I don't disagree with you (except that I believe it's possible for hard-working teams to lose more than they win). ...
I just think it's important for coaches to ask themselves those questions.
Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch
Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.
I don't disagree with you (except that I believe it's possible for hard-working teams to lose more than they win). ...
I just think it's important for coaches to ask themselves those questions.
R
RayR
Guest
Oh sure - it is possible but given that we have established that you are sacrificing time to work on your skills (and let's be honest how many hard working, low level players are there because there will be a point where the player will decide to do something better with her time than practice) you will on average win more games than you lose...
I was very guilty of emphasizing the importance of winning with my girls, I can admit it and my therapy sessions have helped me past those demons. ( ok, just kidding about the therapy ) 
There is a difference in the goal of winning and the goal of being successful. Again I'm guilty of too often measuring my team by the outcome of the tournament, by the goal of first place. It took me a while to realize how "sucessful" we were even if we didn't have our arm raised at the end. I learned that a successful performance didn't always reflect the higher score on the board, but my players individual effort and improvement which translated into the team as a whole.
2 cents
There is a difference in the goal of winning and the goal of being successful. Again I'm guilty of too often measuring my team by the outcome of the tournament, by the goal of first place. It took me a while to realize how "sucessful" we were even if we didn't have our arm raised at the end. I learned that a successful performance didn't always reflect the higher score on the board, but my players individual effort and improvement which translated into the team as a whole.
2 cents
R
RayR
Guest
Yes - my point of using the quote was that winning isn't everything - but you should want to win and should understand what it takes to win...personally I don't understand playing for fun when I am between the lines, on a court or golf course....otherwise I wouldn't care about my performance...but I like the competition and will spend off hours figuring out how to improve something so I can play/shoot better next time out.
And for those reading - I am coaching a group that has their eyes set on college ball. I should have disclosed that.
And for those reading - I am coaching a group that has their eyes set on college ball. I should have disclosed that.
I was very guilty of emphasizing the importance of winning with my girls, I can admit it and my therapy sessions have helped me past those demons. ( ok, just kidding about the therapy )
There is a difference in the goal of winning and the goal of being successful. Again I'm guilty of too often measuring my team by the outcome of the tournament, by the goal of first place. It took me a while to realize how "sucessful" we were even if we didn't have our arm raised at the end. I learned that a successful performance didn't always reflect the higher score on the board, but my players individual effort and improvement which translated into the team as a whole.
2 cents
Cannonball
Ex "Expert"
- Feb 25, 2009
- 4,881
- 113
Ray, good topic. I should avoid posting in threads like this. I'm going to give my 2 cents and then some of you can put me on ignore if you want.
First some quotes I live my life by and ones that I drill into my child's head along with those that play for me:
Repetition is no fun but it's the reason we have won.
Take one day off and you know it. Take two days off and your opponent knows it. Take three days off and everyone knows it.
Lombardi once said, "Winning is not a sometimes thing. It is an all time thing. You don't do things right once in a while. You do things right all of the time. YOU DO THINGS RIGHT ALL OF THE TIME."
In the warrior's code there's no surrender. Tough your body says stop, your spirit cries never. Deep in your soul's an undying ember that knows it you against you. Its the paradox that drives us all.
I was once asked to give a presentation to all of the coaches of all sports in my county at a teacher's institute. I did so and gave my opinion on several topic not the least of which was winning. It makes me sick to hear people say things like, "I hate to lose." You do? What have you done lately that is representative of winning? You see, everyone "hates to lose" but few get out of their comfort zone when it comes to preparation to win. Winning requires blisters, heartache, sleepless nights, and leadership. There is a reason there are so few champions. Real champions of historic teams that break school and state records. Sure some of that is due to the athlete. Still, a few of those players are not athletes and have overcome their limitations to do great deeds. (I could name dozens in the time I've coached who have stepped up for us to win 64 HS games in a row, go 40-0 another year, steal 237 bases another year ... ) For each of them, they had to overcome human nature. Human nature rules most people. Human natures says take the easy way out. Look for times when the coach isn't looking and take the point of least resistance. The players then become those who say that they "want to be good." I hate "want to be." How about "being!" I recall a team I coached that was the top ranked team in our 16 team regional. The #2 ranked team's coach was hacked off that he was #2 and we were #1 and he let it be know that an A.. kicking was coming. His team was 32-2 and had 3 pitchers that went on to be drafted. Really, a a..kicking? He said that about a team where each individual took no fewer than 300 swings a day. A team were the kids would come up to me and ask for athletic tape so that they could tape their blistered hands up to hit more. A team that considered a 3 hour practice as an insult because the wanted at least 3 hours of live BP from me and my assistant. Yes, a a..kicking came and we went on to super-sectionals with a short game of that team. That is what winners do.
