Please help ASAP.

Let them pick their position and batting number out of a hat. I'm serious. No reflection on you or your players. Just a way to shake things up. It might even be fun.

I know it was Little League and a much different environment but several years ago I had a Majors age team (10-12 year olds) that due to several factors lost all of our experienced players. 2 dad's got transferred out of state and believe it or not the other 12 year olds both broke their arms within days of each other right after the season started.
Anyway, we had a little team meeting, with pizza they were just kids, and I explained that our measure of success that season wasn't going to be wins and loses. We were going to measure our success only by our own improvement. If we scored 2 runs and got 5 hits and struck out 9 times in one game our goal would be to score 3 runs, 6 hits 8 k's etc. By the end of the season (we finished 1-18) instead of getting mercy ruled we were losing games by 1-3 runs and in the fight to the end every game. I don't remember any of those kids hanging their heads the entire season, they played their butts off and were proud of themselves. By the way 7 of the 11 are now on their respective High School teams (JV & Varsity)so I don't think the experience discouraged them..

I know they were just little kids and you are dealing with young men but I think a similar,but more mature approach could help.

Good Luck.

My advice would be to tell them to not worry about the score, as this can be a meaningless number when are looking at individual performance during a game. Get them to try to break down their own play into positives what they did right during the game and not worry about the end result. If they start to focus on what they each did well in the game the score will take care of itself. Be constructive on what they need to work on from the game and keep working on fixing the individual issues that happen. If they go into a game with the expectation of each doing something right and not worry about the score it might help.

I say this as my son has been focusing on his hitting approach and not the result and it is helping him improve. He has been listening to Steve Spinger’s audio CD prior to every game and taking those thoughts to the box with him. One of his coaches said the other day “hey you only went one for three last night” and he said back to him “coach I had four quality at bats, I had a walk, and three hard hit balls, I can’t do anything about what happens after I hit the ball.” He does not look at his batting average anymore all he cares about is the number of quality at bats he has. Maybe if your guys focus on whatever quality measurement you want to set on their play they will keep individually improving and the wins will come without them thinking or worrying about it.

Just a thought, good luck.

Congratulations!
Rebuilding a team from the bottom can be way more fun than taking a good team and maintaining or making a little better. And you’ve already determined you have guys with potential and guys who don’t quit!
We just went through this... we took over a team that won just 4 games two years ago – lucky to win those, didn’t know how to win. It’s been a process, but they’ve won 5 of 8 so far this year and last night they beat a perennial power neighbor school three times as big.

Just a few suggestions...

The Obvious
-Don’t let up on all of the fundamental work.
-Demand their best efforts, whatever that may be.
-Have enough coaches that you are able to always run multiple stations and maximize practices.
-Make sure you are covering all situational items repeatedly – don’t assume they know.
-Verbal praise for all out effort regardless of result.
-Make sure you schedule ample time to develop pitchers, even if that is separate from regular practices.

Maybe not as Obvious
-Incorporate drills that will bring out aggressive play without them even knowing – lot’s of team competitions
Power hitting contests, sometimes with s****r balls
Timed throwing contests around the horn and in relay lines
Short distance diving stations and on-grass hard slide drills
Timed base running, timed catchers’ POP
Hitting cage drills that include line drive, hit oppo contests
Crank up the machine once in a while and see who can make solid contact

-Find reachable measurable successes that aren’t necessarily related to W’s or L’s.
-Explain that they are part of a special program rebuild and and with the proper efforts, they will experience winning for the first time. Be aware and make sure they are aware that it doesn’t happen overnight.
-In games, keep quality AB charts that reward hard-hit balls and situational execution.
-Leave time for fun and bonding –have a player tell a joke during warmups and pass the baton to another for the next day. As a team, go watch a local college game or other high level game.

Post season/next year
-Get players playing in games, whether it is your summer program, club team or other.
-Try to recruit enough players to come out to create positional competition.
-Get them throwing as early as possible prior to next season.
-If possible, schedule some of your pre-league games next year with teams you can compete with for confidence building and so they see that their efforts at least sometimes result in W’s.

