Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I vote "none of the above".
Hummmm...... LL to LEGION... but, that was'nt a choice.... so, I guess I can't vote
MOUNDMASTER
MOUNDMASTER
LL to AAU (up to 13-U). Son batted wherever he deserved and played everywhere (by design, I moved my own son instead of someone elses to fit the team's need). If you ask my spouse, I was obsessive-compulsive about coaching--and I would agree.
I didn't really get involved with my son's baseball until after little league, when kid's came to me and wanted to play during the fall. So in order to give them the opportunity to play, I "coached" them for about 3 years during the fall. We have went from having to call kids during the fall to having to take the first 13 that ask. I don't think the kids like me that much as a coach, but rather the geometry tutoring. Yes, my son does bat third, has since he was a 9 year old on every team he has played on, but he doesn't play shortstop, I think there is a rule that lefties can't do it.
Wouldn't dream of coaching my son.
In our area there is an abundance of top quality organizations with up to 4000 ball players registered in some of the larger ones. The numbers have declined but the Elite teams are springing up all over the place. I see this as a good thing and shows the demand for top quality coaching and competition.
I did learn everything I could from professional people about pitching mechanics and skills required so that I knew as much or more than son did. i did not rely on my experience as a pitcher but acquired knowlege through books,pro scouts and players.
I saw my involvment as support and I helped him privatly after games etc. I would discuss his mechanics if I saw something that needed to be pointed out. Occassionally snaped pictures out of a video of the game to illistrate what I saw. I had to be careful how I introduced the issues as he could get snarly if it sounded like a lecture. The next time out I would see him checking his mechanics.
The last couple yeards he asked for help and what I thought of his outing.
Our coaches also have to have a recognized level 2 certification before they can coach in Ontario Baseball.
In our area there is an abundance of top quality organizations with up to 4000 ball players registered in some of the larger ones. The numbers have declined but the Elite teams are springing up all over the place. I see this as a good thing and shows the demand for top quality coaching and competition.
I did learn everything I could from professional people about pitching mechanics and skills required so that I knew as much or more than son did. i did not rely on my experience as a pitcher but acquired knowlege through books,pro scouts and players.
I saw my involvment as support and I helped him privatly after games etc. I would discuss his mechanics if I saw something that needed to be pointed out. Occassionally snaped pictures out of a video of the game to illistrate what I saw. I had to be careful how I introduced the issues as he could get snarly if it sounded like a lecture. The next time out I would see him checking his mechanics.
The last couple yeards he asked for help and what I thought of his outing.
Our coaches also have to have a recognized level 2 certification before they can coach in Ontario Baseball.
I coached, with much team success, until age 12. By then son was in high demand, and I traveled too much to make the travel team committment. That first travel team, Birmingham (MO) Jaguars still has more that 10x players still playing some college sport in their senior year. With his last tournament team (18U), I did extensive moneyball/sabremetrics analysis, and we finished 5th at a USSSA World Series in Jupiter with some marginal talent.
But mostly we just worked out. We threw the ball all the time. I fungoed a zillion ground balls. We talked about the inner game (a lot) and we hit endlessly in our garage cage. (Actually he hit and I tossed.) Oh yeah, as mentioned elsewhere in here, we shot and used a lot of game and cage video to refine the swing.
And......... I must mention, HaverMom was deep in there every inch of the way.
But mostly we just worked out. We threw the ball all the time. I fungoed a zillion ground balls. We talked about the inner game (a lot) and we hit endlessly in our garage cage. (Actually he hit and I tossed.) Oh yeah, as mentioned elsewhere in here, we shot and used a lot of game and cage video to refine the swing.
And......... I must mention, HaverMom was deep in there every inch of the way.
I didn't see "Coached a couple of years between LL and HS, dominating the opposition, over pitching kids, including my own, as I went." 
“Hi everybody… My name is Heavy D… and… I am a football-aholic.”
I grew up living and breathing football. For me, other sports were nothing more than just diversions to pass the time and a way to stay in shape until two-a-days started again. I played football in high school and college and started coaching pee-wee teams years before I had children of my own. Coaching football not only satisfies my competitive spirit, I found the greatest satisfaction comes from working with the kids. There is nothing more rewarding than watching a kid who started the season with no skill or ability work hard, learn the fundamentals and develop into a serviceable player. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy working with the exceptional athletes as well, but the small victories and minor successes don’t mean as much to them. Seeing a kid who started the season as just a name on the roster blossom into a valuable contributor to the team is what keeps me coming back year after year. I often wish I had pursued coaching football as a profession, but that’s a whole other story…
I have had the privilege of coaching my son’s football teams since he has been old enough to play and I have loved every minute of it. The coach/player/father/son mix never had an adverse effect on our relationship. It was a great way for us to spend time together and we both have fond memories of out time together on the field. My son likes football, but much to my chagrin, he loves baseball. I know that I am destined for heartbreak in the coming years, as he will probably not play football in high school. I have seen the writing on the wall for the past couple of years, but it will still sting whenever he finally gives it up for good.