Per "fun." Fun is walking in to a game knowing that no other opponent has worked as hard as you. It isn't that the opponent doesn't "want it." They don't know how to get it. Winning is where every player is accountable. Each knows their role in a loss. "Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." So, the next practice, they know what they have to work on and thei do so with a passion. They form a bond of mutual respect that will last a lifetime because they know that few others can understand their existence.
Finally, as a coach, I know winning as well and I have known every time I have failed my players. I am accountable to them and I tell them that. When we play a game, I leave no stone unturned and then, when we aren't good enough, I know that I am at fault and will work harder to make them work harder to win. I have shared that bond with every group that I have ever coached.
Well, I've rambled. I apologize.
First some quotes I live my life by and ones that I drill into my child's head along with those that play for me:
Repetition is no fun but it's the reason we have won.
Take one day off and you know it. Take two days off and your opponent knows it. Take three days off and everyone knows it.
Lombardi once said, "Winning is not a sometimes thing. It is an all time thing. You don't do things right once in a while. You do things right all of the time. YOU DO THINGS RIGHT ALL OF THE TIME."
In the warrior's code there's no surrender. Tough your body says stop, your spirit cries never. Deep in your soul's an undying ember that knows it you against you. Its the paradox that drives us all.
I was once asked to give a presentation to all of the coaches of all sports in my county at a teacher's institute. I did so and gave my opinion on several topic not the least of which was winning. It makes me sick to hear people say things like, "I hate to lose." You do? What have you done lately that is representative of winning? You see, everyone "hates to lose" but few get out of their comfort zone when it comes to preparation to win. Winning requires blisters, heartache, sleepless nights, and leadership. There is a reason there are so few champions. Real champions of historic teams that break school and state records. Sure some of that is due to the athlete. Still, a few of those players are not athletes and have overcome their limitations to do great deeds. (I could name dozens in the time I've coached who have stepped up for us to win 64 HS games in a row, go 40-0 another year, steal 237 bases another year ... ) For each of them, they had to overcome human nature. Human nature rules most people. Human natures says take the easy way out. Look for times when the coach isn't looking and take the point of least resistance. The players then become those who say that they "want to be good." I hate "want to be." How about "being!" I recall a team I coached that was the top ranked team in our 16 team regional. The #2 ranked team's coach was hacked off that he was #2 and we were #1 and he let it be know that an A.. kicking was coming. His team was 32-2 and had 3 pitchers that went on to be drafted. Really, a a..kicking? He said that about a team where each individual took no fewer than 300 swings a day. A team were the kids would come up to me and ask for athletic tape so that they could tape their blistered hands up to hit more. A team that considered a 3 hour practice as an insult because the wanted at least 3 hours of live BP from me and my assistant. Yes, a a..kicking came and we went on to super-sectionals with a short game of that team. That is what winners do.
Per "fun." Fun is walking in to a game knowing that no other opponent has worked as hard as you. It isn't that the opponent doesn't "want it." They don't know how to get it. Winning is where every player is accountable. Each knows their role in a loss. "Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." So, the next practice, they know what they have to work on and thei do so with a passion. They form a bond of mutual respect that will last a lifetime because they know that few others can understand their existence.
Finally, as a coach, I know winning as well and I have known every time I have failed my players. I am accountable to them and I tell them that. When we play a game, I leave no stone unturned and then, when we aren't good enough, I know that I am at fault and will work harder to make them work harder to win. I have shared that bond with every group that I have ever coached.
Well, I've rambled. I apologize.
Last edited:
Cannonball, no apology necessary for me. I enjoyed reading your post and found it very motivational.
Cannonball, I understand your point, and see where that works for many. I do not think it is the key to winning.
Here in the south, players play year round. The one's who work hard, work hard year round. They are good because inside them they have that drive. Not because of any one coach.
Our high school had a similar way. Work extra hard, to the bone. It worked to get us up being the second (or third) best team for three consecutive years. The town could not understand. We have the talent, we worked plenty, but kept coming up short. There was too competitive an atmosphere within the team. ME ... ME ... ME ... I am better than the young player. I don't need to mentor. I get MY hits ... it is someone else's fault we lost. The coaches fault, somebody, but not ME.
FINALLY, when my DD became a sophomore, a new approach was tried. Everyone for all. The upperclassmen helped and engaged the underclassmen. Fun developed. Hilarious bus ride stories of my young DD bonding with the senior stud, and studious pitcher. The youngsters "felt" wanted, needed, and at home.
The rest is history. You can look it up for this year. But believe you me, it was NOT about bone bleeding work. But bonding, mentoring, having athletic talent, and winning a championship. Hope we repeat. Probably have to work harder too. But the lessen in team play endures, and has been learned.
