 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Greetings! Todd Williams here with another edition of Baseball's
Best - Drills, Tips, and Strategies Newsletter.
This newsletter will focus on ways to utilize parents over the
course of a season, so that's what I'm going to focus on this
newsletter.
But first...
Here's a handy throwing drill that I hope you'll like...
=====
STAR THROWING DRILL
http://www.baseballsbestdrills.com/v2/star-throwing-drill.html
Need Help with Coaching Strategies?
Need Help with Hitting Skills?
Need Help with Defensive Skills?
Need a Complete Set of Training Drills?
Get my entire coaching package here:
http://www.baseballsbestdrills.com/v2/index.php
=====
Working With Parents
You may not have a great deal of direct contact with your
players' parents over the course of a season, but getting
them involved will leave you with more time available to
work with the players, and to focus on the big picture.
Here's a few ways that you can get the parents involved.
Team Mom - Ask for a volunteer, or ask an individual mom to
take on the responsibility of being the "team mom." This
role is essential in helping you interface with the parents.
For example, the team mom can:
* make phone calls to parents regarding scheduling issues,
* notify you of player availability on game day,
* organize a rotation for game-day treats,
* coordinate team events (like parties),
* work with other parents to make a team banner,
* etc.
In short, the team mom can be great at helping you with many
of the administrative tasks associated with running a team.
Assistant Coaches - Some dads (and a few moms) can make
great assistant coaches. They can:
* run drills during practice,
* fill in the gaps during batting practice and scrimmages,
* help manage the dugout and coach bases during games,
* take aside players needing special attention or skill
development and work with them,
* be an invaluable source of suggestions for aligning
players to positions and setting the batting order,
* warm-up the team on game days (outfield and infield
routine), so you can spend your time putting the
finishing touches on the game plan and visiting with the
opposing manager and the umpires, preparing for the game.
You shouldn't have any trouble recruiting parents to help on
the field during practice (if you do, you're in a bad
situation, and it's time to have a parent's meeting to work on
that problem). You should look to find two or three parents
to help on the field during games - one or two base coaches,
and one dugout manager responsible for making sure the
players are ready for their turn at the plate. These select
few should share your positive values and vision for the
success of the team.
Score Keeper - Scorekeeping can be vital in managing the
team from game to game, and a good, consistent scorekeeper
will give you an advantage even during a game. In addition
to keeping track of balls, strikes, runs and outs, they can
keep track of:
* the pitch count for each pitcher,
* where the opposing players tend to hit the ball,
* batting and slugging averages,
* on-base percentages,
* errors,
* etc.
They can help you shore up your team's weak spots, and alert
you to your opponent's weak spots and tendencies. Do your
best to find someone who understands how to exploit this
data to your advantage. Too many coaches overlook this
secret weapon.
Those are the key roles that parents can play in helping you
run a successful program. There might be others, so use your
imagination and don't be afraid to give up some control of
the team, because you'll gain more back with the collective
talents of the fine people behind your players.
And lastly, if a parent does need to talk with you privately
for any reason, you should listen, listen, listen! Always be
positive and honest about their child's development, and
don't get defensive. If they think you're a lousy coach,
just listen politely and do your best to rectify the
situation. Try to view the issue from their perspective,
you might be surprised at what you see!
In all the youth leagues with which I've been associated,
the parents are paying good money and spending valuable time
giving their kids an opportunity to have some fun. It can be
discouraging to see their kid spending an unfair amount of
time on the bench, or not being constructively involved in
the game. Do your best to make the event fair and fun for
everyone and you'll avoid any bitterness directed at you in
return.
If you need to talk to a parent, do so without the child
being present. A phone call or face-to-face discussions work
best, but even an e-mail can work (depending on your
relationship with the parent). Do be careful when you
communicate in writing, though, often the tone of the
message can be misread. Do your best to write with a clear
mind, and have your spouse proofread the note before hitting
the "send" button (hint, hint) :o)
Here's a tip that can help reduce the pressure a parent
might be putting on their child: set up a practice game
between the team and the parents. The game is not as easy as
it looks!
Best Regards,
Todd Williams
todd@baseballsbestdrills.com
Author of:
Baseball's Best - Drills, Tips & Strategies,
Baseball's Best Drills - Focus On Hitting,
Baseball's Best - Strategies for Offense and Defense, and
Baseball's Best Drills - Focus On Defense
Get my entire coaching package here:
http://www.baseballsbestdrills.com/v2/
Copyright© 2008 Todd Williams All rights reserved.
