The importance of being coachable

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Ken Krause

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May 7, 2008
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Mundelein, IL
A few days ago my friend Tim Boivin sent me this article about NBA star (and future Hall of Famer) Tim Duncan. The article quotes an open letter from Tony Parker, who explains that the San Antonio Spurs’ winning culture was largely driven by the coachability of Duncan. The article talks about how Duncan’s success […]

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Jun 7, 2016
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Good article Ken. Important question though, Where is the line of being uncoachable vs accepting coaching that conflicts with instruction provided by high level private coaches?
 

Ken Krause

Administrator
Admin
May 7, 2008
3,911
113
Mundelein, IL
Good article Ken. Important question though, Where is the line of being uncoachable vs accepting coaching that conflicts with instruction provided by high level private coaches?

That's a great question. Hopefully you've been able to do some research before joining a team so you know whether the coaching is good or not. But if not, and there is a conflict, sometimes you just have to politely nod and smile while ignoring that particular instruction.

What you CAN do is go with the coach's preferred strategy (for example who goes where on bunt coverage) even if you don't agree with it, and continue to give your best effort in practice and games. Skills can be harmed by poor instruction, but the ability to execute the strategy cannot. The next coach may have a different strategy, and you can easily roll into it.

The other thing you don't want to do as a player is argue about the skills, make faces, or cause other issues. That gives you the reputation of being uncoachable. Funny thing is, if you perform well in games the coaches will assume you're listening to them and following what they're teaching, even when you're not. I've seen that happen a few times, and I just laugh. I would not recommend doing it the "wrong" way when the coach is there and then try to go back and do it the right way later. Just stick with what you're working on with the private coach, but smile and nod when receiving the "other" instruction as if you're trying to do it. After a short time the "other" coach will move on. After all, he/she has a whole team to screw up. :)
 
Jun 7, 2016
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Thanks ken, mostly what our pitching coach suggested. Really, issues centers around specific instruction on change-up where the TB advice is completely antiethical to her pitching instructor directions.
And JAD, call me cynical, but most advice coming from college coaches (Corey Meyers, Durkin, Urban Meyer) these days rank in the same level as advice from politicians....
 
May 13, 2008
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As a coach when a player has a private coach, I will usually defer to the private coaching as long as it produces results. If it isn't working or isn't improving, I'll make suggestions. I'm smart enough to know I don't know everything, hopefully the private coach feels the same.

Have you talked to your TB coach and informed him/her that your private coach teaches it differently?
 

Ken Krause

Administrator
Admin
May 7, 2008
3,911
113
Mundelein, IL
As a coach when a player has a private coach, I will usually defer to the private coaching as long as it produces results. If it isn't working or isn't improving, I'll make suggestions. I'm smart enough to know I don't know everything, hopefully the private coach feels the same.

Have you talked to your TB coach and informed him/her that your private coach teaches it differently?

Actually, when I was coaching teams I did the same thing. Even if I didn't like what the player was being taught. I might suggest to the parent that what was being taught wasn't optimal, and show some examples of why. But I didn't change anything unless the player or parent specifically asked for help. Two people telling a player different mechanics is only going to end up making her worse, because she'll be stuck between worlds. Better to be good at less-than-optimal mechanics than have no solid mechanics overall.

Lately I've also been asked to help a few local teams with hitting, pitching, or catching as a group. My first question is do any of the players already have a private coach? If so, I will suggest excluding them from instruction to avoid putting the player in the same position described in the OP. If I can do a good enough job with the players I do work with, hopefully the other one(s) will see it and want to get in on it.
 
Jun 7, 2016
275
43
"As a coach when a player has a private coach, I will usually defer to the private coaching as long as it produces results. If it isn't working or isn't improving, I'll make suggestions. I'm smart enough to know I don't know everything, hopefully the private coach feels the same.
Have you talked to your TB coach and informed him/her that your private coach teaches it differently?"

After trying different styles, we (DD, me & PC) settled on what we thought would be best.

DD is not exactly that good, but we all know pitching success is a process :D Team coach prefers a horshoe/flip style. It works for his student. I am just not ready to jettison something we've worked on and is starting show consistency. And this team pitching coach has had success in helping students, and I believe some of his instruction will benefite DD, so I am not looking to alienate, embarass or otherwise be disrespectful, but the degree of knowledge between the two instructors is significant. (and yes, I knew all this before selecting the team knowing this pitfall. But there is so much positive with her new team, I just looking to navigate this one situation as tactfully as possible!)
 

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