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By Chance Reynolds

One way to help your players have a very successful season this year is by taking a moment to ask them, “What type of hitter do you think you are?”

Most young hitters have never slowed down long enough to consider such a thought.  Typically, they run from hitting lessons to practice to games, with no consideration to the gifts they have blessed with and strengths they may have.

There are only three “types” of hitters:  Singles Hitters, Power Hitters, and “Line Drive” Hitters, and in scouting young players, they all typically fall somewhere within these three categories.  None are more or less important that the other, because in truth, a line-up needs all three to be successful.

A “Singles hitter” is typically a player who has a very short swing, terrific hand eye coordination, a small strike zone, and good to great speed.  This player also usually exhibits a low finish to his swing in order to 1) create more ground balls, and 2) help them get out of the box quicker.  If your son or daughter is small, and blessed with quickness, becoming this type of hitter this spring could really help them 1) get more playing time, and 2) help their team to accomplish their pre-season goals.  This type of hitter is usually found in the 1st, 2cd, and 9th position in their respective lineups, and is typically known as a “table setter” or the “second leadoff.”

The second type is the rarest of the breed, the “Power Hitter”.  There are very few true power hitters in the game today, which is why they demand the highest salaries at the Major League level (supply and demand).  Typical attributes include big body types with long arms, a swing and miss mentality (meaning high risk/high reward), a flair for the dramatic, and a high finish (which encourages more fly balls).  Everyone loves to see this guy hit, because he puts on a show that few forget.  Typically, he is responsible for driving in runs for the team and can usually be found in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th spots of the lineup.

The third and final type of hitter is a “Line Drive hitter”, and is the most common of the types.  In scouting young players, most kids fall into this category.  Typical attributes include medium to normal body size and speed, good hands defensively, and great discipline at the plate.  In other words, they are just “good baseball players”;  i.e. “doubles” power, very few strikeouts, and an innate ability to situational hit (meaning they hit and run very well, they drive in runs, move guys over, etc…)  If you son is this type of player, he usually fits into a lineup best in the 6th, 7th, and 8th spots, and there is no shame in that.  Always make sure to remind him that each and every lineup in America has a 6th, 7th, and 8th spot in it, and they all need great “baseball players” in order to fill those slots.

In taking a moment to discuss which of the three types your young hitter might be, in truth, you are asking him or her in the short-term, “how best do you help your team?”  and in the long-term, “in what capacity are you going to maximize your talent?”  As Coaches, we all need table setters, grinders, and someone who swings for the fence, so have this conversation with your players in order to help them find out what they can do best to 1) help them have a very successful spring, and 2) help their team win a championship!

Contributed by Dennis Hillyard, FLMSL Head Coach

​I doubt very much if there is a coach anywhere who at one time or another has had one or more youngsters who will talk, bounce their soccer balls or just play around while you are attempting to teach them something. Even worse, the more you tell them to desist then the more they continue.

SOLUTION
Tell the youngsters to either sit down with their soccer balls placed behind them or, if standing then to place one foot on their soccer ball. Then tell the players which topic (s) they will be learning and that if they work hard and pay attention then they will be rewarded with a scrimmage at the end of the session.

PAUSE and then, tell them that the scrimmage is their reward for working hard but if you have to stop the session due to one or more youngsters misbehaving then any time lost will be made up by deducting time from the practice.

All kids love a scrimmage thus, the first time any one of them starts to misbehave then DELIBERATELY look at your watch. The immediate effect will be that the other youngsters will tell the offending player (s) to behave.
Trust me it never fails. Where children will often listen to their coach more than they listen to the parents so will they listen to their peers.

Contributed by Dennis Hillyard, FLMSL Head Coach

The younger that children can learn personal responsibilities, the better this will serve them in the long run – and not just in soccer but in life.

PRE SEASON

Convene a meeting of both parents and children. Introduce yourself and briefly explain your aims and objectives. Address the children but ensure that the parents are listening.

Ask them when does a practice or game commence? Naturally they will reply that either when the coach starts the practice or, when the referee blows the whistle to commence the game. WRONG: It starts approximately thirty minutes before you are due to leave home. Then YOU prepare your uniform, cleats, ball etc, so that when mom or dad say it is time to leave then you are ready to go.

NEVER arrive and tell me that mom did not pack your uniform or that dad did not put your ball in the car. Mom and dad do NOT play soccer – YOU DO.

The parents will greatly appreciate this as the kids more often than not will listen to their coach far more than to their parents. This will give you an added advantage when you need to discuss certain things with the parents such as not coaching from the touchline etc, as already they will have seen that you are teaching their children responsibilities

TIME KEEPING

Obviously where young children are concerned then the greater majority depend upon their parents to ferry them back and forth for practices and games.

Again, addressing the children but with the parents listening, tell them that is better to be TEN minutes early than ONE minute late. Arriving late means that it disrupts the practice session or, where a game is concerned then it could mean the player arriving late will start on the bench.

