Another - What do you do?

Seems like these things keep coming up for you. Or am I mistaken on that?

Perhaps you need to formulate a policy & then stick by it. I would recommend that if the policy includes talking to coaches, that the conversation not occur before, during or after the game. Rather, on another day.

If we have to choose between the three choices that you have provided, without knowing what kind of relationship you have with the middle school coach and the player in question (which would make a difference), it would be tough to say what you did.

But, I'm guessing it wasn't #2.

I can not make a suggestion for the short term fix without knowing your relationship with the middle school coach.....

For the long term it may be time to have a meeting with the AD and the middle school coach about creating a feeder program for the HS team. Get the AD & MS coach involved and work as a team to improve both teams. If everyone feels involved in the effort, a good working relationship may grow out of it and then you can approach the coach or players with suggestions.

Good Luck!

The Middle School should be the feeder program for the HS program---if it isnt that now it should

The Varsity Coach should have input into all the levels below the varsity, no questions asked

The middle school coach should be teaching the same things the Varsity coach teaches

Texan, all of the other scenerios have been from comments etc. from parent/players/observations of other teams. Plus, I generally really respect certain coaches on this site and I want to pick their brains to see what they would do. This is the first scenerio that has actually been from our school. I think I have a good relationship with our Middle School Coach. However, I am very abrasive and people don't know how to take me. Thus the #2 statement. After seeing this kid take the collar with runners on several times, I went to his Dad and said that between games, send his son over. I asked him several questions such as:

• How do you think your doing now offensively?
• Do you feel comfortable at the plate?
• Why do you think that you are getting around so late on the pitch?
• Do you want me to suggest some changes now that you will have to make in order to play for us next year?

Then, I demonstrated how he was holding the bat in his at bats. I also showed him how we would like for him to hold that bat. I asked him if he were in a dark alley which way would he hold the bat if he felt in danger. Then I asked why. His response demonstrated why he should hold that bat as we coach. I know that the next game, he tore the cover off of the ball and that our Middle School Team won the First Place in the 10 team tournament.

Believe me, in this scenerio, I take full blame for any failings. My Girl was playing in this tournament since it is a combined Softball/Baseball Tournament and 4 fields are used for two days. Therefore, I didn't get a chance to sitdown with the coach. I have emailed him a PowerPoint featuring slides of kids we have coached here for the past 10 years. I explained in that email that coaching the handouts are vital to these young men's success since they will be required to adjust to/know those items contained in all of those handouts. ie, proper fielding, hitting, baserunning, etc. For sure, I need to improve our communication. Again, I just wanted to see what others would post.

I EDITED THIS POST TO ADD THIS, I KNOW THIS YOUNG MAN AND HIS FAMILY AND HAVE BEEN AROUND HIM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THAT MADE MY DECISION ON WHAT TO DO MUCH EASIER. I WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME PICKING #3. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ONE TO GET AFTER IT. I DON'T SLEEP WELL LEAVING STONES UNTURNED.

quote:

...You see a kid that is doing something at the plate that just hacks you off. When this kid hits, he is pointing the end of the barrel straight at the umpires head. In other words, if you drew a plane, the bat is exactly on a line between second and the plate...

You mean like Chuck Knoblach? A former major league baseball player that had a nice career?

quote:

Originally posted by ozzir:
You mean like Chuck Knoblach? A former major league baseball player that had a nice career?

Yes, great for Chuck. This young man isn't even getting the barrelhead through on pitches that were slow. He hadn't had a hit in FOREVER. As I have posted several times, we have a "base" that we teach and then allow some freedom off of that. However, we always have that base to come back to. Had this young man been putting up good offensive numbers, we would have let it go. HE WAS NOT. I know there are a lot of people out there that would see this and let it go despite success or lack thereof. Those people aren't coaches. JMHO!
Hey, if these scenerios are bothering any of you, let me know. I'll stop!

CoachB

Keep 'em coming. Your posts are interesting and thought provoking. IMO, if the kid has an unorthodox stance and swing, however he hits well, leave him alone. On the other hand, if his mechanics are faulty and he isn't hitting, then help him. I agree with you, that is what "coaches" do. If the middle school coach doesn't like it, too bad. This is about helping the player. JMO.

R.

