Please High School Coaches,Don't Tinker!!!

default · Mar 15, 2008

This is the 2nd year in a row I've had problems with the high school coaches changing the batting stance and swing of a player because they deem that "it isn't right." Comments such as "you are playing with the big dogs now" - now that they are in High School???? Pleeeeaaaassssseeeee......Cut the travel programs, especially the ones that play more competitive, some slack.
It has infiltrated to the pitchers now, tinkering with motion and release!!!!!
If the girl can play ball, and has had success, especially at the summer competitive level, had great remarks at college camps, let them play. Hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars spent on private coaches, camps, travel teams, and travel competition relegated to "you aren't doing it right" (why, because they don't look like the picture in the book or what you remember from a four hour clinic for high school coaches?)!!!

Why can't they leave it alone-change just to change or to make believe a person knows how to coach is egotistical, only for self gradification, and will hurt the player in the long run!!!!

Here goes another year of spending the 1st month of summer ball dedicated to adjusting the form from "overcoached" softball back to the form that the kid was successful with!!!

Does anyone else go thru this, or do I have a black cloud over my head???

default · Mar 15, 2008

Just curious and not trying to stir the pot, but what makes them wrong and the travel coach right? I know there is more then one way to skin a cat, but I am just saying there are some very good high school coaches, some not so good and the same could be said for travel. I am going to assume you have high school coach that you generally dont respect their knowledge of the game and I can understand that, but I wouldnt lump all the High School coaches in the same group lol.

Just my 2 cents

default · Mar 15, 2008

Maybe I should extrapulate on my concerns - this is not geared at all coaches, but there are many travel parents and coaches who have time vested in skill aquisition and development-only to have the high school coach add their "2 cents" and "change for change" when it is not warranted - I am not talking about a player that plays 12 summer league games with a .270 batting average - these are players that hit very well against the top competition in the state and midwest!

When a kid can hit against the top pitchers in the summer, and pitchers can shut down top players - with the benefit of expert coaching and clinics (top clinicians and college coaches from around the US)-receive feedback from top midwest college programs on skill level - when last season it took exactly three tournaments for one of the players involved last season (carbon copied this season) to get her "swing" back - in this particular instance, the high school coach is WRONG!!!

default · Mar 15, 2008

Our team spent over $800 going to Howard Kobata clinics and practiced his methods for over a month and when the girls went to HS they were told they were not using that method and wanted the girls to change back. :-/

default · Mar 15, 2008

I'll play official pot stirer and say, "I'm the HS coach, and if your daughter wants to play for me, she'll do it my way or the Highway." ?"Don't really care how much you spent on what, but as long as I'm the coach, that's the way it's gonna be, and there's not much you can do about it." ?"It's alot like anything else in life you have 2 choices, deal with it, or don't play." "The most important thing for you as a parent to realize, is I fill out the lineup card, and nothing you can say or do will change that."

default · Mar 15, 2008

LADY_KNIGHTS said:
I'll play official pot stirer and say, "I'm the HS coach, and if your daughter wants to play for me, she'll do it my way or the Highway." ?"Don't really care how much you spent on what, but as long as I'm the coach, that's the way it's gonna be, and there's not much you can do about it." ?"It's alot like anything else in life you have 2 choices, deal with it, or don't play." ?"The most important thing for you as a parent to realize, is I fill out the lineup card, and nothing you can say or do will change that."

lol

default · Mar 15, 2008

Lady Knights

What you say is so true and reality. But let's not hear the #@%& when people get a coach fired or a kid transfer to play for a particular program.

default · Mar 15, 2008

LADY_KNIGHTS said:
I'll play official pot stirer and say, "I'm the HS coach, and if your daughter wants to play for me, she'll do it my way or the Highway." ?"Don't really care how much you spent on what, but as long as I'm the coach, that's the way it's gonna be, and there's not much you can do about it." ?"It's alot like anything else in life you have 2 choices, deal with it, or don't play." ?"The most important thing for you as a parent to realize, is I fill out the lineup card, and nothing you can say or do will change that."

OUCH!!!

Very True, but that one is going to leave a mark. LoL

default · Mar 15, 2008

If a girl gets into the cage and hits the crap out of whatever is pitched to her, we don't "tinker" no matter what her technique is. If she struggles, we are going to try to help her improve and it doesn't matter who is teaching her and how much the parent is paying for lessons. We usually don't "tinker" with girls who have pitching coaches, but will point out things to her that she needs to work with the pitching coach and tell her to have the pitching coach calls us if she has any questions.

default · Mar 15, 2008

I don't know about everyone else, but I'm a softball coach because I like to teach the game. ?If you put a girl on my travel team or HS team, and expect me to not micromanage every aspect of her game, then you need to play for someone else. ?I don't care who or what she has had as a coach, I am there to teach, and you as the parent may not always agree with what I teach, and thats fine, but if their taking up my "free" time, then I feel you at least owe me a little rope.

