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Who are some of the most reputable coaches at each age level? I always see coaches advertising for players, but how does one decide????
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Everyone is going to have different opinions on each coach. Disgruntled parents will almost always have a negative bias, whether deserved or not. Happy parents will have a positive bias, also regardless of deservedness. I would suggest maybe talking to coaches in your age group who are not looking for players, and get their recommendation or opinions. Finding the right fit of player, coach, team, and parents can oftentimes be a comedy of errors.
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Another thing to keep in mind is that some coaching styles work for some kids and not for others. There is no definitave answers.
Going by a teams win/ loss ratio is not a true test either. There are coaches out there that are great scouts but are not as skilled in coaching the game.
Going by a teams win/ loss ratio is not a true test either. There are coaches out there that are great scouts but are not as skilled in coaching the game.
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Ask parents...to be more specific parents who have 1 or 2 uniforms in their daughters closet. Not 6 and she is in 14u.
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In my experience there are 2 main types:
Teachers of the game
Managers of games and players
You need to be both to have really great teams. There is a coach I finally got my daughter in front of because he is a great game manager. Is he a get teacher? I say no but he wins and winning is a skill that needs to be taught also. My wife is a great teacher of the game. She wins a lot but is working on how to better manage her players and the game.
I also think that players and parents are way too worried about finding the right fit. Your kid can learn just as much or more from being on a team or with a coach she does not love as she will on a team or coach she loves. Let her struggle and learn.
Also, it depends what you are looking for from the team/coach. You want to play and see the best teams in the Midwest or beyond? Are you looking to get good enough to play HS ball? It really is such a huge combination of factors that each player/parent set has a fairly unique set of circumstances. Money is also a factor.
Teachers of the game
Managers of games and players
You need to be both to have really great teams. There is a coach I finally got my daughter in front of because he is a great game manager. Is he a get teacher? I say no but he wins and winning is a skill that needs to be taught also. My wife is a great teacher of the game. She wins a lot but is working on how to better manage her players and the game.
I also think that players and parents are way too worried about finding the right fit. Your kid can learn just as much or more from being on a team or with a coach she does not love as she will on a team or coach she loves. Let her struggle and learn.
Also, it depends what you are looking for from the team/coach. You want to play and see the best teams in the Midwest or beyond? Are you looking to get good enough to play HS ball? It really is such a huge combination of factors that each player/parent set has a fairly unique set of circumstances. Money is also a factor.
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Ask around and get opinions from those you trust in the sport. Depends also in what you want. If at younger ages, I am assuming you are looking for teaching the fundamentals of the game, teaching them to love and respect the game. Making sure all kids get alot of playing time. Letting them play different positions. If 15u, 16u - the recruiting becomes a bigger deal. Who knows how to get your kid recruited? Really, it makes a difference. But I would ask around - honesty, integrity, no kids on the team, experience with the game and patience with the kids is a good start.
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"Reputable" means different things to different people.
The best coaches aren't necessarily those with the best records, or those whose players or parents like the most. In my opinion, the best coaches are those who teach their players the most about both the game and about life (e.g., sportsmanship), and who get the most out of the talent that they have to work with. As Crystle implied, opinions of parents will be heavily biased based primarily on how much and where their child got to play, and the record of the team. Parents hate carting their kids around all summer and then watching a team lose a lot, and will almost always blame the coach for that and not consider for a moment the talent level on the team, or how hard their own child is working on their game.
Things like managing the game well, communications with parents and players, and winning and losing with class are extremely important, but vastly underrated in my opinion. Fortunately, many of the coaches of the top-talent organizations earned their way there, but a few are jerks and/or only care about winning. In my mind, the best way to decide about which coaches are reputable is to objectively watch them in action (practices, warm-ups and games), and to have a face to face talk with them about their coaching philosophy and approach ... judge them the same way you want to be judged and the same way you judge other people in your life (i.e., employees, contractors, politicians, etc.).
The best coaches aren't necessarily those with the best records, or those whose players or parents like the most. In my opinion, the best coaches are those who teach their players the most about both the game and about life (e.g., sportsmanship), and who get the most out of the talent that they have to work with. As Crystle implied, opinions of parents will be heavily biased based primarily on how much and where their child got to play, and the record of the team. Parents hate carting their kids around all summer and then watching a team lose a lot, and will almost always blame the coach for that and not consider for a moment the talent level on the team, or how hard their own child is working on their game.
