WE need more female coaches~

[FP26]

I honestly don't think it's a gender issue. It's more of a people issue, or an ignorance issue. Bad coaches will beget bad coaches, because they make the players under them think that behavior is normal.

A lot of truth in this statement. In most cases I don't think societal issues are gender based, race based, religion based, etc. They are people based. There are good people and bad people of every gender, race, and creed.

My daughter has had several female coaches over the years. Most were positive experiences for her, but some were not. She had a female soccer coach when she was 10 that she absolutely loved. Her high school basketball coach and high school softball coach are not people she thinks fondly of. However, the assistant high school softball coach is someone she has looked up to for years. Her current college coach is also female and she has been enjoying her time with that program (beyond all the covid stuff...).

She has been involved in sports from a young age, and at most stops I was either the coach or part of the staff. So we have had more conversations about coaching than I could count. Overall sports have been a positive experience for her. So much that she is taking a coaching minor at her university. After graduation she hopes to get involved in coaching at some level.

 

[radness]

Some of the nastiest coaches my players and students experienced, by their own descriptions, were female coaches. They would belittle, berate, play favorites, talk behind people's backs, and exhibit all sorts of negative behavior.





Things they weren't used to with me and my staff (male and female). This went all the way from travel ball through college.

I honestly don't think it's a gender issue. It's more of a people issue, or an ignorance issue. Bad coaches will beget bad coaches, because they make the players under them think that behavior is normal.

What we should be focused on first, in my opinion, is creating standards to which coaches are held. Do all we can to ensure they are exhibiting positive behaviors. Doesn't mean they have to coddle their players, but they should treat them decently - as you should treat any human being. Then really enforce those standards to weed out those who shouldn't be coaching youth sports.

Then, encourage those coaches to find opportunities to expose their players to coaching, which in turn might encourage them to give it a try. For example, when I'm working with a college catcher and then have a young catcher coming for a lesson, I will ask if the college catcher can hang around after her lesson and help with the younger one. They're usually thrilled to be asked. Same for pitchers and hitters. I'll ask the older student to demonstrate, and after she watches the younger player will ask her what she sees or what the younger girl should work on. They're usually reluctant to say much at first, but as they get more comfortable they'll speak up more. By doing this, they get exposed to the idea of coaching and hopefully think "Hey, this might be fun."

By the way, I saw something similar years ago. Michele Smith was conducting a pitching clinic in my area which my younger daughter attended, and she brought along a young pitcher with not much coaching experience at the time (that I know of) to help. I think the younger pitcher may have been just out of college. Michele was great working with the girls, but the younger pitcher struggled a bit. She would offer some suggestions now and then, but mostly would just walk from girl to girl and not say very much. Clearly, she was unsure of herself in that role. But I think Michele saw something in her and thought if she had a chance to gain some experience coaching she might become pretty good at it some day. That younger pitcher's name was Cat Osterman.

Wonder where that behavior comes from?
,...from anybody!

__________________



Hope you noticed in my previous post

"With more balance
Possibly we can learn
Its peoples behaviors
instead of labeling behaviors."

Also
Think that accepting diversity means its ok for people to be different.
That said
When we dont get to see diversity
we only have one type of experience one perspective,
its hard to see the perspective of another.
Makes understanding other possibilities difficult to recognize.

Peoples behaviors and favoritism seem to happen regardless of gendor.
I tend to not look at gendor as a reason for peoples behavior.
Yet have experienced others shortcommings from it.

 

[radness]

I honestly don't think it's a gender issue. It's more of a people issue, or an ignorance issue. Bad coaches will beget bad coaches, because they make the players under them think that behavior is normal.

What we should be focused on first, in my opinion, is creating standards to which coaches are held. Do all we can to ensure they are exhibiting positive behaviors. Doesn't mean they have to coddle their players, but they should treat them decently - as you should treat any human being. Then really enforce those standards to weed out those who shouldn't be coaching youth sports.

Then, encourage those coaches to find opportunities to expose their players to coaching, which in turn might encourage them to give it a try. For example, when I'm working with a college catcher and then have a young catcher coming for a lesson, I will ask if the college catcher can hang around after her lesson and help with the younger one. They're usually thrilled to be asked. Same for pitchers and hitters. I'll ask the older student to demonstrate, and after she watches the younger player will ask her what she sees or what the younger girl should work on. They're usually reluctant to say much at first, but as they get more comfortable they'll speak up more. By doing this, they get exposed to the idea of coaching and hopefully think "Hey, this might be fun."

By the way, I saw something similar years ago. Michele Smith was conducting a pitching clinic in my area which my younger daughter attended, and she brought along a young pitcher with not much coaching experience at the time (that I know of) to help. I think the younger pitcher may have been just out of college. Michele was great working with the girls, but the younger pitcher struggled a bit. She would offer some suggestions now and then, but mostly would just walk from girl to girl and not say very much. Clearly, she was unsure of herself in that role. But I think Michele saw something in her and thought if she had a chance to gain some experience coaching she might become pretty good at it some day. That younger pitcher's name was Cat Osterman.

Agree people issue and coaching standard across the board!

 

[Rolling Hard]

" So we have had more conversations about coaching than I could count. Overall sports have been a positive experience for her. So much that she is taking a coaching minor at her university. After graduation she hopes to get involved in coaching at some level. "- FP26.
Yeah! Hope for the future. Get educated in what you want to do!
I wonder what percentage of TB coaches have read a book about coaching or attended a single class or seminar. My guess is less than 10 percent. Which explains why we have coaches belittle, berate, play favorites, talk behind people's backs, and exhibit all sorts of negative behavior and a lack of communication skills.
Could you imagine if parents asked perspective coaches after tryouts, "Excuse me coach, could you tell me the most recent book you've read about coaching or any seminar you have attended lately?"

