Coach's Corner
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The Coach's Corner was created to provide a place to
communicate the wealth of information available to the
Burlington Little League through the knowledge base inside
the mind of a really great asset we call "Coach Bartlett"!
communicate the wealth of information available to the
Burlington Little League through the knowledge base inside
the mind of a really great asset we call "Coach Bartlett"!
Try It, You'll Like It!
Now that on-line registration has begun, you have probably noticed that
we are in need of volunteers to help support the kids in the program.
This column is dedicated to those of you who are interested in coaching but
are on the bubble about making the commitment.
As the NIKE ads say, "Just Do It!"
If you love your kids, have an interest or background in the game and
have time to dedicate to be a part of the program...GO FOR IT! WE can
provide the training to help you get the job done. You don't have to know it
all. If we depended on THOSE people, there would be NO Burlington Little
League!
Trust me, I know. I'm that guy. I played the game and had decent skills, but was
and am no big deal. My oldest son has the skills and challenged me to keep
pace with him. Hopefully I got better as he got better. NO more no less. That's the
road I took to do this column and am now able to share my experiences with you.
We all start where we are, and so do our kids. We all grow from there.
At best, MOST youth league coaches stay a step or two ahead of our kids.
That's OK, as long as we continue to stay ahead. So help us help them,
and let BLL help you keep pace. If you even have HALF a thought about
getting involved, follow that feeling!!! Because you care enough to think it I
KNOW you've got what it takes to make a difference!
If you know it all...call Bud Selig. His people need you a whole lot more
than we do. If you want to make a difference in a CHILD'S life ...call Mike
Anderson.
Coaches Quote: Attitudes are contagious...Is YOURS worth catching?
we are in need of volunteers to help support the kids in the program.
This column is dedicated to those of you who are interested in coaching but
are on the bubble about making the commitment.
As the NIKE ads say, "Just Do It!"
If you love your kids, have an interest or background in the game and
have time to dedicate to be a part of the program...GO FOR IT! WE can
provide the training to help you get the job done. You don't have to know it
all. If we depended on THOSE people, there would be NO Burlington Little
League!
Trust me, I know. I'm that guy. I played the game and had decent skills, but was
and am no big deal. My oldest son has the skills and challenged me to keep
pace with him. Hopefully I got better as he got better. NO more no less. That's the
road I took to do this column and am now able to share my experiences with you.
We all start where we are, and so do our kids. We all grow from there.
At best, MOST youth league coaches stay a step or two ahead of our kids.
That's OK, as long as we continue to stay ahead. So help us help them,
and let BLL help you keep pace. If you even have HALF a thought about
getting involved, follow that feeling!!! Because you care enough to think it I
KNOW you've got what it takes to make a difference!
If you know it all...call Bud Selig. His people need you a whole lot more
than we do. If you want to make a difference in a CHILD'S life ...call Mike
Anderson.
Coaches Quote: Attitudes are contagious...Is YOURS worth catching?
Practice makes PERMANENT!
Practice good habits, develop good skills.
Practice bad habits, develop poor skills.
So it makes sense to learn the right things to practice as early in the game as
possible.
In the past, most kids would leave practice and work on improving their skills in
the back yard later that day or the next. Now, most go home or to a friend’s house
to play video games or to watch TV. We as coaches need to be aware of this and
make sure we do the best we can to provide the best instruction we can and hold
our players accountable. Our practice sessions may be the only time some kids
will pick up a bat and a ball all week.
What do our kids know? For example, do the younger ones know the basic
4 seam grip to throw a baseball? Do they hold the bat properly with their
“knocking knuckles” aligned? Are they in the habit of using 2 hands to catch
routine throws and ground balls? Do they do long toss to develop arm strength as
well as throw for accuracy?
And for our older kids…do they know how to throw and receive relay throws?
Have they been instructed how to field through a ground ball? Do they properly
round a base and know how to slide properly? The lists of course can go on and
on.
For veteran coaches these questions are no-brainers. For the novice, they
are essential. Over time you’ll very much appreciate those who took the time,
effort, and care to instill strong fundamentals so you can build on their foundations.
Remember that we are teachers first. We are only coaches at game time.
Players can’t execute our awesome game plans unless they have developed
the skills and experience to do so. So, try to do it right the first time or be destined
to do it over (and over and over and over…). Do the best you can to make your
practice “permanent”, because nobody’s perfect!
"When you're through learning, you're through." Vernon Law...pitcher
Practice bad habits, develop poor skills.
So it makes sense to learn the right things to practice as early in the game as
possible.
In the past, most kids would leave practice and work on improving their skills in
the back yard later that day or the next. Now, most go home or to a friend’s house
to play video games or to watch TV. We as coaches need to be aware of this and
make sure we do the best we can to provide the best instruction we can and hold
our players accountable. Our practice sessions may be the only time some kids
will pick up a bat and a ball all week.
What do our kids know? For example, do the younger ones know the basic
4 seam grip to throw a baseball? Do they hold the bat properly with their
“knocking knuckles” aligned? Are they in the habit of using 2 hands to catch
routine throws and ground balls? Do they do long toss to develop arm strength as
well as throw for accuracy?
And for our older kids…do they know how to throw and receive relay throws?
Have they been instructed how to field through a ground ball? Do they properly
round a base and know how to slide properly? The lists of course can go on and
on.
For veteran coaches these questions are no-brainers. For the novice, they
are essential. Over time you’ll very much appreciate those who took the time,
effort, and care to instill strong fundamentals so you can build on their foundations.
Remember that we are teachers first. We are only coaches at game time.
Players can’t execute our awesome game plans unless they have developed
the skills and experience to do so. So, try to do it right the first time or be destined
to do it over (and over and over and over…). Do the best you can to make your
practice “permanent”, because nobody’s perfect!
"When you're through learning, you're through." Vernon Law...pitcher