have molded cleats, so their pitchers would have had cleats and ours would not have had cleats on.