I need help..

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For you people that know me know that I am a very positive coach and LOVE the game of fastpitch and LOVE coaching...This year has been very frustrating..
Not because of the Win-Loss record but because of how the team plays with the lack of focus and heart...I know focus is my reponsibility and We as a coaching staff are trying to get them better prepared as we have an extreamly young team. Starting 4 freshman, 1 sophmore 3 juniors and 1 senoir...only 2 returning players with varsity experiance

But my question is How to you teach/coach Heart..Is it something you coach? Can you teach it or does it just come from the player within...

For the first time ever in coaching I have no idea what to do or say we have went over everything we can at practices and after games but the girls still make the same mental mistakes and do some of the same things they had done in the first week of the season. There is some good talent on this team and I know we can play better. I am looking for advice on how to motivate players to play with more heart and effort.

thanks in advance for any insight...

let me add there are a few girls on the team that are busting there butts and play with heart, and I am proud of them and they know who they are

 

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I feel that the heart of a team comes from their desire to succeed and belief that they can succeed. In years past (and this year with HS) the dd team has had a single game that inspired the girls to believe. After that game, whether it was a come from behind win or winning as the under-dog, the confidence just seemed to grow as well as the drive (heart) to win.

 

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Maybe it is time for a guided discussion. You are the moderator and each girl talks about what she wants or needs from the team.

 

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For you people that know me know that I am a very positive coach and LOVE the game of fastpitch and LOVE coaching...This year has been very frustrating..
Not because of the Win-Loss record but because of how the team plays with the lack of focus and heart...I know focus is my reponsibility and We as a coaching staff are trying to get them better prepared as we have an extreamly young team. Starting 4 freshman, 1 sophmore 3 juniors and 1 senoir...only 2 returning players with varsity experiance

But my question is How to you teach/coach Heart..Is it something you coach? Can you teach it or does it just come from the player within...

For the first time ever in coaching I have no idea what to do or say we have went over everything we can at practices and after games but the girls still make the same mental mistakes and do some of the same things they had done in the first week of the season. There is some good talent on this team and I know we can play better. I am looking for advice on how to motivate players to play with more heart and effort.

thanks in advance for any insight...

let me add there are a few girls on the team that are busting there butts and play with heart, and I am proud of them and they know who they are

Not sure what you mean by "teach heart" but I get the impression they are not paying attention nor are they giving 100%. Your job is not to tolerate this.

We had some issues with this at the begininning of our fall season last year. The very next practice included a lot of wind sprints and push-ups. Amazingly we had immediate improvement next time our kids took the field in uniform.

 

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I think desire and heart come from within. The girls can be inspired to be better, but the drive is something you either have or don't have. My oldest had talent but absolutely zero drive and ended up quitting in 14U. You just can't teach them to want it.

 

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'Just a thought, because you are dealing with teenage girls - Do the team mates get along? Too often, we see that no Team Effort is made because player X hates player Y - "so why should I help out the team?"

Are the team leaders helpful and constructive in their criticsm of other players? Or are they just trying to show that they're HBIC - Head B*tch In Charge? (Louuuuuise's words...)

A lot of OFC'ers discourage the use of the term Bonding, but there's something to be said for it.

 

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I feel your pain--been doing this for 12 years now, after helping back in HS days w/the kids. I know I sound like my dad, but kids are different. They would rather text than get a drink, they seem to have trouble focusing, and the parents want reward with no effort, and the kids get this. We have parents complaining because "little Susie", who doesn't do anything in the offseason other than break training rules, who is slow, overweight, has no arm strength, hasn't had over two base hits in 3 years, and gets picked off every time she pinch-runs, isn't getting equal playing time with the travel girls......I don't know how to relate to this either, because the game seems too much driven by politics and not enough about results. If you figure out a good answer, POST IT!

 

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Hey coach, don't beat yourself up! Consider this:

One thing that affects kids today that wasn't even a factor 8 - 10 years ago is information overload. Electronic devices create a huge distraction from the world around kids today, and constantly beg for their attention. And it will only get worse. Kids walk around with their thumbs glued to a PCD (personal communication device) that used to only be a phone. Now it's primarily used for constant texting. Most kids even know when their friend's last BM was, for crying out loud!!

According to our family doctor, electronic distractions (phones, video games, portable music devices, etc.) are the root cause of focus problems in many kids today. Controlling their use can go a long way towards helping them learn to focus and prioritize. But that is a parent's job.

I also believe that desire, drive and motivation ("heart") come from within - it cannot be taught like a skill, and punishment does nothing - as in "The beatings will continue until morale improves". However, a coach CAN promote a team attitude - a set of expectations. He can teach skills he expects his players to use on a daily basis. He can present himself as a positive individual who genuinely cares about his players, and whether they succeed. I don't think you teach "winning"... I think winning is a result of teaching all of these things. It's the little things that add up.