I had this same discussion with my HS team the other day....I stated to them that Mike Candrea was probably the top softball coach around, and has won more and coached better players, than I will ever have the chance to lay my eyes on, but if I was to attend one of his practice sessions, or watch him teach the game, I'm sure I would find something I would disagree with him on, and feel I did a better job of teaching, or just plain criticize him. ?

If you didn't want me to teach your kid, but instead just wanted a manager, go get Buttermaker. :-X

default · Mar 15, 2008

LadyKnights

I'm refering to taking players that are fine the way they are, and now change them because a coach thinks it should be done. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

If you don't like something - and I'm speaking in terms of technical skills of the game, not attitude etc., but just the skill itself - and if the player is successful at it and makes plays, you don't change it.

I love to teach the game, and I see many styles offensively, defensively, and pitching wise. I can disagree with the way the skill is performed - but if the player is successful, I will not change them.

Too many coaches like the "power" of the position instead of the position itself.

default · Mar 15, 2008

To ask any coach to not coach because you don't want them to "tinker" with their skills, is not fair. If they are playing for a team, that coach has the right and resposnibility to coach each kid to the best of their ability, whether it's HS or travel.

To think that any player cannot improve is not reality. Perhaps, the player will pick up a few things that will help them.

default · Mar 15, 2008

do54

Noone is stating not to coach - again read my original post to be informed. Part of coaching is recognizing the fact that some people may not have to change just to change!

Motivate, create drills, enhance skill level, but you do not have to change everything just because you are the coach 2months out of the year, and for 10 months out of the year the player is a success!!!

I have coached many years, and if the player is good - kudos to the person who instilled the skill level!
No my job is to drill,drill, drill, to keep it sharp - I don't have to change to put my stamp on the product. My stamp is there by trying to raise the bar thru motivation, conditioning, prepping for the games, etc.

The high school coach doesn't like the stance, and doesn't like the quick swing - so they don't like the 400+ average against the top competition in the midwest - "do it my way for the real game - high school because rah, rah, rah, - and oh yeah, it is the greatsest competition you will face" - and hit around the mendoza line doing it "his right way"

Nobody said do not coach - I'm saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"!!!

default · Mar 15, 2008

As Knights stated, you listen to who you are playing for at that time of year. Transfer???? That means sitting out a year, is that worth it?

default · Mar 15, 2008

The player is listening - that is how we got into the predicament in the first place!
THIS IS ABOUT CHANGING THE WAY A PERSON HITS!!!!

Hey, the player can move and not lose a year, and if it is worth it to get away from a coach that can't admit that the player is already good, then move.

By the way, the high school record speaks for itself, and that is the last I will say about who the coach might be.

I have no problem with a coach coaching, they set the rules. People, before you respond, read the original post, and put yourself in the players shoes - I hit over 400 in summer ball against the best - my high school coach says I am wrong (after years of private instruction, travel instruction, college camps and stamps of approval), and hits the mendoza line in high school and lower the beginning of travel. After extensive drilling, viewing of tapes, 3 weeks later back to "old correct form" and the hits come in bundles!!!! Back to high school season, repeat of last year, but now you add another player and their pitching with the hitting!!Both of the kids are told they are doing it wrong!!

default · Mar 15, 2008

Go to a school where the coach will be big enough to respect a player if they are already talented.

You're spinning your wheels with a coach that can't admit that.

default · Mar 16, 2008

LADY_KNIGHTS said:
I don't know about everyone else, but I'm a softball coach because I like to teach the game. ?If you put a girl on my travel team or HS team, and expect me to not micromanage every aspect of her game, then you need to play for someone else. ?I don't care who or what she has had as a coach, I am there to teach, and you as the parent may not always agree with what I teach, and thats fine, but if their taking up my "free" time, then I feel you at least owe me a little rope.

I had this same discussion with my HS team the other day....I stated to them that Mike Candrea was probably the top softball coach around, and has won more and coached better players, than I will ever have the chance to lay my eyes on, but if I was to attend one of his practice sessions, or watch him teach the game, I'm sure I would find something I would disagree with him on, and feel I did a better job of teaching, or just plain criticize him. ?

If you didn't want me to teach your kid, but instead just wanted a manager, go get Buttermaker. :-X

Well Said.

default · Mar 16, 2008

Simple solution for batters. Turn the girl around for high school. Let the coach help the heck out of making her a switch hitter.

Everybody wins!

I don't think this helps dads of pitchers as much...

default · Mar 16, 2008

My experience has been, good coaches don't feel the need to micro manage.

default · Mar 16, 2008

I am a micromanager and a tinkerer. I am also one to say that everyone can get better, even if you hit .400 (there is always .401). Give the coach the benefit of the doubt, or don't play. When your kid gets to college, are you going to have the same stance with those coaches? Do you think they will not try to change anything?

Please High School Coaches,Don't Tinker!!!

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