Coaching softball--philosophy 101

Ego obstacle?

Agree that the girls typically lag behind the boys in their level of understanding the game. It's not that they're not equally capable of it, but probably largely a function of not having watched or played as much ball as their male counterparts of the same age. However, that's no excuse to not teach them and help them become students of the game. Our objectives for our players should be the same as our life objectives for our DDs and sons - teach them to think independently and make good decisions because mom and dad (or Coach) aren't always going to be there whenever a decision needs to be made.

I think that sometimes there's a tendency for coaches to forget this and rationalize that players are better off with all the decisions being made by the coach. In the short term that argument could be true, but it doesn't help the players longer term. Need to check the ego at the door, and give the players the opportunity to learn, succeed, and fail - yes, fail, because that that can prove to be the most valuable lesson. Some will show an aptitude and others won't, but how else will they have a chance to learn the game like we did?

GM

mudbug said:

Lets turn that around and ask "Why should the player try to figure out things that are basically the coaches job?"

The answer is that they shouldnt.

The goal is never to make the players into coaches, the goal is to make them into players that perform and do what the coach wants done in every situation. Situations which require judgement are left up to the coach.

There are things the coach has responsibility for, and things players have responsibility for. That boundary cannot be fuzzy.

Should you teach players more strategic aspects of the game? You can. But the question is will it produce any gain or will it likely confuse situations?

Decision to steal or bunt is a coaches decision, both involve risk that is assesed based on perceived likelihood of sucess.

Click to expand...

Players who can think on the field can see things coaches can't - or didn't happen to pick up - if the player communicates that to the coach then she/he checks it out for themself and tells the team - hey "Sally" saw this and after checking it out I think it will work - so if we get in this situation again - lets try it.... or something to that affect... your middle infielders can be a great help in that regard as well as batters who can pick up tendencies of pitchers, etc

1. "Why do girls lag behin boys in understanding?" - Ignoring the exceptions, I think the fundamental aspect of that question deals with personalities. Boys think they are always right and will always blame something else. It truly is ego. While girls seem to be more pleasers and take more responsbility if they "do it wrong." If a boy took a huge lead and got picked off he'd blame it on the cleats that he told his mom were to small for him now, and he'd go right back to being aggressive the next day but would take a 6 inch smaller lead. While a girl would never take another step off of the bag for fear of making an out and letting the coach down.

2. We don't want players to "replace" the coach, but there are times that decisions need to be made faster than a coach can make them. Coaches can't predict when the pitcher is going to throw a changeup, so players have to be taught to recognize that and go when they see it. First base coaches will tell girls to round first but there is no way that they can communicate fast enough if it appears that the outfielders throw is going to be off target and draw the fielder away from second base. The player has to aggressively see that herself and be enabled to make that decision. Her decision making isn't "replacing" the coach though it is enhancing the teams ability to win and is taught to her by the coaches just like they would teach her anything else as a skill.

3. Coaches must realize that if they really want girls to learn this style of "thinking on their feet" that they are likely going to be uncomfortable with it, and will try it slowly to test the waters. As soon as that coach shows dissatisfcation with the girls judgement she will stop making those decisions. But if the coach recognizes that the girl made even a small judgement call they need to let the player know that the she did the right thing in trying and try to praise the positive side of what could have happened. This is no different than the way your daughters approach you about life in general. They will come and test the waters for "safety" by asking you ridiculous questions that you know are trivial and they probably know the answer to, and if you let them see that it is a "safe" environment they will open up more. But as soon as you respond to them with the old "Sweetie I'm really busy what do you really want" ... they are gone and you'll never know what they really wanted. If you want girls to learn how to make decisions on the field, you have to give them the safe environment to make that decision. Again, boys are nearly always going to blame something else and won't take it personally. They will internally make the judgement change but will keep trying.

Wow - what a discussion! I hadn't seen it before.

btw Bill: as you well know, some of us think for ourselves quite well lol

Anyway - as a COACH, I believe it is our jobs to give the player all the tools they need to make decisions on their own and to do things on their own. We are their to guide, not to do everything for them. This is THEIR game, not ours. There are times when players WILL have to think on their feet in the game and they are unlikely to do that if all the decision making power is taken away from them by the coaches. There will also be times in games when we cannot possibly tell them what to do to take advantage of a situation or help them make the best play. There simply isn't time. They have to learn to read situations and REACT.

Now I don't think that players should be the ones making the decisions as far as who plays and who doesn't or who pitches the game and who doesn't (although there are times when their insight to the situation may be clearer than ours). But as far as making decisions in game situations about plays and such, we are here to "coach" to guide, to give them the tools they need to make it on their own.

You know what's really cool? When you're on a team where the coaches have done such a great job teaching that the players and coaches are already often on the same page without the coaches having to instruct all the time. When players can come in from the field and give feedback to the coaches so that they work TOGETHER to make adjustments while both feeding off insights from each other.

I think that most coaches treat their girls like they treat their employees. If you are an empowerment person then you prepare your people, expect results and practice accountability. I want to make sure that anyone on my team is prepared to make the right decision when the time comes. Most people learn from taking steps, falling down, then taking another and so on. Trust your team and they will rise to your expectations.

I'm ultra aggressive, I guess. I tell my runners on third to get a lead and if the ball is in the dirt or by the catcher, it is up to them to go because by the time I say go it is too late. To get them to be aggressive, I tell them then back them, if you get out I will swear that I sent you. Once the have confidence in you they end up scoring an extra run or 2 a game.

Also, most all have 2 to 3 pitches to steal 2nd again the developed trust pays off by not having to bunt.

This philosophy has worked for me and it seems to take the "robot" out of the girls.