High School Baseball Coaches

Is the coach knowledgable? That may be what directs the answer. If he is, maybe your son should listen a bit. If not, I hope you and the coach have a good relationship because there may be a "talk" in the future.

Without knowing what your son is doing, or not doing, or what is trying to be taught this is a hard answer. Maybe the coach is right. This is the type question that when posed on a board you are going to get a lot of different answers and that is because we have those answers based on our past experiences. Sit back, listen to the options, and then along with your personal knowledge take your coarse of action.

Relax, this is not uncommon. My son when he was a junior hit a screeming line drive off the fence (oposite field) in a scrimage. The coaches began screaming at him "if you can't pull the ball you'll never play" and promptly sent him to the batting cage for the remainder of the practice.

It upset him and I had similar concerns. However, in the end you will find that all coaches have "their way." Is it right or wrong or what he is comfortable doesn't matter; it is "their way."

For us we had to step back and ask, do they have a program? One that demands hard work and competitiveness? Do the kids, parents and community find excellence?

In the end, we did not agree with the coach or his meathods, but we were happy that there was a good program for my son to participate in.

So my advice is relax, listen and learn. Ultimatly your son will need to make adjustments (remember baseball is a game of adjustments). In the end how he approaches the game will always be "his way."

Give your son unconditional love and support. He is being asked to get out of his comfort zone. He is panicking some. This won't be the first time! I would hope that there is reason behind the madness. I run into this a lot. As a coach, I want to win so rest assured I wouldn't have anyone make any changes I thought would cause me to lose. Seems resonable that your coach thinks the same.

CB, some HS coaches have molds they want everyone to fit in. Some are still making all hitters "get that back elbow up". They believe that success will come once everyone is in their mold. If they know what they are doing, they may be okay in that route. If not, they will blame the players for not being talented enough or not doing what they are told.

Some coaches have little baseball expertise, as they are football coaches who drew the short straw and had to coach baseball in their offseason.

On the other hand, there are some great coaches with excellent baseball knowledge. They can be of great assistance in teaching players.

How big approaches this depends upon which type coach he is dealing with.

Texan, believe me, when it comes to coaching, I don't have blinders on. You are very accurate in your assessment. However, I don't know what you can do as a parent to change the coach. I coached basketball for several years including holding the winningest record in our school's history for girl's basketball. My child is now on a team. I look at their preparation, their game performance etc. and I realize it is substandard. However, I can't change the coach. So, I root for my child when and if she gets into a game. I often mess up and tell her to quit. She is not a quitter and so, she remains on the team. My advice is not to become the creep I am as a parent and support the kid. In time, if the coach doesn't measure up, one would hope that they will be gone.

The best approach is to listen carefully, say OK coach, and give it a try for a reasonable period, not just a couple swings. If it helps great, if it doesn't go back to what he is comfortable with. Then the next time the coach gives the same advice, listen carefully, say OK coach, and do it while the coach is still looking.

Depends on the coach to some degree. There are some very good HS coaches and he could be right even if it goes against something Charlie Lau taught.

Thanks to everyone for their advice. I was just wondering how to advise my son. I just don't think a coach should be changing a kid they haven't even seen on a field yet and is not on a team yet. Instruction is great but my gathering of this was not instruction but yelling. He does some things Charlie Lau taught to George Brett. I think that's a pretty good role model. Bottom line a coach and a player both need to earn each others trust and this is not the way to go about it.

quote:

Originally posted by CoachB25:
However, I don't know what you can do as a parent to change the coach.

Not a dang thing.

You're right. All you can do is be happy when the coach is a good one, and bear through it in the event they aren't.

Big, I don't think anyone can provide advice on whether this is a good change or not. I will say that the Lau method of hitting isn't the easiest to master. IMO, it takes someone with very good talent to be able to be effective. The more your son progresses in baseball, the more talented he needs to be to succeed with that style. George Brett was a rare talent. For me, it is important to remember that there are far more hitters who are successful without the Lau/Brett approach than with it.
So, it might be he has very good high school coach who knows your son has talent but won't succeed at the high school level and above with that approach. Might be a coach with lesser skills who cannot teach or appreciate the Lau method. Could be anything in between.
I don't assume the approach your son is taking is solid because it is based on Lau and the fact Brett was very successful with it. Similarly, I don't assume the coach is wrong for trying to change it.

