Summer baseball organization as a head coach

Coach, I've been there and done that. It didn't work well. There are so many forces at work and so many special interest and so many... Well, I gave up. Then, in a conversation with Swingbuster on the phone, I was again inspired to give it a try. I went to the select feeder program and told them I'd do a series of coaching and player clinics. I had the dates preset and approved by our administration and I almost refused to accept no. I am now working Wednesda and Thursday nights. I start at 1:00 on Sunday and go till 6:00. These kids are great and the coaches are really working to learn. IF YOU CAN PULL THIS OFF, YOU WILL BE VERY GLAD YOU TRIED. GOOD LUCK! I do have a couple of old Publisher format flyers that I can email to you if you want to see any of it.

Coach Knight, not knowing what the programs are and the people involved or how far you are rebuilding. I'll just give you this site and maybe it will spark some ideas for you.

http://www.juniorbaseballoforegon.com/
Good Luck

Coach Knight...I applaud your wanting to try this, however, MHO for what it's worth...

= In the summer I would focus on building the younger Fr and So HS players, they need the time and the innings that the Jr/Sr players would take.

= I would therefore not focus as much on winning as building their confidence and their ego's...teach them the game

= If the Jr and Sr players are looking @ college, they may want to play for
higher/regional/national teams, and to ask them to play in the summer may hurt their exposure.

= Many HS teams want to make the summer mandatory for players, and I feel that is an unfair demand to put on a 16/17 yr old.

= Building programs is a great reward, but not at the risk of holding players to the fire.

I hope all goes well. but from my experience you will run up against some tough issues.

You may have already considered these issues, as I said it is MHO and only that from experience.

Good Luck!!

Thanks to all of you - keep it coming. We have made a HUGE commitment to the younger players in the system, both during the season and in the summer. I think the overall attitude is exceptional (this is my 3rd year at this school), but coordinating all the programs at all the levels and getting everyone to buy into it is a trick. Thanks -

*****CoachB25- I'll take a copy of that brochure, if that's ok.

Coach Knight....I have been working on the Board of Directors of our youth league for a few years, primarily giving some free clinics for kids in the eleementary schools as well as doing clinics (and this year forums) for all the coaches......I can let you know some of things we have been doing......it sounds like you're on the right track!

Grateful-
Sounds like I need to have a sit-down with you sometime soon...If you could email me your phone number, I'd love to talk to you about this. Thanks - Coach Knight

Coach

Prior to my setting up my current program I ran rec programs for the town I lived in at that time ( Baseball, Basketball and S O C C E R)

I think I can help you

Fell free to call me--800-782-3672--that number is in my office in my home so please feel to call in the evening if that is better for you

Tom Rizzi
www.collegeselect.org

Coach Knight,
No help here but I think you're doing the right thing. We played a 14u team in a tournament earlier this year and although he wasn't officially their coach the head coach of Chatsworth HS stood in front of the dugout on the field and ran everything. They were the national HS champs so it seems to be a good practice to follow.

Coach Knight...

Cell phone #: 517-605-1263

Call anytime!!

Coach Knight,
I have been in your exact shoes. In my experience I found a couple of things things that worked for me that me be of help. First, try to build the program at the 17 and under and 18 and under levels. The success will trickle down, as will expectations of the lower level teams if they want to be a part of higher level ball in the future. Also, a player / parent contract is a must. Set expectations about practice attendence and game time arrival etc. and have it signed before they can play. I used to have 2 line-up cards. One made out the night before and one made at the time the team was told to be at the field. If you were late, you did not get on the game line-up - no excuse period. I had some parents angry because of this, including the owner of the team, because their kid did not always play, but I was consistent. Remember do what is best for the player and the team, not the parents. It took some time but they truly respected this and the program improved in one year due to high expectations. Best of luck.

Thanks to all. Always good to get more opinions from true baseball fanatics such as myself. Thanks - Coach Knight

Coach Knight, I have always appreciated your advice and I feel somewhat honored to try to help you out.

A feeder program that I was very impressed with was down in the Orange County (CA) area. I probably I don't have all the details correct, but my sons travel team played against a team in the finals of the California Super Series State Championship. The information I got from an opposing dad was that the team that beat us in the finals was coached by current and/or former players from Cal State Fullerton. I think its fair to say that Fullerton is one of the top baseball schools in the nation. The team was one of several development teams for the high school program and ultimately the college program. Apparently, from what I understood, the coaching staff from the college, high school, youth league officials and instructional schools put together a program that starts with talented youths around ten years old and continues into the college ranks. No Daddy ball was permitted. The emphasis even in the final game of the state championship was clearly player development. Parents seemed to not care all that much about winning, but were instead content with the thought their kid was part of such a quality feeder program. It seemed like a great way to set a program up to me. But you can bet it wasn't cheap or easy.

When I look around in our area, I can clearly see the various components of such a program, but we lack any organizational structure or the leadership to bring it all together.

Good luck in your endeavor, I think your on the right track to success.

Coach Knight, we just ended our clinics I posted on earlier. The various teams in our "Thunder Program" ended the clinic with an exceptional gift for me and my wife. They also presented a letter signed by every set of parents requesting that we do it again next year. I was very humbled by the experience. You can do it but you might have to start small and work to big. That's my next goal.

Thanks once again to all of you for posting. I value your input.

quote:

Hey Coach,

I'm going to assume your a HS Coach...

First good luck...You cant do it all by yourself. There are Dad's out there who out there for the group, not just his own, find who this is..he'll know who can be trusted as a team player as far as an extended coach staff is concerned...Have try outs for a (select team teams) in each age group..Select your teams..Select your coaches...give each coach and agenda to follow (what to teach in each age group). Stay invovled with these coaches, you are going to make some mistakes with your coach selections, when you realize this RELOAD...your not in this to make friends, this is about winning ball games, if you make a friend along the way thats a bonus....
My question is this: What advice would you give to someone looking to "start" (or in my case rejuvenate) a summer baseball program, from tee ball through the 18 & under levels? I have run summer teams for years, and actually retooled the program at my old school...but this situation is much different and I want to make the right moves. So many of you on here have tremendous experience with this...and I'm listening....
Thanks for the input.