- If you've tried to coach a teaching point and the player doesn't get it, find another way of saying it. Simply saying the same thing over and over again doesn't work. Surely if you're taking money for lessons, you have another way to teach the same concept.
- If you are giving lesson and a player develops a "hot spot" the next stage is a blister. Good instructors understand that once a player develops a blister, they won't be as teachable on any given concept. BTW, how many reps does it take on any given point? If they don't get it, refer to #1. If they are developing blisters, have a strategy for that. We use skin lube in some situations. We've used athletic tape in others.
- If you are giving a lesson, don't waste precious time in a person's lesson having them do stuff to get ready for the lesson. The best instructors I know give kids pre lesson workouts. My daughter's pitching coach, whom I think is very good, has a pre lesson routine which includes mirror work. Nothing can be better than hitting the lesson with your body ready to perform and getting 100% of the time in instruction.
- Instruct! Having a kid do something while talking to others or simply being there doesn't get it done. If your child takes 3 or 4 swings without someone saying something you are wasting your money. Something doesn't have to be negative. You can sure build a kid's ego by constantly giving them positive feedback.
- The best instructors I know don't end a lesson on the clock and have you exit the cage. They wrap up the lesson with a few minutes left to enable the player to show what they have learned that day. Example, today my daughter worked on the rise ball. With about 7 minutes left in her lesson, her pitching coach had her go through her entire progression again while at the same time reinforcing that these stages of progression is exactly what she is going to do this week. THEN, she wanted to know WHY!
- Good instructors ask questions of both player and parent. I appreciate that. Once, while going to another coach, my daughter learned a new concept. We went home. She did her practice through the week and I insisted that she was doing it wrong. My daughter then went to the next lesson and guess who was wrong?
- Good instructors lay out a plan for instruction for YOUR CHILD. If you are walking into lessons and your child is getting the same lesson the kid before received, you are wasting your money UNLESS you know that your child has the same weaknesses. Naturally, there are some things that are going to be similar. However, that entire lesson shouldn't be! BTW, are portions of that plan written down? I think that is important.
- Good instructors plan to watch your child play. NUFF SAID!
- Good instructors use video. I'd also suggest that they don't mind if you video your child during lessons. Of course I know the draw backs to that as well.
- Good instructors are available for either tune ups OR emergency "fix its." I've had parents call in the past and tell me that their kid has anxiety ... and that it'd help to get a quick lesson. Most of the time in that situation, I've just gone to their game and asked their coach if I could do a couple of drills with them. Naturally this has never happened at the hs level.
Well, you all know I'm a person that makes list. I know I haven't mentioned everything and so please feel free to add something or disagree with some of what I've put here.
