Practice Disciplinary Action

[default]

hi guys. looking for some of your experiences here..

i coach a low level 12u team. as you can imagine, the focus of our practices are basic throwing and catching fundamentals; thats collectively where were at....we need to catch and throw properly.

ive recently implemented a 5 push up team penalty for dropping any catchable ball. never being a fan of punishment for female athletes, i was very tentative in implementing this. i must say, however, that it has been extremely effective. it haa forced the girls to increase their focus since tbey hate the push ups.

curious what, if anything, you guys do as far as disclinary action at practice for mistakes and your thoughts on its effectivenesss.

thanks!

 

[default]

I help with a 10u team and when it gets a little out of control we will make them run a lap around the gym for a bad throw or a drop on a catchable throw. nothing to harsh because they are 9 but it takes some consequences to get them to focus on the task or drill they are doing.

 

[default]

I usually use sprints as a way to focus the players and the team.
Speed are something that we need and the girls can sprint quickly and get back to throwing.

More importantly I never have just one player participate in the punishment.
Since it takes two to catch-throw-catch when the ball hits the ground the pair sprint to exchange positions.
Sometimes we'll do sprints when a ball is loose with the entire team (we get a lot of running in.) will exchange positions.

We do a drill that we call 4 corners (read bases here) that they follow their throw to the next corner and then if they miss a ball (and the back-up misses the same ball) everyone sprints to the next corner. Lots of running but they really concentrate on making a good throw and a clean catch because everyone is depending on it.

Since everyone is running and no one is immune the team doesn't build up resistment toward a single player (or the coaches) and boy do that get pretty good-pretty quick!

 

[default]

Try These:
*Split the team into two teams. Give different challenges like bunting/catching/good throws/etc whichever team wins, they are excused from running/push ups. etc
* Start with 20 laps.....they have to make 20 good throws....each good throw reduces the number of laps
*End early-they make five out of seven sac bunts, they leave early...can use other skills
*King of the mountain-player that performs the most bunts/his/throws etc. during a challenge gets to keep a trophy until the next practice.
Make it fun and challenging
Hope these help

 

[default]

For my kids...I forced them to ride with me instead of wife.

 

[default]

I, liked mentioned May do sprints to refocus teams. I try and run a fast pace practice, I'm not comfortable stopping and using practice times to do team punishments... The goal is always at some point in practice to push them outside their athletic comfort zone. Mistakes aren't an option in the ultimate goal of getting better it's mandatory and I really want them in a deep and focused mind set when practicing. It's not easy getting them there, but it's worth the effort.

So in a nutshell... With my travel, JV and rec teams, I don't do any team discipline for physical mistakes, I'm not against it and wouldn't care if my DD's coach did, but it's actually in direct conflict with my coaching Philosphy and my goal for practices.

 

[default]

On a serious note... Don't want kids being afraid to make mistakes.

 

[default]

yes you don't want the kids to be afraid to make a mistake because they are going to make mistakes this is a game of failure and it is how you deal with it, improve and move on is what makes a good player and person.

 

[default]

Just finishing up the NFHS course on the fundamentals of coaching, they suggest never using fitness as a punishment. They claim using it as negative reinforcement actually creates an attitude towards push-ups or sprinting as something they associate with doing something wrong instead of the desired attitude of making one's self stronger. NFHS suggests you try to refocus the group using other tactics.

With that said, I have used physical activities to redirect their focus to the task at hand.

 

[default]

You folks are looking at this all wrong. I mean come on you guys aren't coaching college ball here. You got to hit these kids where it hurts, THEIR STOMACH. Start telling these kids they aint getting any ice cream after practice and you will start seeing instant focus and improvements. Its called coaching 101....

 

[default]

Just finishing up the NFHS course on the fundamentals of coaching, they suggest never using fitness as a punishment. They claim using it as negative reinforcement actually creates an attitude towards push-ups or sprinting as something they associate with doing something wrong instead of the desired attitude of making one's self stronger. NFHS suggests you try to refocus the group using other tactics.

With that said, I haveused physical activities to redirect their focus to the task at hand.

please tell me they recommended what these "other tactics " were and gave some examples. otherwise, its a great point but completely useless. kinda like telling parents not to spank their kids bit not giving any alternative method....