Best - Drills, Tips, and Strategies Newsletter.
This newsletter will focus on ways to utilize parents over the
course of a season, so that's what I'm going to focus on this
newsletter.
But first...
Here's a handy throwing drill that I hope you'll like...
=====
STAR THROWING DRILL
http://www.baseballsbestdrills.com/v2/star-throwing-drill.html
Need Help with Coaching Strategies?
Need Help with Hitting Skills?
Need Help with Defensive Skills?
Need a Complete Set of Training Drills?
Get my entire coaching package here:
http://www.baseballsbestdrills.com/v2/index.php
=====
Working With Parents
You may not have a great deal of direct contact with your
players' parents over the course of a season, but getting
them involved will leave you with more time available to
work with the players, and to focus on the big picture.
Here's a few ways that you can get the parents involved.
Team Mom - Ask for a volunteer, or ask an individual mom to
take on the responsibility of being the "team mom." This
role is essential in helping you interface with the parents.
For example, the team mom can:
* make phone calls to parents regarding scheduling issues,
* notify you of player availability on game day,
* organize a rotation for game-day treats,
* coordinate team events (like parties),
* work with other parents to make a team banner,
* etc.
In short, the team mom can be great at helping you with many
of the administrative tasks associated with running a team.
Assistant Coaches - Some dads (and a few moms) can make
great assistant coaches. They can:
* run drills during practice,
* fill in the gaps during batting practice and scrimmages,
* help manage the dugout and coach bases during games,
* take aside players needing special attention or skill
development and work with them,
* be an invaluable source of suggestions for aligning
players to positions and setting the batting order,
* warm-up the team on game days (outfield and infield
routine), so you can spend your time putting the
finishing touches on the game plan and visiting with the
opposing manager and the umpires, preparing for the game.
You shouldn't have any trouble recruiting parents to help on
the field during practice (if you do, you're in a bad
situation, and it's time to have a parent's meeting to work on
that problem). You should look to find two or three parents
to help on the field during games - one or two base coaches,
and one dugout manager responsible for making sure the
players are ready for their turn at the plate. These select
few should share your positive values and vision for the
success of the team.
Score Keeper - Scorekeeping can be vital in managing the
team from game to game, and a good, consistent scorekeeper
will give you an advantage even during a game. In addition
to keeping track of balls, strikes, runs and outs, they can
keep track of:
* the pitch count for each pitcher,
* where the opposing players tend to hit the ball,
* batting and slugging averages,
* on-base percentages,
* errors,
* etc.
They can help you shore up your team's weak spots, and alert
you to your opponent's weak spots and tendencies. Do your
best to find someone who understands how to exploit this
data to your advantage. Too many coaches overlook this
secret weapon.
Those are the key roles that parents can play in helping you
run a successful program. There might be others, so use your
imagination and don't be afraid to give up some control of
the team, because you'll gain more back with the collective
talents of the fine people behind your players.
And lastly, if a parent does need to talk with you privately
for any reason, you should listen, listen, listen! Always be
positive and honest about their child's development, and
don't get defensive. If they think you're a lousy coach,
just listen politely and do your best to rectify the
situation. Try to view the issue from their perspective,
you might be surprised at what you see!
In all the youth leagues with which I've been associated,
the parents are paying good money and spending valuable time
giving their kids an opportunity to have some fun. It can be
discouraging to see their kid spending an unfair amount of
time on the bench, or not being constructively involved in
the game. Do your best to make the event fair and fun for
everyone and you'll avoid any bitterness directed at you in
return.
If you need to talk to a parent, do so without the child
being present. A phone call or face-to-face discussions work
best, but even an e-mail can work (depending on your
relationship with the parent). Do be careful when you
communicate in writing, though, often the tone of the
message can be misread. Do your best to write with a clear
mind, and have your spouse proofread the note before hitting
the "send" button (hint, hint) :o)
Here's a tip that can help reduce the pressure a parent
might be putting on their child: set up a practice game
between the team and the parents. The game is not as easy as
it looks!
Best Regards,
Todd Williams
todd@baseballsbestdrills.com
Author of:
Baseball's Best - Drills, Tips & Strategies,
Baseball's Best Drills - Focus On Hitting,
Baseball's Best - Strategies for Offense and Defense, and
Baseball's Best Drills - Focus On Defense
Get my entire coaching package here:
http://www.baseballsbestdrills.com/v2/
Copyright© 2008 Todd Williams All rights reserved.
Todd Williams "Baseball's Best" Newsletter