Turning Negatives Into Positives

Are you remembering to have fun? Maybe the girls are playing tight. Bring water balloons to practice and end practice with a water balloon fight.

Break out the slip and slide and work on sliding

End your pregame warm-up with a dance-off to their favorite song

gdc03120 said:

I'll have to give everything some time to digest. I took the idea of goal-setting into tonight's game - a battle of my 0-2 team vs. my closest rival (also 0-2) right now. We started off reasonably well - aimed for goals of 1 run/no strikeouts in an inning (didn't get either), or successful fielding/finding the right bases to throw to on defense (limited at best). The wheels finally fell off and we lost 16-4 in 5 innings (run-ahead rule of 12 after 5, we were the visiting team). I drove the entire way home in silence, just stuck on trying to figure what went wrong. A lot of things were practice-based things we drill and drill and drill repeatedly (where to throw the ball with runners on base, covering bases on steals, etc.) We seem to do it fine in practices, then s**t the bed in games, and I don't get where the disconnect is between the two.

Our next games are Thursday - a double-header AT the top 2 teams in the league (both from the same community, 1 is 4-0, the other is 2-0). I'm hoping the time between games will give them a chance to rest/mentally prepare. I know I sure need it.

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Ummmm it happens to all teams, hell our 18 Team is suffering from that right now

CoachKevin said:

Ummmm it happens to all teams, hell our 18 Team is suffering from that right now

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Exactly. We took a 5 run lead into the last inning last night and had "that" inning on defense to lose the game.

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Favorite example of turning a negative into a positive.

dbronstein said:

I can't stand the extended post-game talks, especially at younger ages. The kids aren't listening, they just want to go home. Say a few words of encouragement and get out of there.

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This is great advice. KEEP IT SHORT. I mention outstanding plays (HR's, pitcher strikeouts, good defensive plays) and then focus on what time we are meeting for the next practice or game. I also tell my starting pitcher and catcher who they are for the next game so they can plan accordingly. Break it down with team cheer/chant and get the hell out of there.

Save your words of wisdom for practice or before the next game.

let it be fun said:

Are you remembering to have fun? Maybe the girls are playing tight.

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I'm sure trying like Hell to make it fun. Obviously I don't think it's working, and I'm not the overly-bubbly type (I'm excited about softball, don't get me wrong, but I can't 'fake' happiness/cheer - maybe it's because I'm not a parent yet. ) I know the girls want to be successful, ANd I want them to want to be successful. I honestly just think a lot has to do with their age. I'm basically coaching a 12-14U(ish) rec team in a 16U rec league and expecting them to play like 16U team, and as much as I'm trying to remind myself of this, it's way too easy to forget.

A lot of it also (especially this season) has to do with my roster - I start practices in April (just once a week), but I've had so many players commit and then back out, or start - go to a few practices, then back out. I'll honestly bet money I've had 15 girls verbally commit to playing, then turn around and back off, and it's INFURIATING (I've honestly had about 2-3 times where I've contemplated folding the team, but part of me always remembered the girls who have loyal don't deserve that). I had 3 players who were there from the start and have to back out within 2 weeks of the start of the season. I hate having to beg players to participate. I tell my players that success comes from personal commitment - to your teammates, to your team, to yourself, etc. There are definitely some girls who are busting 100% of their rear for whatever position, whatever batting spot, etc, they have. There are some giving their best (even if that's 70-80% compared to someone else).

I want this to be an enjoyable experience - to have maximum turnover to next year - I want it to be fun, but I don't want the fact we are clearly younger, less experienced compared to all of our opponents to discourage them from playing again. I said at the start of the season that wins/losses didn't matter. It's hard because it does to some degree (any coach would be foolish to outright lie to themselves), but I want their successes to mean more to me. I just don't know 100% how to make sure I can make it stick.

gdc03120 said:

Iand I'm not the overly-bubbly type (I'm excited about softball, don't get me wrong, but I can't 'fake' happiness/cheer - maybe it's because I'm not a parent yet. ) .

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The above has nothing to do with being a parent..it is just your personality. I am the same way with my DD. I am trying to get better with it, but it isn't easy because even though verbally I am supportive after a not so great game (in my eyes), e.g. looks like you had fun out there good hustle, etc. my DD is too good at reading my tone/facial expressions and can tell when I am faking it. I tell myself my DD is working hard at getting better so the least I can do is work equally hard at managing my expectations.

It was meant to be sarcasm. Forgot to hit the 'sarcasm' font when I typed. I want nothing but success for the girls - it's just nails on a chalkboard to watch them do the exact opposite of things we practice over and over, and it's virtually impossible to watch it and then put a smile on my face while doing it. lol.

gdc03120 said:

It was meant to be sarcasm. Forgot to hit the 'sarcasm' font when I typed. I want nothing but success for the girls - it's just nails on a chalkboard to watch them do the exact opposite of things we practice over and over, and it's virtually impossible to watch it and then put a smile on my face while doing it. lol.

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and I was trying to be helpful because I know how you feel

marriard said:

80% of that team came back and played the next season.

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I heard a great quote that the best measure of a youth coach is that their players want to play again the next season. I coached my son's baseball team a few years ago, we were 4-13. I had two parents tell me their kids said it was the most fun they had playing baseball. I'll take that over some extra wins any day.