Over Coaching Baseball:
|
| "Overcoaching is the worst thing you can do to a player." Dean Smith. |
ONE Baseball Tip at a Time
Take hitting mechanics for instance. I can watch a youth league hitter take four or five swings and probably note several batting tips I could offer them. Plus I could make sure they had the correct mental approach to batting.Now, would we make much progress on how to hit a baseball if I fed all 4 or 5 hitting tips on the batter all at once? Certainly no. I would have to start with ONE hitting tip and let the batter work on the hitting technique for a while.
Giving multiple coaching points is like swimming up stream—you will try hard but make little progress. The pro baseball coaches know this tip well that over coaching baseball is not a very smart baseball strategy and it does not work.
| Study the pros. They aren't always right, but baseball IS their business. Why ask a butcher how to roof your house?. |
Classic Case of Over Coaching Baseball
I recently was at a youth baseball little league game with 9 year olds. First, one of the coaches was giving his best Knute Rockne and Vince Lombardi pre-game pep talk in the dugout. I thought well you would not hear that kind of raw-raw football prep talk from professional baseball coaches. (Another topic I will tackle later.)During the game the catcher on one team got a foul tip in the arm and needed a bit of time to let the sting of the foul ball wear off. His youth league coach was checking one him near the backstop. Meanwhile, all three of the batter’s coaches were all huddled over the batter near home plate.
All three were feeding several hitting tips and swing techniques at the young batter. An absolute barrage of baseball tips and baseball strategies was piled on the batter right in the middle of his at-bat. Just a classic case of baseball coaches over coaching. I felt so sad for the young baseball player. A complete over load of baseball for dummies for the poor kid to absorb while trying to just hit the ball.
| "Baseball is the most over-coached and under-taught game there is." Al Campanis. |
Baseball Coaching During Games:
Manage the Game and Take Notes
As we continue to follow the pro baseball coaching model we will take notes during the games. Rather than over coaching baseball during ball games by blurting out advice, tips, techniques and strategies try writing down some reminders to bring up later at practice. I like to keep an index card in my pocket or folded up in the inside lining of my baseball hat. When I see something that needs to be discussed later after the game or at practice I jot it down.
Some baseball coaches even use a small pocket tape recorder. It is not necessary to yell, shout and scream at young youth baseball players during the ball games. It is not necessary to give any more than one tip at a time.—usually in the dugout between innings.
| "A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment." John Wooden. |
Teach Baseball During Baseball Practice
Now if you have some glaring flaws from your game notes on the index cards you can work them in during your baseball practice plans. Remember the rule—only ONE tip at a time.Avoid the urge to try and fix everything at once. That will backfire and have us swimming up stream again. Over coaching baseball is hazardous to your youth players baseball careers.
That is why the pros take a long-term patient approach to baseball player development. The pros know it takes time, hard work, skill, talent and just a bit of coaching at a time to polish up a baseball player.
Go Back to Youth Baseball Today Page from Over Coaching Baseball
Stop by the Youth Baseball Home Page
Super Simple Guide to Coaching Youth Baseball
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.
SUPER SIMPLE GUIDE TO COACH YOUTH BASEBALL
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
Be an Expert
You Will Go As Far as Your Bat Takes You
| Discover every strategy and secret I’ve learned from years of coaching, playing, managing and player development in pro ball to T-ball levels.. |
| There are hundreds of tips you can use to make a magnificent difference in your success as a youth baseball and high school baseball coach.. |
See the Table of Contents & More
“Super Simple Guide to Coach Youth Baseball” shares everything I have learned about maximizing ballplayers talents and abilities. Testimonials
'NEVER RUN SHORT OF PITCHING'
Check out the eBook pitching guide to build a deep, versatile pitching staff at all levels.
How to Get a FREE BOOK
| Dave's Passion and experience is unmatched when it comes to the game of baseball. Coaching Hitters At the different levels is such a challenge but Dave has compressed so much important information along with a coaching style that motivates and leads Hitters down a path to success. From Amateur to the Professional level , Dave's Work in this book is a must read whether you Play or Coach. Jim Coffman Pitching Coach and Oakland Athletics Northwest Area Scout. |
How to Develop Offensive Baseball Players
GLOVE REPAIR
Your Guide to Fixing Your Baseball Glove