Callaway, thanks. In the other scenerios I've posted, people have approached me for answers. Heck, not only do I not have all of the answers, I just hope to understand the question. We have a valuable resource here and I've just wanted to use it to see what others would do. These scenerios are middle school issues simply because that's what is going on around here at this time. WHEN I DO HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS, I'LL STOP REQUESTING OPINIONS. I'LL ALSO BE DEAD. LOL!

yes, thought provoking

I'm learning something new every day
like I had always thought that "practice drills" were for teaching/changing/modifying skills and mechanics - - not a lecture in between innings


Most likely instead of trying to react to the pitch, when the pitcher delivers, the player is thinking - -

my offensive production must s-u-c-k?
I must not look comfortable at the plate?
Why was it I'm getting around so late?
and what were those changes coach recommended?

ooops, too late

"c'mon blue that sounded low"



coach, make a mental note to fix it later in the gym/cage with drills - - but for now just go get another dog & coke and enjoy the rest of the game

I posted a similar story a long time ago.

Much of what we learn comes from personal experiences. For what it’s worth, here is one of my lessens learned. This has to do with the theory of if they are hitting well, leave them alone.

My second son was a three time all state high school player. He holds all the hitting records, batting ave, home runs, rbi, hits, doubles, etc at his former high school. From a production stand point he did everything possible. In college he hit over .400, leading the team in hrs, rbi, etc. He managed all the success without much help from me as I was on the road so much.

Despite all this success, I saw some flaws in his swing. I didn’t change a thing because it was fun with him having so much success. I figured “if it aint broke, don’t try to fix it!” I was afraid I might change things and destroy this success. His high school and college coaches didn’t change a thing either, for much of the same reasons.

Long story short: I was right about the flaws and wrong not to help him correct them. In fact, a crosschecker friend saw him in college and told me after seeing him hit a long home run and a double… “Jerry, I don’t think he will hit unless he makes some adjustments” If it were someone other than my son I would have thought the same thing.

In pro ball he struggled tremendously. He hit with power, but the better ,day in and day out, pitching ended up eating him up. His hitting coaches tried hard to change him, but he had formed some long lasting habits. The things they tried to change were the very same things I had noticed years before. And the exact same things that the crosschecker saw.

Point is: Success at one level does not automatically mean success at the next level. The earlier a young player learns and the more correct technique is practiced, the better the chance for success later on.

Example: Casey Kotchman was taught a beautiful, technically sound, swing by his father Tom when Casey was a young boy. He hit at every level and is now hitting in the Big Leagues for the Angels. Arguably, we have had many much better athletes than Casey attend our events. However, not many with as good a swing. To a certain extent the same thing could be said about (bbscout’s) son. He kind of reminds me of Kotchman.

Not preaching here! Just trying to add a little something to think about to the discussion.

Bee I agree other than we did have the kid practice this albeit with a whiffle ball or two. Not extensively and the change was actually a change back to what we had the player doing during the summer. I agree that changes during games are often not only bad but dangerous. GOOD POINT. I guess attempting to help this kid is exactly why I'll never make my state's Baseball Coach's Hall of Fame. Reference our incompetence.

PGSTAFF, nice addition! As always you bring a lot to the table.

Posted by ozzir
"You mean like Chuck Knoblach? A former major league baseball player that had a nice career?"

I guess I should start out teaching my kids to point the barrell at the pitcher like Gary Sheffield or Dick Allen. Maybe flop his left arm around like Joe Morgan. Mel Ott hit great with a high leg kick, Saduhara Oh would balance on his left leg during a pitch. I think I have a few kids who could try that. I could go on some more if needed. We are talking about a middle school baseball player here, not a world class athlete. Teach the fundamentals not what you see a genetic freak on TV do in a game played by professionals. By reading your previous posts it is obvious that either you are clueless hack or just a punk.

PG,
Don't really have the expertise to comment but I will anyways. The one time I saw bbscout's son play a couple years ago they were playing Stanford and Mayberry (sp?) was at 1st for Stanford. They were two big strong kids with nice swings, with Brett possibly even having a better swing but Mayberry's athleticism clearly stood out. I'd also say that Mayberry is far more athletic than Kotchman but of course right now who wouldn't take the player who has proved that he can hit and field in the big leagues.

CADad,

Sounds like maybe you do have a lot of expertise.

Of course Mayberry is a RHH and in comparisons it's easier for me using examples from the same side.

If you lack expertise, so do I, because I would agree with everything you've said.