I arrived a bit early for a U14 TB indoor practice at a indoor facility yesterday and so I watched a first year U12 team finishing up their practice with AC1 hitting grounders, AC2 playing 1B, and AC3 stationed 20 feet behind AC 2. The HC who I happen to know, but just in passing was not present at the time.
AC2 was yelling to every kid fielding a grounder, to do this, not to do that, etc., etc. No mention/demonstration of footwork, or flat back, butt up, etc, etc.
None of the other coaches were any better. So now there are 3 AC's yelling that they need to do, or not do this and that. The correct thing would have been to stop practice and show them how to do it right. It sure seemed like AC2 decided everyone already knows how to field ground balls so get in line!!
The kids for the most part can't be blamed for tuning them out. How many "You gotta make that plays" can you hear? Throws were all over the place which only increased the volume of AC2. One of the girls came in to change gloves from her bag about 5 feet from me frustrated. I was really tempted to say something to help her but I didn't. Not my place, I thought.
What would you have done?
AC2 was yelling to every kid fielding a grounder, to do this, not to do that, etc., etc. No mention/demonstration of footwork, or flat back, butt up, etc, etc.
None of the other coaches were any better. So now there are 3 AC's yelling that they need to do, or not do this and that. The correct thing would have been to stop practice and show them how to do it right. It sure seemed like AC2 decided everyone already knows how to field ground balls so get in line!!
The kids for the most part can't be blamed for tuning them out. How many "You gotta make that plays" can you hear? Throws were all over the place which only increased the volume of AC2. One of the girls came in to change gloves from her bag about 5 feet from me frustrated. I was really tempted to say something to help her but I didn't. Not my place, I thought.
What would you have done?