New coach, advice please

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Feb 22, 2015
3
0
Despite all the crazy politics of our rec league I finally get to coach my daughter's 10U team. Their rec ball is an average of 2 games a week in towns up to an hour away. They will also play in 2 tournaments during the season and then fall ball. My daughter is also on a 10U travel ball team. The rec coaches that these girls have had for the last 3 years has done damage to their confidence, they were yellers and screamers, they used "I" all the time, punished girls for small things (like striking out), and gave them corrections constantly. These men are all going up to 12U despite their kids young ages of 8 and 9) So I won't move DD up as I don't want her around these men ever again.

How do I build these girls back up? I want to teach them to love the game, instead of the looks of fear that were ever present last year. Rec ball should be fun and a learning environment IMO.

Ideas on how to start the season to achieve these goals?

I'm thinking all the way back to basics, with lots of teambuilding?

Thanks in advance.
 

ArkFastpitch

Dont' I know you?
Sep 20, 2013
351
18
That's heartbreaking to hear but all too common. I think its great that you are willing to step up and help these girls see just what a great sport fastpitch softball is. I think you are right on track with the team building exercises and wanting to focus on fundamentals. Keep things light hearted and fun. Make sure corrections are followed by demonstration. Don't assume they have a clue what you are talking about. Most importantly is earn their trust and respect. Best of luck to you.
 
Oct 22, 2009
1,532
0
PA
If you have an extra $25 to spare, I would recommend the ACE certification offered by ASA. Coach Candrea puts a great deal of emphasis on filling the emotional tanks of young players, and the materials he sends out in a monthly email are a great reminder why we all got in to coaching. There are different levels of certification, and the renewal fee is $20 annually, but well worth it for a beginning coach. Here is the link:
https://www.registerasa.com/Account/About.aspx?info=CoachCert
 
You have to allow them to have confidence in their game while still being able to tell them when they've made a mistake and how to correct it going forward. It is OK to make mistakes. They're 10, for heaven's sake. They need to know that and know that you believe that.

At the same time, they need to know that corrections are OK, too. It's how they get better. Using the "we're a family" approach can be good for the younger ages. They are old enough to understand that families are able to talk about things amongst themselves that help that family function better. Most probably do this, and those are "safe" talks where everyone's ideas are OK and no one needs to be embarrassed or upset if something they did wrong is discussed. It is all for the betterment of the team (family) and is done so with love, respect and a genuine belief in each other that everyone must buy into.

No screaming or yelling allowed, just encouragement, even in times of correction:

"Hey Jules! You need to keep that head down and watch the ball all the way into the glove, right? I know you've got this because you're a great little shortstop! You ready? Outstanding!"

The above line can be said by you, or even one of her teammates. It works either way if said in a positive tone that indicates that you believe in her.
 
Last edited:
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
If you have an extra $25 to spare, I would recommend the ACE certification offered by ASA. Coach Candrea puts a great deal of emphasis on filling the emotional tanks of young players, and the materials he sends out in a monthly email are a great reminder why we all got in to coaching. There are different levels of certification, and the renewal fee is $20 annually, but well worth it for a beginning coach. Here is the link:
https://www.registerasa.com/Account/About.aspx?info=CoachCert
Great advise here.... I completely agree.
Teach solid mechanics along with a positive attitude, and do this just as consistant as the sunrise and sunset. Keep a heavy focus on the persute of perfection with big rewards for a job well done and nearly no attention to a poor performance. Just quickly remind them of the correct way and then drop it. Once practice is over, and theyre away from their peers, offer to reteach them the propper whatever... This approach will make them superstars!
 