 

[Cannonball]

" So we have had more conversations about coaching than I could count. Overall sports have been a positive experience for her. So much that she is taking a coaching minor at her university. After graduation she hopes to get involved in coaching at some level. "- FP26.
Yeah! Hope for the future. Get educated in what you want to do!
I wonder what percentage of TB coaches have read a book about coaching or attended a single class or seminar. My guess is less than 10 percent. Which explains why we have coaches belittle, berate, play favorites, talk behind people's backs, and exhibit all sorts of negative behavior and a lack of communication skills.
Could you imagine if parents asked perspective coaches after tryouts, "Excuse me coach, could you tell me the most recent book you've read about coaching or any seminar you have attended lately?"

Interesting comment. What would be your criteria for continuing education? To be honest, I haven't been to a coaching seminar since 2011 when I was a speaker on hitting. I do agree that continuing education should be required if they are a school coach. Mostly now, that comes in the form of concussion training, first aid, ... but not on the sport itself.

 

[Rolling Hard]

Hey how about they join DFP and take part in the coaching forum for starters. Like you do Cannonball. LOL

 

[Ken Krause]

Wonder where that behavior comes from?
,...from anybody!

Me too, RAD, me too. Why anyone would choose to coach that way is beyond me. But I guess if that's all you had, it seems normal - even if you personally hated it.

__________________

Hope you noticed in my previous post

"With more balance
Possibly we can learn
Its peoples behaviors
instead of labeling behaviors."

Also
Think that accepting diversity means its ok for people to be different.
That said
When we dont get to see diversity
we only have one type of experience one perspective,
its hard to see the perspective of another.
Makes understanding other possibilities difficult to recognize.

Peoples behaviors and favoritism seem to happen regardless of gendor.
I tend to not look at gendor as a reason for peoples behavior.
Yet have experienced others shortcommings from it.

Yes I did, and I didn't mean to not acknowledge it. Diversity is good for many reasons. I think of how I teach things now. I don't follow any one person or group on anything. I've pulled from many, synthesized it, added my own thoughts, and come out with what I do.

The same can be true for coaching and one's experience with coaching. If all you know is one way, good or bad, you're not being prepared for the real world. I don't know if it takes all types to make a world, but we certainly have all types. Both excellence and idiocy know no boundaries.

Incidentally, I don't argue that there is still bias against women in coaching, or athletics in general for that matter. As a male, of course, I've never experienced it so it would be easy for me to say it doesn't happen. But I know it does. I guess it's just shocking to me to see how much of that mindset still exists. Every time I think we've evolved/improved as a society, or as humans generally, something comes along to prove me wrong. We still have a lot of work to do before all the barriers to female coaching come down.

 

[FP26]

" So we have had more conversations about coaching than I could count. Overall sports have been a positive experience for her. So much that she is taking a coaching minor at her university. After graduation she hopes to get involved in coaching at some level. "- FP26.
Yeah! Hope for the future. Get educated in what you want to do!
I wonder what percentage of TB coaches have read a book about coaching or attended a single class or seminar. My guess is less than 10 percent. Which explains why we have coaches belittle, berate, play favorites, talk behind people's backs, and exhibit all sorts of negative behavior and a lack of communication skills.
Could you imagine if parents asked perspective coaches after tryouts, "Excuse me coach, could you tell me the most recent book you've read about coaching or any seminar you have attended lately?"

My first experience was coaching CYO basketball (Catholic Youth Organization). All coaches are required to attend a training seminar. I remember that the leaders of the seminar were VERY experienced coaches and excellent speakers. I learned a great deal at that seminar and used much of it throughout my entire coaching career.

When I coached rec softball, we were part of Little League. I was our local representative at the regional meetings and found value in those meetings. Enough that I asked other coaches to join me once in a while, but very few were interested. Myself and the baseball representative even tried to have voluntary coaching clinics locally so the other coaches didn't have to travel. Only about 20% of the coaches participated.

As a travel ball coach we always registered through ASA (USA Softball). Each year our coaching staff participated in what they call ACE training. Most of the videos were narrated by Mike Candrea, and I found some value in them as well.

Just like anything else, you get out what you put in...

 

[Ken Krause]

Interesting comment. What would be your criteria for continuing education? To be honest, I haven't been to a coaching seminar since 2011 when I was a speaker on hitting. I do agree that continuing education should be required if they are a school coach. Mostly now, that comes in the form of concussion training, first aid, ... but not on the sport itself.

Cannonball, I think there are a lot of ways to continue one's education. They don't all have to be formal. We have DFP, of course, which is a great resource. There are also Facebook pages for those who go there, and YouTube videos, and online programs like High Performance Pitching, and all kinds of other stuff. I think the important thing is to keep learning and seeking out knowledge wherever it may be. I have found I can often learn something from people I fundamentally disagree with overall. I'm sure you're the same. So as long as you're curious, and want to improve, you're participating in continuing education.

 

[Ken Krause]

Could you imagine if parents asked perspective coaches after tryouts, "Excuse me coach, could you tell me the most recent book you've read about coaching or any seminar you have attended lately?"

Funny that you mention that. Back in the day, before people really knew who I was, I would bring a box filled with books, videos, notebooks, etc. to the parent meeting and lay them on the table. I would then explain that I had read/watched every single one of them, and attended X hours of coaching clinics and seminars, and mention any certifications I had achieved.

I did it partially to reassure people that they had chosen wisely. But I also did it to try to cut the parents off before they became trouble. I figured they were far less likely to argue with a coach who at least LOOKED like he knew WAY more than them. And it usually worked pretty well. So there's another reason to put in the effort.