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

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Ok, honestly, until we all get outside and see some real pitching that is not surrounded by a steel framed roof or a net, what kind of judgement can we really make on hitters? If you have a kid hitting off the tee or soft-toss or front-toss or even off the monotnous pitching machine, coaches will make adjustments. We all know that even the worst hitter on your team will start ripping a ball off the machine but will bat 1 for 30 off a pitcher.

Once these kids get outside and are owning up to their parents claim of softball dominance and all-star status, then you can get on a coach for "tinkering." Until then, lay off. Besides, the chances that if that girl is as good as her parents claim, once she sees live pitching, all of those little "tinks" will be quickly forgotten. It takes time to add tinks to muscle memory, a lot more time than what high school coaches are given before games start.

Not all high school coaches sit in a 4 hour clinic and claim they know all, there are MANY coaches that make a lot of effort to learn the game and the modern adaptations to what is being taught to the best players in the country. High school coaches make around or less than 1 dollar an hour, so I highly doubt they are in it for the money. They're better off bagging groceries in their spare time.

 

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fpc1,

I just read your post and I dont even know where to start.

Do you really believe that just because a kid is doing ok, though they are doing it completely wrong, a coach should lay off? What about when that kid faces better pitching and whatever they are doing doesnt work anymore. Then what? You try to completely change the swing of a kid at age 16 or 17? Do you know how long of a process that is?

And for a coach to "concentrate" on players that do not play summer is probably the most insane thing I've heard. I am a coach that highly values the time that players spend during the summer to get better and I do understand that because of them, my program stands where it is. However, we must not forget that these are high school kids that are highly proned to develop bad habits without the proper attention, not kids that dont need as much coaching as another kid that doesnt play summer ball. All kids, summer players or not, deserve equal coaching. If they are doing great, then of course they dont need as much time, but just because they are summer players does not make them experts, despite the apparent top of the line coaching that they receive in the summer.

Also, good coaches that are truely committed to the game and to winning, will learn different hittign techniques so that they can better coach the kids that do take private lessons or just naturally can swing one way or the other and would not benefit from a complete change.

The point is, every kid on the roster deserves equal time as needed, as difficult as it is to do that with the time they are allotted.

 

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Touchy subject. Some may seem to o-fend-ed

Everyone wants to put a stamp on the already successful product.

Too bad there are only one state champs in each division, looks like many experts

 

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

Great line and I agree.

 

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WOW this is a touchy subject but I do have some experience with this topic.

1. fsball101.... I agree with you I tell my daughter this. If the advise has been taught against by the paid proffecional just smile and bat like you have been taught. But if it has not been taught against and you are not batting week try it.

2. stallion2.... ...or you could try "track" less drastic than moving schools.

3. sidliner... I love the idea of switching sides. If it happens to me I'll try this.

4. I would have to take into consideration the coach his/her self and the program before I burnt any bridges.

5. "My way or the Highway"...well this would be ok with me if the coach has had success with their travel and HS teams to championships. If not a winning coach refer back to #1. This statement without being a winning coach would just be arrogant. (sorry)

Please don't spend your energy bashing each other better to spend your energy giving fsball101 ideas on helping thats what I am looking for on this forum.

 

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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. :-/

WOW, I am glad that coach is not coaching my daughter.

 

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Wow... sounds like someone got their toes stepped on...
Unfortunately high school coaches are paid to coach, silly I know, who would ever imagine... Here's an idea, ?fire all high school coaches and let the travel coaches have free range. Or lets get rid of high school ball all together and just play travel ball spring and summer, AND fall.
In all seriousness though.. I do admire that the kid is coachable enough to listen, that's a rare breed these days. Unfortunately some coaches (and no not high school specific) like things their way and their way only. It's EXTREMELY early in the season, I mean, these kids should have been getting instruction from the high school coaches a max of what? 6 days or so? So I'm guessing all the work and the perfect form isn't gone and there isn't a ton of damage done. Smile and nod, then hit hit hit. Can't argue with results.

I've coached high school and travel ball. I've played my share of each as well. DO NOT just assume all high school coaches sit at that clinic, watch a video or two, then act like they know everything. I'll admit I'm offended. Unfortunately politics, and the fact that teachers get the first nod are big factors in determining who'll be coaching certain teams. If it's "my way or the highway" and you're considering moving so your kid can play ball for someone who'll let mommy and daddy run the team, then so be it. But is that her decision, or yours? If you put so much stock into travel ball and the teaching of others, then why are you bothering with high school ball?

 

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I coach both high school and travelball. I had just the opposite. I had a travelball coach change my best high school hitters swing. She batted a legitimate .450 last high school season. Most were line drives. Now she is swinging down. So far most of her hits are hit down, directly infront of the plate. She used to have a nice level or slightly upward swing, now she swings down on the ball. When asked shy she changed, she said her travel coach wanted everything hit down. Go figure!

 

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One thing to keep in mind, all coaches at their respective levels want to succeed. Travel teams are put together based on a selection process, you try to recruit the best. HS coaches do not have this luxury, and can be very limited in what they have to work with. Ex: I know a power hitter on a travel team, and the HS coach is trying to convert her into a slapper based on his needs (she's very fast). Another point, my dd has attended a lot of camps, as I'm sure many of your dd's have, these are college coaches, professionals; Do you walk away from each camp changing everything that was suggested? I don't believe in fixing something that's not broke, but I do believe in improving. At least give a suggestion a try. Good luck to all.

