Should high school coaches coach summer teams?

This is a question that arises in the stands alot. Should high school coaches help with /coach summer showcase teams that consist of a few players from his high school team?

 

Wow!. Interesting topic. Ask 10 people and you will get 10 different opinions. I think everyone's opinion depends on their personal situation. I know that is our case.

I think you have to ask why HS coaches coach at all in the summer. Many HS coaches do coach summer teams now. And they do it for many reasons. Some just want to be around the game. Some want to develop kids. Some need the extra money and want to be around the game. Some want to advance their career and it's a great networking opportunity. Each coach has his own reasons and no one's reasons are right or wrong.

Our head coach coaches our Colt team which is rising soph's and jrs. It fits his personal schedule and he wants to develop kids in his HS program. Our two assistant coaches both coach IMPACT. I don't know their reasons but it's probably some combination of the above reasons I have mentioned.

What's good for my son is for HS coaches to coach kids primarily from their own program. I hear so much about how the kids need to play together and develop as a team. If this is the coach's goal then playing together in the summer promotes that goal. I know my own son loves playing with his HS teammates. At the same time, he is exploring showcase teams for next summer.

However this does not always fit with the goal of the individual player. Many players have individual goals of playing after high school and that's a good goal/dream to pursue. If this is the case many people believe you need as much exposure as possible. Mnay coaches here have voiced that opinion. I agree with this opinion.

Some kids or parents don't want their HS coach to coach their son in the summer. They want their kids to be exposed to other coaches and situations. I guess this could be a positive. It's apparent some don't like their HS coaching sitaution. However this isn't an issue for my son.

My son's #1 goal is to win a State Championship with his best friends. Playing after HS would be his next goal. So from my son's perspective, he prefers playing for his HS coach(s). Unfortunately due to his coach's other commitments this is not an option beyond Colt baseball. Can't blame the coach. He's got to have a life too and coaching Colt helps him develop kids in his program. Overall we have a good situation.

 

Well, I'm not one of those 10 because I agree 100% with you Putt. You mentioned many reasons coaches coach during the summer...and all of them are true. These guys must work during the summer and they would prefer to be around baseball.

In Charlotte, at one time the HC was responsible for his own field and could rent it out to whomever he chose. It was a great source of revenue for the coaches during the summer. But that is no longer the case. All fields fees are handled through downtown CMS.

 

One thing I was not clear on. I would think all coaches do it because they love the game and teaching kids. I suspect none do it for money alone. If money were the case they could take just about any summer job and make more and work less. Some probably need a little extra pocket money in the summer and what better way to do it than coaching a game you love. BTW, my Mom was a teacher and part time coach and single parent. I lived that environment of needing a little extra cash.

 

In some areas, high school coaches are able to take their team as a whole in to the summer as a showcase team. This is a good idea for the team as a whole and prevents division among HS players during the summer. Coaches certainly should be able to coach during the summer to earn money or because they enjoy coaching, but should be careful that it doesnt create a conflict of interest within his HS team by coaching a select few for the summer.

 

The last thing

a kid needs is to be a backup all HS season and then keep that role all summer long. Kids need to play in the summer and fall and get valuable experience. If a HS coach is going to coach his team in the summer then he needs to not let it be an extension of the HS season but a new season with new goals for his players. Sometimes kids need a new perspective as well. Sometimes getting the same information but from a different person will be great for a player. Sometimes another coach can see things that you do not see. Its just my opinion but I can see advantages and disadvantages to having your HS coach coach you in the summer. I guess it depends on the coach and the way he goes about it.

 

Things to ponder.. I want to hear your thoughts

Think about responding to these as they relate to this thread... I have interjected some thoughts, but I want to hear from you.

1. Doesnt it depend on the goals for the players involved? (Showcase / exposure vs. "school" team / player development) For example, the CCSSL was established as a league so high school coaches could develop players in their programs for next year's HS team.

2. Is it better to do one over the other? Team goals vs individual exposure?

3. What about the idea of a player learning something from another coach? I am sure there are coaches out there (many of them) that know more about certain aspects of the game than I. As coaches when we are around our kids all the time there is a tendancy to close our minds. A fresh set of eyes (knowledgable eyes) may get that player over the edge and help with somethig I did not see. I personally dont care who our players hear from as long as the teaching helps him become a better player. I'm sorry, but some coaches let their egos get in the way and dont want anybody messin with their kids.... I am not that way...( I hope)

3. What about double participation? Kids playing for 1 team during the week and a showcase team during the weekend? Really tough on pitchers. I hav experienced a situation where a pitcher pitched on a Sunday, had three appearacnces during the week, then failed to inform me he had pitched during the week when it was time for his next start, giving him 5 appearances in a 7 day period. Had I known the whole situation in the beginning, I would nto have pitched that kid...

4. How many true high school teams could compete (I am speaking of having a legitimate chance to win) in tournaments weekend and weekout against teams such as the Dirtbags, Panthers, Cubs, Heat, Hurricanes, etc... I am talking of the premier showcase teams in the area? No fantasies here, lets be perfectly honest and realistic here...

5. I have coached showcase teams with a couple of my own players on them... I have always asked the other coaches to offer their own evaluations, etc... to help my players. We work together...

 

the big debate that is gong on everywhere. summer teams vs showcase teams. i wish it where like the old days where everyone played for their local team wether it was legion or sholastic league or big league (oldie there) but that is not the case anymore. my biggest concern as a high school coach is that they play SOMEWHERE. there probably is some jealousy among some of the players... but this is the case when the players SEEM to make the showcase team a priority (not always the way the player really feels, but where you spend the money is going to get the priority) it is a touchy situation that high school coaches now have to deal with along with the other things that go along with coaching high school. i have no great words of wisdom on how to deal with it, or what should be done, or what is right or wrong. i agree it depends on the players situation.

 

1. It does depend on the players goals and objectives. But that doesn't address whether the HS coach should coach or not. It just aids in the decision as to whether or not the kid should play for him or not.

2. That's a choice each kid has to make.

3. We had kids play Colt ball and Showcase ball this summer. It happens. Managing the pitching for pitchers is a must I would think. I would think a different set of eyes could be a good thing if it's the right set of eyes. I know our HS coaches are more comfortable with some more than others. For instance, our HS coaches are very comfortable with Scott Bankhead helping them with their pitching, whereas they are reluctant with others.

4. HS teams that are playing showcase ball cannot compete in most situations with true showcase teams. But does that really matter? Afterall, in most situations it's not about the team. It's about showcasing one's individual skills. Sure, there are some events you want to win. But isn't showcase about the individual?

As the song title from Toby Keith says, "I wanna talk about me."

5. I would think it would help the kid to see other coach's opinions and the kid may learn something new. Your HS coach can't be expected to know everything. Maybe the HS coach learns something. Maybe another coach sees something that then HS coach missed.

 

There is also chatter that a high school is recruiting players that play for a showcase team to come play for the high school team. I know a player can play for whoever he wants as long as its done right. I just think a HS coach needs to consider that it may divide his team during the school season, esp. if he helps caoch the summer team.