#1 I just dont have any talent here.
#2 I cant get any support from the administration.
#3 I cant get any support from my parents.
#4 My players dont work in the off season.
#5 My players have no work ethic.
#6 We can not get a bunt down.
#7 We are so stupid on the bases.
#8 We just dont have any arms in this program.
#9 We play with no intensity and we just go through th motions.
#10 These guys have no clue what their role is.
#1 You dont recruit in HS. It is your job to take what you have and help it become the best it can be. It is too easy to use this excuse and sit back and wait for some studs to get to your school. HS baseball teams are sucessfull because players are in an environment that teaches and motivates and encourages young men be the best they can be. The talent on display on game day should be the result of a players hard work and a coaching staffs hard work over time.
#2 Have you tried? What have you done? You ask for more baseballs but you allow your players to leave them on the field or over the fence after bp. You ask for new uniforms but have you tried to raise money as well? You ask for field improvements but how do you take care of what you have? What have you done to build a relationship with your administration. Its just too easy to use this as an excuse.
#3 Have you met with the parents? Have you asked for there help? Do you walk around like you are God and never have the time to just say hello and then you wonder why they dont work the concession stand? Have you had a parents meeting and told them what you need them to do? Have you even asked for their help? Most parents want to get envolved and help anyway they can.
#4 What do you do in the off season? Whos fault is it that they do not work in the off season? Do you work in the off season for them? If they do not work in the off season whos fault is that? Maybe if you started a strength and conditioning program in the off season and made yourself or your staff available to the guys they would take advantage of it. Maybe if you took the time they would take the time.
#5 Maybe they are following your lead? Maybe if you showed them what a great work ethic was they would follow that lead. Players will take on the identity of the coaches. If you work hard they will work hard. If they have no work ethic what does that say about you?
#6 Do you work on it at practice? How many times have you asked them to do something in a game that you do not require them to do in practice? If they do not know how to bunt who's fault is that?
#7 Why? Who is responsible for teaching them how to run the bases? How often do you teach it and work on it?
#8 Why? Do you ride one or two arms every year? Are you so worried about winning a game that you do not give other kids an opportunity to develop their arms? Do you even have a long toss program? A core program? An off season program? How often do you work with all your pitchers?
#9 Why? Do you have intensity in practice? Do you motivate and encourage your players? Do you just go through the motions and then try to step it up on game day? Who is responsible for the way your players prepare for a game?
#10 Have you told them what their role is? Have you told them how they can expand that role? Have you told them what they need to work on in order to expand that role? Whos fault is that?
I have had many coaches over the years come up to me during a game and tell me "We just have no clue coach"! "We cant get a bunt down to save our lives"! "We just dont have any arms this year"! And then I see the same kid on the hill just about every time out. The fact is a team is the refection of the coach. If kids dont run everything out I dont look at the player first I look at the coach to see what his reaction is. There are coaches out there that far too often want to blame others for their players short comings. The fact is if your doing your job the players will do their job. Build a program not a team. It takes no talent to be fundementally sound. It takes no talent to learn how to run the bags. It takes no talent to hustle. It takes no talent to play hard. It takes no talent to respect the game and all those that play it. It takes no talent to work in the off season. It takes no talent to work hard for your players and show them what it takes to be sucessfull. JMHO
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