IMO,you cannot put yourself between your son and this coach and expect things to be successful for your son. Your son trusts you. It sounds like you don't trust the coach. If your son gets stuck in the middle, that isn't good on or off the field.
If it were me, and I felt the coach knows as much, or more, about baseball than I do, I would support trying the changes. Maybe your son will be a better hitter than with the Lau approach. If it does not work for him, he can always go back to what apparently has worked for him before.
As your son progresses into high school and hopefully beyond, he is going to need to continue to make changes and adapt to an every increasing skill level. If you reinforce for him, at this level, he should resist those efforts, it may hinder him over the longer term of his career.

quote:

Originally posted by Big1toe:
Bottom line a coach and a player both need to earn each others trust

I think that is a great quote, but is it always true - the coach picks the player, not the other way around....

I'm more of the mindset of work your tail off and do what the coach says: If any of us walk into our bosses office on day 1 and say I have a better way of doing things you would be laughed at, over time when you are part of the team, those same suggestions would probably be accepted.

Last point in my ramble, if your son is getting yelled at this early it is probably because the coach sees something about him as a good player - I would be more worried if the coach didnt say a word.

quote:

He does some things Charlie Lau taught to George Brett. I think that's a pretty good role model.

I have a lot of respect for Lau, but that is still not the gospel. I would bet that if Lau spent as much time with your son as he did with Brett he would have adapted your sons swing to his ability. A camp with Lau does not make Lau his hitting coach, he introduced a method that has been proven with MLB players. A hitting coach provides long term tweaks to a swing, Charlie provided an insight to hitting..

quote:

Instruction is great but my gathering of this was not instruction but yelling.

Sometimes when a young player first experiences the "next level" a coaches method of communication can be percieved as yelling.

quote:

Bottom line a coach and a player both need to earn each others trust and this is not the way to go about it.

Without being rude I don't feel that your son has earned that "trust" yet, but at the same time he should have unconditional trust in his coach.

A couple of multi-hit games will go a long way to earn respect all the way around. BTW the yelling is louder further up the ladder.

big1toe,
I'd advise looking at the thread called "Isn't it funny?" and see if you get anything from it. I posted a little bit of a caution about taking Coach May's thoughts too literally, but I still think it was a very good post that he made. All of us who are parents should be able to see a bit of ourselves in there and most of us have at least some of the negative aspects.

I absolutely love everyone's opinions. It gives me great insight from people who have been there. My advice to him is going to be to listen to his coach because the coach is always right. Rule 2 if the coach is wrong see rule 1. I will not under any circumstances undermine his coach. There is nothing to gain from that and everything to lose. I will grin and bear it. Someday, hopefully they will realize that not everything is cookie cutter and that it is best to let the natural talent or cream rise to the top. Thanks.

quote:

I will grin and bear it. Someday, hopefully they will realize that not everything is cookie cutter and that it is best to let the natural talent or cream rise to the top.

Big1toe, Your right it is not a cookie cutter, however, there is still some stirring involved when making cream and natural talent needs to be nurtured and developed. Sit back and enjoy this ride, take nothing for granted, take advantage of available resources (coaching), examine resources outside the box, and let your son develop on his terms. Watching those trials and tribulations and how he reacts is the most rewarding part.

The coach should want to win. I have to assume that he does because I have never met one that did not. If your son is a talented hitter that is great. But in order to progress up the ladder of baseball even the most talented hitters have to make adjustments in order to continue to be sucessfull. You can bet that sooner or later the coach is going to see that your son is talented at the plate. The more talented he is the less tinkering he will do. (Or should do). Untill your son has the opportunity to show his abilities and has proven himself to be a talented hitter you can not expect the coach to take anyones word on it can you? Just relax and be positive with your son. Trust me if he can hit he will hit. Infieldads post was great. You are not alone in your feelings. Alot of dads of kids who have been sucessfull at the game do not want anyone tinkering with sucess in fear that someone is going to screw them up. It will be ok. He will learn to use what works and say yes sir and thank you and forget what does not. Good Luck

Unfortunately what the coach says is gonna go or your son won't be playing. On the plus side, unless he also runs the summer program, you're only stuck with him for about 20 games.

My son had the same HS coach for 4 years and by halfway through the second season, we had heard it all and were tired of his schtick. We just looked at HS ball as a warmup for his summer teams.

I don't think the coaches are bad guys. I guess my point is, isn't it a little too soon to start trying to change something? Shouldn't a coach get to know a player first? As of right now they probably don't even know his name, let alone his ability. Shouldn't there be some kind of evaluation process first?