With proper preparation , they can learn how to win... and they do still love pizza!

Good stuff cabbagedad. Lot of great information there.

Leadership Principle #1- Great coaches always remember that people are more important than things

Leadership Principle #2- Catch your players doing things right

Remembering the value of your players and praising the little things they do right will enhance their ability to perform.

I got this from this baseball article about the Art of Coaching a team.
There are outstanding coaching techniques to be learned here.
Good luck!

How are things going, coachjo?

LOL.
Not much better.

Kids work hard in practice and we've had some fun.

But gametime comes and they get this look on their face that lets you know it's not good. THey are so tensed up and worried about the next error. I've talked about perspective and everything else. Running out of answers.

quote:

Originally posted by coachjo:
LOL.
Not much better.

Kids work hard in practice and we've had some fun.

But gametime comes and they get this look on their face that lets you know it's not good. THey are so tensed up and worried about the next error. I've talked about perspective and everything else. Running out of answers.

Understand it's tough, but you must keep looking at the positives that are going on and move forward. Praise the little things that they are doing right. Do not focus on the negatives - they already know that. Hang in their Coach. At some point they need to believe they are good baseball players and not be concerned about winning or losing.
Lefty...

Have a meeting and listen to them. Let them voice their fears. Don't try to solve it, just get them talking and help them give it a name.

Have you read "Heads Up Baseball" by Ken Ravizza and Tom Hanson?

I actually have that book and have used some of it. Also have some DVDs that I've watches with Brian Cain. Maybe I haven't gotten it across like I should have.

One part in the book talks about "Why do you play The Game?" Perhaps it would help you. The Kid and I have that conversation from time to time when his mental game starts to drift. Goal setting for the remainder of the year may help - set something achievable, let them feel a small victory. That kind of thing. When I am in doubt, I always go back to the fundamentals - including the mental game.

I am in the same boat this year, and I knew it would be this way going into the season. We only have one Sr. and the freshman and soph. we are playing with are not gifted athletically. I was extremely worried how I, as well as the team, would handle it. I have to say I have enjoyed the season (sure I wish we had more W's), but the kids are playing hard, attitudes have been great, we are getting better every week, and they are playing to the best of their ability.

District play started for us last week and we lost both. But the first game we went into the last inning tied 3-3 and we gave up 3 earned runs in the 7th. The second game we were down 4-12 at one point, but came back to 9-12 and we left the bases loaded in the 7th. So we have had our chances and we have kept battling the whole time. (with the talent we have we should have been getting run ruled every game)

So since seeing this post I have been thinking about what has allowed this team to stay upbeat and positive. I think alot of it has to do with the players, but on the coaching end we have tried to do what you guys have been saying. We concentrated on the positive. We have gold glove recognition for each gave, quality at bat charts, etc. Also, lots of positive, encouraging feed back the first 1/2 of the year. We then started moving into a more "aggressive" coaching approach after the players learned what to do, yet still were not getting it done. We also have a set of Brian Cain videos.

I guess the bottom line is stay positive and keep coaching even if the results are not coming as fast as you want them to come. It will happen. My one sr. was batting .091 after 9 games, but we kept working and to his credit he still thought he could hit......anyway after 15 games he is up to .240 with a home run in each of the last two games.

I also had to take my own advice after our last lost. I took the old saying if you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all. We had some good things happen, but I was down after our loss.....so, I don't think I said anything to them after the game, at the restaurant, bus ride home, or at the club house when we got back. It let them know how disappointed I was after Tues. game, but I did not have to verbally say anything. Yesterday, the kids went back to work at getting better. I even over heard some of the players encouraging the others to give 100% before practice even started.

Here are a couple of things that have worked for me. first, help them learn to compete. Make as many things in practice a competition as you can. It might be a competition against two squads or simply a challenge to an individual. Once they get used to everything being a competition, they can relax more in games. Second, in games compete per inning rather than total score. Try to outscore the opponent and out hustle them each inning. Break the game down to winning those small battles and it will carry over. If they score 2, you score 3. If you don't, then start over next inning and put that one behind you.

hsballcoach....I like that, we have played a "skins game" all year. We play it inning by inning.

so we had to play defending state champs this week. Not pretty. Should have took this advice AFTER that series. lol

I am coaching a high school team (as a HUGE project) this year that is 4-19. Last year we were 2-21.

