"Baseball/Softball (The Difficult Sport)"
Probably the sport that requires the most coaching and the most knowledgeable person
to do the coaching is baseball/softball.
Almost everyone swings a bat or throws a ball some time when they are real young.
Probably a plastic bat and ball or a tennis ball when they are just old enough to
stand with a bat in hand, with Dad trying to hit the bat with the ball.
Then, in gym class after they start school they again try on their own. So, it's
probably safe to say that almost everyone has played or attempted to play baseball/softball.
Too soon then comes Little League. By then, most kids have developed their individual
batting stance along with their wicked cut. Some are still using the bat with the
hole in it. They get ready, their eyes are big, the tongue is in the right position,
here comes the ball they swing and still miss another one.
Then comes the coaching. After a minute of changing the grip on the bat, getting
the elbow up, standing closer to the plate and whatever they swing and miss four
or five more, then it's the next kids turn.
The next thing that quite often happens is the coach grabs the bat to demonstrate
and doesn't hit the ball either. But then the blame is that the pitcher isn't throwing
strikes. This is almost always the problem from the beginning.
The batting will eventually be solved. Some can hit, some can't. Every stance will
be a little different, that's OK; the batter needs to feel comfortable. It's what
takes place as the ball approaches to the plate that begins to make a difference
in the final outcome.
After the swing is somewhat perfected, then some things begin to happen in the batter's
mind.
The pitch is too high, but is it going to drop a little and become a strike? The
pitch is perfect but is it going to drop out of the strike zone? It's waist high
and on the outside of the plate but is it going to curve out of the strike zone?
It's waist high but a little inside but it is going to curve across for a strike?
Did the pitcher throw a fast ball, or did he change the speed a little? Am I out
in front of the pitch or am I swinging too late? These are a few things for the
batter to think about while the coach is reminding him/her to wait for a good one,
don't swing at a bad one, wait for your pitch, protect the plate. But, don't worry
about it because the batter has a full split second to decide whether to swing or
not.
After Little League, Majors, JR Varsity, Varsity, College, then for some a professional
contract. They then have a professional coach watching every pitch to help them
because they are still learning the difficult challenge of hitting the ball.
Every position on the field has its own responsibilities. Each fielding position
has a where, when, why, the spin on the ball, the wind factor, etc.
The pitching and catching are most important. Someone watching every pitch that
is thrown, watching where the lead foot is landing which determines high and low
pitches, watching the release point (all factors that the coach has to advise the
pitcher because they can't really tell because it seems alright to them).
When the pitch is high or low, inside or outside, the coach needs to understand
why it's happening so they can constantly remind the pitcher to make proper adjustments.
Even professional pitchers have a coach watching every pitch. They try to make the
adjustments between innings, but occasionally pitching coach needs to call time-out,
go to the mound and make the little changes to get the pitcher back on track.
In softball, it's all about the pitching. That's why it's necessary to have coaches
that totally understand the pitching fundamentals and mechanics along with the other aspects of
the game if the team is going to have any success.
There are so many things for a coach to understand if they are going to guide their
kids to a successful season.
Example:
If we hired a young college graduate with a major in Music and minors in Social
Studies and Art, then assigned him/her to teach Physics, Chemistry, or Calculus,
its only common sense that the students would be short-changed. They can honestly
try and do their best but their chance for success would not be expected.
It's no different than coaching.
Bottom line, coaches need to have the knowledge and ability to help the kids develop
their individual skills before they have any value in the team concept. If the coach
can't coach you can't expect the kids to improve their skills on their own.
Positive Future
A good example (of a positive future) is our spring sports. Our girls softball teams,
Varsity and JV are loaded with talent. These girls have been taught and trained
in our little league program by our local coaching talent. There are a few (all
stars) on each team and both teams are expected to be competitive in their division
in the Jack Pine Conference. Beaverton is the one team that have given our girls
real trouble in past years.
It would have been best if our coaches that have been successful with this group
of girls could have continued and finished what they started six or seven years
ago. But, when they applied for the coaching position, they were informed that they
lacked experience.
The good part of this situation is that there is so much knowledge and talent on
these two teams nobody can keep them from winning. Especially now that they have
more experience coaching than they have had up to now.
GOOD LUCK GIRLS! JUST CONTINUE WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO.
Now, the boys Varsity Baseball Team have a couple teams to worry about, but have
good solid local coaching talent and should be very competitive and fun to watch
this spring.
Then comes the JV Baseball boys. There is so much talent on this team that they
could very easily go undefeated as long as they have someone to guide them (a little)
and then just keep score.
I'm not at all familiar with the Track Teams but I do know we have an excellent
freshman girl running the hurdles. Track is more of an individual sport except for
the relay teams and I'm sure the kids will all give 100% in trying to score points
for their team.
A little note to the Softball Coaches: You have been given well-coached and
talented kids. The only way you don't win is if you undo what has already been done.
And remember, asking for a little help is a sign of intelligence.
An old, fat armchair quarterback once said, "It's funny and strange that a coach
with ‘little knowledge' always seems to listen to someone with ‘no clue.'"
Best of luck to all the "spring sports" kids and coaches.
Work hard, don't quit, and GO EAGLES.