Why Do Managers Coach 3rd Base ?

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I think that is what I am looking for and that being the different styles of coaching. I love watching different styles of coaches when I run an event or when I am umpiring. I think it is just facinating to me. ( I know, I'm different ... but I just love this game )

I've had Mad Hornet and his team at my tournament and I went to a tournament up in Groveport when his team was playing there. Personally, I think he is a wonderful coach and does a great job with the girls. Obviously, he has them to the point of listening and learning.. being that is a manager's job. Does a great job with the girls. I would be comfortable enough.. that my DD would have played for him, for sure, because I liked his coaching style with the girls.

I just see this enforcement of the 10 second batter rule in 2011 by ASA coming and am wondering how different coaches are going to "adjust" to it this season.

I mean.. ten (10) seconds is not much time.

 

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But, I'd have to say out of all the coaches I have seen... and many I haven't seen so please don't take this as a slight to any coach... but it would have to be the New Albany Eagles coach at 10u last year ( probally 11u this year ).

He's the best I've seen and I can't wait to see them when they get older.


2nd Best would definately have to be Doug Lenos of the Ohio Hawks.

These 10u through 12u are going to be exciting when they get to be 16u and 18u teams.

 

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So a more interesting thread might be "What makes a good travel head coach/manager?" ...

 

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Does anyone have Mike Candrea's phone number? Someone needs to tell him he's doing it wrong...

 

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Wasn't Mike at the Hawks event? That would have been a good thing to see someone tell him. LOL

 

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So a more interesting thread might be "What makes a good travel head coach/manager?" ...

Here is a thread that I think is great for what is expected from coaches

http://www.game-ex.com/vb3/showthread.php?t=28235

 

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I have done it both ways, when i'm on the bench I do alot of talking about situations, and sometimes you just get in a rut on 3rd so it helps to change things up. The problem is, as stated above, alot of teams don't have enough coaches to do this.
The thing I like is when umpires try to coach our teams, this is not intended for you Tim, but we all have seen this

Jeff

 

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I have done it both ways, when i'm on the bench I do alot of talking about situations, and sometimes you just get in a rut on 3rd so it helps to change things up. The problem is, as stated above, alot of teams don't have enough coaches to do this.
The thing I like is when umpires try to coach our teams, this is not intended for you Tim, but we all have seen this

Jeff

I have read all the responses in this thread and it's funny to say I agree with most of them. What caught my eye and made me want to respond was this thread. I got a little chuckle to it. Last year I got into a "quiet" conversation with an ump that kept telling my catcher certain things. I should add it was not just our catcher it was the other teams. I had a chance to chat with the other coach in passing the week before and we both were quite animated over the ump.

In regards to the OP, what I do not understand is if you are recommending a way to coach or just trying to stir conversation about the subject.

 

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Well, my dd's catcher last year was being "coached" by the ump last year. She "missed" a ball, which in turn hit him in his.... I was told it was not intentional, but it looked like it to me. Even with a 10u pitcher, I am sure it hurt. Moral of the story, do not iritate the catcher.

 

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We go by head coach and assistant coaches, not managers. Who ever is the best 3rd base coach of the bunch coaches 3rd. It doesn't matter what your title is, just how well you do the job.

 

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What a great thread .. it really has me thinking. I have been our 3rd base coach since day one but as the girls develop mentally (we have had the same 8 girls for 4 years now) in their understanding of the game I have been thinking about going to the dugout and let my assnt coach 3rd - which he does time/time.

Some thoughts:

1. Every Manager probably thinks he is the best one for coaching 3rd and feels like they can control the game better. I love the comment above - get asst's you trust and work with and they can do as well. I believe that.

2. Agressivness - We coach our runners to be very agressive. Last season in the Championship game against the Static 12u we had 4 runners thrown out at 3rd and home in the first 2 innings. That was all on me - I had made a decision before the game to push it on the bases - the Static responded like a great team does, making the plays - but in the 3rd inning they made a couple of throwing errors, we scored some runs and held on to win. It would be very hard for an assnt coach to 'weather' the storm from me and the parents if he had done the same. Someone even commented on here after that, that they questioned my sanity for it...lol.

3. I love Klumps statement above .. I need to look at what is the best use of me and my assnts for the team - overall.

4. Too much to do - I have cost us outs and opportunities because I was standing on 3rd thinking about the next innings defense, my pitcher or something else and missed an opportunity in the moment. That happens quite a bit actually, where I find I am distracted from the job at hand - 3rd base coach - because I am 'managing' mentally while coaching.

5. Being on the field. Face it - it is great to be on the field with the kids - "in the game" - I love it.

All in all, this is a great thread - thanks Tim for starting it. I am going to talk to my coaches this week about what is best for our team...

