If you want to know if a coach can really coach, then watch his players play. I didn't say "watch his TEAM play." I said, "watch his PLAYERS play." I can tell whether a person can really coach after watching one game. Most people can't because they don't know what to look for. That's why many coaches keep their jobs year after year even though they're pretty much incompetent. Parents don't know the difference because they're not sophisticated enough when it comes to the in's and out's of the game. Here are a few of the things you should be looking for by position:
1B-- Does this player always play way up toward home, as if she's expecting a bunt? If so, then she isn't being coached properly. If there isn't a time when she's playing back behind the base, then she's not being coached properly. If she is anchoring her foot on the bag before the ball is thrown to her, then she isn't being coached properly. Is she giving the catcher the proper inside or outside targets on bunts and dropped third strike throws?
2B-- Does this player always seem to be standing in the same place (shading toward 1st base so she can get there in case of a bunt) no matter what the situation or the score? If so, then she's not being coached properly. There are times when this player should be shading up the middle and having the responsibility of covering 2nd on the steal. There are times, especially with a runner at 1st base, that it makes more sense for the 2nd baseman to shade toward 2nd base--as in the case of a right-handed pull hitter with no speed being at the plate. This allows the shortstop to be free to play toward the hole and to be confident that the 2nd baseman will be there to cover for the force out if the ball is hit to deep short. If the 2nd baseman never seems to move from that one spot over toward first, then she's not being coached properly.
SS-- Does the shortstop always cover 2nd base on the steal? If so, then she's not being coached properly. Does she play up in front of the base line with a runner at third base and less than two outs when her team has a two-run lead in the 7th inning? If so, then she's not being coached properly. The runner at third means nothing in that situation. Does she run to cover third base after every pitch with a runner at second even though the 3rd baseman is playing almost even with the bag and obviously will get there in the event of a steal? If so, then she's not being coached properly. Does she vacate her position so she can get to second base early enough to take the throw when she's responsible for the steal? If so, then she's not being coached properly. She should be playing close enough to the bag that she can get there if she leaves her position after the ball crosses the plate.
3B--Does the 3rd baseman play way up toward home no matter who's batting, no matter what the game situation is? If so, then she's not being coached properly. Does she ever play back behind 3rd base? If not, then she's not being coached properly. When the other team has a big hitter at the plate with no speed and there is no chance she'll bunt (nobody on base; two strikes; game isn't close, etc.) then the 3rd baseman should be playing deep to cover as much ground as possible. Does she seem to play in different places for different hitters? If not then she's not being coached properly.
OF-- Do the outfielders seem to play in the same places for all hitters? If so, then they're not being coached properly. Do they run to back up bases when they should? Do they keep their throws low and hit the cutoff person when appropriate? Is there a cutoff person? If not, then they're not being coached properly. Do they play deep in the late innings when the game is tied or their team leads by one or two runs in order to keep the other side from getting extra base hits? Do they know to play shallow when the winning run is on third and there are less than two outs, knowing that a deep fly ball will win the game for the other side whether they catch it or not? If not, then they're not being coached properly. Do they play in different places for different hitters, keeping track of what the hitters have done previously? If not, then they're not being coached properly.
Catcher-- Is she taking a leadership role on the field? If not, then she's not being coached properly. Is she keeping her pitcher's spirits up and keeping the rest of the team informed as to the game situation? Is she blocking balls properly, dropping to her knees--not standing up and swiping at the ball? Is she making unnecessary throws to bases trying to pick off runners at times when the risk is greater than the possible reward? If so, then she's not being coached properly.
Pitcher-- This one is not applicable. Too many outside influences.
There are more things. It's a complicated game. Those should give you a start.
