Agreed.. and coaches only make right decisions when relying on their gut.. insert sarcasmStats only keep coaches in check if they're accurately done.
Agreed.. and coaches only make right decisions when relying on their gut.. insert sarcasmStats only keep coaches in check if they're accurately done.
It's important to know your players.. but when external factors such as feelings towards a kids family dictate how much playing time that kid gets, then you have a problem. A coach should make an effort to know each kid at the same level. And even when your personality does not gel with a certain kids personality, that should not dictate playing time either... unfortunately it happens all the time. That's the beauty of stats(accurate), it takes all that BS out of the equation.I’m a stats guy, but I say that may be a smart coach! I am a disciple of Steve Springer in that I believe stats are evil when it comes to the players- can cause them to play scared. As a coach, I use stats as a tool but not the only tool.
To me, Knowing your players is more important than knowing their stats
GC isn't just about keeping stats, it lets family "watch" the game remotely in real time. It's downright addictive. And the audio play by play is absolutely awesome to listen to in one ear when you're working, especially when the computer butchers names...And they are keeping stats for 8u why?
I've always felt stats are just for parents; that they're the most subjective metric of all. As for playing time, coaches play the players they want to keep. I think things work better when 'everyone' understands that.I was talking to a coach last night about playing time and batting order etc and he told me he never looks at stats. He told me you have to go by your eye because stats lie.
I believe stats can be deceptive, if you have a small sample size, but that direct observation or "eyeballing" is subject to all sorts of inaccuracies, biases and prejudices.
What say you?
I agree with the 'why' part, but more like why 'waste your time'. I've never had a coach give an honest answer to anything. "You're starting next game", "I'm going to carry two catchers", etc.,. If a coach says it, it's as worthless as the clipboard he/she's carrying.Why would you do such a thing? Why would a coach allow such a thing? Let the coach do the coaching, and you do the clapping/cheering.
That's just too funny. 1 + 1 = 2, 1 + biased opinion = WTHI've always felt stats are just for parents; that they're the most subjective metric of all. As for playing time, coaches play the players they want to keep. I think things work better when 'everyone' understands that.
You fail to realize at the club level, it is usually Tommy's Mom, or the Short Stop's Dad (which may very well be a head coach or assistant) inputting data. Garbage in, garbage out. Was that an error? Was that a sacrifice? What was the situation. Moreover, most scorekeepers (not unlike most coaches) couldn't tell the difference between a rise and a high fastball, and the data points you cite above are not typically recorded in club level stats. Why? Because the integrity of the data is unreliable.That's just too funny. 1 + 1 = 2, 1 + biased opinion = WTH
Coaches play the players they want to keep? Yes that's probably true, why do they want to keep them? WTF knows.
Are there other metrics? Gut feelings, biased opinions, favoritism, not subjective at all.. LOL. Actually that's the definition subjectivity
Subjectivity - the quality of being based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.
Stats help delimit subjectivity, not create it. Of course they are not the be all end all.. there are other factors to consider.
Most people or coaches who hate stats are the ones that either don't understand or understand enough that it don't support their biased opinions and decisions.
My DD's team play against teams that are heavy into stats. Do they have a better team? No, but they win because they play the numbers. This hitter chases the high pitch, this one can't hit a change up, pitch this one outside, play this one up the middle.. etc. Our coaching staff gets badly out coached and it's obviously because of stats... not gut feelings. Yeah stats are just for parents
I coached softball for 40 years, HS, Rec, Travelball etc. . My winning % speaks for itself on all levels. I liked keeping book so that I could use stats to set my lineup and batting order. 99% of the time my starting lineup was based off my stats. Remember, this is competitive softball not playground stuff. Did anything else factor in? Sure, but the stats were my #1 deciding factor.
He said "I liked keeping book so that I could use stats to set my lineup "Who's keeping your book? 99% is an awfully large percentage to rely on someone who likely doesn't know how to keep stats. Before you say they know what they're doing, ask what a wild pitch is and I guarantee thy'll get it wrong. Unless they look it up of course.