BTW: I will contact Mike Candrea and ask him what his thoughts are on this .. he will come from a higher level of course, but he coached travel ball back in the day so who knows.

 

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does anyone have mike candrea's phone number? Someone needs to tell him he's doing it wrong...

lol!!!

 

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I have done it both ways, when i'm on the bench I do alot of talking about situations, and sometimes you just get in a rut on 3rd so it helps to change things up. The problem is, as stated above, alot of teams don't have enough coaches to do this.
The thing I like is when umpires try to coach our teams, this is not intended for you Tim, but we all have seen this

Jeff

I agree Jeff. I got rid of two umpires because of them trying to coach teams or saying something to a player... other than good play or something similar. I sent one home right after a game in the middle of the tournament one time and had to fill in for two games. Even paid him to go home. That is the LAST THING I want to hear as a TD. That and the porta-johns ran out of toilet paper.

I have no problem with an umpire saying "nice play" to a player... usually the girls smiles and says "Thanks". Other than that... eveything else is OFF LIMITS. Do the job I am paying you to do is the bottom line.

 

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I think a manager of a team has several responsibilities, one of which is assembling a staff of assistant coaches which will complement the manager's skills, and then assigning roles for each of these coaches that will best accomplish the goals of the team. In some cases and with some staffs, the manager may be the best person to coach 3rd base, and someone else may be the best person to observe and "coach" the batter, whether it be while they're batting for after the fact. I would agree that some managers probably try to do too much, but disagree that they should never coach 3B. A lot of the offensive strategy as well as snap judgment is typically driven by the 3B coach and, as a manager, I'm not going to assign that role to someone else unless I feel that other person can do it equally well and fairly consistent with my philosophies.

Nice response. I think it's a good idea to have the manager and coaches do all the different areas (1B, 3B, call pitches, etc). There have been instances were one of the coaches wasn't able to make it to a game due to health issues so the other coaches were able to fill in with not problems. Ultimately, the manager should decide who is best for each position.

 

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Does anyone have Mike Candrea's phone number? Someone needs to tell him he's doing it wrong...

This is great!

 

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Don't most college head coaches coach third? From what I've seen / can recall, I think they do.

(Aren't managers a baseball thing? ....and why do they wear uniforms)

Perhaps it's because that is where most of the offensive decisions in a game are made and they have to be made quickly. Who better to take that responsibility than the person that is ultimately held accountable for the success of the team?

Besides, what can you see from the dugout that you can't see from 3B coaches box?

That and they are all control freaks

 

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I think it is the theory that Doug Lenos has said... that he is sometimes coaching third and concentrating on next inning, etc..

I just always thought while umpiring and seeing missed opportunities... that the manager coaching third is helping the batter and the base runner and sometimes the base runner on second gets short changed on instruction.. especially in the younger age groups.

And with the 10 second rule being hammered into umpires for 2011... I just think both the batter and the runner at second need equal instruction.

Somewhere along the line.. you have to trust your coaching staff.

 

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I live for the current inning and have my asst coaches work on next inning. The dugout coaching position is soooooo important and this year I lost my main asst from the past four years and that is a major loss. We were always on the same page. New year and my other coaches will surely try to fill Tom's shoes. Can't overlook good dugout staffs. IMO that is a collective effort and allows me to run the calls from third.

 

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In order to be a solid 3rd base coach you need to have a feel for the game. not just the game you're playing now but the game of fastpitch in general. The 3rd base coach controls the the offensive action, you can sit on the bench and send in signs all day, however there is no time to coach the coach when the base runners are in action. The 3rd base coach should have a good understanding of situations and where you're at in the game. When to trade a run for an out. When to bunt, where to bunt, when to run, when not to run, who to run on. Can you steal on the catcher? If not, can you delay steal or can you freeze the ss or run and hit? Coaching your base runners after a batted ball is on you and you need to make good split second decisions. When you're picking pitches, you can't send that in off the bench, unless you want to make everyone aware that you got the change-up, not too smart. A great 3rd base coach can put so much pressure on a defense, inducing panic is key. If your team needs a run can you manufacture one? You can't be afraid to make mistakes and being fearless without being careless helps. If you're afraid to look bad then you need not coach 3rd. A 3rd base coach should not be at 3rd giving the batter hitting lessons during the at bat, that's what practice is for. If your team has someone who can do some of these things, put them on 3rd, just my opinion.

 

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(Aren't managers a baseball thing? ....and why do they wear uniforms)

In the MLB coaches and Managers wear uniforms because they are also players and can play in the game. The last manager to insert himself into a game to play was PETE ROSE....( he needed to fix the game to win his bet....LOL:lmao: ) BUT A TRUE STORY. look it up