Although I played baseball in HS, I have never felt that I would be a good baseball coach. My knowledge of the finer points of the game are limited and quite honestly, I didn't develop a passion for the game until recently. At first I was somewhat disinterested in the X’s and O’s of baseball, but my son’s love of the game eventually started rubbing off on me. I knew I was in hooked when I found myself using baseball analogies to illustrate points at football practices.
My son’s knowledge of the game is greater than my own, but I am learning fast. I find myself listening to the coaches as they instruct and paying attention to what they are telling the boys to do, almost as if I were preparing myself to play. Even though I am in no way knowledgeable enough or qualified to coach him or any other kid on the field, I want to know how I can help my son improve when we are at home. For instance, I couldn’t even begin to analyze another player’s swing; I would have no idea what another kid is doing right and what he is doing wrong. But my son is different, I have seen him swing a bat millions of times and I can tell when he is dropping his hands or is doing something wrong. I just don’t know why he is doing it or how to correct it… But as he learns, so do I! I do my best to watch and understand what his coaches are trying to accomplish with him so when I echo their instructions at home, its not just hollow talk.
As much as I regret that our time together as a coach/player is in the past and that I won’t be on the field with him again in the future, I really enjoy the role of being a baseball Dad in the bleachers, student of the game in my spare time and part-time tutor at home.
Being a "dad" rather than a "coach" and learing the great game of baseball along side my son has eclipsed any satisfaction that I realized while coaching him on the football field. The minor victories and small successes mean so much more because we both learned something new... together. I feel like I am the kid who started the season as just a name on the roster and that my son is helping me blossom into a serviceable coach. I also think that a key dynamic to our situation is that HE wants it as much or more than I WANT IT FOR HIM. In football, I felt like I needed to "push" him to make him better. With baseball, we push each other, almost like teammates with differing roles. I love the time that I get to spend with him and hope that he continues to want me on his "team" for a long time to come. So long as he wants me to be involved, asks for my thoughts and keeps dragging me to the cage to “help” him, I will gladly and thankfully do so.
I may never completely get over the fact that my son doesn’t love football like I do, but if given enough time I can see myself switching addictions and becoming a baseball-aholic.
Thank the Lord my kids don’t play dalmatian-kick-ball!
I grew up living and breathing football. For me, other sports were nothing more than just diversions to pass the time and a way to stay in shape until two-a-days started again. I played football in high school and college and started coaching pee-wee teams years before I had children of my own. Coaching football not only satisfies my competitive spirit, I found the greatest satisfaction comes from working with the kids. There is nothing more rewarding than watching a kid who started the season with no skill or ability work hard, learn the fundamentals and develop into a serviceable player. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy working with the exceptional athletes as well, but the small victories and minor successes don’t mean as much to them. Seeing a kid who started the season as just a name on the roster blossom into a valuable contributor to the team is what keeps me coming back year after year. I often wish I had pursued coaching football as a profession, but that’s a whole other story…
I have had the privilege of coaching my son’s football teams since he has been old enough to play and I have loved every minute of it. The coach/player/father/son mix never had an adverse effect on our relationship. It was a great way for us to spend time together and we both have fond memories of out time together on the field. My son likes football, but much to my chagrin, he loves baseball. I know that I am destined for heartbreak in the coming years, as he will probably not play football in high school. I have seen the writing on the wall for the past couple of years, but it will still sting whenever he finally gives it up for good.
Although I played baseball in HS, I have never felt that I would be a good baseball coach. My knowledge of the finer points of the game are limited and quite honestly, I didn't develop a passion for the game until recently. At first I was somewhat disinterested in the X’s and O’s of baseball, but my son’s love of the game eventually started rubbing off on me. I knew I was in hooked when I found myself using baseball analogies to illustrate points at football practices.
