Coaching philosophy on discipline?

Wouldn't it depend on the nature of the infraction? Personal or team? In college it important to have the players come together as a unit.

Chill,
I think there are many coaches that “punish” the team if an individual is guilty of a minor infraction, usually baseball related or a team rule. I look at this type of “punishment” as more of a motivational tool or a conditioning exercise. I know of one coach that punishes the whole team, except the guilty party. He is seated in a chair watching the “punishment”…usually laps or poles. On the other hand more severe infractions are dealt with individually….failing grades or missing practice etc.

This is a good question. On my son's high school team, it depends on the problem. Sometimes it's individual, sometimes a team. Although they're all very good boys . I will tell you when we had a player get in trouble last year and he had additional running, many of his team mates ran with him. The boys felt they wanted to show the player they supported him even if he did something wrong. They didn't want him to feel like they had given up on him. I'll say, this was one of the tighest group of kids you'll ever see. So I think it depends on the team/player and it's a coaches call.

Chill
Jr's coach functions exactly as Fungo describes.
Don't get me started on the high school coach, who was inconsistant bordering on irrational.

Chill,
Not sure yet on college, though I know if it is school related (missing class, study hall, etc) it is treated individually. Will have a better answer in the spring. I do know one thing, coach treats players with dignity as young men learning to adjust in a new situation. Of course there are lots of practical jokes trying to embarass each other (coaches and players included), but that is what has made the team chemistry and all in good fun. Dave's team mate was punished a few times for being late to practice and had to run, now Dave makes sure that he is always on time. It is a very close team and they look out for one another so they don't get in trouble. I think that is the message the coach try to send.

In HS, if the team performed poorly as a whole, they all got to run. If it was for any other reason, it was dealt with individually.

This is something that I think alot of coaches struggle with quite frankly. I do not punish the team for an indivduals mistakes. If a player misses a sign or is late for practice etc the player is punished not the team. If the team does not hustle on the field or off then all are punished. I personally dont think it is fair to punish all the players for something that one has done. The players that are doing everything that you ask of them should not be punished because one kid decides to not follow the rules. Just my opinion

I am with Coach May on this one.....do not punish the entire team for an infraction by an individual; Team violations are just that, team violations and all will be disciplined.

Also try to be consistent and fair with your punishments. You will find that once everyone understands what has to be accomplished and how we accomplish those goals; discipline problems are almost non-existent.

Orioles42

Discipline no matter what the type has to be consistent. It is the same for every player.

we got a guy who goes by this philosophy:

if more than 5 players then it is a team problem

if less than 5 they are dealt with individually

Every coach handles this differently---

I prefer to deal with the players individually regardless of the offense

For me, it always depends on the situation. If a player is late, the whole team runs. If the player is disrespectful to an assistant coach or team member, he gets disciplined on his own.
I think every coach needs to have some flexibility in how he disciplines his team, and as long as the players understand that the punishment may differ but will always be FAIR, I think that is OK.

Sorry coach I must disagree..why should those who have made it to practice on time suffer due to someone elses inability to be there...we have created a generation of kids who play the "blame game"...no one accepts responsibility for their own actions..it is always somebody elses fault...by not holding the individual accountable for their OWN actions we are perpetuating the "game"..we all must be held responsible for what we do as individuals...if one of my children does something that warrants punishment do I punish all 3 or make it an individual punishment ...and we are the best "team" on earth

First of all, I'm not perfect so most will disagree with this post. I do both. However, the team knows from a team meeting the rational behind my decisions after the team is made. I try to operate on a system of 8 positives to one negative. However in our outlined rules, they are told that if it comes to that one negative, it will be serious.

Some examples:

• Get sent to the office for some discipline matter and be issued a Saturday school etc. the team runs. (Rational the team will also be punished if that player is suspended in "Saturday School" while we are playing a Double Header.
  
