Middle School Coaches

Seems to me the opposite is true here as far as authority. If someone other than a faculty member were coaching and acted inappropriately the system could just say you're fired and that would be the end of it as far as coaching. It would not be that simple with a staff member; they would have to go through whatever red tape was necessary to discipline them. Anything exceeding inappropriate would be handled by a different authority in either case.

The systems I'm aware of require the same applications and background checks as is required to be a teacher.

 

have watched alot of middle school games this season,and was talking with A High School coach about the same point.If you watch.most of the coaches in MS have no coaching strategy whatsoever.MS coaches make it so easy for A veteran coach to face them.If you will look at the rosters of these teams, and it will show the strength of their areas Rec. Program or Feeder.If more coaches in MS would ask for help from their feeder program, they would get alot more out of there program.But what I"ve seen is the title "Coach" gives them the authority to kill a team of great talent.

 

When my daughter was in middle school, the coaches learned more from the TB girls than the girls ever learned from the coaches. Two girls in their 20's who called a parent meeting and said they knew there were some parents that were travel ball coaches, but they would not be needing their help. Example of the coaching, my daughter tagged up and advanced on a caught foul ball and our own coach questioned the umpire if we could do that. To this day that coach still doesn't understand that you can run on a dropped third strike. We had six girls that year that played travel ball. They coached themselves and went undefeated. Almost every day after their ms "practice" they would come to the batting cage in my back yard to practice on their own.

 

Usually in our conference, whoever has the most travel ball players in key spots wins. I have done both, coached tb and school ball. With only a few weeks to get ready to play a Fall season, its tough on any coach.

 

My problem with most parent coaches are they are there 2 years and gone. Daddy ball 201, it is simply the second course. Yes middle school coaches should ask for help. But just cause you coach rec or travel ball does not make you a coach. My daughter hits left handed and her rec coach (who is also a TB assistant) kept telling her to "swing early so you can hit it to the third basemen". All coaches can and should ask for help and try to learn something every trip to the field. My mentor told me "when you think you have learned it all give it up and start something new because you will never get any better!" Not trying to start a fuss but many of the so called TB teams in my area are nothing more than glorified "Daddy Ball". Now I am only speaking for the ones I am familiar with. I plan on attending several tournaments in the near future to find out where the best ball is being played because that is where I want to learn from.

 

There are so many resources for learning softball/baseball. There are books, dvd's, etc. There are many free articles, videos on the internet. There are plenty of coaches that have successful teams. The only reason one can't learn would be if they don't make the effort.

There is much to learn; it doesn't happen in a season. The more time one puts in it the more they will learn. And the more they will unlearn and re-learn!

You will learn as much trying to teach as you did trying to learn.

You should never forget that you didn't start off knowing everything. If you did, you still don't know anything.

Softball/baseball is as complicated as anything I've ever tried to learn or teach. It only takes about 12 years to finish school; it takes about another 9 to become a doctor. I think that's pretty much what it takes to learn softball/baseball.

The good thing is while we are learning we can help and be helped. Don't be afraid to learn but just as importantly, don't be afraid to unlearn.