The coach I remember best is from my childhood playing the local equivalent of Little League baseball. His name was Jack Harsch.
I had always been a good sandlot player, but somehow it didn't translate to organized ball. In league play for my first couple of years I was one of those kids they made they playing minimum rules for. I'd get a couple of innings in right field, one at bat, and then I'd be out of the game. I had no confidence, and couldn't break out of the box I was in.
My third year of playing I finally got a hit. I also got a chance to play second base, no doubt because whoever was coaching was desperate. But I made a play on a pop-up and that helped as well.
The next year I was put on Coach Harsch's team. He saw potential in me, worked with me, and encouraged me. I don't think he knew a lot about how to teach the game, but he knew how to bring out whatever a kid had. He put me at third base in the beginning of the year and I did alright. Then one day there was a line shot to my right and I stabbed it. He took one look at the play and told my mother "That boy is a natural catcher." He put gear on me, put me behind the plate, gave me some basic instruction, and it changed my baseball life. I went on to be a two-time all-star as a catcher with one of the top batting averages on my team from then on.
I've read many books on coaching since then and have learned from all of them. But I don't think anyone ever showed me more the difference a caring coach can make than Coach Harsch.
I had always been a good sandlot player, but somehow it didn't translate to organized ball. In league play for my first couple of years I was one of those kids they made they playing minimum rules for. I'd get a couple of innings in right field, one at bat, and then I'd be out of the game. I had no confidence, and couldn't break out of the box I was in.
My third year of playing I finally got a hit. I also got a chance to play second base, no doubt because whoever was coaching was desperate. But I made a play on a pop-up and that helped as well.
The next year I was put on Coach Harsch's team. He saw potential in me, worked with me, and encouraged me. I don't think he knew a lot about how to teach the game, but he knew how to bring out whatever a kid had. He put me at third base in the beginning of the year and I did alright. Then one day there was a line shot to my right and I stabbed it. He took one look at the play and told my mother "That boy is a natural catcher." He put gear on me, put me behind the plate, gave me some basic instruction, and it changed my baseball life. I went on to be a two-time all-star as a catcher with one of the top batting averages on my team from then on.
I've read many books on coaching since then and have learned from all of them. But I don't think anyone ever showed me more the difference a caring coach can make than Coach Harsch.