What's it like coaching a losing team / program?

We prefer to discuss winning programs, but what's it like to coach HS teams that just can't seem to get over the hump, even over the course of many years?

 

Misery loves company

These days it must be real hard since we are constantly being programmed to think that winning is the only good thing in life!!!

 

I not sure if it really matters to some of them. Others work with what they have and try to develop players that have a love of the game. Thge bright spot does shine ever of in awhile.

 

The problem with winning is that people rely on that to much. If you dont win of course you will be jobless but I think sometimes its what the players are getting out of it. I think if a coach is making every kid on that team better then that should be a large part of how the coach does. Not every team will be as talented as other teams but if they get better every single game and they have fun doing it. That program should not think of it as having a losing season, but one in which the players and team got better throughout. Thats what coaches should do is take the talent around them and make them better in every aspect of the game. Some coaches are lucky enough to have championship team every year and some teams are lucky enough to have enough guys to field a team. IMO, its the idea of getting better as a person/athlete is the most important thing, and winning should be second.

 

I beleive if you are making kids better you are wining. If you make kids better they will always play above their heads.If you show kids up then they will not play for you no matter how much talent you have.Players who give 150% will beat good players 3 out of 5 times.I am not so sure that everyone respects the game like they did a few years back.

 

This is an interesting question. The problem is most coaches that do not have winning programs aren't around very long; But I don't know if it's the coach's decision or not.

Personally, I would love to take over a HS program that is in need of direction or haven't been able to field a quality team. It would be fun to organize and rally the community in all their youth programs with the goal to raise the level of quality with the HS level.

Sometimes, I believe, if you look at a consistently losing team, it's because there is not a total commitment to the program.

 

Braves I think you nailed it

with that comment. Programs that consistently lose over the years do it because there is no commitment to win. Just like the programs that consistently win do it because there is a true commitment to win.

As far as "whats it like coaching a losing team / program?

Stand in front of a brick wall. Place your hands behind your back. Brace yourself. And now pound your forehead off the wall over and over again. The only problem is you can't knock yourself out. And you can't quit.

 

my two pennies

i think its your definition of a losing team/program. obviously what was probably meant was wins and losses. i am as competitive as they get and i can promise losing sucks, looking for moral victories sucks...but sometimes it has to happen.

i was the head coach at a small 1-a school on the coast that is surrounded by mostly 2-a, 3-a schools. i scheduled these teams for our nonconference play. now granted we lost more than we won, but i could care less about our overall record. the games that mattered were conference games, they get you in the playoffs (or what was the real playoffs when you had to finish first or second, not this new crap where everybody with an activity bus gets in, sorry for the rant). we called it "hangin numbers." or to put that year on the conference championship banner. and we had our share of success within the conference.

i just believe that playing the best opponent available makes the team better, more competitive when it counts. and i know in a lot of those games we were out manned. we were starting 14 and 15 year olds in probably 4 of the 9 spots. but you love the ones you got and you do put em in the best place for them to be successful. if you win great, if you don't learn from it.

 

Activity Bus Qualification!

I love it! I feel a WHOLE NEW THREAD coming on! What a funny funny crack from LegionPost46. I'll tell ya'......we got some funny coaches out there. Maybe we're missing an opportunity or something?

"Everybody with an ACTIVITY BUS gets in" LOL

Anyway, on a serious note, this is true not only in our HS Baseball but in the other two sports too. Win the conference and make the playoffs..............or IF a few filler teams are needed bring in some of the #2's. Otherwise, give out some "lovely parting gifts" and get on with the GAME SHOW!

 

No Child Left Behind (AGAIN!)

Hey D'Backs,
Here we go again. Maybe that's the reason there are so darn many Activity Buses around Charlotte.

Don't worry Johnny...........it doesn't matter who wins. If it were up to your Dad and me they wouldn't even be allowed to keep score.