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.