• Argue with a teammate and the team runs. (We are a team and if we divide ourselves, we are helping the enemy)
  
• Fail in your responsibilites at working on the field, putting up equipment etc. the team runs. (Rational - We don't have any "stars" on our team. We are a team and we all do the dirty work.)

For individual punishment - Really, this is a person to person issue. I don't punish for missed signs etc. I do for cursing, actions not in the best interest of the team (late, missing equipment, spreading rumors, wearing your hat backwards etc.) It is always done first by having my player sit in my car so that we can have a one on one talk. I don't want anyone around and I don't want to wonder if anyone is outside our office door listening. I will be brutally honest with the player. I will ALWAYS ASK THEIR SIDE OF THE ISSUE. I will explain mine. When all is said and done, I am the law and I do drop the hammer!

One last thought, discipline really takes care of itself if you treat these young men like young men on a mission. They understand sacrifice. They understand the bigger picture. However, if you don't demonstrate those same values you stress, you will have trouble.

I haven't yet heard any details about my freshman son's college coaches' discipline philosophy. However, I have observed that team unity seems more important on the college team than any he has previously experienced - they are all united in a very strong commitment to a common mission. So that may be part of the rationale for team punishment, encouraging them to keep each other in line and to all "pitch in" to take care of their share, or more, of any responsibilities.

CoachB25...I agree with most things you say, but a definite "NO' on punishing the team for an individuals school issues is ludacrist. That is an individual issue and really needs parental discipline...as well as you sitting him or running him individually, whatever you choose. On the field issues are different than school issues.

If he were my son, you wouldn't see him for a week anyway...then you can have at him when he returns.

quote:

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Originally posted by Starzz:
CoachB25...I agree with most things you say, but a definite "NO' on punishing the team for an individuals school issues is ludacrist. That is an individual issue and really needs parental discipline...as well as you sitting him or running him individually, whatever you choose. On the field issues are different than school issues.

If he were my son, you wouldn't see him for a week anyway...then you can have at him when he returns.

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Starzz, thanks for the honest response. I do appreciate the critique. I never said I was perfect. I have to do those things that work for us. When I came here, I had several players of which people said, "you'll never control them." Well, we had our parent/player meeting. I laid out my rules. Sure some people grumbled. However, those kids knew I was serious and so... To this point, I have never had to discipline a varsity player for being sent to the office. They simply don't get sent there. You'd also be surprised of the parental support I receive. I think that with regards to discipline, any parent, coach, etc. has to be upfront and establish the boundaries. I also believe that the kids I'm associated want to do good. Sure they are little snots at times. However, they know the line and they don't cross it. We remarked the other day that we haven't disciplined our kids in the last 3 years. No wonder times seems to fly. BTW, we have also done a lot of winning in those last 3 years. I think they go hand in hand. Again, thanks for your honest remarks. When I do have all of the answers someday, I'll let everyone here in on them. LOL!

Coach B,

I agree with using different methods of correction. This post made me think about what I've done in the past.

If it is a school disciplinary problem, I tend to make it some sort of individual correction.
If it is related to the team, that is, doing something that will harm the team (being late for practice, screwing around in practice, etc.) then the whole team will be disciplined.

Why? Well, I agree with Catchermom about needing individual responsibility, but we are a team....if one teammate does something wrong, the whole team suffers. If a player is late, we have to wait for him, or go over things again because he is late. Especially if this happens more than once, I want his teammates to correct him OR I want him to understand that he is hurting his TEAM, he isn't hurting ME.

One time in particular, I had 5 seniors come late to practice because they went to a Reds game, and got a late start back for practice. I had them all take a knee in Center field and watch their teammates run poles for a long, long, long time. Some of them begged to be allowed to run with their teammates. I said no. I wanted them to understand that THEIR behavior affected the entire TEAM.

Then, after they were done running, I gave a short lecture and told the players they had 5 minutes to discuss what happened without me being involved. They all got together and those 5 got an earful from their teammates....after the season was over, several of those players told me it was the best lesson they ever learned.

