Travel coach expectations

Unfortunately the coaching ranks are full of small minded, immature, emotionally retarded coaches.  In my sons time playing, LL, Babe Ruth, High School and now College ball....with about 5 years of travel ball mixed in, I can count 2 coaches that were decent people.  There have been a few more that were good coaches in terms of passing on information and teaching.  Finding a situation where you have good coaches that are teaching and doing it in a constructive way has been basically impossible to find for us.  

Travel ball is its own little world.  From what I have seen it is not about teaching. It is about recruitment.  Some teams are trophy chasing and some are not.  Some have a more developmental approach....plenty of practice and a structured program of development for players by position.  I don't how common it is for teams to pull guys for single tournaments....although in talking to other parents I don't think it is uncommon.  

So, if you can find a team that is more of a team....same core guys at every tournament that may be the way to go.  The thing to remember is, while winning is fun, travel ball should be about skill development.  Playing on a team that wins less but where you kids get to play more is going to serve them better.  

I've resigned myself to the fact that there aren't any quality coaches in the area and that I will have to continue to take on my child's development alone. It's really tough to do, especially if you aren't swimming in cash and can't make your own work schedule.

Yep, its not easy.  

My sons summer team plays 60 something games in under two months.  Way too many games in my opinion.  Their approach when the kids are younger is they play tourneys once a month, practice as a team twice a week and the facility is open 12 or so hours a day 6 days a week for their unlimited access.  I cannot tell you how many times I have gone in and the place is empty.  So, I get it in a sense.  If a travel team was really going to go about running a team that was designed to develop a players skill, it would be tough.  

A full mobility movement screen....a full workout program....a position specific skill develop program, team practice an games.  This would mean a lot more practice and skill development/training and a lot less games.  It would almost certainly mean a bigger staff and more expense.  Are most parents willing to pay more money for less games?  Are most kids (lets say 13 and older) willing to practice/train 4-5 times a week and play one tourney a month?  The answer to both questions is probably no.  From the business owner perspective I get it.  Recruit kids, win some trophys to put up and keep the team playing every weekend so parents know where their money is going (and this allows for a small staff also). 

It is hard to basically have to handle development solo....particularly if you are learning as you go.  There are some good resources that are available now online (including sites like this one) that were not around not so long ago.  

My boys have been working out regularly and I just bought a pitching machine that also does fly balls and grounders as i am incapable of hitting them well to them. One team we have played with in the past 3 years once per year is Team Avenue - the coach gets kids from all over the country  together for a single tournament and drills them and is very encouraging. I wish we had done that this year - they have tourneys in various places and no set team but anyone can sign up for a specific tournament in advance. My wife discovered a local minor leaguer out on rehab who is going to help the boys some during the day while I am at work.  I agree that more practice and drills is better for development than playing in one-game per day week long tournaments where the kids don't even get into each of the games.

Stick around long enough and you'll eventually see it all. 

So a bad coach, been there done that. though if I had a coach that said something as bad as he did, I think I might have been arrested.  I have to, also, say there are VERY GOOD coaches out there. I guess it depends on what you are looking for.

In Ohio, at least now thru mid August in when tryouts for next year are happening. Think about the teams your son's faced. Any teams with coaches you would want your sons on?

Like Leftside said, expecting team development with practice 2-4 times a week in not likely. Parents in general just won't pay for it. You can certainly get position training, mobility training, full workout training individually and some do.

When I was  a coach of one of my traveling son's from 8-16 years old. we played most weekends and practiced  1 time a week, then 2 times a week every other. The week we practiced once- we had a mid week game. That game was for pitcher development under live conditions, as well as getting some guys at end of roster playing time in spots they were trying to get better at and we saw potential in. We batted the order.

Team practice was organized but a lot was spent around bullpens, hitting, base running, and positional defense and occasionally a defensive pick off play we wanted to put in.

Mobility specific or full work out were on the side. We actually gave "homework" for off days. Mostly swinging the bat or throwing programs. What we found is maybe 1/3 or less of the kids did them. And we were a very good regional team for the age group we happened to be in.

We rarely brought guest players  in and when we did it was to replace someone not available. But I know other programs are different. You just need to find out ahead of time  It has been said many times here, Go where they will play a lot but be challenged.

So, I guess what I am trying to say is, there are very good programs and very good coaches out there. Time to research for your boys and get them in front of them.

I am definitely not piling on, because my son has been fortunate enough to play for some excellent coaches and men, but I don't think your guy is an outlier in the baseball coaching ranks. I did have to make a very difficult decision to leave my son's best coach (in terms of baseball knowledge and skill development) at 14U, because he was setting a terrible example for my son as a man. Mostly due to uncontrollable anger and degrading behavior towards players, umpires, and even parents. I tried working through it with the guy, but he just couldn't change.

On the bright side, you appear to live in a baseball hotbed, so I'm sure there are many great coaches in your area. With your boys' situation, you may want to look for someone who is more attuned to the academic side. For example, a coach who played Ivy baseball. You could even try to contact a coach at Tech or Emory or Oglethorpe, and ask if they would recommend any programs. It sounds like you boys are looking to play at a pretty high level, so that does make it a little more difficult to find the right fit, but keep trying. Good luck.

I expect a travel coach to foster a safe learning environment for a kids experience.  I help run a travel program and we have had good coaches and some no so good.  I think your kids best fit is different for everyone.  What I mean is do they need personal instruction on swing mechanics or pitching mechanics or fielding mechanics.  Each of these things is different and not many coaches can cover them all.

My sons coach (18U level) is a recruiting coordinator for a very good JC and was himself a good D1 player.  He is great at the on field management but admittedly knows little about pitching. 

Your comment amount playing over level is very correct unless they are a top flight player.  In our local area there are two main 18U programs, one has not had great success on the field the other has had success and typically gets the top players in the area.  However, most of those kids don't play much.  My son chose the first program and plays all the time.  He doesn't care about the play level at this point he just wants At Bats. 

I'd go watch some games and get a feel for coaches by watching them play.  Go early and watch how organized they are with their pre-game routines, on field strategy, the way they react to errors, strikeouts, etc.  Watch the kids' behavior and see if its a reflection of the coach.

It will take some time but you can find a good fit for your kids.