If You Could Create the Perfect Coach... - Tons of softball drills, softball tips, and advice on softball hitting, softball pitching, coaching softball, softball training, and more.

StacieM · 08-19-2008, 10:54 AM

If you could choose qualities of a coach to coach your child, what would they be?

What characteristics would you NOT want them to have?

KAT · 08-19-2008, 02:45 PM

Driven, knowledgeable, passionate, productive, fair. Is a professor of the game or striving hard to be. Can set the bar high and challenge the girls, but knows how to dissect the action without attacking their character. (such as you need to do this with your feet, glove etc... not can't you get to that ball, you are being lazy, stupid etc. ) Fair, doesn't show favoritism even if he has favorites. Can motivate without humiliating. Keep the practice interesting and fast moving, productive. Keep the practice intense but fun. Discipline is a must but not taken to the personal level. I guess thats it....we have had the chance of working with several coaches like this and its a pleasure working with them. Unfortunately we have had alot in between. Actually DD worked with one last night....love him!!!

bgecoach · 08-19-2008, 10:52 PM

great question stacie!!! as a coach, i'll be more than intersted in seeing what everyone believes to be good qualities... hopefully it is qualities that i can put into my program if we don't already have them.

StacieM · 08-20-2008, 01:30 AM

Personally, I like coaches who teach, not dictate. I like coaches who actually care about the girls and show it.

I also like coaches who have rules, lay them out BEFORE the season AND stick to them on a regular basis - not only when it's convenient for them.

I like coaches who are on time!!!!

I can't stand coaches who say one thing then do another...or tell you what you want to hear, then go off and carry out actions that complete oppose their own words.

It burns me up to see coaches who don't bother to show up at the field when they told the girls to be there, who's daughters are late along with others, and who PLAY the girls who don't bother to be on time and who only give their best effort they feel like it.

Hollyrockartist · 08-24-2008, 04:27 PM

Coaches who are fair all the way around - not just with certain players. Coaches who show just as much interest in the number 1 player as they do the last one on the list. A coach who nails you when you have missed a play but sings your praises when you have given it your all. We are very fortunate to have 3 of the best coaches in the area at our school. It is easier to come up with the "non-qualities" from our summers of rec league ball!

A ranting coach seems to drive away players. One who, if they have had a bad day, they take it out on players. A coach who tells the player what to do instead of showing them. A coach who doesn't seem to have much interest in any other player but their own. A coach who doesn't listen to a player or give them the opportunity to play a certain position. A coach who moves around the infield when they have been there all season long - just causes mass confusion, especially during a game! A coach who can't see that the one player who has caused a loss should be replaced occassionally - every player can be pulled at some point, in my opinion, and should be to let them realize that they CAN be replaced at any given moment. A coach who does not follow the rules set by the league. Coaches who attempt to teach something they have no idea about in the first place and then ream the children when they fail to make the "cut".

Marc Dagenais · 09-30-2008, 01:57 AM

A bad coach....

- Doesn't walk his talk
- Expect things that he doesn't preach (i.e. tells players to eat well and he eats a fries)
- Closed-minded (not open to new ways of doing things)
- Believes he is right and his way is the only way (many hitting techniques works and not every pitching technique works for every body type)
- Believes too much in the "my way or the highway" philosophy
- Lacks interpersonal skills
- Isn't structured - players like structure
- Doesn't have a well-defined coaching philosophy
- Doesn't simplify complex skills when teaching them - too much details and jargon - doesn't keep things simple and progressive
- Runs a practice without prior planning or preparation
- Isn't in it for the kids or love of the game

I could keep going but this is a decent list.

Marc

halskinner · 10-07-2008, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc Dagenais

A bad coach....

- Doesn't walk his talk
- Expect things that he doesn't preach (i.e. tells players to eat well and he eats a fries)
- Closed-minded (not open to new ways of doing things)
- Believes he is right and his way is the only way (many hitting techniques works and not every pitching technique works for every body type)
- Believes too much in the "my way or the highway" philosophy
- Lacks interpersonal skills
- Isn't structured - players like structure
- Doesn't have a well-defined coaching philosophy
- Doesn't simplify complex skills when teaching them - too much details and jargon - doesn't keep things simple and progressive
- Runs a practice without prior planning or preparation
- Isn't in it for the kids or love of the game

I could keep going but this is a decent list.

Marc

Hi Marc. I'm going to add in a coach, especially of a very young team, needs to know how to bring his/her level of explaining things DOWN to his players level of understanding. He/ She should NOT expect them to bring their level of understanding up to his/her level of explaining.

I cannot count how many times I have seen coaches who were very knowledgable about the game (and had a lot to offer) fail badly because the players just didnt get what he/she was trying to explain.

It is most prevalent in male coaches of young girls teams. If that 50 year old big, hairy guy cannot come across like a 10 year old, he will have a hard time of it. If they know for sure that the coach is having just as much fun teaching as they are having fun learning, they will be back for more with big smiles on their faces.