Here in the south, players play year round. The one's who work hard, work hard year round. They are good because inside them they have that drive. Not because of any one coach.
Our high school had a similar way. Work extra hard, to the bone. It worked to get us up being the second (or third) best team for three consecutive years. The town could not understand. We have the talent, we worked plenty, but kept coming up short. There was too competitive an atmosphere within the team. ME ... ME ... ME ... I am better than the young player. I don't need to mentor. I get MY hits ... it is someone else's fault we lost. The coaches fault, somebody, but not ME.
FINALLY, when my DD became a sophomore, a new approach was tried. Everyone for all. The upperclassmen helped and engaged the underclassmen. Fun developed. Hilarious bus ride stories of my young DD bonding with the senior stud, and studious pitcher. The youngsters "felt" wanted, needed, and at home.
The rest is history. You can look it up for this year. But believe you me, it was NOT about bone bleeding work. But bonding, mentoring, having athletic talent, and winning a championship. Hope we repeat. Probably have to work harder too. But the lessen in team play endures, and has been learned.
Last edited:
Cannonball
Ex "Expert"
- Feb 25, 2009
- 4,881
- 113
SCDad, the fact is I coach at a school of 1,100 and we had to beat teams of 2200+ in order to advance in regional, sectionals ... We had to always count on a soph or two and a freshman. They always mentored the younger players in my tenure. When I talk about "team" it really is about team. That was on and off the field.
If you don't mind in a few words, then what is the key to winning. Of course, I rambled too much in my other post.
If you don't mind in a few words, then what is the key to winning. Of course, I rambled too much in my other post.
Cannonball
Ex "Expert"
- Feb 25, 2009
- 4,881
- 113
Here are the "Qualities of a Baseball Knight"
1. He wants the toughest and best competition in practice and in games because it makes him better.
2. He would rather his team win conference than himself make All-Conference.
3. Whether in the game or not, he wants all of his teammates to do well.
4. He practices hard and pays the price because he knows that most Baseball games are won or lost due to preparation.
5. He deals honestly with his coaches and teammates. He understands that disloyalty to either coaches or teammates hurts the team and will not be tolerated.
6. He never assesses blame.
7. He pays attention to detail.
8. He never likes losing but he is gracious in losing. He understands that he represents his team, coaches, school and community.
9. He will never back down from competition.
10. He practices to make small strides in his game each and every day to enable him to be a complete baseball player by the end of his playing career as a Knight.
11. He realizes that his off-field behaviors, demeanor and attitude affect the team, coaching staff, school and community.
12. He realizes that if we lose, it is not “his fault.” Losing is a team loss. He also realizes that if we win, it is not strictly because of him. Winning is a team win.
13. He realizes that the difference between most players is not so great that hard work cannot overcome it.
14. He puts the time and effort in during the off-season in the plyo-metric and weight conditioning program to enable his team to have success.
15. He would rather build character than be a character!
1. He wants the toughest and best competition in practice and in games because it makes him better.
2. He would rather his team win conference than himself make All-Conference.
3. Whether in the game or not, he wants all of his teammates to do well.
4. He practices hard and pays the price because he knows that most Baseball games are won or lost due to preparation.
5. He deals honestly with his coaches and teammates. He understands that disloyalty to either coaches or teammates hurts the team and will not be tolerated.
6. He never assesses blame.
7. He pays attention to detail.
8. He never likes losing but he is gracious in losing. He understands that he represents his team, coaches, school and community.
9. He will never back down from competition.
10. He practices to make small strides in his game each and every day to enable him to be a complete baseball player by the end of his playing career as a Knight.
11. He realizes that his off-field behaviors, demeanor and attitude affect the team, coaching staff, school and community.
12. He realizes that if we lose, it is not “his fault.” Losing is a team loss. He also realizes that if we win, it is not strictly because of him. Winning is a team win.
13. He realizes that the difference between most players is not so great that hard work cannot overcome it.
14. He puts the time and effort in during the off-season in the plyo-metric and weight conditioning program to enable his team to have success.
15. He would rather build character than be a character!
Last edited:
I do not have a clue how to coach a championship team.
As a parent having had the pleasure of watching my DD on four different occasions leave the season as champions with no one else standing, it comes down to everyone, players and parents, doing everything in their individual power to get along and be happy. No drama. If drama starts, someone outside of the coaches resolve it. It becomes like a family.
No Drama. Listen to the coaches. Do what they say. Be honored for what is given, and proud of the team.
As a parent having had the pleasure of watching my DD on four different occasions leave the season as champions with no one else standing, it comes down to everyone, players and parents, doing everything in their individual power to get along and be happy. No drama. If drama starts, someone outside of the coaches resolve it. It becomes like a family.
No Drama. Listen to the coaches. Do what they say. Be honored for what is given, and proud of the team.
Last edited:
