| stylemismatch | -- 12-25-2004 @ 12:06 PM |
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THop - good "trivia" posts, I've been absorbing the knowledge and hopefully retaining at least a little bit. I much appreciated the baserunning information especially. Around what age do you guys recommend transitioning the kids away from being baserunning robots (where they just watch the coaches)? I feel pretty confident that most (but not quite all) of our 11-12 year olds are ready to start thinking for themselves on the bases. I plan on bringing this up with our head coach before spring ball, realizing that the kids are going to make a few mistakes and bad decisions for a while. One thing I forsee is that a few of the kids will be very timid in their baserunning. During fall ball a couple of them would ignore steal signs, and when they'd come back to the dugout they told me they saw the sign but didn't think they could make it. We always tell them repeatedly that it's no big deal if they get caught stealing, that we'd rather see that than not trying. How do other coaches deal with the kids that, when given the power to make their own decisions on the basepath, are overly afraid of failure. And conversely, how about the kids that always take unwarranted risks.
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| THop | -- 12-25-2004 @ 2:07 PM |
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Stylemismatch: Great questions. I decided to begin teaching most of the above mentioned, base running skills to 11 year olds, 7 or 8 years ago. Today, I have fine tuned my presentation and can do this during a 1.5 hour practice (and rehash them many times all season long). If I ever get a chance to work with 9-10 year olds again, I will start it there too. I think each one should be addressed the first year of player pitch (with stealing) especially with the 4-6 month travel teams. Even if it means assigning one coach to be the base running "expert". This is not for every coach (as you will find out). He has to make a total commitment to a teaching/learning philosophy. In other words, he tries to win every game, but never has his best players do all the work. It takes 12 (or whatever). He also has to be willing to have more than a few parents, players (even his wife) question his commitment to this. He also has to secure extra practice time to get a lot of it done before his first game. I chose (and still use) a lighted, asphalt parking lot behind a middle school for 2-3 practices a week to jog through every base running “skill” (half speed), cookie cutter style. I am usually there an hour or so as every player runs through his regimen (or course) which takes about 20-30 minutes. I have also coached hundreds of 14-19 year old, “timid” high school base runners who took about 9 months to get the hang of all of these. As you will find out, most of them hear these for the first time and it will take a while for them to feel comfortable making the right decisions under pressure. A few of them initially did like you described, and didn’t even try to run when they got a straight steal sign (even though I explained to them how it was an off speed pitch). They all had to learn their limitations and to stay out of their comfort zones. More importantly, they had to understand and trust me. Many of them had to also master the delayed steal, hit and run and reading the pitch in the dirt during their secondary lead, before the other players. By the time they graduated, none of them were much faster, but all of them were a lot smarter and had developed into above average base runners (college prospects). All of them made the difference in at least one, 1 run ball game during that time. Lastly, I have always encountered those kids who were overly aggressive and borderline stupid (on the base paths). Some lost their “courtesy runner” privileges quickly. They also had to learn the percentages and realize that in high school, everyone can catch and throw. Chicken base running and clapping leads are a thing of the past. Once, as a reminder, I had to sub for a sub (pinch runner) after one pitch. I would never embarrass or humiliate a player who is giving his all, mentally and physically. However, I have no problem doing that with ones who don’t. Merry Christmas and thanks for participating in 78 threads here this year! THop This message was edited by THop on 12-25-04 @ 2:49 PM
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| GOLDYLOC | -- 12-25-2004 @ 9:03 PM |
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style the younger the better..(9-10 yr olds can learn. It is better when you play in a league with lead-offs. However even in Little league you can teach. watch the ball pass ball go , they can still get a secondary lead. they should start to learn to think one there feet as soon as possible. It will allow them to be better ball players..... Also it is unacceptable for a ballplayer of any age to ignore signs. If they get thrown out it is on the coach. But they are to get the best possible jump ( I understand in Little League it is when ball passes the plate)That they can get. Run as fast as they can and slide the best they can. If they are overly aggresive you may want to let them know that they shouldn't go unless you give em a sign to go....But definatley do not let a kid get away with not going on a steal sign. What if you give a suicide squeeze sign and the batter says he didn't feel good about it????These are things that a good coach will go over again and again in practice. You can't expect a kid to do anything without first going over it a few times or more in practice..... have a good day then Goldyloc
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