Whilst you are addressing the players the parents will understand that this is a shared responsibility and react accordingly. After each practice and game, have a roster of players who take it in turns to assist with gathering in the cones, bibs, balls etc.

Sportsmanship at the top level of the game is almost a forgotten word today.

As a young player our coach made it a rule that after each game It was our responsibility to thank the match officials, the opposing players and coaches and finally the parents.

This was drummed into us from a very early age but unfortunately, as the game at every level has become more and more competitive then so has this practice declined. Once again, make this part of YOUR responsibility to encourage your players to carry out these functions after each game.

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By Brian Gotta, President of Upstart Sports

The tragic increase in the suicide rate of young people has led to an increased focus on the topic of bullying among children at school. But school may not be the only place bullying occurs. It could be prevalent in the sports we oversee, and if we’re not paying attention, we’ll overlook it and let it continue. Or, worse yet, we may even notice it happening and just think that this is “part of the game” and do nothing.

Since the beginning of time, kids have been picked on and some are more prone to victimization than others. Maybe a child is small and can’t defend himself, is overweight, shy or timid, maybe it is a young girl who isn’t as pretty as others. Imagine the world of these poor young children who face teasing, abuse and ostracism all day long at school. Then imagine them wanting to join a team, to play sports, where they hope they can make friends, have some fun and be treated fairly, only to have their despair continue there.

If you coach a team, one of your primary jobs is to make it safe for every child. Most coaches believe this means ensuring no one gets hurt and, yes, that is very important. But it doesn’t end there. Making your team environment an emotionally safe place to be is just as critical.

Bullying in youth sports can take many forms, and some are more subtle than others. When coaches let children run out to positions on the field without assigning them, there are some kids who feel they are entitled to the “better” spots and always force the weaker players to go somewhere else. This doesn’t necessarily mean you jump in anytime you see this occur and make sure everyone has equal rights. Part of playing sports is learning to stick up for oneself, and to earn respect through performance. But in order to gain that respect, one has to be given opportunities and it is up to you to see to it everyone has that chance.

It is important to monitor what kids say to each other on the field during games and practices. Coaches should not tolerate their players belittling or demeaning a teammate. This is not only bad for the psyche of the child, but bad for the team as a whole. When a player makes a mistake, I want my team to “pick him up,” when he’s down, not kick him. Far too often I’ve watched youth league games when a kid made an error in the field and the hotshot pitcher throws his hands in the air and yells at his teammate. How a coach can sit idly by and let that happen is beyond me. Not only should this be corrected on the spot, but it should never take place to begin with.

One of the first discussions I always had with my teams, in any sport, addressed this issue. I asked the players to raise their hands if they’d never made an error, or a mistake. Of course, no hands went up. I then asked them to think about the last error they made, and if they’d have wanted a teammate yelling at them, “Come on!” or “You should have had that!” or “You’re terrible!” Obviously no one said they’d like that. I went on to explain that criticizing teammates for mistakes is wrong, not only because of the way it makes them feel, but because it hurts the team. Players who live in fear of being ridiculed or berated by their teammates are much less confident. They don’t want the ball to come their way and that means it is more likely they’ll mess up when it does. But players who know their teammates will be there to support them any time they make a mistake aren’t afraid to try to make plays, and that makes the team much better.

As coaches, it is impossible to be everywhere at all times. But you can pay greater attention to details if you’re tuned in. Listen to what kids say to each other on the bench and on the field. Notice if there are some kids who are always sitting alone at the end of the bench, or are the last ones to arrive and the first to leave. When it comes to youth sports, kids should get out of their parents’ cars and bound to the field with eager anticipation of a wonderful experience ahead. Wouldn’t it be a shame if some of the youngsters on our teams felt just the opposite?

Brian Gotta is a former professional recreational youth baseball coach and volunteer Little League coach and board member. He is President of Help Kids Play, a collection of companies whose mission is to further the development and enjoyment of youth sports.

Courtesy StopSportInjuries.org

Most parents who watch their kids in athletic events have seen an inappropriate action involving a coach, player or another parent. To some sports are all about winning, and the value of building teamwork and increasing physical fitness can be lost in the drive to come out on top. To overcome this pressure, it’s important for parents to work together with coaches, athletes and other parents to create a positive athletic environment.

The following tips can help:
• Place your child in the best and safest environment—with proper training and equipment—for them to enjoy and succeed in athletics.
• From the first day of practice, work with the coaches and other parents to define and communicate clear goals, values and procedures for everyone involved.
• Understand that some coaches in youth sports are volunteers who are not professionally trained. A travel team and high school coaches are more likely to be professionally trained and certified.
• Temper expectations of what you want for your child with the goals of the team and coaches. Remember that other parents and kids have their own expectations—which have to be considered equally to yours.
• Set realistic goals for your child, the team and the coaches
• Emphasize improved performance is key, not just winning
• Resist the temptation to recreate or reinvent your own athletic past through your child. Stay focused on your child’s unique abilities, interests and goals.
• Remember to control your emotions at games and events. Maintain a positive attitude, and don’t yell at other players, coaches, or officials.
• Be a role model. Show respect and your child will follow your example.
• Communicate openly. If you disagree with a coach’s approach or the behavior of other parents, discuss it with them respectfully at an appropriate time and place.