Another one I've used came from teh LSU coach. He'd have all the other players run for a player being late or some other offense. Then he'd have the players line up and, one by one, the player apologized to his teammates. They as a team, then told the player they loved him, but they didn't love what he did. They then forgave him and then asked him to remember not to do it again. This can also have a strong influence on players.

I understand why some coaches punish the whole team for an individual infraction/discipline
problem in hopes that this will build team unity and it probably works in a lot of cases.

That being said I have to come down on the side of disciplining the individual and making them responsible for their own actions. After all, isn't this the way most of us have raised our own children? I can't imagine my putting my daughter on restrictions along with my son because he missed his curfew on Friday night-??????? Yes, I know it's a baseball
team compared to a family but the logic is the same. A kid does everything he is asked to do
plus a lot more; chases down foul balls when the "stars" never do; helps take care of the field; keeps the dugout clean; always positive to his teammates; always hustles; rarely
gets into a game and he has to run extra sprints because the "star" did not run out a pop up? Sorry, I think there are better ways to build team unity without punishing the whole
team for individual indiscretions.

My son was late ONE minute for hitting this September at USF and had to report at 6oAM
the next morning for drills(they worked his tail off). The rest of the team heard the whole
story at practice the next day---needless to say he's been early ever since and the team is
unified.

If you spend a lot of time disciplining then you have none. As I said before you have rules and you enforce them when you need to enforce them. Consistency is the key. The number one pitcher has the same rules and must follow them just as much as the kid that is on the bench. In todays world some think that discipline is great as long it is for the other guy.

Catchermom, TCB1 hit on it....you punish the entire team (hopefully only once or twice) because then the team takes responsibility for ensuring the those that resist falling in line, eventually do. It's called peer pressure and no coach can affect a young man's behavior as much as his peers. Up here in Wisconsin it's cold. It's 27 degrees the other morning and my son is leaving for school without a jacket. I tell him at least three times to put on a jacket and he's telling me no, I'll be alright until his buddy shows up and says hey, it's freezin out. Without hesitation he goes and puts on his letter jacket. I walk back to my office and wonder why no one listens to me anymore ;> I think I'll ask his buddy to tell him to clean my gutters!

CoachB25...none of us are perfect or ever will be...and what I said is my opinion and mine alone. If a player has a school issue, grades or whatever, and he misses or is late to practice or can't play, I still believe his individual discipline will further help the team than team discipline. I'll explain.

Let's say he get's an after school discipline or has a Sat class due to some school issue. Even misses a game. He is your starting 3rd baseman. You have another kid that plays behind him surely...so his mistake actually gives the back-up a chance he may not get and plays the game. I believe you just set a presedent sp? that will permeate the team and let them know where you stand on these issues. Now...

The player comes back after serving his discipline with the school...now it's your turn. He already knows his back-up has played for him and (my suggestion) he now sits another game and is now the back-up until he proves to his teammates and you that he can handle adversity, and...i believe you now have his ultimate attention and the respect of the team. In addittion you have not subjected the team to any punishment other than one of their own now has served his discipline and I believe one of 2 things will happen...1- he returns to previous status by re-earning it, or 2- he feels he was unjustly benched and he goes the wrong way...better to find out now...and you just may have developed a player?

Sorry to be so lengthy but this is a serious issue at many schools and as you can see I feel rather strongly about it having coached for many years.

Continue as you will, and I am sure you will be successful, but I hope I gave you some food for thought.

Best of luck!