My son’s knowledge of the game is greater than my own, but I am learning fast. I find myself listening to the coaches as they instruct and paying attention to what they are telling the boys to do, almost as if I were preparing myself to play. Even though I am in no way knowledgeable enough or qualified to coach him or any other kid on the field, I want to know how I can help my son improve when we are at home. For instance, I couldn’t even begin to analyze another player’s swing; I would have no idea what another kid is doing right and what he is doing wrong. But my son is different, I have seen him swing a bat millions of times and I can tell when he is dropping his hands or is doing something wrong. I just don’t know why he is doing it or how to correct it… But as he learns, so do I! I do my best to watch and understand what his coaches are trying to accomplish with him so when I echo their instructions at home, its not just hollow talk.
As much as I regret that our time together as a coach/player is in the past and that I won’t be on the field with him again in the future, I really enjoy the role of being a baseball Dad in the bleachers, student of the game in my spare time and part-time tutor at home.
Being a "dad" rather than a "coach" and learing the great game of baseball along side my son has eclipsed any satisfaction that I realized while coaching him on the football field. The minor victories and small successes mean so much more because we both learned something new... together. I feel like I am the kid who started the season as just a name on the roster and that my son is helping me blossom into a serviceable coach. I also think that a key dynamic to our situation is that HE wants it as much or more than I WANT IT FOR HIM. In football, I felt like I needed to "push" him to make him better. With baseball, we push each other, almost like teammates with differing roles. I love the time that I get to spend with him and hope that he continues to want me on his "team" for a long time to come. So long as he wants me to be involved, asks for my thoughts and keeps dragging me to the cage to “help” him, I will gladly and thankfully do so.
I may never completely get over the fact that my son doesn’t love football like I do, but if given enough time I can see myself switching addictions and becoming a baseball-aholic.
Thank the Lord my kids don’t play dalmatian-kick-ball!
Stick around here Heavy D....
We'll convert you.
We'll convert you.
quote:Stick around here Heavy D....
We'll convert you.
....or delete your post.
Seems to be happening a lot lately in this forum.
Thanks DBAT
That's the best soundtrack on the face of this Earth.
Wife just played it for my Bday at 12:00 AM EST
You da man DBAT
Shep
That's the best soundtrack on the face of this Earth.
Wife just played it for my Bday at 12:00 AM EST
You da man DBAT
Shep
Happy birthday, Shep! 
Somebody remembered ole Shepdog 
Just got in and found these BD wishes!
Thanks DBAT and WOOD for remembering
Faithful and good HSSBW Contacts in my book forever. Let me know if you need annyything down this way in the area of contacts and/or info. Seriously>
And Sincerely,
Shep
Just got in and found these BD wishes!
Thanks DBAT and WOOD for remembering
Faithful and good HSSBW Contacts in my book forever. Let me know if you need annyything down this way in the area of contacts and/or info. Seriously>
And Sincerely,
Shep
Happy Birthday Shep....ENJOY
Baseball family here
I have coached HS baseball for over 20 years. Also coach football and basketball.
Wife (cardsfan8) is also a huge baseball fan and works part time for the Cardinals. Her brothers were also baseball players in Decatur, Illinois. One brother lives in Pa and has dish so he can watch Cardinal games and he flies in for play-off games.
Oldest son is a member in here and will be dressing Varsity for his thrid year - he is a junior. His life revolves around baseball.
One daughter has a BS and worked for a minor league team last summer as an intern and is looking for a job in baseball in ticket sales or merchandise (anybody know of anything - let me know)
Oldest daughter was an all-conference softball player and played varsity ball for 4 years....she also has a room in her apartment that looks like a Cardinal shrine.
I think baseball is big in this family.
I have coached HS baseball for over 20 years. Also coach football and basketball.
Wife (cardsfan8) is also a huge baseball fan and works part time for the Cardinals. Her brothers were also baseball players in Decatur, Illinois. One brother lives in Pa and has dish so he can watch Cardinal games and he flies in for play-off games.
Oldest son is a member in here and will be dressing Varsity for his thrid year - he is a junior. His life revolves around baseball.
One daughter has a BS and worked for a minor league team last summer as an intern and is looking for a job in baseball in ticket sales or merchandise (anybody know of anything - let me know)
Oldest daughter was an all-conference softball player and played varsity ball for 4 years....she also has a room in her apartment that looks like a Cardinal shrine.
I think baseball is big in this family.
cards fan
is that waterloo ill.?pop.64.
is that waterloo ill.?pop.64.
