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End of the Year Observations:

CoachB25CoachB25Honorary "Old TImer"
In coaching, I'd be the first to say that I don't do things typical of others. No bad nor good but rather I see things differently. A friend of mine, an old coaching buddy, and I were watching a team play their last game of the year. Naturally, the coach thought that they had done things right. They thought that the kids had put forth a great effort all year. Thought that the run ended too soon. Well, you get the point. While this relates to softball, I'd suggest that it relates to all HS sports and certainly to baseball.

My Buddy got up and started putting his chair up but I remained seated. He wanted to know what the hold up was. I told him I was observing players and coaches. He sat back down. I asked him his observations. I listen and then shocked him with mine. I asked to to rate a player say #7 and what they contributed to the team this year. He said role player, spot starter, looking to start as a senior. I asked him why #7 was the first one off of the field and into the stands and why was #7 laughing? Next, I asked him about the seniors. Did they look upset? Did they act like their season ended too soon? Were they quick to leave the field? Next, I asked him why one of the coaches was raking the field while the top assistants was shooting the s___/laughing with a bunch of buddies? I asked him about the losing pitcher, a senior, who was still on the bench and noticably upset. I asked him what might be going through that young ladies mind as most of the people around her could care less via their actions, that she had played her last HS game. I put a lot of stock in these observations.

I think many, if not most, talk a good game but, in realtiy, don't put as much into "it" as they suggest. I say this because when it is the last game, that senior should hurt. They should not be glad it is over. That coach should hurt as well. They have lost another group of kids that they should have become close to. Those role players and non seniors should hurt as well. They have watched the end of their friends HS careers and should feel for them. Naturally, these are my opinions and so, not valid.

My buddy asked me what I did when our season ended. Easy enough, I had the seniors line up. I had the other kids meet me in a huddle. I reminded each of them that their friends have run out of games to play. I ask them to search their hearts and ask themselves if they gave those seniors all that they had. Finally, I told the Juniors to take a good look. Next year, that will be them and what they put into preparing for next year will determine exactly where their careers end. Only one team, in my opinion, will end up without having their hearts broken IF they put everything into it. Again, this is JMHO! We all know that MO and $6 will get you an extra value meal at Micky D's.

"Failure depends upon people who say I can't."  - my dad's quote July 1st, 2021.  CoachB25 = Cannonball for other sites.

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CoachB25CoachB25Honorary "Old TImer"
My biggest fear was ALWAYS that the Seniors would stand in that line and feel that their coach didn't give it everything he had. I wanted to avoid that at all cost and so, everything revolved around the seniors. Even the seniors that didn't get to play as much always were praised thoughout the year for leadership, grades, and what was in their hearts. It should hurt everyone and not just the seniors that the year is over.

I've had some very nice pms from this thread. Thanks!
Bulldog 19Bulldog 195,000+ posts
We always just laugh here when a kid decides to not play a sport with the reasoning “that I’ve got to work.” High school is only 4 years. You only get 4 years to play football, baseball, basketball, etc. If you’re lucky, maybe you go to college and play there. We know how few make it past high school.

High school sports are special. Anybody can play rec baseball, join a “select” team and be the “star” of the show. High school sports are the only thing left where it isn’t just about the money. College and professional sports are all about the almighty dollar. Scholarships, coaches’ salaries, paying for the big skyboxes, advertising, etc. High school sports are the truest form. It’s special and it’s a time an athlete will never forget. Granted, it’s only been a year for me but I can recall specifics about my last game in football, basketball, and baseball.

Football ended in the first round of the IHSA State Playoffs at Mt. Zion. We lost 28-14. Got down after an early touchdown after a major goof due to jitters. Never could quite recover. After shaking hands, coach’s talk, pictures, and the crying and hugging of course, I walked across the field toward the locker room and met my parents and my grandpa. It was the only game of my high school career he got to see.