Since we're on this subject I thought this might be worth reading...Today's Memphis Newspaper:

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Memphis Commercial Appeal November 18, 2004
Maybe there was something in the dip?
The entire eighth-grade class at Geeter Middle School was suspended Wednesday by the Whitehaven school's principal after what city school officials termed a "massive food fight" in the school's cafeteria and a show of defiance afterward by the children.
Principal Jada Meeks took the extraordinary action when the eighth-graders refused to apologize for or clean up the mess.
The grade 6-8 school, at 4649 Horn Lake, has 637 students. It was not known late Wednesday how many students are in the eighth-grade class.
City school officials said the food fight on meat loaf day came after several days of problems with eighth-graders at the school.
The food brawl caused minor damage to the cafeteria with the more daunting task being a cleanup of the area.
"Given an opportunity first to apologize for their behavior and help with the cleanup, most of the class refused to cooperate," said school spokesman Vince McGaskill in a written statement. "She took this unusual step because student and staff safety was also compromised by the student disruption."
Meeks, who could not be reached for comment late Wednesday, is to meet with parents as a group at the school today at 5 p.m. and will be available to talk with parents and their children one-on-one during the school day today.
Geeter is one of 22 city schools that got an overhaul over the summer in an attempt to remake schools on the state's list of troubled schools.
In addition to Meeks, more than half of the staff is new.
"We know that this is an extreme measure, and in hindsight there may have been other ways to send an equally strong message to students and parents," McGaskill's statement read. "Suspending students is never desirable. In this case, the principal felt that strong, some may say shocking measures, were called for to spur change."
On the menu was a choice of meatloaf or a chicken breast sandwich, potato batter bites, spinach, crispy vegetables with dip, cornbread and bananas.

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Will

Great post

Today is so different than what it used to be

Starzz, I'm with you on this one. I don't doubt that the coaches who have posted on
this thread have been successful with achieving a disclipined team when they have
punished the whole team for an individual's indescretion and I also don't doubt that they are very good coaches and would have no problem with my sons playing for them even though I disagree with their philosophy. I have a question for the coaches. You all say that you DO have team punishment when individual players do not adhere to the guidelines you have established, but you also state that you have
individual punishments as well. Where do you draw the line and why? I understand
the reasoning that the rest of the team will make sure that the rules breaker will
"tow the line" from now on, but why are you putting the responsibility of disciplining on your players when it is clearly YOUR responsibility. Are you then
going to allow the "team" to determine the lineup, to take a vote when to replace
a pitcher, or batter? Decide how long practice will be? etc. I'll bet not.

I just do not go along with the theory that it develops "team unity" to punish
players that have done nothing but give 100% to the team so that it might make
a "slacker" get in line. I've seen first hand where this kind of discipline has
torn a team apart, because the slackers knew that the coach was still going to play them no matter how much they goofed off.

I think a swift and hard punishment the first time a rule is broken will do more for team unity than anything else. Rules without consequences are not really rules.

JMHO

Discipline and punishment are negative teaching tools.

The proper method for teaching is using positive tools.

Coaching is teaching.

If you're a poor teacher you use punishment...if you're a teacher with tact and proper tools you use instruction and incentives.

In all cases the team, through its Captains must be responsible for managing the problems associated with non-compliance of the rules the team agrees to abide by. Believe me they can be more stringent and severe with their peers than you.

Almost every team I ever coached went to the Championship game because of the players, not because of the coaches.

PIC, there are many tools in the coaching/teaching toolbox. It's not an all or nothing deal. Methods are varied as the personalities we deal with and to say that only positive reinforcement works is just plain naive. The finest and most effective training I've ever received was from the Marines in Pensacola. I don't ever remember getting a biscuit there!

Starzz, you make a great point. However, you aren't considering things such as regional and sectional seeds etc. that I, as a coach, have to think about. Say John John gets a Saturday school. We play Ralph at 3rd for two games. Sure it helps get Ralph experience. However, if we don't go into that Double Header fully loaded we could drop 2 games. We schedule schools from a much bigger conference for each of our double headers. Those are the same schools we have to be rated against in our seed meeting. Typically we get one of the top 4 votes which give us home field advantage etc. in the past but now just gets us a first round game against a poor opponent. We can save our #1 for game 2. THE PAST 3 YEARS WE HAVE WON THAT 4TH SPOT BY 1 VOTE! We are the only school in our conference, because we are much smaller, to get one of those top 4 seeds. We only get it because our head to head against that other conference is so outstanding. One starter gets a Saturday school and we could literally be sent 80 miles away for our regional/sectionals.

