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What makes a great HS baseball program?

L longsufferingmetsfan1,000+ posts

Now that HS baseball is in full swing, I was wondering how some programs achieve excellence.  I suspect that some schools employ winter programs, have their pitchers perform long toss and other off-season conditioning, monitor players' progress on their summer and fall teams (and possibly even play a role in getting their players to play outside the school with good coaches), get involved with the kids in their district before HS, offer community clinics, etc., while others solely rest upon the laurels of fortune, take the talent that they've been given, and do little else. I imagine that most schools do something in between.

 

So, what are the 1 or 2 things that your child's HS, or former HS, baseball program did that you feel are/were exceptional?

 

In asking this question, I appreciate that UIL rules in Texas, which is my locale, might limit a school's ability to make certain program changes and that others might be unrealistic to ask for, but, I'm nevertheless curious about the good ideas that have helped, and why some programs are good year after year, while others are consistently not. Also, I'm not a coach; I'm just a parent, who's trying to form an intelligent opinion about this interesting subject. Thanks in advance.

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E ECTIGER93500+ posts

I am also in Texas and football rules and always will rule. My son's high school is really successful and will always be successful. Here is why:

 

1. Really good players. Most of our baseball players are select players that pay for really good instruction and come to HS prepared to compete. We always get players to move in to be a apart of a successful culture.

2. Have baseball off-season with 2 coaches working with the baseball only kids.

3. Dedicated parents that stay out of the coaches way. Our coach is very clear that he makes the rules and the line up, DO NOT ask about anything in regards to playing time. EARN IT!!

4. Winning culture- our kids expect o have success because the previous classes won big and the pressure is always on. Losing is not an option.

5. Really good players!! Nice to write a line up with several D1 kids.

6. Really good players!! Did I say this enough??

TrumanTruman5,000+ posts
Originally Posted by longsufferingmetsfan:

Now that HS baseball is in full swing, I was wondering how some programs achieve excellence.  I suspect that some schools employ winter programs, have their pitchers perform long toss and other off-season conditioning, monitor players' progress on their summer and fall teams (and possibly even play a role in getting their players to play outside the school with good coaches), get involved with the kids in their district before HS, offer community clinics, etc., while others solely rest upon the laurels of fortune, take the talent that they've been given, and do little else. I imagine that most schools do something in between.

 

So, what are the 1 or 2 things that your child's HS, or former HS, baseball program did that you feel are/were exceptional?

 

In asking this question, I appreciate that UIL rules in Texas, which is my locale, might limit a school's ability to make certain program changes and that others might be unrealistic to ask for, but, I'm nevertheless curious about the good ideas that have helped, and why some programs are good year after year, while others are consistently not. Also, I'm not a coach; I'm just a parent, who's trying to form an intelligent opinion about this interesting subject. Thanks in advance.

(emphasis mine)

 

1.  Open, honest, frank and sensitive communication with players.

 

2.  Uncompromising insistence that players take ownership and responsibility for their actions on and off the field as well as away from school (as ambassador representative of their school).

N NotThatGuy1,000+ posts

"1.  Open, honest, frank and sensitive communication with players.

 

2.  Uncompromising insistence that players take ownership and responsibility for their actions on and off the field as well as away from school (as ambassador representative of their school)."

          Truman

 

3. Consistent expectation of excellence and achievement.

 

4. Communication to program's community: future, present and past.

 

5. Organization in every aspect, from tarp storage off field to post-game routine and off-season activities.

 

6. Provision of fundamental and nuanced instruction in the game and its positions.

 

7. Maintenance of well-defined program goals and objectives throughout the entire year.

 

8. Demonstration of joy in success of each individual within the program, major and minor.

 

 

roothog66roothog6610,000+ posts

A true baseball culture. I live in a small town - class 3A sports in Colorado. The school is a traditional powerhouse where baseball is king. This small town school has produced several draft picks and four mlb pitchers. This year, we are ranked #2 and are in the final four most years. However, the team at #1 in 3A has a culture that may surpass any I've seen. Eaton, CO, a town of just over 4K residence has been to the state championship final game 20 of the past 24 years. From 8u, kids there are put into the Eaton Reds travel program where they share a web page with the high school teams. They grow up not wanting to be Rockies or Dodgers. They grow up wanting to play for the HS baseball team. The HS HC, who has been there since 1971 works closely with all age groups in the summers. The school lives off of a varient of the knuckle curve which is taugh to these kids at the early ages. In the summers, the varsity plays together in American Legion. So does the varsity, the jv, the freshmen and the incoming 8th graders. The town lives, sleeps, and eats baseball. baseball gets the best athletes, baseball gets the best institutional support. It's sort of amazing to see - kind of a throwback to the 30's or 40's.

RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007

There was a great thread on this two or three years ago. I'm not sure if it's a golden thread. Maybe someone should dig it up and work from there. It has a lot of sage advice from Coach May. I would start with Coach May being the coach to start a "what makes a team great" list.

L longsufferingmetsfan1,000+ posts

September 7, 2006 12:16 AM

The following was posted by Coach May on the latter date and time; it's extremely useful and makes for terrific food for thought, thanks RJM and Coach May for sharing this:
 
[A good coach should:]
 
#1- Teach the game of baseball.
 
#2- Identify areas of weakness in your game and help you overcome them.
 
#3- Offer opportunities in the off season to improve your game. Strength and conditioning program, summer league etc.
 
#4- Work dilligently to find showcase teams select teams etc that you can play on in order to be seen by college coaches.
 
#5- Be honest with the player and tell him where you think he can play. D-1 D-2 D-3 Community College JUCO. Then go out and work hard to find them a place to play if they have the exhibited the work ethic required to play past HS.
 
#6- Encourage them to seek others to help them in areas of the game that you fill you are not qualified to help them at. Hitting instructors , pitching coaches etc. If this be the case. Put your pride aside for the players sake. Never let your ego hinder a kids opportunities to improve.
 
#7- Teach life lessons through the game of baseball. Players look up to coaches. Sometimes players will listen to the coach and not the parents even if they are saying the exact same thing. Mine included folks its just a fact of life.
 
#8- Let them know that you will be there for them no matter was the situation is. Yes there will be consequences for making bad decisions and yes I will be there for you no matter what.
 
#9- Preach Preach Preach and Preach some more the power of a good education. Preach Preach and Preach some more the importance of academics. And Preach Preach Preach the fact that decisions you make today can impact the course of your life for years to come.
 
#10- Team. Team. Team. You are not an individual on the baseball field. You are part of a team. You will never accomplish anything in life as an individual that will hold the importance to you as what you accomplish as part of a team. I tell the story of the "Big Bass". Catch it by yourself and who do you share it with. Catch it with a buddy and its a life long memory.
 
#11- OFF SEASON. What you do in the off season when no one is watching will determine what you are capable of doing during the season when everyone is watching. Be selfish in the off season. It is all about you. What do YOU need to work on. Then work on it. What do YOU need to do to get better. Then work on it. I WILL BE SELFISH TODAY SO I CAN HELP MY TEAM WIN TOMORROW.
 
#12- Balance and respect. Life is not baseball. You must have balance. Go ride a four wheeler. Go fishing. Go hunting sit in a tree stand and watch the squirrells play. Take the time to watch the birds at a bird feeder etc. Understand the big picture. Baseball should not define you as a person. Its not who you are its just what you do. Respect. Respect is not given. Respect is earned. You must respect yourself if you want others to respect you. You must RESPECT THE GAME or the game will not respect you.

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