1. Don't be afraid to hire someone who knows more than you do about a specific position/skill. It is frustrating to hear a coach yell "Make good throws!" "Throw strikes!" "Hit line drives!" and not hear the coach also give the instruction necessary to do so. If there is local talent that can help your players, hire him! Or at least ask him to volunteer.
2. If you want to have fall ball, summer ball, winter conditioning, whatever, then great! Use it to get your younger players and bench players some playing time and get them into your conditioning program. If your established varsity players have a travel team that is going to get them exposure at a national level, then encourage them to go! If their parents are willing to fork out the bucks to have them participate in an offseason conditioning program that includes former major leaguers and a minor leaguer who just broke a certain team's minor league stolen bases record, let him go! He will be better for doing all this when he shows up for tryouts, and he will help your team win!
3. Recruiting. It is NOT about you. It is about the player. Be the facilitator, not the gatekeeper.
I look forward to your comments!