PIC, I disagree when you say, "Discipline and punishment are negative teaching tools." Punishment is. However, Discipline is what you want to make of it. I agree that it should be positive and if done right, it will come from within the players. However, discipline is effective from either positive or negative reinforcement if that individual being punished respects that person implimenting the punishment. I was once thrown off of my high school basketball team. I've never complained etc. I deserved to be thrown off. That same coach never missed one of my home high school baseball games and I respect him to this very day.

Discipline is a negative teaching tool? Without discipline their is no team. We are all free to choose are own actions but not the consequences of those actions. A disciplined structured environment is what sports are. When players are not disciplined and have no consequences for being undisciplined you have a total breakdown. I do not enjoy having to punish players. But it is part of the job. Teaching kids to be responsible and follow rules is part of coaching. When they dont follow the rules they must be disciplined. Your statement that discipline is a negative teaching tool is ridiculous.

Pic

You stated if you are a poor teacher you use punishment. so if there is a team rule about something and one of the players breaks that rule what would you do? One time I 'disciplined" three players who were caught drinking. Team rule was any involvement with drugs or alcohol will result in being put off the team. What would you have done? According to your premise I was a "poor" teacher because I used "discipline" or "punishment". I am confused.

CoachB25...I understand your concern and follow you totally...however, you are basing your discipline on winning and I am basing it on future development of the team and the player. If you let the seeding dictate where you set your priorities with a player, then I believe you are setting an example that will be short-lived.

If your players would rather have a team member that can come back and play immediately over a player that stands by all the rules, then I think they are missing the final point to becoming a man..."to be responsible for your actions." " to lead by example" and "to honor your actions as your word"

I know I am old fahioned to some, but letting down a team is far less important than getting the lesson from the deed.

I would travel 100 miles to play with the 9 that follows my lead rather than have the best pitcher on the mound at home.

I have a feeling that your team can/will compete and have the opportunity to win at any venue, and based on your experience, you can lead them to the dogpile on any visiting field!! It is more fun on their turf!

I have enjoyed our debate and hope that you will entertain that there may be another way...

Good Luck this year!

Starzz, when you say that I am "short-sighted," it is the difference between theory and reality. In theory, I would agree with you and as I noted from your profile, you are a parent and so, you certainly might not like my methods. However, the reality is that one or two wins here or there determine our playoffs. I have to do whatever I have to do to ensure my Seniors have success. There is one other reality that I have to deal with. Once a program makes a turn around and is successful as this one is, if you cease to have that success that is now expected, you or I in this case will be fired. This week, one of the new subdivisions about 1000 feet from our new campus sold 4 lots in a culdesac. Those 4 homes were sold to members of a traveling baseball team from another community that are moving in mass to our school district to play baseball. That is the respect/reputation we have earned in our area. Certainly that is contingent on winning year in and year out. As I might have posted earlier, I haven't had to discipline for this infraction to this point. I hope I never do. I do make my rules and punishments clear to the parents and players in a joint meeting. Heck, then they can take their kid off of the team if they don't like it. I'm certainly not in this for a popularity contest. All of my post on this subject are JMHO!

Catchermom- I understand what you are saying, but baseball is a game of accountability. Each player must take care of his own business, or the team fails. I use team discipline NOT to punish everyone on the team, but to help players understand that their bad choices AFFECT the entire team...this is true in games, so why not in practice? Thanks for your input, though...it is always good to think about things from someone else's point of view.