 

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Crystl Bustos is probably one of the best to play the game. She is constantly improving and for those that say don't change it if it's not broke. She would laugh at you. She constantly is improving and has her hitting coach ( Howard Carrier) hitter, working with her. Here is another quote from Howard.. If someone is teaching you a level swing, go get another hitting coach! I coach both and I can tell you Lady_Knights is correct. I coach hitting in high school and I have heard many of the kids tell me , this is what my traveling team coach taught me. "Take the knob of the bat to the ball" "Swing Level" " "Squash the Bug" It would appear many are teaching the kids wrong and have no idea what RVP and the best are teaching in terms of hitting. Just because you are hitting 325, doesn't mean if taught correctly you cannot be a better hitter! How do you know what her potential could be ?

 

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There is a major difference between improving skills and changing entire task.
I recognize the fact that there is more than one way to perform a skill.
Undergo skill analysis, break the skill down to performing points, refine, extend and apply the
skill to game situations - that is all fine and dandy and I'm good with that.

What I'm not good with is someone changing to change - your crazy if you think an established player
should change something all the time - keep enhancing the skill - but not change

Check the meaning of terminology on how coaches breakdown a skill - I have heard five different terms for a skill,
and I have heard swing level in a good sense - so dopn't generalize.

 

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As you can ALL see ? there are 25 post prior to mine.....And we ALL have a different opinion!

I coach HS and Travel ball too, and I think the way I teach/coach is correct! (Batting, bunting, cut-offs, turning double plays, catching with 2 hands, fielding a bunt with your glove NOT your hand (unless the ball is not moving, or it is the only option), getting your body in position prior to fielding a ball or making a throw (Kubota or non-kubota, letting a catcher call the game, pitch outs, bunt coverages, who takes your cuts from the outfield.

There are SOOOOOOOOO many things that can be RIGHT & WRONG (differences of philosophies) that a coach does what he/she feels will benefit his/her team that given year.

I know I have to coach/teach different EVERY year! WHY? Because of the level of talent on any given team. So some years you simplify and other years you can be more in depth...just depends on your level of talent each year.

NOW...that doesn't mean my way is the ONLY way or the right way. I see things done different everytime I watch a game. Again, that does not mean the other coach is wrong....I just don't believe that way would work for me. If I like what they did, I might change the way I do it to the way they did it. We can ALWAYS learn.....IF YOU ARE WILLING???

A good example....Every year on here someone asks how do you defend the continuous walk with a runner at 3rd......

I have seen MANY different ways.....and still to this day, I can't say I like ANY OF THEM! So what do you do????? Pick the one that is best for you and PRACTICE IT WITH THE KIDS until they get it how you want it!!!


In the eyes of parents, fans and anyone eles that questions coaches......WE (COACHES), ARE WRONG 100% OF THE TIME! In YOUR eyes!

WHY??? ?If I tell a girl to bunt, the parent wanted them to hit away....If I told the girl to hit, the parent would say why didn't he have her bunt!

As a coach, you have to do what you believe is right and teach/coach YOUR team the way you want them to play. When they leave and go to their summer team, they can do it YOUR way.

Just my opinions.....

 

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I'm all messed up now, I coach both HS and Travel ball and the Travel coach side of me keeps telling my HS side of me that I don't know anything because i coach HS. ;D

God forbid a HS coach knows something

 

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Now that's funny Anslow... ;D

 

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Just because someone is paid doesn't mean they are right, good, or better. I will say I have seen many kids come through who paid good money for garbage instruction.

I coach both travel and high school and take offense when anyone rips coaches at any level. To say that a coach coaches just for a pay check is the sane as calling them an idiot because the money NEVER justifies the time.

As some have said the high school coaches are handcuffed with many limitations by the state and just the nature of the beast. That being said they may be limited with constraints as far as teaching some of the skills but they should be, and for the most part seem to be, a very important part of any athletes maturation process, both socially and athletically.

I feel the travel community has become an increasingly elitest, me first group. I'll take a team that understands that when they start thinking of their teammates before themselves that is when a team will become a team. There was a great example earlier of a travel player that was more accomplished stepping up and helping her fellow teammates with some skills. That is what I am talking about!!

If you are not happy with a situation find a way to make it better. If you are not helping solve the problem you are part of it.

Comparing travel and high school is not comparing apples to apples but they both can be very rewarding and functional.

 

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Just because someone is paid doesn't mean they are right, good, or better. I will say I have seen many kids come through who paid good money for garbage instruction

That is a great line, I know a HC in travel that says the exact same thing. Great point spirit

 

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Spirit ... great post ... I also coach both and I absolutely agree about the garbage instruction, the pay in high school and the elitist attititue of some re: travel. On our HS team, all 10 or our projected starters played travel last summer and both coaches have extensive travel backgrounds. We appreciate everything lessons and travel do for these girls, but we are going to tinker when they need help.

 

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If your mechanic puts your tire in your car and forgets 3 of the lug nuts are you going to "tinker" with the problem or leave it alone? I think you would probably add the missing lug nuts. That is what I believe most HS that are worth anything do, Build on what the player knows and add to it.

 

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GREAT post spirit, thank you.

 

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I think most of you missed the point. It's a joke!! Right? This was only posted to stir up discussion. Right. I mean, it couldn't be taken seriously. (I've coached both a travel-ball coach and high school for 20 years.) It's a joke!! LOL. Right?