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Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:33 pm

I have a 9 year-old nephew that has been playing youth baseball (little league, travel-ball '10U' and '11U') for the past couple years. He's really getting into it and I can see the excitement in him as his face lights up every time his eyes become fixated on a bat, ball, or glove. His intoxication with the game has recently reignited the fiery passion that I once had as a young baseball player. :2gunfire:

He currently plays catcher on one of his teams and I really want him to stick with that position. It's one of the most undercoached positions in baseball and I am determined to give him the instruction he needs to become a successful catcher. I want to get back into it. I want to be a coach on his team(s), but am confused on how to go about getting into that position.

Do any of ya'wle (sp?) got any tips for me? Are any of ya'wle closet baseball coaches yourselves? Chime in here! :P

Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:56 pm

oh boy, here we go again...........

Wed Nov 19, 2008 2:03 pm

This isn't T-ball we're talking about. I am more focused on coaching the catcher's position specific mechanics; stance and balance, transfer and throwing, blocking and recovering, plays at the plate etcetera.

I was never much of a hitter, but I've been educating myself on hitting techniques, most specifically rotational hitting drills and I'd like to pass that info down on to the team.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:57 pm

Sports teams always need volunteers! Offer your services to his League/Coach and go from there? Better buy a couple good books from Amazon.com on Baseball, so you give these kids good advice! 8)

Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:26 pm

That's one thing I'd be worrying about constantly... whether or not I am teaching the best techniques. But I would be in my comfort zone initially coaching for the catchers position, and then later on moving to other positions once my confidence and familiarity with the other positions go up.

I'm going to practice this afternoon and I'll try to catch the head coach at a good time and let him know that I'll be there and willing to help.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:21 pm

My brother did the same thing when his son decided to become a pitcher.

When my brother started, he did the following:

- lots of Internet research.
- bought or checked out lots of books
- did lots of reading
- bought instructional videos like...
http://www.sportskids.com/superstore/Instructional+Videos/Baseball/Catching/g/14176.html
- did the John Smoltz camp
- he talked to anyone that would talk with him
- learned the basic skills himself

As my nephew became more serious, they built a pitchers cage in the back yard, set up video cameras, and started recording sessions so they could examine the throwing motion from several different angles at once.

Be willing to volunteer your time to work both with your nephew and other players on the team that are interested in the same position. A little competition doesn't hurt and it gives the kids something to talk about when they are in school.

As you become more knowledgeable, you will know more about the position than most little league coaches; however, until you have established yourself as the position coach, you will need to balance your instruction to avoid coaching conflicts with the kids current coach.

Finally, don't become one of those obsessive coaches that burns their kid (in your case, nephew) out too soon. Keep the kid involved in determining their level of training. If they want more, give them more. If they complain too much, back off. They will let you know when it is time to get serious.

Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:21 pm

Good tips! I have been doing tons of internet searching and will be purchasing a few books from Amazon. I'm talking to everyone and anyone that'll talk to me. I've already taken a few pictures of my nephews swing so I can help him out with it and I've also been toying around with the idea of setting up a camera in the workout tunnel.

So yesterday at practice I thought I was just going to lean against the fence the whole time waiting for an opportunity. But as soon as we got there the team was already warming up, tossing balls back and forth. My nephew asked if I'd play catch with him and I obliged.

After warm-ups the team split off into groups to stretch out and the coach approached me. I introduced myself and told him that I'm willing to help with whatever the team needed as far as coaching went. He was very accepting and he asked if I will be around all the time. He asked about my baseball experience and we talked for a little bit. After stretching was complete, the team was split into two groups and he gave me charge of one of them and we proceeded to run drills.

Man it was the first time hitting a baseball in years. I whiffed less than I thought I would have, only twice. But my nephew told me that one of his teammates said that I sucked because I kept making him run for the ball. That was the chubby kid on the team. All in all though, I had a blast and am looking forward to next practice. \:D/

Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:31 pm

I'm sure the Coach will appreciate the help if you show up @ every Practice/Game!

Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:53 pm

SOCCER MOMS ARE HOT!!!!!!!!!

Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:58 pm

The secret to really help is to consistently undermine the coach when he's working with the kids. Don't pay attention at the start of the game, when the umpire tells the coaches how certain rules will be enforced, i.e. not touching homeplate will result in the runner being called out. Instead, tell your child he doesn't have to even if the child says that's what the coach told him. Then, throw a fit when a runner is called out for following *YOUR* instructions rather than what the umpire stated.

Oh, and constantly coach from the sideline. When the coach instructs players to move forward, yell for them to move back. Basically, contradict everything the coach says to do.

^^^ The above is what many of the parents will do during the season.

Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:10 pm

Icy wrote: ^^^ The above is what many of the parents will do during the season.

Yeah no kidding. I've been sitting in the stands for the past couple years and parents are just screaming orders to their kids constantly... that's gotta be frustrating to any coach or player. One thing is for sure though, I'm not looking forward to the time when some kids mom/dad gets on me about how I'm talking to his or her son. This is where my inexperience would come into play for sure. :(

Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:44 pm

As long as you know more baseball then the 10 year olds you will be ok. The main thing is to have fun with it. It is very important to show up all of the time. It isn't really fair to the head coach if you show up when it is convenient versus all the time. Offer advice to the head coach if he wants it. It is his show to run. Also don't be a push over or the kids will walk all over you and you'll spend all of your time trying to keep the kids in line rather than coaching.

Don't take things to seriously and remember to let the game teach the game.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:52 pm

when my parent do that (they only do it once), I grab a sheet of paper and a pen, and ask them to write the alphabet. As soon as they start I begin yelling like a maniac; "don't forget the J! N after M! XYZ! HURRY HURRY HURRY!! Etc"
:lol:

They can't do it and "get it".

spoon wrote: Icy wrote: ^^^ The above is what many of the parents will do during the season.

Yeah no kidding. I've been sitting in the stands for the past couple years and parents are just screaming orders to their kids constantly... that's gotta be frustrating to any coach or player. One thing is for sure though, I'm not looking forward to the time when some kids mom/dad gets on me about how I'm talking to his or her son. This is where my inexperience would come into play for sure. :(

Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:27 pm

Baseball fields should be built like hockey rinks where the players are separated by glass (plexiglass) from the spectators. Then maybe the kids could play the game without any interference. No parent should be allowed to coach any team their own child plays on.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:38 pm

vwracerdave wrote: Baseball fields should be built like hockey rinks where the players are separated by glass (plexiglass) from the spectators. Then maybe the kids could play the game without any interference. No parent should be allowed to coach any team their own child plays on.

Dave that will work just perfect. My family has a ton of starts and with no help, but being there.

Sat Nov 22, 2008 1:12 am

vwracerdave wrote: Baseball fields should be built like hockey rinks where the players are separated by glass (plexiglass) from the spectators. Then maybe the kids could play the game without any interference. No parent should be allowed to coach any team their own child plays on.

It's funny you say that. Every single team that my nephew has played on, his dad has coached. Every single head coach I see in the league, has a son on the team. As a matter of fact, I think pretty much every single coach in the league might have their son/sons on their teams. That's how it is I guess..

Actually, I sort of feel 'out of place' for not having a son of my own on the team. I feel like everyone is gonna be thinking "who's the hells dad is that?" :(

Sat Nov 22, 2008 6:33 am

spoon wrote: vwracerdave wrote: Baseball fields should be built like hockey rinks where the players are separated by glass (plexiglass) from the spectators. Then maybe the kids could play the game without any interference. No parent should be allowed to coach any team their own child plays on.

It's funny you say that. Every single team that my nephew has played on, his dad has coached. Every single head coach I see in the league, has a son on the team. As a matter of fact, I think pretty much every single coach in the league might have their son/sons on their teams. That's how it is I guess..

Actually, I sort of feel 'out of place' for not having a son of my own on the team. I feel like everyone is gonna be thinking "who's the hells dad is that?" :(

Kudos to you for wanting to help. Unless someone really has a passion to enhance childrens lives you will find that the adults overseeing virtually any activity have children of that age and in that activity. This applies to sports teams, school events, church groups and activities, etc.
We could knock it and accuse the parents of only being interested in their own kids but why? It's totally true. WE all want the best for our kids and will be there for them as the need arises.
Honestly you are wanting to help here, not for YOUR child but for your Brother's or Sister's child. Similar relationship, nothing wrong with it.

The sad part comes when parents get involved to develop their child into the "star" that they never were or worse yet to replicate themselves in their child. Driving them on and pressuring them to be the best when the kid actually wants to learn violin, not baseball!
Parents want their kids to be the best and to protect them from the harsh realities of life, like losing a game or failing at a task.
The kids being raised today have no opportunity to learn problem solving and to learn from simple failure. Hey, you don't keep score, how can you possibly lose? Adults are always there to trouble shoot personal relationship problems between kids instead of them just coming to terms somehow through the use of words or fists!
Yes, life is tough, teach your kid what life is really about and they will do much better when they are adults.
Dave

Sat Nov 22, 2008 7:58 am

support your student athletes

Sat Nov 22, 2008 9:36 am

70 140 wrote: support your student athletes Be an athletic supporter?