PIC- I don't care HOW disciplined you are as a coach or how hard you work to get kids to do things correctly...they will still make mistakes. Discipline isn't done simply to punish...it is done to help players focus on their responsibilities to the team as a PART of the team. I don't run kids because I DISLIKE them....I run them because I love them and I want to help them get focused to make better choices in the future.

quote:

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Originally posted by Coach Knight:
Catchermom- I understand what you are saying, but baseball is a game of accountability. Each player must take care of his own business, or the team fails. I use team discipline NOT to punish everyone on the team, but to help players understand that their bad choices AFFECT the entire team...this is true in games, so why not in practice? Thanks for your input, though...it is always good to think about things from someone else's point of view.

PIC- I don't care HOW disciplined you are as a coach or how hard you work to get kids to do things correctly...they will still make mistakes. Discipline isn't done simply to punish...it is done to help players focus on their responsibilities to the team as a PART of the team. I don't run kids because I DISLIKE them....I run them because I love them and I want to help them get focused to make better choices in the future.

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No you run kids because it is part of a scheduled routine as part of a physical fitness program which is monitored on a per player basis for improvement in lapsed times.

Anything else is incorrect and offers no benenfit to the player.

Discipline is garnered through pride in achievement, and instilling of desired approval of their peers through positive feedback and a desire on their part not to disappoint their peers.

If their peers do not have a disciplined leader of their own age then the team does not belong to them...it is yours and they have no ownership interest. They only do what you say out of wanting to stay on the team, not because they endeavor to reach attainable goals that they have all committed to.

Observe who the leaders are or potentially are, ususally one pitcher, catcher, infielder and an outfielder.

Sit down with these four Captains and provide a set of rules as a template. Then discuss these with them and tell them to arrange a team meeting with just the players. Have then make notes and suggested changes.

Re-meet with the Captains and go over the discussed player changes. Discuss them for logical implemetation in alignment to overall doable team goals.

Have them go back and inform the team what has been decided by the team in conjunction with the Captains, Coaches and the Team.

Then turn the discipline over to the Captains and have them consult with you on infractions so you can advise...but not implement.

The key to success is in the remedial instruction both at the personal level and the team level.

Maintain the corrective action in a teaching environment as part of the scheduled practice or game routine. Don't single people out for embarassment or putdowns in front of their peers. It works against team cohesion.

The teaching environment can be useful to achieve discipline as part of the curriculum.

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Almost every team I ever coached went to the Championship game because of the players, not because of the coaches.

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Can certainly understand how true those words must be!

Discipline have nothing to do with punishment, running, or else. Most of the time discipline have a lot to do with knowledge, fun, capacity and results.
Some times punishment, and running, and else.. are used to hide coaches inability, coaches incapacity, coaches boring practices. Kids today, know more about baseball that 30 years ago, since TV games, and estrategies are so well explained for broadcasters (usually former players) that tv games become baseball classes. So, if the coach is not a good one, kids lost interest and indiscipline it born. Same happen at school, or wherever kids are. Baseball is a game and is supose to be fun, punishments are not fun.

quote:

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Originally posted by PiC:

quote:

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Originally posted by Coach Knight:
Catchermom- I understand what you are saying, but baseball is a game of accountability. Each player must take care of his own business, or the team fails. I use team discipline NOT to punish everyone on the team, but to help players understand that their bad choices AFFECT the entire team...this is true in games, so why not in practice? Thanks for your input, though...it is always good to think about things from someone else's point of view.

PIC- I don't care HOW disciplined you are as a coach or how hard you work to get kids to do things correctly...they will still make mistakes. Discipline isn't done simply to punish...it is done to help players focus on their responsibilities to the team as a PART of the team. I don't run kids because I DISLIKE them....I run them because I love them and I want to help them get focused to make better choices in the future.

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No you run kids because it is part of a scheduled routine as part of a physical fitness program which is monitored on a per player basis for improvement in lapsed times.

