| Idea |
Reason |
Example(s) |
| Teach or Coach not Both |
If it's practice time teach; if it's game time coach. |
During the game you want your players to focus on the next out or next hit - so should you. You can't teach a pitcher a new pitch on the mound in the seventh inning. No instruction during the game - instead, make mental notes for post-game talk or a special clinic during the next practice. |
| Practice for Games |
Put your emphasis in practice on situations you actually face in games. |
Pitchers who throw knuckleballs in practice but never in games, or infield pregames with throws from first to third - those are two examples. You might as well practice triple plays. |
| Want it? Teach it. |
You can't ask players to do something in the game that they've never tried in practice. |
If you expect a player to bunt, you better have taught him well. Same with basics like base running, over-the-shoulder fielding, and whatever else. No one wants to try something for the very first time in a pressure situation with an audience. |
| Give Them Legs |
As players mature, they must learn to self-correct |
Better to have a batter be self reliant, recognize what he's doing and be able to correct himself. Likewise with pitchers, fielders and baserunners. |
| One at a Time |
Players need to concentrate to learn - they can't correct five things at once. |
Decide the one thing that will most improve the situation - is it foot position or arm angle or focus? Then teach only that - say/do nothing else. |
| Ten Swing Rule |
Repeat your one instruction until you and the player both seem ready to move on. |
If in your hitting instruction you talk about 'driving the nail to the inside of the ball' then say it, as the player does it for at least 10 pitches. |
| Don't say "Don't" |
Always affirm with a positive action. |
If you want a batter to keep his head on the ball, the instruction is not "don't look up", it's "Keeping looking at the T for a count of one thousand and one." The worst offense: coaches who say "whatever you do, don't strike out." |
| No White Bears |
Keep the focus on the results you want. |
Another way to look at the don't rule. If a pitcher CAN'T throw a curveball, don't tell your batter that - he'll go up there with his mind thinking about nothing but curveballs. As for you, coach, whatever you do in the next 5 minutes of your life, don't think about white bears. |
| Be Credible |
If a player doubts himself, he'll doubt you too. |
Coaches (and parents from the stands) who call out to the batter after a strike-out "don't worry you'll get him next time" actually foster non-confidence within the player. (There's no credibility, folks.) Sometimes, it's best to let a bad moment slide. |
| Be Brave. |
Be willing to try new drills, switch player positions, call steals, and so on. |
Young players like to challenge themselves. Coaches need to share that enthuisiasm. |
| Practice with Intensity |
Players need to leave a practice pumped with desire to test what they've learned in a game. |
Plan every practice - on paper - against the clock. Keep things moving, keep them focused. It's the only way to build a team with the desire to out-perform. |
| A Little Praise, Please |
Every improvement, however small, deserves a compliment. |
One of the best things about coaching is seeing your players do better - individually and as a team. Let them know it - praise even minor accomplishments because they may only be minor to you, but major to them! |
