| Before I got into coaching high schoolers for the | | | | happens on the practice or playing field and it |
| first time, plenty of my friends with coaching | | | | doesn't take long to get a feel for a player's skill |
| experience gave me plenty of horror stories | | | | set.o Coaches aren't perfect - Keep in mind, that |
| about what it would be like dealing with the | | | | coaches will make mistakes. I do realize that |
| player's parents. Luckily, for the most part, the | | | | many coaches carry themselves as if they don't, |
| parents that I had were great. There were a few | | | | but I can speak from experience and say I have |
| sporadic issues throughout the season, but nothing | | | | mis-evaluated a player, especially early in the |
| major. After coaching, I moved onto working in | | | | season. Some times a player simply improves, but |
| the field of college baseball recruiting, which a | | | | sometimes he may have been better than the |
| completely different level of dealing with high | | | | coach thought all along. Either way, coaches will |
| school baseball parents. Between the two | | | | usually correct their error and adjust the lineup |
| experiences, I have certainly developed a solid list | | | | accordingly. Even if they wont admit they were |
| of do's and don't to help parents out with | | | | wrong, the lineup will show it.o Be careful when |
| following their young athlete, and hopefully | | | | you "angle yourself" in - Many parents volunteer |
| assisting him in advancing to the next level, | | | | their time to help with practices, concessions, |
| whether it be as a collegiate student athlete, or | | | | scorekeeping, etc. Be sure that if you do this, you |
| even as a pro. | | | | maintain the proper boundaries with the coach. |
| As a coach, I really only had one rule for the | | | | Often times, parent that have additional |
| parents, and it was rule I stole from my high | | | | responsibility feel it is acceptable to overstep and |
| school coach who now coaches a DI in Florida. | | | | volunteer their input on how the team should be |
| That rule was, "you can talk with me about | | | | coached.o Encourage and empower! - As much as |
| anything except playing time. If playing time | | | | a parent wants to help because they know best, |
| enters the conversation, the conversation is | | | | whether it be on the playing field or in the |
| over." For some reason, when a player does not | | | | recruiting process, the ultimate goal is to make |
| start or play an entire game or play their position | | | | the player self sufficient as a young man. If a |
| of choice, a parent can twist this into the coach | | | | player wants additional playing time, or wants to |
| having an "agenda" against their child. That is | | | | play a different position, he should simply go to |
| almost never the case, especially the higher up | | | | the coach in private and ask what he needs to do |
| you go. When coaches are paid to win games, | | | | to accomplish that goal. This will go miles longer |
| they are trying to do just that. Sometimes a | | | | than if it came from a parent. If a player shows |
| player may be in a slump, sometimes a coach | | | | the initiative to stay after a practice and do the |
| plays a matchup, sometimes he may simply feel | | | | extra work, coaches will reward the good |
| another player is better, but it is almost never | | | | example if possible so that it is seen by other |
| because the coach doesn't like a given player or | | | | players. You also want to empower your son |
| parent. Keep in mind that a good coach will | | | | when it comes to the college recruiting process |
| communicate to his players why he makes a | | | | (there will be following articles on this). Many |
| certain decision, and what they player can do to | | | | parents feel this is their time to get more |
| improve and get more playing time. Invariably, | | | | involved, however, a player is perfectly capable of |
| players understand these things better than the | | | | initiating contact with college coaches by phone or |
| parents. Here are few other general principles to | | | | email. Our website has detailed step-by-step |
| go by:o Be seen and not heard - Especially at | | | | instructions for them on how to do so. Coaches |
| games. Cheering on the players is the best thing | | | | will seek out the parents when it is time. |
| you can do. Yelling at a player, coach, or umpire is | | | | In short, do your best to empower your son as a |
| not going to have a positive impact. Don't coach | | | | young man and high school athlete. Work with |
| every pitch from the stands. Players become | | | | them to develop their skills, but don't be |
| distracted by what their parents are up to in the | | | | overbearing. Teach them to carry themselves |
| bleachers and it absolutely affects their play. | | | | with proper etiquette and work ethic, and when in |
| Practices are the time for coaches to be vocal, | | | | doubt stay out of the coaches way. When I go |
| games are for the players.o Don't try to "pitch" | | | | to watch my relatives play, I find a spot as far |
| your son to a high school or college coach -- It is | | | | away from everyone else as possible. I noticed |
| extremely difficult, if not impossible to view your | | | | parents of my more talented players did the |
| own son's play objectively. That is for the coach | | | | same. If you'd like additional information, visit our |
| to do! If your son has talent, the coach will see it. | | | | website, blog or MySpace and Facebook Pages |
| That is what they are paid to do. Believe it or | | | | for continued updates. Check back regularly for |
| not, coaches see just about everything that | | | | guest content. |