When you become a coach for a kids’ team, it feels like a major responsibility. That’s because it is! You are molding and shaping young players’ lives, their love for the game, and how they develop as they grow. You have to keep them safe, teach them, and show them the way when it comes to baseball.
So, if you’re not up for the task, it’s time to leave the field. However, if you are up for being the best coach you can be, there are some handy tips you can draw from to help the process along.
Learn the Game Inside Out
You can’t teach something unless you know at least the basic facts. But a coach has to know the game intimately. They have to breathe baseball knowledge from their pores in order to show the kids the ropes in a positive way.
A newbie coach with limited knowledge about the sport will be easy to spot from a mile off. Don’t make that mistake. There has to be a reason you chose to be a baseball coach for a kids’ team — it is a niche position after all.
The reason is bound to be based on your love for the sport and the desire to push through the next generation of players. You never know, a kid on your team might be the next big thing.
Every kid needs the right guidance, and you can only give it if you know what you’re talking about. So, if your knowledge is a little rusty, try to brush up and get to grips with all modern procedures. The game has changed a lot over the years, even if some rules remain the same.
Get to Know Your Players
Getting to know your players is a part of the gig. There will be a handful of kids that want to play on the team, and it’s only fair that every single one of them gets the opportunity to do just that. When you have a group of kids all playing together on a regular basis in a position of authority, it’s your job to get to know them within the scope of what is appropriate.
Be able to call them by name, and understand their behavioral triggers and social background so that you can guide them to your best capacity. If you fail to understand what they’re about at least on a basic level, you are not really doing your job as their mentor.
You don’t have to be their best friend, but the minute you sign them onto your team you are invested in their life.
Get Innovative with Equipment Choices
Any good coach knows that equipment counts for a lot. There is bound to be a great pitch you can use nearby to train players, but there are other products that are helpful when training a team as well. Training pitchers, for example, is particularly hard.
This is one of the most skill-demanding positions of the entire time so it is an area where you can really get creative with, for example, a fake batter for pitchers. This is an excellent tool that makes training more fun and interactive.
Be Accessible
As we mentioned above, you will be in the role of mentor for the kids on the team. This is fairly normal. So, you have to make sure that you are accessible during practice and demonstrate healthy emotional representation in the way you teach. If a kid is upset or struggling, name it.
Don’t push them too far and let them know that you see them and are validating their experience. The world has come a long way in this respect, but some professions maintain old-school traditions that are not suitable anymore.
Emotional intelligence is as important as pitch knowledge when working with children in this context. While you don’t have to be best friends with your players, you do need to show that you understand them on a human level.
Play to Strengths, and Listen
Always listen to your players. They know what they can do, and they know where they need you to push them. Trusting your gut will only get you so far, and it is your job to bring players out of their shells. Yet, this only works when it is not to their detriment.
So, make sure you listen at every turn as well as driving motions forward. When you have a plan, open your mind to being adaptable. Every child on the team is there because they want to be, so make sure each person gets a chance to prove themselves and learn their abilities.
This is a fundamental part of being a good coach. You have to be able to listen, learn and apply.
Engage with Parents
Finally, you will have to deal with parents so open your mind to this. Parents are heavily involved in their child’s lives in modern times, and there is every chance that this baseball time is their decision as much as the kid’s desire to play. Finding balance with demanding parents is a part of the role. Stay strong and advocate but make time to validate and listen too.
Coaching kids’ baseball is a highly rewarding experience. Learn your stuff, take your time and find your feet with each member of the team. Parents will be a challenge, but the process is worth it for the happy, healthy children you get to help progress in their skills.
Final Words
Becoming a baseball coach for kids is an excellent way to give back to the community. It’s a position of trust and responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Working with kids can be difficult, but is also one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have. The key to success is to get to know them, understand their triggers, and be patient. Remember that you are not just teaching them about baseball, you are also mentoring them and helping them grow into happy, healthy adults.
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