Picking a Coach

I was recently sitting at our local high school baseball field, waiting for my son to get finished with basketball practice in the gym. As I was sitting in the stands reading a book, I started watching a baseball personal "trainer" work with his student (age 9 - 11, I'd guess) on the field. I watched as this personal baseball trainer was teaching some of the finer points of swinging a bat ... stride as the ball comes to the plate to generate more power, swing the bat through the strike zone, hit the ball out in front of your body....

Well, if you know anything about batting, you'd quickly realize that all of this advice is WRONG!! You don't want to stride as the pitch is coming to the plate, instead you want stride (for timing purposes, not power) as the pitcher starts his delivery, then you want to set yourself for a quick, late swing. If you stride as the pitch is approaching home plate, you'll never be able to react to a change-up or a curve ball or an outside and away pitch. While what this trainer was teaching his student may have been conventional thinking at one time, it is totally wrong for what batters are being taught today. And what's even more sad, is that it'll likely take this kid several years to un-learn what he was being taught by his trainer.

Rule #1: Pick a Coach Who Know What The Hell He's Talking About!

The reason I share this horrible, yet true story, is because there are two critical rules that you need to follow when you select a coach for your child. In fact, they are so much more important than any other factors, that we're going to call these Rule #1 and Rule #1. Get it? So let's get started on talking about the first Rule #1.

When working with young kids, it is critical that they get knowledgeable and relevant coaching on the right techniques, methods and mechanics. One knowledgeable coach that I observed once said that it takes 1000 times to overcome every 1 time you've been taught wrong. Remember: it's harder to undue training than it is do it right the first time. And that's especially true for the young athlete. You MUST find a coach who knows what they hell they are doing, and is teaching the right techniques, methods and mechanics. And as a parent, you MUST invest the time to find this coach.

Picking the Right Coach

Below are some guidelines that will help you find the "right" coach:

• Observe them at work. Invest the time to watch them in action. Do they speak from experience? What is their personal experience both playing and coaching? Watch them work with your kid, and then watch them work with other kids. Watch what they teach to younger kids, and and how what they teach to older kids.
  

• Compare the coaches. Have your child work with several coaches before you settle on one. What is the basic teaching philosophy of each of them? What specifically are they teaching? How do they go about teaching (talking versus doing)? What techniques and tricks do they use as part of their training regiment (e.g., use of video taping)? Make a list of what you hear and like about each of the coaches. That will be critical in helping you decide which one is right for your child.

• Verify what they tell you. Ask for references, and talk to the references. Talk to both the kids (they'll tell you how good the coach really was) and ask them if they are still working with that coach (and if not, why). Ask them if they know of any kids who no longer work with that coach, and then contact these folks as well. If you can, actually watch their references in action. How do they perform? Are they doing what was taught by their personal coach?
  

Damn, this is lots of work. But it is critical (remember, there are only two critical choices to make) that you get this one right. Pick the wrong coach, and you'll likely due your young athlete more damage than good.

Best of luck as parents coaching youth!!