Anything else is incorrect and offers no benenfit to the player.

Discipline is garnered through pride in achievement, and instilling of desired approval of their peers through positive feedback and a desire on their part not to disappoint their peers.

If their peers do not have a disciplined leader of their own age then the team does not belong to them...it is yours and they have no ownership interest. They only do what you say out of wanting to stay on the team, not because they endeavor to reach attainable goals that they have all committed to.

Observe who the leaders are or potentially are, ususally one pitcher, catcher, infielder and an outfielder.

Sit down with these four Captains and provide a set of rules as a template. Then discuss these with them and tell them to arrange a team meeting with just the players. Have then make notes and suggested changes.

Re-meet with the Captains and go over the discussed player changes. Discuss them for logical implemetation in alignment to overall doable team goals.

Have them go back and inform the team what has been decided by the team in conjunction with the Captains, Coaches and the Team.

Then turn the discipline over to the Captains and have them consult with you on infractions so you can advise...but not implement.

The key to success is in the remedial instruction both at the personal level and the team level.

Maintain the corrective action in a teaching environment as part of the scheduled practice or game routine. Don't single people out for embarassment or putdowns in front of their peers. It works against team cohesion.

The teaching environment can be useful to achieve discipline as part of the curriculum.

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Sounds great in theory PIC.....straight out of a classroom methods book...but unfortunately kids do not all react alike...nor do teams...you better get to know your players and what makes them respond...and that team captain enforcing all guidelines BS is ridiculous...now some instances yes, things do need to be handled by the players but you're trying to imply your way is THE way...and to be frank, there have been many more successful "tough love" coaches than these "new wave" idealists like yourself...and not that your way can't work...just stating a fact...

PIC- I agree to part of what you are saying, in that I agree that conditioning should be a part of your program for positive reasons.
However, the rest of what you said is unfortunately fantasy and can't work in the real world of high school sports. I wish it could...but anyone that has coached high school ball for any length of time knows that it can't happen.
Most of the best programs in the country use conditioning (not necessarily running, could be other forms) to punish players who make poor choices. I do have captains, they do have responsibilities, and my players do work their tails off for me out of respect....but they're still kids and that means that I have an obligation to help them.

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Originally posted by Racab:
Discipline have nothing to do with punishment, running, or else. Most of the time discipline have a lot to do with knowledge, fun, capacity and results.
Some times punishment, and running, and else.. are used to hide coaches inability, coaches incapacity, coaches boring practices. Kids today, know more about baseball that 30 years ago, since TV games, and estrategies are so well explained for broadcasters (usually former players) that tv games become baseball classes. So, if the coach is not a good one, kids lost interest and indiscipline it born. Same happen at school, or wherever kids are. Baseball is a game and is supose to be fun, punishments are not fun.

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Racab said: times punishment, and running, and else.. are used to hide coaches inability, coaches incapacity, coaches boring practices.

Racab they will defend this to the death of the kids interest in baseball.

Sounds great in theory PIC.....straight out of a classroom methods book...but unfortunately kids do not all react alike...nor do teams...you better get to know your players and id12pack said: what makes them respond...and that team captain enforcing all guidelines BS is ridiculous...now some instances yes, things do need to be handled by the players but you're trying to imply your way is THE way...and to be frank, there have been many more successful "tough love" coaches than these "new wave" idealists like yourself...and not that your way can't work...just stating a fact...

After you watch the movie "Sandlot" plug in your post into that story and realize that the script is based upon a true story.

Kids don't need adults to play baseball. What they need is guidance and support. Now they could use tips on how to do certain things and explanations of the rules, but even that can be done by one kid who knows the ropes.

Take that "Sandlot" model and add yourself into the picture. Now where do you fit in. If you don't see that your presence is only desirable if you can offer something they can use in having fun then you are a distraction. Most coaches don't even think about that, and now you know why we continue to lose kids to other sports.