First of all, I don’t think anyone has welcomed you to this site – it is invaluable. There will be times when you believe you know it all and read a few more posts and realize you are just beginning to learn. Other times you will find your instincts prevail regardless of what others think.

My son is only a soph (2nd year varsity) in a very competitive area and this site has helped me help him. That said, I know of one thing that his coaches stress that is just flat out wrong….my son and I talk about it but he does it the coaches way until summer.

Would I try to change a kid on day 1 – NO.

I would give it some time if I could but in our area there will be at least 120 kids trying out for 20 varsity spots and about 13 or so JV and 9th grade teams. Time is of a premium and I would guess the coaches have to make snap judgments – not an excuse just reality.

Our area is different in a major way, the coaches CAN NOT work with the players prior to tryouts – I would take the opportunity you all have and consider each workout as a tryout – JMO

I think in many ways we are on chapter 10 of a 100 chapter book and trying to skip to the end.....

CaDad and Catcher09 are right...

Tell him to listen and try to learn something. A coach is a teacher. They must establish a relationship separate from yours. It is important to his growth as a player. When my son told me "Dad I have a pitching coach" in response to my "advice" - I knew he had reached the next level. It will happen with your son. Be patient.

Big1toe....I agree with the thought process that coaches want to win...I disagree with the next assumption that this automatically makes them good coaches and/or correct in their instructions....

Need to say that son has been taught to be respectful, and we try to set the example....several of son's coaches we still call friends....

Coaches should most definitely be given the benefit of respect and appreciation for the job they do.....

BUT....we always told our son, who likes to hit, listen to them, try it, and if it's not helping....go back and do it the way you know works.....

...with time, if your son puts up the numbers....he will have less instruction on his hitting.....at the high school level....

catcher09

quote:

First of all, I don’t think anyone has welcomed you to this site – it is invaluable. There will be times when you believe you know it all and read a few more posts and realize you are just beginning to learn. Other times you will find your instincts prevail regardless of what others think.

Very well put.
I can not tell you how many time's Because of this SITE,
That I've come away with a different understanding or Point
of View. It's Invalueble?

You don't have to alway's agree with what the Coach
Teaches, Are what he Expect's from his player's.

But you must as a parent, stay out of it.
Trust me on this one.
Listen and learn.
You will never, I repeat Never change the coaches mind.
Just cause problem's for your player.
JMHO EH

Boy! I have been given some great advice. As I said before I will never, ever get in the way of a coach. What I said to my son,is that he needs to know that people are watching all the time. He needs to treat every single workout as a tryout. He needs to give 110% and be better than everyone there, not just the freshman. He's had only 2 coaches in his life so far. I think that alone speaks to what kind of player he is and what kind of parent I am. That all being said I am afraid that one of the earlier responses is on the money. That being that some of the coaches got the short end of the stick. He needs to keep getting better. Of course they will get the credit. However, he will know who truly helped him (not me). I just provide a means to an end. I'm sure that things will be fine. It will work itself out in the end. It always does.

quote:

Originally posted by Big1toe:
Thanks to everyone for their advice. I was just wondering how to advise my son. I just don't think a coach should be changing a kid they haven't even seen on a field yet and is not on a team yet.

You did not state the above in your first post.
I think you have a valid reason to have a concern.

But as others have suggested, there's nothing you can do about it right now. Listen to your son's concerns and be supportive of the coach. Let him ask the coach if he makes the team why he is making changes. He should be open to suggestions, the coach may be looking to see if he is coachable.

BIG1Toe,

As you can tell we are passionate about the game. Enjoy every minute and please, please post often - every one learns when someone posts a topic.

At some point in time, will you please share with us how you came up with the screen name BIG1Toe - there has to be a great story behind that.

Merry Christmas

BIG1Toe,

New to the HSSBW and already sparkin' up good conversation.

I'm liking that!!

( Welcome-welcome-welcome! Take a seat, put your feet up, and stay a while! )

I wish there was something fancy behind it but not really. If anyone has ever seen the movie Stripes, they called the Sergeant bigtoe. Believe it or not that was taken so I put a 1 in the middle.

quote:

Originally posted by Big1toe:
I wish there was something fancy behind it but not really. If anyone has ever seen the movie Stripes, they called the Sergeant bigtoe. Believe it or not that was taken so I put a 1 in the middle.

Come on now, you can do better then that - this is the internet - make up something good.

Oh, by the way, my son was in a game yesterday - he went 9 for 7 and hit 12 HRs and had 129 RBIs. Caught all innings and also pitched a no-no.