As a parent what do you feel is the optimum coaching staff for a HS age travel team?
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1. No fathers of players on team.
Start wit a more mature head coach, kinda a father figure with some decent minor league experience. he would demand respect for his age and experience and would be a little aloof, even a bit grumpy.
Assistants should be younger guys (2-3 of them) with solid college if not minor league experience. The boys would bond better with these guys, they must be good solid role models as more things then just baseball are learned from these experiences. You must have a separate pitching/ bullpen coach and you must let him do his job, lastly , but very important is a conditioning coach who take his job very seriously. In AZ we had a guy come by once or twice a week at practices to just work on SPARQ stuff for an hour and preach about eating, proper stretching and exercise programs.
Assistants should be younger guys (2-3 of them) with solid college if not minor league experience. The boys would bond better with these guys, they must be good solid role models as more things then just baseball are learned from these experiences. You must have a separate pitching/ bullpen coach and you must let him do his job, lastly , but very important is a conditioning coach who take his job very seriously. In AZ we had a guy come by once or twice a week at practices to just work on SPARQ stuff for an hour and preach about eating, proper stretching and exercise programs.
My take on this is a little different but I like what Diamond Dog posted as well as jbb.
I want a staff that has a great reputation with the college coaches for being honest about their players. I want a staff that knows the college coaches and the programs in the area. I want a staff that understands that a big part of their job is to assist these players with finding the right fit for them. I want a staff with the experience to properly evaluate the talent of its players and the ability to assist them with the proper fit both on the field and academically. I want a staff that understands its job is to make sure that all the players on its roster are after the same thing and its more important to showcase all the players than win a game on a certain day. I want a staff that is truly working towards what is best for the players and not on some kind of ego trip or thinks this is all about them. I want a staff that has the respect of the college coaches for doing things the right way. I want a staff that brings out the best in its players and assists them in this journey.
Of course its important for players to have a coaching staff that is knowledgeable in teaching the game and coaching them. So I want a staff that can teach and wants to teach. But there is a big difference in selecting a team to go out and showcase for college coaches and selecting a team of players that you are trying to develop into players that college coaches are going to want to see. If you have to coach them up maybe they should be on a developmental team until they are ready to showcase? I am not saying that these kids do not need coaching and instruction they all do. But the main purpose of a showcase team imo is to put them out in front of the college coaches so they can show what they can do.
IMO the most important thing a summer showcase staff can bring to the table is credibility with the college coaches and the ability to evaluate talent. The ability to assist these players with finding the right fit for them and getting them in front of the right people for them. The ability to be honest with the players and the coaches in order to assist the players in finding the right fit. And of course talking to them about what they need to improve on and how to do just that with proper instruction. jmo
I want a staff that has a great reputation with the college coaches for being honest about their players. I want a staff that knows the college coaches and the programs in the area. I want a staff that understands that a big part of their job is to assist these players with finding the right fit for them. I want a staff with the experience to properly evaluate the talent of its players and the ability to assist them with the proper fit both on the field and academically. I want a staff that understands its job is to make sure that all the players on its roster are after the same thing and its more important to showcase all the players than win a game on a certain day. I want a staff that is truly working towards what is best for the players and not on some kind of ego trip or thinks this is all about them. I want a staff that has the respect of the college coaches for doing things the right way. I want a staff that brings out the best in its players and assists them in this journey.
Of course its important for players to have a coaching staff that is knowledgeable in teaching the game and coaching them. So I want a staff that can teach and wants to teach. But there is a big difference in selecting a team to go out and showcase for college coaches and selecting a team of players that you are trying to develop into players that college coaches are going to want to see. If you have to coach them up maybe they should be on a developmental team until they are ready to showcase? I am not saying that these kids do not need coaching and instruction they all do. But the main purpose of a showcase team imo is to put them out in front of the college coaches so they can show what they can do.
IMO the most important thing a summer showcase staff can bring to the table is credibility with the college coaches and the ability to evaluate talent. The ability to assist these players with finding the right fit for them and getting them in front of the right people for them. The ability to be honest with the players and the coaches in order to assist the players in finding the right fit. And of course talking to them about what they need to improve on and how to do just that with proper instruction. jmo
I agree with everyone above. I would add communication from the coaches to the players/families
Players and parents get very frustrated with no communication or information. I'm not talking about an every day or every other day phone call. I'm talking about informing the player or parent about serious interest shown by a school, letting a player know exactly what level the coaches feel he fits into the college.
Coaches should realize how frustrating the recruiting process is for the families and try to keep them in the loop as much as possible.
Players and parents get very frustrated with no communication or information. I'm not talking about an every day or every other day phone call. I'm talking about informing the player or parent about serious interest shown by a school, letting a player know exactly what level the coaches feel he fits into the college.
Coaches should realize how frustrating the recruiting process is for the families and try to keep them in the loop as much as possible.
fillsfan thats a great point.
I agree with prior posts, I would add that when it comes to experience, I take note of coaches who have coached at a college or pro level. Playing experience at those levels is great (and a plus), but I think someone who has been paid by a college or pro team to coach may understand how college coaches think. Plus, it is good learning experience for the players to play for someone who is familiar with how things work at those levels.
Decent organizational skills really help, or a support structure to provide those. You may be the best baseball mind in the world, but if you can't get the team registered to play, nothing else matters. My son lost a summer playing for a good baseball guy who only got the team into 3 tournaments.
Decent organizational skills really help, or a support structure to provide those. You may be the best baseball mind in the world, but if you can't get the team registered to play, nothing else matters. My son lost a summer playing for a good baseball guy who only got the team into 3 tournaments.