I wish they would all remember "THEY AINT LITTLE ADULTS!".

StacieM · 11-17-2008, 06:29 AM

Great great info - Marc, you pointed out something I see a lot: coaches expecting something they've never covered (as "routine" as it may seem - if you haven't covered it, you don't get to "correct it")

08-19-2008, 10:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
StacieM Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 97	If You Could Create the Perfect Coach... If you could choose qualities of a coach to coach your child, what would they be? What characteristics would you NOT want them to have? __________________ Stacie Mahoe Coaching Bootcamp now open! Connect with fellow fastpitch fanatics at Fastpitch World.

08-19-2008, 02:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
KAT Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 39	My ideal coach.... Driven, knowledgeable, passionate, productive, fair. Is a professor of the game or striving hard to be. Can set the bar high and challenge the girls, but knows how to dissect the action without attacking their character. (such as you need to do this with your feet, glove etc... not can't you get to that ball, you are being lazy, stupid etc. ) Fair, doesn't show favoritism even if he has favorites. Can motivate without humiliating. Keep the practice interesting and fast moving, productive. Keep the practice intense but fun. Discipline is a must but not taken to the personal level. I guess thats it....we have had the chance of working with several coaches like this and its a pleasure working with them. Unfortunately we have had alot in between. Actually DD worked with one last night....love him!!! __________________ Kat the Taxi....but only for 6 more months, then she will be driving!!!! Should I be happy???

08-20-2008, 01:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
StacieM Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 97	Personally, I like coaches who teach, not dictate. I like coaches who actually care about the girls and show it. I also like coaches who have rules, lay them out BEFORE the season AND stick to them on a regular basis - not only when it's convenient for them. I like coaches who are on time!!!! I can't stand coaches who say one thing then do another...or tell you what you want to hear, then go off and carry out actions that complete oppose their own words. It burns me up to see coaches who don't bother to show up at the field when they told the girls to be there, who's daughters are late along with others, and who PLAY the girls who don't bother to be on time and who only give their best effort they feel like it. __________________ Stacie Mahoe Coaching Bootcamp now open! Connect with fellow fastpitch fanatics at Fastpitch World.

09-30-2008, 01:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
Marc Dagenais Peak Performance Coach Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Posts: 305	A bad coach.... - Doesn't walk his talk - Expect things that he doesn't preach (i.e. tells players to eat well and he eats a fries) - Closed-minded (not open to new ways of doing things) - Believes he is right and his way is the only way (many hitting techniques works and not every pitching technique works for every body type) - Believes too much in the "my way or the highway" philosophy - Lacks interpersonal skills - Isn't structured - players like structure - Doesn't have a well-defined coaching philosophy - Doesn't simplify complex skills when teaching them - too much details and jargon - doesn't keep things simple and progressive - Runs a practice without prior planning or preparation - Isn't in it for the kids or love of the game I could keep going but this is a decent list. Marc __________________ Marc Dagenais, MHK, CSCS http://www.softballperformance.com Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that helps players be more confident, mentally tougher, hit with more power, run faster, throw harder, and be more dominant on the field. He also helps coaches win more games and get more out of their team. To get tons of performance-boosting softball tips, tricks, and advice by email, sign-up for his FREE softball newsletter. To quickly and easily boost your performance, check out Marc's powerful softball resources.

11-17-2008, 06:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
StacieM Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 97	Great great info - Marc, you pointed out something I see a lot: coaches expecting something they've never covered (as "routine" as it may seem - if you haven't covered it, you don't get to "correct it") __________________ Stacie Mahoe Coaching Bootcamp now open! Connect with fellow fastpitch fanatics at Fastpitch World.

08-19-2008, 10:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
bgecoach 1st base coach Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: in the dugout Posts: 65	great question stacie!!! as a coach, i'll be more than intersted in seeing what everyone believes to be good qualities... hopefully it is qualities that i can put into my program if we don't already have them.

08-24-2008, 04:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
Hollyrockartist Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Mississippi Posts: 17	Coaches who are fair all the way around - not just with certain players. Coaches who show just as much interest in the number 1 player as they do the last one on the list. A coach who nails you when you have missed a play but sings your praises when you have given it your all. We are very fortunate to have 3 of the best coaches in the area at our school. It is easier to come up with the "non-qualities" from our summers of rec league ball! A ranting coach seems to drive away players. One who, if they have had a bad day, they take it out on players. A coach who tells the player what to do instead of showing them. A coach who doesn't seem to have much interest in any other player but their own. A coach who doesn't listen to a player or give them the opportunity to play a certain position. A coach who moves around the infield when they have been there all season long - just causes mass confusion, especially during a game! A coach who can't see that the one player who has caused a loss should be replaced occassionally - every player can be pulled at some point, in my opinion, and should be to let them realize that they CAN be replaced at any given moment. A coach who does not follow the rules set by the league. Coaches who attempt to teach something they have no idea about in the first place and then ream the children when they fail to make the "cut".

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