Posted by: Coach C () on Fri Dec 19 11:12:34 2003

hi all
>
> my last season was a rollercoaster in terms of emotions. my team got into a more competitive league with wood and troubles started to run loose. coming from aluminium, all the players couldn´t move let alone hit with wooden bats. so our coach decided we better put the ball on the ground, because we were good for nothing except for hit and run, and bunting. and he, because of his damn ego, he wanted to win ball games. What´s wrong with this approach? did the coach do the right thing? it seems like the right approach... at the time.
> i disagree because i started learning rotational and i started whipping the ball being a small guy and all. if the coach had known better he could have taught us rotational but he didn´t. he decided to sacrifice players learning curve to get easy wins. now, next season, we are going to run into the same exact brick wall of tougher pitching and poor mechanics. most of the guys are hopless. As for me, i am enjoying the ride. the faster the pitcher the better my mechanics because i can hit the ball square and not rush to it. why do coaches egos interfere with player developement over and over? my coach is the usual coach, that repeats linear cues over and over without knowing for sure what they all mean.
>
> how do you guys feel about this?
>
> toti.

Sounds like you are boxed into a corner, but let me give you some advice. Always acknowledge the coach as being right and do whatever the team needs you to do. In this game you need people to root for you and if they know you are doing whatever it takes to win, the team will do better......That comes first. As for his bad verbal cues, understand this...if he is giving bad advice, then he will not recognize when you are doing it your way. What that means is....acknowledge his advice, tell him no sweat, and continue to do what you have to do. He will not know the difference. The trick is this....you need to produce, so accept the challenge and let the proof be in the results.

Don't get into a debate over hitting mechanics with your coach if he is not a good listener....it's a fight you can not win. As long as he is a good person and is trying to win (which is your goal too!), then support him. You want this guy on your side and a lot of his frustration with players may be a direct result of him not being able to correct problems....he's just not acknowledgeing this to the team. I don't know the guy, but he is clearly trying his best to help the team succeed. You will be helping him by supporting him, whether you agree or not. This coach may be huge resource for you down the road, so do the right thing.

Good Luck,

Coach C