Use Your Tongue
For Effective Communication Skills

We have all seen, played under, or are one of those drill sargent type coaches. Some coaches seem to think they have an automatic legal license to yell, shout down, demean, and holler at players as soon as they put on their baseball coach hat.

Well, yelling and hollering, putting down, using sarcasm, and embarrassing people might be your style. We are going to use the professional baseball model here.

Pro baseball coaches respect their players and deeply appreciate the difficulty of playing the game well. We should, too

Top 5 Baseball Coaching Communication Tips

Avoid getting angry all the time This is not fun or enjoyable to play or teach in an angry environment.

2. Be aware of your non verbals. Body language and facial expressions can come off very negatively. Sometimes as bad as the tongue can be the body language can be just as chilling to a youth baseball player.

Nobody wants to be embarrassed on the ballfield. Least of all your own players.

3. Keep the Post Game Analysis brief and positive. Avoid the long chewing out. You can say things you regret in the Heat of Battle.

Parents and players want to get on with other things after the game is over. So do not preach your coaching instruction for ever and ever. A few minutes is more than enough time to release your wisdom.

It is common in professional baseball to wait until the next day to go over and reveiw the game. Wait until the heat is off and heads are cooler.

4. Use humor when you can, although avoid sarcasm. Sarcasm can be very funny but it is always at someones expense.

That person might giggle along with you but might be devastated inside. It is not worth it to damage someone just for a laugh.

5. Always bring plenty of Complement Sandwiches with you. for every time you reprimand a ball player you always find a way to quickly sandwich it with a couple slices of complements.

For more on Using managing and coaching with positive communication effectively.

Return from Communication Skills to Coaching tips

New! Comments