When do you stop coaching and start managing?

[MTR]

Obviously, the term "coach" is pretty self-explanatory. It is someone who coaches (teaches, instructs, etc.) others in the manners and mechanics of certain skills. A manager is a person of responsibility who manages the team and games.

I have always believed that practices and scrimmages where the place for coaching. Meanwhile, for games, the coach/manager is the one responsible to take the skills developed through the lessons taught and apply them to a competitive event.

Of course, simple reminders during a game are a great help, but is the middle of a game the place to still be teaching? I've had discussions about time limits and the "between inning" allowance. Some people get extemely upset when the umpire tries to get the teams to hustle on and off the field. Well, like it or not, that is part of their job. Most coaches understand the need for time limits and keeping a game moving. Unfortunately, there are some which will take the other direction to the extreme. There are, and I have had issues with, coaches who if allowed, would be out in the circle giving specific mechanical direction too his/her pitcher in the bottom of the 7th inning of a 8-0 game and then get ticked when the umpire instructs him/her to leave the field after a few minutes.

So, my question is, when do you stop instructing the players and start managing the skills they have developed?

It goes without saying that the response could very much be reliant upon the age level. I would suggest that this thread just deal in generalizations, but I am not confident that can be accomplished. So let's say we are talking about the 16U level of play.

 

[Cannonball]

I've never considered myself a "manager." I am a coach and so, I coach. I coach whenever and whereever I feel that a player needs coaching. I don't have any problem with anyone who feels that those two entities are two different things and that there is a place and time for both. That's not how I am. I do draw a distinction between trying to have a player make changes in a game. For example, I'd never go up to a player and suggest a change in their swing. In that case, I'd make note of the change on a sheet where I mark those ideas that we need to work on for the next practice. JMHO!

 

[ctfastpitch]

I think that at 16U during competitive games (as opposed to scrimmages), the coach's focus should be 80% - 90% managing the game, and relying as much as possible for the girls to execute based on practices, drills and skills. There will be many "teachable moments" during the course of competition at which a coach can explain a particular situation or play, and reinforce previous lessons & practices (e.g. "don't make that throw in that situation because it allows the runner to advance", or "we are up by 4 in the 7th inning so don't worry about looking back the runner @ 3B" etc.). But these should be handed with quick comments and not slow up the game. I think most of the conversation should focused around specific game situations & strategy.

At a tournament, there are certainly opportunities between games to go into more depth on how practices & skills were or were not applied during previous games, and how to improve on them. However, during competitive play, other than how to play in pressure situation, and game strategy, I think there is very little fundamental "learning" going on......

 

[Mark H]

It shouldn't always be the same person. Many excellent instructor/coaches aren't that good at game management. I've seen people who are excellent game managers and poor instructors. More of the last group seems to be compelled to do the first than vice versa. A person who can do a realistic assessment of their skill set and surround themselves with compliimentary people to help will go far.

 

[SnocatzDad]

The head coach on our team is the full time manager in the sense that he makes all the game time decisions (i.e. batting lineup, who fields where, when to sub, decisions on bunts/squeezes set plays.

I would say though that as a coaching staff we look at everything short of elimination games as coaching opportunities (i.e. player positions may be to get player development time vs best lineup) but once we get to elimination play we are in manager mode (decisions based on most competitive team we can field) Even on elimination games we're still rotating pitchers and catchers(which I think is still managing not coaching). In either situation I hate coaches that waste game time (in timed games) sharing their brilliance with players. Meetings prior to going out in the field shouldn't happen, they should happen on the way in. Some discussions with umpires can wait for a break between innings or better yet after the game. I've seen coaches that can't get through a game without demonstrating how smart they are to the umpire 2-3 times by stopping action to argue rule interpretations incorrectly. Legitamate complaints are part of the game, but sometimes it's just the coach wanting to be the center of attention for a few minutes so we don't forget he's there.

 

[Coach Al]

I have coached baseball and softball on and off since 1978. When I started, I was an excellent "manager." The problem was I wasn't a teacher. I thought I knew what I was doing,"I know the game." However, After a few years and a few clinics I found out how little I knew. Even now, after all these years, I when to a coaches' clinic and found that the speakers could still speak over my head. I am much better coach now then I was, but I feel I will never know everything. I find now I enjoy practice much more than I enjoy games. These maybe because in games you manage more and coach less. During games you do coach, mostly strategy with a small amount of mechanics. Anyone who knows the game can manage, but if you want to build players and teams, you better be a coach!

 

[rowdy]

Great question. I will keep it very simple from my point of view you are always a teacher. Managing is something you can do with your time to make sure you are as prepared for the game as you expect your players to be. Coaching is learning and in sport as in life we should always stive to learn.

 

[Ken Krause]

I don't know this from first-hand experience, but I remember reading an article years ago from someone did that elite athletes are some of the most eager players to be coached. They are always looking for something that will make them better or give them an edge. So I guess the short answer to the original question is "Never." Which is pretty much what Rowdy said.

 

[GOINGDEEP]

Every great team needs both.

Example, we have a head coach that is well rounded in all aspects. Then a hitting coach, pitching coach, a defensive coordinator, and general manager. All play their roles in making a good team great. Some teams may be able to combo the different coaching jobs. I prefer to have individuals that specialize in their field.

Back to the 'manager' question. I do agree that the elite players want to continue their softball education through proper coaching. ( Don't we all on here, even now that we are grown? ) A truly good manager will do more than just 'manage' the present skills of the players. He/she should constantly be evaluating the players, mentally and physically. He/she needs to have the knowledge and personality to deal with any problems that should arise between players, parents, and other teams or organizations. The GM usually is the scout for new talent, and needs good PR to handle recruitment's. He/she needs good general ball skills and know how to work with the other coaches to make the girls the best they can be.

To me it is not a question of "when do you stop coaching and start managing", they are both an important part in this machine we call SOFTBALL.

 

[MTR]

You've left the path of my question, so let me narrow the scope.

At the higher level, I don't think it is as much about new knowledge as it is observation, interpretation and application of proper mechanics and correction of unconscious changes. An exampe of that was a point in tine, Don Mattingly was in a helluva slump with the Yankees. No one could figure out what the problem was......until his father called. He had seen the Yankees on TV and called his son to ask why he changed his batting stance. Apparently his father noticed that he did not see the same portion of his number from the center field camera as in the past.

My question was aimed more toward youth ball and playing the game. You are not going to teach a pitcher how to throw a curve ball in the 5th inning or provide some type of miraculous piece of information to F4 on how to field a ground ball that they haven't heard a couple hundred times already.

Another thought is how many times is a coach going to repeat something until the player turns him/her off?

One of the most amusing parts of HS & JO ball is listening the players talk among and to themselves about their coaches and parents.