 

[default]

I'm not a fan of running or punishing alot for a mistake..... If so then as a coach you should run each mistake you make lol we have alot skinnier coaches myself included. Occasionally to try get there focus is ok but my philosophy is attitude and effort you give me those two things and you are exempt from punishment I'm much more interested I. What the girl does after a mistake how she deals with the failure and I'm just as likely to work or talk about that as I am what did wrong dropping ball it's fine line. But if a girl is giving you her best effort then no punishment needed in my opinion because I want the maximum effort I can get

 

[default]

I'm not a fan of running or punishing alot for a mistake..... If so then as a coach you should run each mistake you make lol we have alot skinnier coaches myself included. Occasionally to try get there focus is ok but my
philosophy is attitude and effort you give me those two things and you are exempt from punishment I'm much more interested I. What the girl does after a mistake how she deals with the failure and I'm just as likely to work or talk about that as I am what did wrong dropping ball it's fine line. But if a girl is giving you her best effort then no punishment needed in my opinion because I want the maximum effort I can get

thats exactly why i started doing this. i believe there was some carelessness in making routine catches. i agree, if im getting max effort, no disclipline necessary.

 

[default]

and i do the pushups as well if i hit an errant grounder or something. they love that, lol...

 

[default]

As a personal opinion, providing situations where
little competitions exist or pressure is applied on their performance will yield more focus and better results than "drop a ball and do 10 push-ups. Maybe the losing team in a little competition will do 10 push-ups but I'm not a fan of enforcing punishments because of bad performance.
You said it yourself...it's a low level team.
These girls are 12. They should be able to throw and catch. If they can't, it's not the girls who failed and owe you push-ups, it's their former coaches who failed.
When players leave your charge their next coach should say "man alive ...she has had some coaching".

My worthless opinion.

 

[default]

As a personal opinion, providing situations where
little competitions exist or pressure is applied on their performance will yield more focus and better results than "drop a ball and do 10 push-ups. Maybe the losing team in a little competition will do 10 push-ups but I'm not a fan of enforcing punishments because of bad performance.
You said it yourself...it's a low level team.
These girls are 12. They should be able to throw and catch. If they can't, it's not the girls who failed and owe you push-ups, it's their former coaches who failed.
When players leave your charge their next coach should say "man alive ...she has had some coaching".

My worthless opinion.

We have done competitions and have had the losing team do anything from push ups to sing.... The girls decide what the losing team will do before the competition.

 

[default]

When I coached 11-12U team, we had to work on catching, throwing, fundamentals. I tried to make it a game, or competitive. When we were working on throwing. The girls split into teams of two, spread out in a line and began throwing to each other. If one missed a ball or a throw, they had to run around the bases once, then resume throwing. The girls would take a step back after each pair of good throws/catches. When they reached the farthest line, they won/were done with the drill. It forced accurate throws, and worked on making longer throws. While they were doing this I and the assistant coaches would watch the girls reinforcing good technique throwing and catching with the ones who needed it. I tried to make every drill competitive. There were times I grabbed a 5-gal bucket, put a $1 in it and had the girls practice directional bunting. It was fun to watch them root for each other.

 

[default]

When I use the sprinting triggered by a missed catch/throw it is more like conditioning and is integral with the drill so it doesn't feel much like punishment...just part of the drill. The girls quickly figure out that if they concentrate there is a lot less running...these are smart kids. It is amazing how much better they get over a season.

 

[default]

hi guys. looking for some of your experiences here..

i coach a low level 12u team. as you can imagine, the focus of our practices are basic throwing and catching fundamentals; thats collectively where were at....we need to catch and throw properly.

ive recently implemented a 5 push up team penalty for dropping any catchable ball. never being a fan of punishment for female athletes, i was very tentative in implementing this. i must say, however, that it has been extremely effective. it haa forced the girls to increase their focus since tbey hate the push ups.

curious what, if anything, you guys do as far as disclinary action at practice for mistakes and your thoughts on its effectivenesss.

thanks!

I did do this as a 10u coach - It was push-up's for watching a called third strike - (watching third strike is a Pet Peeve)
Be careful, there was a guy in my area lost his team because parents complained about him making girls do push up's - Be sure you have parents buy-in

 

[default]

I agree with the idea that relating a physical punishment to an uncalled for error in execution of a simple task is damaging for a host of reasons but I have done it and believe at times you simply have no choice. My issue is with the amount of punishment. Some of my teams would have no arms left if I sentenced them to 5 or more push-ups per dropped ball. lol.

There has to be a consequence for a chronic problem. I do not punish the entire team, only those involved at the moment. If the team as a team decide to stand with their teammates, than so be it but it should be their choice. The crime must be serious enough to need punishment. Any other time you should look at ways to coach your way thru the situation by instructing. Dropped balls are normally the result of taking your eyes off the ball before finishing the catch. All related to attention or focus. If a player has a chronic problem I feel you are doing her a disservice if you don't go to extremes to help her become a more efficient player. Just make sure she understands the "why's" of your methods so she can grow from it and not turn it into a negative.

FYI, I relate running with reward for good play. Seems to work for me. I use sprints only. there are no marathons in softball. Just my opinion.