Making a Point -or- A Bit Harsh?

Using wristbands eliminates all of this drama.

I think I'd give credit to the coach on this one.

It not only (hopefully) sets an example (and the tone) for the rest of the season - it was done in a make-up, non-conference game. While it was a close game, it didn't sound like a high-pressure, win-or-go-home situation that the player could potentially be re-living (or resenting?) for the next several years. The coach may have realized it was a "now or never" teaching moment, and took advantage of it.

Also - by taking her out, it sends a message to the girl. By taking her out mid-at-bat, it sends a message to the entire team.

Here's a question.....

you say the girl doesn't get much PT...

Would the coach have done the same thing if it was his best hitter at the plate? Has he done the same thing to other girls who've missed signs? If you're making the point with every girl on the roster, great! If you're making a point with just the girls you can afford to bench, then you're making the wrong point.

Using wristbands eliminates all of this drama.

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And in its place...you get a whole new drama. As in:

Katy: OMG, I forgot my wrist band. Can I borrow yours Suzy?
Suzy: Sure!

NEXT INNING, Suzy is at bat:

Suzy: Time ump! Katy have you got my wristband?
Katy: No, I gave it to Cindy (Cindy, now on 2B).
(Suzy trots out to the circle where she meets Cindy, she stuffs wristband into pocket.)

GunnerShotgun said:

Using wristbands eliminates all of this drama.

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This weekend we had a player completely disregard wristband-based plays while at bat. We were trying to fake bunt + steal to get a runner in scoring position but batter seemed intent on something else. Dismissed as an unintentional mistake after 1 game. Discussed after game 2 (multiple occurrences), and benched after 1st at bat in 3rd game, when the player did not even bother to pretend looking at the playbook, just made eye contact with me then stepped in the box and swung away. Player proceeded to act out verbally in the dugout and received a warning from me regarding that behavior. Player left dugout, without my knowledge at the time and carried the situation to the bleachers where the player's parent was seated and verbalized in that area as well.

Now we have an upset parent, and I'm not sure if parent supported coaches at that time because I only witnessed the player in the dugout so she either return of her own will or was instructed to do so. Both left immediately after game and did not participate in the team meeting post-game. Parent contacted organization board members to issue what can be assumed as a complaint. As a coach I discussed with other coaches, to gather their opinions on my management of the situation, and also contacted our board representative later that night, and the board president the following day. I am now withholding the player from team activities until we have established expectations and responsibilities which were already covered in parent/player meeting before season began, and also discussed at various times as needed. One coach feels now that wristbands are not providing a solution to our players missing signs and we are planning a parent/coach/board meeting to discuss moving forward. Parent has a history of pursuing legal action when player has had altercations/issues in the past, so I am handling this with extreme caution. Any thoughts on that one, or is it pretty straightforward? Play ball!

There are lots of ways to teach kids. Embarrassment would not be my choice. Players will perform better in the long run if they feel respected.

And just because something works to modify behavior quickly doesn't make it the best choice, else the coach should've just slapped her.

slider75 said:

One coach feels now that wristbands are not providing a solution to our players missing signs and we are planning a parent/coach/board meeting to discuss moving forward.

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Wristbands will not cure out of control parents and or players. That is a separate issue. My comments with the wristbands was with regards to missing old school physical signals that may change frequently.

With wristbands typically you are giving three numbers as a coach. The player reads the wristband and execute (or doesn't execute) the signal. The beauty of it is that you can have a large set of numbers that mean nothing (numbers that end in 5 for example). The player and coach already know this means nothing but the coach gives the signal and the player looks at the wristband anyways. It's quick and efficient.

The only way to screw it up is if the coach flashes the wrong number. The conversation with the player is quick if something doesn't' go as planned. Simply ask the batter what number she saw and then ask her what that translates too. If it was a bunt why didn't she bunt? It's super simple to get everyone on the same page.

We use the same set of numbers for multiple games so the players eventually memorize the that a 443 = bunt (while I have a lot of numbers for bunt using the same couple over and over makes everything super efficient).

No the other team can't figure it out even if they are writing down numbers. We have multiple number sets and multiple wristbands that we can change out at any given time.

Understood. I find we make more fielding errors than wristband errors. We have also missed more conventional signs than those first two put together, which is why we introduced the bands. We use a color/number combination. "Black 11" = column 2, row 2 (column 2 is black, row 2 is range 11-20) - its very simple and our kids took to it right away and can give or take signals quickly.

To clarify "one coach feels now,...": our planned meeting is related to behavior (player/parent/coach), and not the signals themselves. We want all players to be respected and return it at a maximum. I was summarizing in an manner that might have been too efficient. Sometimes we must send a message to those that have shown a "learning impairment", that if they choose to step over boundaries, there are potentially serious consequences there. That's not fun, so let's stay in the boundaries.

I appreciate the comment. I didn't mean to intrude, I was just tagging on as I felt it was closely related to the topic. I like the wristbands which seem to take stress of the young players who never seem quite sure if they interpreted the sign correctly, and allows us to spend more time on other fundamentals.

CoogansBluff, well said.

It blows my mind that people think that's acceptable coaching.

I doubt that coach would attract many players outside of a school team.

There's a time and a place to be swinging on 3-0, but it had better be a good pitch. For most teams, it's something that's attempted with the coach's concurrence.

Regardless of whether the take sign was missed, swinging at (and missing / fouling) an obvious ball FOUR on 3-0 when the team needs baserunners is inexcusable at the travel ball / high school level.

I'm not sure that pulling the kid in the middle of the at-bat is the answer, but the coach's irritation is understandable.