Yeah, that's 64 people per high school classroom.
i was thinking of wartburg ill.that was pop. 64 last time i was there.its about 45 mins south of st louis. sorry
20dad, you're real close. Wartburg is about 5-10 minutes outside of Waterloo. And the 64 per classrooom was a little drastic, but in some classes, not too much.
bulldog
i was there for a wedding about 18 years ago.we had our picture taken at the wartburg pop64 sign.then had a few thimbles of beer at the wartburg inn,next to the church.then back to the farm for some pork steaks.i remember corn as far as the eye could see,and flat.the reception was at the fire hall what a spread,thats a great part of the world.i remember a walmart,maybe in waterloo?first time i ever saw a walmart.unfortunatly my memory lasted longer than the marrage.your a lucky man
i was there for a wedding about 18 years ago.we had our picture taken at the wartburg pop64 sign.then had a few thimbles of beer at the wartburg inn,next to the church.then back to the farm for some pork steaks.i remember corn as far as the eye could see,and flat.the reception was at the fire hall what a spread,thats a great part of the world.i remember a walmart,maybe in waterloo?first time i ever saw a walmart.unfortunatly my memory lasted longer than the marrage.your a lucky man
Waterloo is a very rapidly growing town. There are about 8000 in the city but that is misleading because the county is growing so fast and most of the county is in our school district. When I came here in 1986 - we had 570 in the HS - now we are over 900. We need a new building so very bad. It is a wonderful place to live also - hardly no crime - yet 25 minutes from downtown St. Louis and Busch Stadium. Where could you find a better place to live.
Shep - Happy B-Day!
DBat 18 GM - Why does the D Bat website have Camden Yard as a backdrop???
Bear - Options 3 & 4 applied to me but in reality, he played all over and batted in several spots throughout the course of the season.
DBat 18 GM - Why does the D Bat website have Camden Yard as a backdrop???
Bear - Options 3 & 4 applied to me but in reality, he played all over and batted in several spots throughout the course of the season.
The background on the front of the site changes every week. Last week it was Seattle's Safeco Field, the week before it was Fenway Park and I think next up is Pittsburgh's PNC Park. Got a preference?quote:DBat 18 GM - Why does the D Bat website have Camden Yard as a backdrop???
Just don't ask for Yankee Stadium - I draw the line there.....
quote:Originally posted by DBAT 18 GM:
Got a preference?
Just don't ask for Yankee Stadium - I draw the line there.....
Ummmm....never mind then.
Played pro ball for 5 years.
Senior daughter just signed NLI with Stephen F. Austin State University to play softball and plays for one of the best HS softball programs in the state of Texas. They have lost the game to go to Austin each year for the last two years. Gonna get there this year!
Sophomore son is a pitcher on varsity at one of the best HS baseball programs in the state of Texas. Lost in the 5A state finals last year. He's already 2-0 on the season.
8 year old lefty son tearing it up on a select team here as well.
Got a lot of years left watching them play.
Oh yeah, I run an indoor baseball and softball training facility as well. We are definitely a BB/SB/Sports family!!
Wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world!!
Senior daughter just signed NLI with Stephen F. Austin State University to play softball and plays for one of the best HS softball programs in the state of Texas. They have lost the game to go to Austin each year for the last two years. Gonna get there this year!
Sophomore son is a pitcher on varsity at one of the best HS baseball programs in the state of Texas. Lost in the 5A state finals last year. He's already 2-0 on the season.
8 year old lefty son tearing it up on a select team here as well.
Got a lot of years left watching them play.
Oh yeah, I run an indoor baseball and softball training facility as well. We are definitely a BB/SB/Sports family!!
Wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world!!
Interesting question...I have 4 kids - 3 boys and 1 girl. All play baseball. We are at a field 7 days a week this time of year with one of them. Since my oldest is in high school things have actually slowed a bit as he obviously follows the high school schedule.
We are a baseball family through and through. Wife and I watched enough Giants games while the baby was still in the womb that the Giants theme song put him to sleep after birth. While we didn't name him after a Giant, his nickname is after the Thrill...
As further proof of the life long adiction, when I asked my wife what she wanted to do for our 20th anniversary a couple of years ago, she said - go to Cape cod and watch cape cod league baseball...
As for daddy ball, I coached in the local rec league from 6 to 14 and then got out of the way once he reached High School. Along the way much professional help from local hitting and pitching instructors. Never coached the travel ball teams either.
These days, I drive, take pictures and clap!!!
As further proof of the life long adiction, when I asked my wife what she wanted to do for our 20th anniversary a couple of years ago, she said - go to Cape cod and watch cape cod league baseball...
As for daddy ball, I coached in the local rec league from 6 to 14 and then got out of the way once he reached High School. Along the way much professional help from local hitting and pitching instructors. Never coached the travel ball teams either.
These days, I drive, take pictures and clap!!!