Coaching Techniques from the Work Place to the Field - 365 Days to Better Baseball

Saturday Secrets for Great Baseball Coaching

Coaching Techniques that Work

Many volunteer youth baseball coaches know what they are talking about when it comes to coaching baseball. Most have at least played high school ball and know enough to help youth players. What many of them lack though is the coaching techniques that get the most out of players. This is understandable, as many volunteer coaches do not have the training to know the best coaching techniques.

However, many of the best coaching techniques are the same ones that coaches use in their own line of work. Volunteer coaches should study the techniques they use at work that get results from people and employ them with kids, realizing that it is kids they are working with and not adults, of course.

Powerful Coaching Techniques

1. Address players by name and look them in the eye as if they were equals, as in the work place.
2. Encourage questions and ask if players have questions to be sure they understand, and were listening. Giving an opportunity to ask if they were unsure helps prevent excuses that they did not know the intent of the instruction, realizing they are kids though.
3. Challenge each player differently, expecting more out of the more talented individuals. Of course, good coaches let the better players know that is what they are doing so they do not feel they are being treated unfairly.
4. Good leaders always coach with enthusiasm in the voice and belief that the team can do it.
5. Good coaches suggest as often as possible with phrases like, "You may want to try this next time" or "This worked for me," instead of saying, "You have to do my way."

Other Necessary Coaching Techniques

6. Good leaders never forget to give the "why." Change comes hard for many, especially without a compelling reason to change.

7. Use of visuals go a long way in this day and age, as more and more kids learn from them more than from the spoken word.

8. Ease up when players show frustration. Frustration is normal but pushing at that time usually backfires with youth ball players.

A firm handshake and high five works at the work place and the playing field. Finally, people who use negative and derisive coaching techniques in the work place should not be coaching youth, as they will probably use the same negative methods with young ball players.