Things like managing the game well, communications with parents and players, and winning and losing with class are extremely important, but vastly underrated in my opinion. Fortunately, many of the coaches of the top-talent organizations earned their way there, but a few are jerks and/or only care about winning. In my mind, the best way to decide about which coaches are reputable is to objectively watch them in action (practices, warm-ups and games), and to have a face to face talk with them about their coaching philosophy and approach ... judge them the same way you want to be judged and the same way you judge other people in your life (i.e., employees, contractors, politicians, etc.).
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Throughout my time, the best coach I have ever come across is Coach Kent Murphy. He is the king of dingers. After all, everyone loves the long ball.
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Some coaches have good reputations and some have bad ones - and it's all just in the eye of the beholder as crystlemc posted.
If you're seriously looking at ads for teams, I recommend you find out why they're looking for players at this point. Get the coach's story and compare it against what you can find out from others. This will help you determine whether it is a good opportunity or a bad situation.
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Alabama's Pat Murphy suggested the following video when he was in Ohio last year. Shows how a coach can get a bad rep....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iymXdRQDISg It's kind of funny too. By the way, Warren and PGF put on a great clinic!
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Thanks for the nice comment about Warren! We kinda like him...lol.
I have seen the "My coach ****s" video before. There is another one, "My son should play more", which goes well with this topic, also. Sadly, most people who have these mindsets, do not see it in themselves, even if everyone else can. Everyone wants to see their child succeed and that is as it should be. However, when they are not the star, it is much easier/more comfortable to blame the coach when explaining why you left rather than admit that maybe the fault lies at home.
What makes someone a bad coach in one person's eyes may very well be the thing that makes them great in someone else's. It is all subjective.
I have seen the "My coach ****s" video before. There is another one, "My son should play more", which goes well with this topic, also. Sadly, most people who have these mindsets, do not see it in themselves, even if everyone else can. Everyone wants to see their child succeed and that is as it should be. However, when they are not the star, it is much easier/more comfortable to blame the coach when explaining why you left rather than admit that maybe the fault lies at home.
What makes someone a bad coach in one person's eyes may very well be the thing that makes them great in someone else's. It is all subjective.
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One thing I looked for when seeking a coach for my DD was how the coach handles adversity. My DD's coach actually lost several players in the middle of the season, had to pick up some players that were 1st time travel ballers, and was able to mold them into really good players. Too many times these days, a lot of coaches would rather "poach" an athlete from someone else rather than develop a player. Which brings a coaches ethics into the mix. JMHO....
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http://dictionary.search.yahoo.com/...YwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDM3MF8x?p=poach&.sep=
When I hear the use of the word "poach" to describe this sort of thing it sounds like the player and their family are victims who were taken against their will.
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The same way that coaches choose their rosters. Research, watching and taking a shot.
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My girls have played for a few coaches during summer ball. They started with me and I coached them up until the age of 13. I turned it over to a couple young ladies who did an admirable job. Then they played one year with Tim and Christi Gregory and the Cincy Doom Gold....and I realized I had made a mistake all along by not having them there. The girls really loved the Doom and playing for Tim and Christi. They do an incredible job of teaching, refining skills, getting the girls to play at a high level, and they love working with the girls. My girls say they were the best coaches they have had...and it includes their dad, which stings a little bit.
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It is all subjective. My DD flourishes under Tim (Doom), who is a demanding coach with high expectations. My son would wilt under that kind of pressure. His BB coach is a little more laid back; still high expectations and he takes to his teaching very well. You have to understand what pushes your DD's buttons (not yours). I personally am more like Tim and would find the other method (laid back) not to my liking, however, he's not teaching me. He's teaching my son.
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Two of the best our one had would actually critique the game with the ladies after each game and would talk about each individual things the girls did good or bad as a group and then ask the ladies what they did good or bad as coaches....... Candid enough with them and even as 14 year olds the girls weren't afraid to say things like "I'm not sure I would have sent "X" on that play". without fear of repercussion......
