Poll for coaches-does it ever get personal?

[default]

I don't know what a gas pedal is for the players because we teach our kids to go all out every pitch, play. Respect everyone/ fear no one. For me as a coach there is times I stop bunting, stealing, hit and run etc.., but it is not their job to slow down and if they start coasting then we talk about it. (FINISH WHAT YOU START!) There has been times it has become a little more personal when facing a team that the coaches, parents, or players throw out some dis-respectful chatter. Then maybe the stealing and small ball continues a little longer until the excess spirit has been broken. But ultimately coaches should have emotional intelligence and not embarrass kids. When you are up 10-12 runs and start going base to base the point has been made and the play did the talking.

 

[default]

I don't know what a gas pedal is for the players because we teach our kids to go all out every pitch, play. Respect everyone/ fear no one. For me as a coach there is times I stop bunting, stealing, hit and run etc.., but it is not their job to slow down and if they start coasting then we talk about it. (FINISH WHAT YOU START!) There has been times it has become a little more personal when facing a team that the coaches, parents, or players throw out some dis-respectful chatter. Then maybe the stealing and small ball continues a little longer until the excess spirit has been broken. But ultimately coaches should have emotional intelligence and not embarrass kids. When you are up 10-12 runs and start going base to base the point has been made and the play did the talking.

I agree with hustling by the players at all times. Game awareness should be practiced by Coaches and Players.
"Revenge" "disrespectful" players and parents exist in life. There are lot of "great" teams and "great" players who were noticed and mentioned who will not play at the next level or will get a degree which leads to their dream jobs.

there was a Dad who would put down any girls who didn't get to play SEC ball and become an All-Ameican in softball so I messaged him (had known him personally for years). Questioned him if his daughter was all that in softball and wasn't all that in classroom but my DD didn't get to play SEC but becomes an Orthodonist while being on a D1 team...who wins?

Teach chi your kids to win in Life...everything else will fall into place.

 

[default]

Inpact12
Wouldn't it make sense that when a team (HS) is obviously superior in every way that the subs get to play very early in the game, perhaps the number two pitcher gets the nod. The game should be longer than the bus ride. Let the less talented athletes put the peddle to the metal once the game is in hand. You can always re-enter should you need to. What good does to do your best hitters to draw walks from a struggling pitcher?

I hope to be in that position ion a few years and I'll see if I can walk this talk.

 

[default]

This is a good old fashioned fireside chat over a beer amongst coaches that happens to be taking a week to complete. We bring up a topic, debate it, support our opinions and move on.
I have read fantastic opinions from many different viewpoints on this subject. I love seeing this great discussion which is why I will continue bringing up these hotly debated topics.

This stuff, to us coaches, is like politics and abortion.

 

[default]

Chris ... I like to think that when we discuss some topics like this and others that some of the veteran coaches and parents can actually help educate some of the newer coaches and parents. I know I learned a lot over the years here, and I probably would have had a different opinion 20 years ago on this than I do today.

 

[default]

Yes. Long story. Opposing team did it to my team and put the peddle down. After the game, I told that coach that not only would we beat them in our next conference meeting, his team would never finish a full 7 inning game against us again. I kept my word! While I never ran the score up after we had the short game, we certainly got after it up to that point. He coached for 5 more years. Including 2 regional games, we short gamed them 12 times in a row. The funny thing is, he never stopped talking smack. Had he apologized for the first time where he beat us by 20 something, I might have stopped. Instead, each time he tried to mouth off.

 

[default]

Chris ... I like to think that when we discuss some topics like this and others that some of the veteran coaches and parents can actually help educate some of the newer coaches and parents. I know I learned a lot over the years here, and I probably would have had a different opinion 20 years ago on this than I do today.

Absolutely we do. I consider myself to be in between; not a newbie yet not quite a true veteran yet. As such I find myself learning every day from one of the coaches with which I interact, either on here or on the field. None of us are creating or teaching anything new… just a re-canned version of something that we learn from somebody else.
I learn so much from the site I'm glad I decided to become more active!

 

[default]

The teams that I have coached have a tendency to run alot. Squeeze is a big part of the game until or unless a showcase may temper some of that. So I agree that you play each play, each inning. However, I may take the pedal off if we are up alot (10 runs) as far as base running. Except for that, you play every game every inning like there is no score. Get the run rule, get out with less innings played.

 

[default]

The way that I have let off of the gas when I want to hold the score down is to use my bench players (but they must play all out.) Perhaps I'd work my pitcher's weakest pitch and know that we'll give up a few walks and a few hits forcing the defense to step it up. I call it playing for tomorrow. Why have a 20 nothing 3 inning laugher when you can challenger your team, your player and your bench to win a 12 to 2 game in 5?

No one needs to know but your team gets better and you play a little more softball.