So - if you KNOW you are doing your part, you should not feel guilty that some of your kids are not as enthused as you are. That doesn't mean you don't care, it just means that some things are beyond your control.

 

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Sometimes it is the fact that they cannot see themselves and believe they are playing differently than what you are saying. If you are not filming any games or practices the film does not lie and they cannot excuse it away. They will have to face the truth when it is put in front of them and those that are willing to changewill and the others well........

 

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Have to respectfully disagree with a part of the above post--Videotape showed a young lady whose swing resembled/s Phil Mickelson hitting a flop. We take her out after the problem doesn't go away, after using video, batting tees, a floppy noodle, research on this websitre, etc. After 3rd game on pine, mom and DD confront us and call us every name in book. We "tried" to explain to mom how we diverted an inordinate amount of time to her dd, offered to go over the video with her: mom would hear none of it, we are obviously terrible coaches, DD has had same swing since T-ball and has always had success(she actually was about a .100 batter since 4th grade, but mom only remembers the hits....). Way too many kids are mentally unprepared by thier parents for the simple fact that other may be better than them and may actually WORK HARDER than they do, because parents are too damn busy working on their self-esteem, and not thier work ethic and reality.

 

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Just like speed, you can't coach desire or heart

 

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Thanks to all for your responses, I really respect all of these opinions

To answer one question that was asked, I think all of these girls get along I know there is some issues between a few girls but I just think that is that they go to an all girls school maybe there is more to it.

 

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So Brian, are you saying that the girls just don't show much enthusiasm for games/practices?

They don't seem to be very excited to be playing ball?

You're asking how to light a fire under their keisters? Is that it?

 

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So Brian, are you saying that the girls just don't show much enthusiasm for games/practices?

They don't seem to be very excited to be playing ball?

You're asking how to light a fire under their keisters? Is that it?

Yes ...some of them seem to go through the motions and what ever happens happens..

 

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My wife has been dealing with this issue for the last 2 years. Let me just say.

10U - girls are animals.........they just do and go

BUT

12U - arrgghhh a completely different breed this age group. One never knows what you are going to get.

One thing my wife has done is make practice so intense and difficult that they are too out of breath to talk and too focused on surviving to have any attitude. She does not yell. Just sets up consequences for actions and performance. If anyone complains they get extra........of what ever they are doing. And then my wife explains that this was their choice....not hers........they love that line.......LOL

I actually perfer watching the 10U team at times. They do not seem to even care what is happening. They just suit up and go to battle.

I am hoping at 14U they go back to just playing ball. The DDs seem to have alot more going on in their melons at 12U. Actually old 12s are much better than the young ones. Last year was a pain. Much easier this year.

 

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Yes ...some of them seem to go through the motions and what ever happens happens..

Hmmm...gonna have to think on that a spell.

 

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I like the meeting with the team, call a practice and put all the gear in a pile. Ask each of them to speak about why they play softball. What do they want to accomplish. Build on the positive messages, yet insist that each girl find a reason that has not mentioned. You may not get through the team without the last girls struggling a bit, yet you will get some good insights. Tell them why you coach. Then ask the girls how competing in softball and team sports will help they become better students, citizens, friends etc.

After all this you should have a good story to summarize for them about why they are there. Than end by saying when we don?t give our best, focus and compete we work against all of the things we just shared. We must respect the game for all that it gives us. If we don't, we won?t play, will just practice until we respect the game.

Good luck!

 

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Well we played the last game of year tonite ...lost big to a very good team ,,but the effort was there... Dissapointed in the season but I am already excited about next year we have 8 starters coming back and being that 4 were freshman we got some valuable varsity experiance that will only help the kids and the program...

Thanks you all

 

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I have the same problem coach. I get extremely frustrated and have had the same conversations with the players and parents. What I have come to realize is if you want it more than they do you are fighting a losing battle. My girls just want it to be fun and don't care about winning or losing...they have been quite frank about it to me. I can't coach with that type of mentality, and am stongly considering hanging up my coaching hat. If you do figure it out please let me know...good luck!!

 

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Dunno hun...sounds like they're bored, maybe ready for the end of the school year?

Think I'd do my best to encourage them to be "ball hogs", no negatives for horsing around and making crazy dives for the ball, running flat out and trying to snag as many grounders and fly balls as they can. Really encourage them to compete with each other, see who can get the most and make the most accurate, successful throws to first...with NO reprimands for lack of style/form.

Not saying all practices should be like this, but let 'em blast some music, have a home run derby, whatever...just make it as fun as possible for them.

If they're anything like my gurl was, this will bring back why they loved to play in the first place...just love of the game and the camaraderie it builds.

Sorry, maybe some others have some ideas.