As the title reads, how do you best approach this topic on your team? There are several kids that could benefit from additional core strength, speed, and general fitness. I am certainly aware that saying the wrong thing could be upsetting and even devastating to a 15 year old girl. Wondering how you get some kids to see that extra work outside of practice as beneficial to their health and the game?
How do you appropriately stress fitness?
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Greenmonsters
Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Emphasizing this to the whole team would help ALL the players, no need to single out specific players.
We have been for two years now. I think the issue is more that some kids think that Player A is inherently better since they may naturally built a certain way. While Player B could get a whole lot more power and speed than they likely expect by doing the work. We're at the point where we can't just go recruit more of Player A. Need to find a way to get Player B's on track as the parent's haven't been of much help.
I used to do it by putting my DD out of the car a mile away from the house and telling her she had 8 minutes to make it home or she had to do it again...but that approach may not work for everyone!
- Nov 29, 2009
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You don't say what level your team is. If it's a rec level team I doubt you'll have much luck. Most of the parent won't feel the need for it and will not follow through on an individual basis.
If it's a travel team then tell the parents the team will be doing mandatory fitness training and get the team signed up with a professional. No need to worry about hurt feelings. It's for the whole team. I have never gotten any push back from the parents when it comes to conditioning their kids to be better athletes. The tricky part comes in how you word it to the parents. I would always tell them it was to help their DD's reach their potential, because no two players are the same. Some will benefit more than others.
If it's a travel team then tell the parents the team will be doing mandatory fitness training and get the team signed up with a professional. No need to worry about hurt feelings. It's for the whole team. I have never gotten any push back from the parents when it comes to conditioning their kids to be better athletes. The tricky part comes in how you word it to the parents. I would always tell them it was to help their DD's reach their potential, because no two players are the same. Some will benefit more than others.
Greenmonsters
Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
A lot of teams break up because players' (and parents') goals and motivation diverge over time. Not everyone has the same talent ceiling and/or wants to put in the time and effort - whether it be on fitness, willingness to practice on their own, working with outside coaching etc. That's the reason why there are A, B, C travel ball teams and D1, D2, and D3 levels in college.
If the above isn't the case, seeing that fitness is preventing a player from achieving their objectives, a frank talk about what's holding them back coupled with helping and supporting them to devise and implement a plan to overcome those obstacles ultimately is in the player's best long-term interests.
- Jun 22, 2015
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Team conditioning- everybody can use some conditioning, and if you do it as a team it will not be seen as optional by anyone
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This probably has a lot more to do with it than anything. We're an older 14U solid B team striving for A. Conflicting opinions of what that means is likely at the root of all of this.
- Nov 29, 2009
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There are two things you need to do as a team manager. The first thing is to define the team goals for the next season as far as level of play goes. Are you going to challenge them as players and play an "A" schedule or continue to play at the "B" level. Then have a overall plan of how you want to accomplish it.
The second thing is. What needs to be done is mandatory fitness/conditioning added to the team practice schedule at the start of the fall season after tryouts. It needs to be communicated to the parents as "This is what we are doing.", not as "We'd like to do this." If you give them options there will always be those who feel it's too tough for their kids. Incorporate the cost of it into the team's fees for the season.
When/if you do it, be sure the instructor is being sport specific with the conditioning. General conditioning is good, but there are also many things they can do to help your players with being more explosive to the ball.
If you listen to too much parental input your head will explode. Too many coaches try to please everyone on the team. In reality, that's an almost impossible task when you have 12+ families involved.
WARRIORMIKE
Pro-Staff Everything
if its rec, throw it out the window of fitness. Be lucky they just show up to practice. But if you have girl on the team that is a "little healthier" tell her your gonna try a new position and just want to see how she will work out. Of course its outfield, SS or Catcher, all the great players are out there. Push her run harder and quicker feet. Just worker out a lil more at practices and encourage more chicken consumption.