Last year our team batting average was .175. This yaer it is almost .260. Last year the ERA was 12.56 and this year it's 7.53. I have several players on track to break school records, and they aren't the bad ones!

By looking within the individual progress your players you are making you may be able to see the real growth of the kids. Losing is hard, but sometimes looking at your small successes with individual players is what can get you through a bad season (or in my case two of them).

If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, get a new job or you will go crazy. If your young kids are good, work like a dog until they can get it done. Remind them that you will be better after summer ball, fall ball, and another season next spring... that's almost 60-80 games if you work hard. It's amazing what time and effort will do for your team!

Well, an update on where we stand. We were 3-15 and just completed our first of two rounds of district play without a district win. I was at a low point in my coaching career. This is the worst record of my playing/coaching career. We also lost our team's student trainer in an auto accident (that really made the win/loss record unimportant), and we were struggling with her loss. I was ready to start calling short practices and head home early everyday……but I knew in my heart that was not the right thing to do and not what I wanted to teach our players. I wanted them to know that the right thing to do was to work as hard as you can regardless of the perceived outcome. So we kept getting after it.

Anyway, that left us having to win 6 in a row at a chance to be tied for a play-off spot. Guess what, we were able to keep these kids working hard and playing ball, and wholly smokes we won them all!!! So tomorrow we will play a seeding game for second and third (top 3 from our district make the play-offs). I know our student trainer would have been so proud and excited for our boys.

I am not putting this up here to brag (well, maybe on how the players kept working hard), because 9-15 is not a record to brag about…But to let the others that are struggling know that if you are doing the right things, the ball just may bounce in your favor a little more often and not to get discouraged.

Good luck to everyone the rest of the season!

PS Our kids also got some good tips from Domingo Ayala’s videos and we got to “pop the chain” much more often the second round of district play.

Also, I started not to put the part about our trainer in this post, but after reading some of the other topics I went back in and added it. Some people need to realize some things are so much more precious and important than this game of baseball.

quote:

Originally posted by d8:
Well, an update on where we stand. We were 3-15 and just completed our first of two rounds of district play without a district win. I was at a low point in my coaching career. This is the worst record of my playing/coaching career. We also lost our team's student trainer in an auto accident (that really made the win/loss record unimportant), and we were struggling with her loss. I was ready to start calling short practices and head home early everyday……but I knew in my heart that was not the right thing to do and not what I wanted to teach our players. I wanted them to know that the right thing to do was to work as hard as you can regardless of the perceived outcome. So we kept getting after it.

Anyway, that left us having to win 6 in a row at a chance to be tied for a play-off spot. Guess what, we were able to keep these kids working hard and playing ball, and wholly smokes we won them all!!! So tomorrow we will play a seeding game for second and third (top 3 from our district make the play-offs). I know our student trainer would have been so proud and excited for our boys.

I am not putting this up here to brag (well, maybe on how the players kept working hard), because 9-15 is not a record to brag about…But to let the others that are struggling know that if you are doing the right things, the ball just may bounce in your favor a little more often and not to get discouraged.

Good luck to everyone the rest of the season!

PS Our kids also got some good tips from Domingo Ayala’s videos and we got to “pop the chain” much more often the second round of district play.

Also, I started not to put the part about our trainer in this post, but after reading some of the other topics I went back in and added it. Some people need to realize some things are so much more precious and important than this game of baseball.

It's a process Coach. Way to stick with it.

Lefty...

Good luck today D8

Domingo will be rooting for you too!!!

Coach so sorry for the loss that your program had with the death of your trainer. Congrats on turning around the season. You said a 9 - 15(??) record isn't something to be proud of and there is truth to that but you can definitely be proud of the work that went into this season. Over time you will realize how special this season is. Sometime, somewhere I heard something to the effect that the good seasons aren't when we earn our money. It's the challenging seasons is when we do.