Basketball ended in the Regionals at Althoff against Cahokia. I didn’t score many points in my career, but I scored the last basket for the team my senior year. We got beat probably by 10 or more and it was basically all subs in the game when I scored with less than 10 seconds to go.

Baseball ended in the Regionals at Belleville East against Edwardsville. The last at-bat of my career I struck out looking at a curve ball.

I couldn’t tell you which one was the hardest to walk off the field or off the court for the last time. They all hurt. And I know it hurt more for me than for some others because I played with 7 from my class who went on to play a college sport whereas I knew the road was over for me and sports have always been a BIG part of my life. It’s different now not being in uniform.

So there’s my *** story about the end of a career. For you players reading this: ENJOY it while you can because once it’s over, you WILL miss it.
Last edited by Bulldog 19
play baseballplay baseball1,000+ posts
Bulldog19--HOW old are you?????? You are wise beyond your years. I hope you choose a career in writing or counseling--maybe both. You have quite a gift.


CoachB25---I wish we knew about you before my boys entered high school. We would have moved just to have you as a coach. You are a treasure.

By the way, good luck to your daughter in the play-offs. With good luck and great Karma, our daughters will play together (well, opposite) at state--our high school is also 3A. When do you play next?
CoachB25CoachB25Honorary "Old TImer"
quote:
Originally posted by play baseball:
Bulldog19--HOW old are you?????? You are wise beyond your years. I hope you choose a career in writing or counseling--maybe both. You have quite a gift.


CoachB25---I wish we knew about you before my boys entered high school. We would have moved just to have you as a coach. You are a treasure.

By the way, good luck to your daughter in the play-offs. With good luck and great Karma, our daughters will play together (well, opposite) at state--our high school is also 3A. When do you play next?


We are supposed to play Thursday night in Centralia. So far, my daughter is having a great season. However, the rain just won't stop. In fact, Saturday was supposed to be clear and it poured during the game. We are under tornado warnings right now and her team practices in a half an hour. They are all eating lunch together now. It is supposed to pour tomorrow. In fact, Thursday is the only day in the forecast without rain. They will play a very good team from Mattoon. It is neat that they have made the Sweet 16 for only the 3 time in school history. Good luck to your daughter's team as well. Yes, it'd be neat to meet at state. We are traveling a lot this summer to play and will play in Bloomington in a couple of weeks. Maybe your daughter is in that one.

Bulldog19 is a fine young man from a very nice family. I've had the pleasure of coaching against him for a while and his Dad and I are friends. His roots are SOLID!

Take care,

Darrell
Last edited by CoachB25
zombywoofzombywoof1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by CoachB25:

I think many, if not most, talk a good game but, in realtiy, don't put as much into "it" as they suggest. I say this because when it is the last game, that senior should hurt. They should not be glad it is over. That coach should hurt as well. They have lost another group of kids that they should have become close to. Those role players and non seniors should hurt as well. They have watched the end of their friends HS careers and should feel for them. Naturally, these are my opinions and so, not valid.


It all starts with coaching. If you got lousy coaches who are there to do little more than showing up, riding players hard without much more purpose than to humiliate them and rarelt ever emphasizing their stromng points or things they do well as players, it can make for long losing seasons.

Not to put all the blame poor coaching and teaching because in the end, the players have to execute on the field, but a good coach is one who runs a real program, takes interest in his players, teaches the game instead of assuming they should know everything and has the ability to prepare and motivate his players and put them in the best situations for them to succeed. Poor coaches often put players in situations where failure is most likely to happen and the end result speaks for itself making for a long year and a relief the season's over.
Last edited by zombywoof
W Will1,000+ posts
quote:
Not to put all the blame poor coaching and teaching because in the end, the players have to execute on the field,


how many put the blame on the coach? when that player makes an error and the inning continues or the player strikes out with the winning run on. the bottom line is that players have to produce. good players make coaches look like a genius and not so good like bums. I think the mark of a good coach is maximizing his talent and putting players in a position to succeeed

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