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Wanted some opinions on what type of coach people tend to like more?

 

The laid back coach that just lets his players play the game and doesn't really say much during the game or the fiery coach that keeps the talk going and trying to motivate the players every inning?  I am not talking about the extreme to one side or the other so don't think I am talking about the coach that says zero or the coach that is screaming like a  maniac. lol

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What a player or a team need as a coach varies from situation to situation. Some players just need to show up and do their thing. Others need a boot in their rear to reach their potential. As for coaching the team a good coach looks at what he has and fills in the rest. I've had teams full of vocal leaders. I've had other teams where I had to light the fuse.

 

Regardless a coach has to mostly fit into his personality. By nature, I was an analytic technician who didn't show a lot of emotion. It's also how I watch games as a fan. You usually couldn't tell who was winning by looking at me. I had one assistant be the rear kicker and another provide post rear kicking soothing to calm the player down and get him refocused.

I was fiery and that is an understatement.  I had two assistant coaches who were given the responsibility of reeling me in and both had played for me.  That was a great mix as they did their best to stop me from crossing the line.  I used that fieriness in positive ways or at least I think I was positive.  I also used it as code.  For example, when I walked out of the dugout and yelled at the pitcher to throw strikes, that was a code for certain things.  Every pitcher knew how ridicules that statement was and so, you'd see them try not to laugh sometimes.   If I yelled out to the SS "Blank how many down are there?"  That was a code.  The players all would then say to themselves, "I'm down with what coach is calling."  The next thing I did was a code.  People always wanted to know why I yelled so much.  Most f it was code.  However, some of it was legit and trying to get more out of a player than they thought that they had in themselves.  A few weeks ago, I ran in to one of my former SS.  He told me about his new family and how successful he was.  He now is in management and has a 5 state region he is responsible for.  Mid six didget income.  He said that everything he has is because of baseball.  One thing he said was that in a management training session he was warned about being intimidated by branch managers who had been with the company longer than he had.  His response was that he played baseball for me and so, nothing in this life can intimidate him.  We had a good laugh on that. 

 

I do want to mention that fiery can be bad as well.  I hate seeing coaches yell and never instruct.  JMHO!

I think it depends entirely on the individual coach. Some have a way of being "fiery" without saying a word. The toughest coaches I played for didn't need to say a lot... you just knew. Others are chewing backsides nonstop to the point where most players sort of tune them out while other players are just intimidated and tight. I personally find coaches who are talking/barking a lot throughout ballgames to generally be a distraction to players. Bark at and coach players at practice. In games, just manage the game and let players play in the moment.

The best coaches are the ones who know when to get their team fired up and when to play loose. And how to motivate with positive results. Everyone motivates in different ways. 

The best scenario, IMO  is to have a combo different personalities, that is what I have seen work best for the teams son has played for.

 

 

I believe that it is based on the personality of the coach.  Which that said, a succesful coach needs to have a little of both.  HS athletes need to be inspired and sometimes that means the laid back coach needs to have some fire.  Fiery coaches need to know when to take the pressure off at times because you can grind a HS kid down.

Ive thought about this subject a lot  since i started coaching, trying to mold myself into a more effective coach.  I still am unsure how to get the most out of kids at the age i am coaching.  I guess what I have learned so far is that no 2 kids take a single approach the same way.  One i can light a fire in their eyes by getting on them, get on another in the same manner and the fire dims.

 

When I played in high school ball, my coach was known throughout the region as a real ball buster, but the most technically sound coach around.  My junior year he thought it was the weakest year, as far as talent, so he took a sabbatical to coach college and finish his masters.  Laid back assistant coach takes over and we dominate and win state. 

 

I really think the ball buster coach prepared us and taught us the game.  When he left so did the pressure, we flourished.  I'm new to coaching so we shall see, but I think every club may need a little of both, one to bust your balls and one to just let you play.

Last edited by deuces wild

but I think every club may need a little of both, one to bust your balls and one to just let you play.

 

I will be honest years ago the players handled the bust your balls approach better. If the coach got on them he got on them and they went from there. Today not as much. that kid that loafed on running a ground ball I took out of the game. I did it. If I was coaching today I might get a little heat. Just an opinion. the part about letting you play. If the player is not performing you do not let him play you sit him. 

 

Bottom line  you put the best 9 guys on the field that give you a chance to win. If you try to please everybody you lose.

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