Hard Work, Desire & Coaching Challenges

One of our recent challenges came at an off-season workout, a series of "skill and skull" sessions we're hosting with baseball instructor Shane Davenport.

One of the players, having been repeatedly reminded to get in a "ready" fielding position during a BP session (we try to work both sides simultaneously so it doesn't turn into just a hittng session w/ a lot of bored fielders watching) began arguing with a coach. The coach and player have a 3 year tenure on the same team, and the coach has perhaps become akin to a parent in the eyes of the player -- and we've all seen our kids give their parents short-shrift on occasion.

What brought the situation full-circle was the "skull" session whereby Davenport mentioned several issues he was seeing on the field. In particular he reinforced what the other coach had been stressing, explained further why it was so important, and then took a quieter tact. He asked the players if they felt a lttle furstration being reminded repeatedly. They all exclaimed some sort of frustration, and he went on to explain that without the reiminders, the practices and the volunteer efforts of coaches and dads, that they would not be prepared to play ball later. Noting that high school coaches wouldn't be teaching fundamentals, and -- even more-so -- would not tolerate a lack of fundamental skils among starting players, he pointed to the "when" of learning these skills. Bottom line: these 12 years olds needed to take ownership of their games if they wanted to progress. It was a smart reminder, and an even smarter way to shore up the other coach and respect due him.

Ask teachers and coaches who they remember teaching throught their years, and you'll often hear stories about the ones who "got it," young people who asked questions, had a hunger for knowledge or experience (i.e. put me in coach) and thus were given the "keys to the store" in terms of access to the teacher or coach and the extra time and advice that makes a good student great. Ask them about the other side of the coin and you'll see a lot of frowns and furrowed brows... the sheer disappoinment associated with "losing" a kid, or having to spend more time on the rudimentary while seeking real growth.

In short, after seeing repeated attempts to teach or coach "wasted" by kids who would rather fight than switch -- or rather be somewhere else altogether -- the teacher gives up, and tolerates the player but offers no more.

What a shame, but it is what it is... lost opportunity, and both sides lose.

So how can you reach out to the others? How can you draw them in? Honesty helps, in perhaps the form of a candid one-on-one where each person is given an opinion, a role in the coonversation and a chance to save face. Make this meeting a lecture and it's over before it begins. Give the player a chance to voice his or her opinions, and the feeling he or she is being listened to, and you may have a breakthrough that can change a young life, and certainly make the remaining season or association far more enjoyable. As coaches and parents, we do a lot of bossing, often assuming kiddos will buy into our considerable knowledge. But "teamwork" is more than "a bunch of people doing what I told em to do," it's sometimes brushing aside the pride and position, and reaching into the dynamic of "team" and working to leave no member behind.

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A Word of Thanks...
Special thanks go out to a roster of baseball folks who responded to an email we sent out regarding Avery Sullivan's 4-year anniversary at the Ray Burris Academy. Ave (or Ave-Rod as he prefers) is one of those kiddos that "gets it," working his fanny off and soaking up every bit of the game he can. A joy to coach and know.

We'd like to thank these fine folks (listed in no particular order) for their personal notes and sage words of advice -- they're the people that make the great game great:
Breon Dennis -- Texas Rangers
Jim Sundberg -- Texas Rangers
Ray Burris -- Ray Burris Academy
George Wright -- Ray Burris Academy
Shane Davenport -- Ray Burris Academy
Mark Patrick -- Host, MLB Home Plate on XM Radio
Cal & Billy Ripken -- Ripken Baseball
Rusty Greer -- Texas Rangers great (and Ave's role model)
Randy Galloway -- Long-time DFW Sports Guru
Stephen Keener -- President, Little League Baseball
JD Magee -- Coach and owner Arlington Baseball Academy
John Arnot -- Coach and NALL VP
Jimmy Lilly -- Former Coach