Oct 4, 2014
57
6
IMO you need to set the goals for the team early. that goal is not to be perfect or even to win games. the goal is to get better. get better at every practice, at every at bat, at every game etc.. John Wooden never spoke about winning only about getting better and giving it your all. your goal is to get each girl to go to the next level. beginner, average, great and elite are the levels i use. i use 3 terms for this: purpose, focus and 100% effort. purpose, what are we trying to accomplish? focus, pay attention to the instruction and ask questions if you don't get it, then really focus on getting it right, 100% effort is self explanatory. i also give lots of short breaks 10s have short attention spans, quick break maybe 2 minutes and then when they come back tell them it is time to focus again. if they can do these 3 things every time they lace them up, they will both enjoy the game and get better. instead of yelling, i ask the girls what did you do wrong, only if we had gone over it before. if we have not gone over it before i say that is my fault we will go over it later. when they have to think about it and come up with the answer it helps greatly in correcting the mistake. if your goal is getting better everyone can be successful if they choose to. mistakes are learning opportunity, a chance to get better. i also employ the 5 second rule. i say who knows what the 5 second rule is? you know when you drop candy on the ground, if you can get it in your mouth in 5 seconds all is good, right? well we have a 5 second rule in softball too. if you make a mistake you can think about it for 5 seconds and then it has to go away.

another quote is use a lot is There may be people who have more talent than you, but there's no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do - and I believe that. Derek Jeter

i think the yellers are trophy chasers, win at all cost folks, really counterproductive. you have to get the girls to want to learn not learn out of fear of getting yelled at. i end each practice by asking each girl, while they are all together, what they learned today? and what they think they need to work on? they are pretty darn smart and will give you the right answers most of the time. and it was their idea not yours, pretty powerful. sometimes this is tough at first because they may feel shy but if you do it every practice it becomes a very useful tool. remember the goal is to get better and if they learn just one thing every practice they will get better. good luck
 
Jul 6, 2014
50
0
Ohio
My advice, just teach them the game confidently. They'll know when they have a coach who delights in the game for itself, not for promoting their kid, and that is contagious. Teach them fundamental mechanics and positions, and why they do what they do - they love to learn, you'll see their confidence grow along with their love for playing. If it's rec, let them come up with their own name for the team. It may be unofficial but it's theirs. Have them come up with a cheer. Stuff like that. Those things contribute to teambuilding and give them involvement and ownership. Remember, now you don't have A daughter on the team, you have 13 daughters who all need your focus and attention. It sounds like you'll do a wonderful job. Good luck and have fun!
 
May 6, 2014
532
16
Low and outside
Sounds to me like you have a good handle on what those coaches were doing wrong. By extension, you probably know more than you think in terms of how to do it right. Go with your gut. It's actually hard to not have fun playing softball with that age group.
 
Jun 26, 2013
21
0
Despite all the crazy politics of our rec league I finally get to coach my daughter's 10U team. Their rec ball is an average of 2 games a week in towns up to an hour away. They will also play in 2 tournaments during the season and then fall ball. My daughter is also on a 10U travel ball team. The rec coaches that these girls have had for the last 3 years has done damage to their confidence, they were yellers and screamers, they used "I" all the time, punished girls for small things (like striking out), and gave them corrections constantly. These men are all going up to 12U despite their kids young ages of 8 and 9) So I won't move DD up as I don't want her around these men ever again.

How do I build these girls back up? I want to teach them to love the game, instead of the looks of fear that were ever present last year. Rec ball should be fun and a learning environment IMO.

Ideas on how to start the season to achieve these goals?

I'm thinking all the way back to basics, with lots of teambuilding?

Thanks in advance.
Coach them to love the game and theyll play it for life. Just get out there and be a 10yr old. We stretch exercise, run, hi-5,and tease right there with them. Let the 10yr old out and youll see the change in them.
 
Last edited:
Sep 18, 2011
1,411
0
Sounds to me like you have a good handle on what those coaches were doing wrong. By extension, you probably know more than you think in terms of how to do it right. Go with your gut. It's actually hard to not have fun playing softball with that age group.

I agree and I think the OP is going to be a great coach.
 
Top