​With spring seasons winding down, we have been asked if there is a template for end-of-season coach evaluations. Below are some suggestions for questions you can use, allowing parents to rate each on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being “superior” and 1 being “lacking”. These evaluations are critical for ensuring that volunteer-run organizations put the best possible coaches on the field.

(1)   Sets proper example by demonstrating sportsmanship

(2) Ability to motivate team and get the most out of players’ abilities

(3) Knowledge of (sport) skills

(4) Knowledge of (sport) rules

(5) Ability to teach (sport) skills and rules

(6) Demonstrates concern for the best interest of players

(7) Creates enthusiasm for (sport)

(8) Attendance and promptness for games

(9) Attendance and promptness for practices

(10) Interaction with parents

(11) I would recommend this coach for next year

Comments and Suggestions:

By Dave Zimmer

My little 10-year-old boy was up to bat – my little lefty. I love to watch him play baseball because he loves to play the game. The pitcher wound up and let go of a fast ball traveling at about 38 mph. The ball missed the strike zone by a few feet and hit my son in the upper arm. The ball was not traveling fast enough to hurt him, so he just ran down to first base. As my son was standing on first base, I saw the opposing coach signal to his pitcher. The pitcher then ran over to first base, shook my son’s hand and told him he was sorry. At that moment, baseball really did not matter. That act of sportsmanship was more important than the game.

Measuring success
It also pointed out the importance of a coach with values and his priorities in order. As coaches, it is only natural to want to be successful. In my 12 years of coaching, I never went into a game with the intention of losing. However, we did lose our fair share of games. Does this mean that a winning coach is successful and a losing coach is unsuccessful? I guess it depends on how you define success. A coach should not be measured on wins and losses alone. My son’s team won their game that night, but the opposing coach was successful because of the valuable lesson he taught his pitcher and team.

There is a poster from Character Counts that says the following: “A good coach will make you a better player. A great coach will make you a better person.” According to this definition, we should all strive to be a great coach because the opportunity is there.

As coaches, sometimes I do not think we realize the influence and opportunities we have with our players. Sports are full of teachable moments. Dealing with winning and losing, dealing with a bad call, handling adversity and learning your role on a team are just a few examples.

How a coach responds to these situations is critical because our players hear what we say and see what we do. After all, we (the coaches) are the same people who are able to get teenagers to get to a weight room at 6:00 a.m., pay hundreds of dollars to attend summer camps and go through painful conditioning drills. A lot of parents cannot even get their kids to make their own beds, so do not tell me that coaches do not influence their players.

Coaches need to seize the opportunity to also teach beyond the sport. Your players are a captive audience. Take advantage of the opportunities to teach them about character. Take advantage of the opportunities to demonstrate and model character.

I know there are some coaches who feel it is strictly their job to teach the sport. My problem with that idea is this. At some point in every athlete’s life, his or her athletic skills will no longer matter. However, will there ever be a point in a person’s life in which their character does not matter? Michael Jordan was one of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game. Does it matter today how well Michael Jordan can shoot a basketball or do a crossover dribble? No.

However, it does matter today what type of person Michael Jordan is and it will continue to matter for the rest of his life. When you think about this, just put the names of your players in the place of Michael Jordan.

Role and responsibility
As coaches, do we need to teach our…

* Volleyball players how to bump, set and spike? Definitely
* Football players how to block and tackle? Absolutely
* Basketball players how to shoot, dribble and rebound?
Without a doubt

It is also our role and responsibility to teach our players the fundamentals of life because those fundamentals will be with them forever.

Some of you still probably have the issue of winning on your mind. Believe me; I am not opposed to winning. I was also able to experience a fair amount of this in coaching. I just do not think it is the most important part of sports. Can you teach and model this character stuff and still win games? Maybe you want to ask Dean Smith, Tom Osborne or John Wooden. If I am not mistaken, these were three coaches with exceptional character and integrity. I think they may have won a few games also.

This world can always use people who are kind, caring, dependable, trustworthy, respectful, responsible and who play by the rules. Coaches can play an integral role in the development of such people because of the tremendous influence they have with their players. The athletic skills coaches teach their players will last them a while; the life skills they teach their players will last them forever.

After my son’s game that night, I talked to the opposing coach. I told him how much I appreciated what he was trying to teach his players. I also talked to my son that night after the game. He even thought the pitcher’s gesture was pretty cool. It was a great lesson and it happened at a Little League game.

David Zimmer is a teacher, coach and high school principal in Nebraska. He runs workshops for coaches on Incorporating Character into Coaching. Dave can be contacted through his website at www.davezimmerspeaks.com