- Jun 21, 2012
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If I were a college coach I would agree. If you are a HS coach and you get he players for 2.5-3 months out of the year how much of an impact do you really think you are making?
Perhaps your state and high school have different regulations so your situation is different (you have more access to your players).
How much impact am I making?
I see my players for 3 hours a day, 6 days a week. So, let's look at the influence math. 24 days a month x 3 hours x 3 months equals 216 hours. Now, lets take an average travel ball team that practices 1 time a week for 52 weeks which equals 156 hours. Fundamental learning takes place in practice, not in games, therefore, HS coaches have more contact time with the athlete, thus a greater influence.
HS ball is unique, in that, HS coaches have a limited pool of participants. We are only allowed to select from athletes who attend our schools. With that, we may get, on average, 6 so-called travel/select players per team. The rest either come from Rec or have never played till HS.
In my travels, I continue to get athletes with poor throwing mechanics, outfielders who drift to the ball, batters who cast, batters who pull out early because they feel they need to "jack the ball", batters who's extension is toward third, rather than the pitcher, infielders who field the ball back between their feet, infielders who miss throws left and right because of cross body throwing, batters who watch first pitch strikes, bunters who can't see the bat and the ball or who can't place a bunt left or right, slappers who run away from the ball, pitchers who zero leg drive...the list goes on. For all the expert travel ball coaches who are making this tremendous impact, why do I see these things from my select players?
Just like there are some good and bad HS coaches, so too are there good and bad travel coaches. Let's not forget "Daddy Ball" coaches, parent in the stands coaches, teams that started because of conflict with an organization coaches, parents with blinders on coaches, etc... Now the Travel ball landscape is so watered down, that it seems even harder to find quality coaching happening.
How about this scenario, Coach of B level team goes to a C level tournament and whoops up on the competition. Now this coach is labeled a good coach and he/she is teaching these girls the right stuff. Go to a practice and observe, and this coach has a bat in one hand and a glove in the other. For hitting practice, front toss with one girl hitting while the rest shag. This coach is winning, so they must be good.
Sorry for the rant...I felt the need to defend HS coaches. It is a thankless job and I haven't met any HS coaches who weren't trying to help these student-athletes. They might not be the best, but they are giving of their time and energy. The same is true for their volunteer travel coaches.