Down the Up Staircase

Some of you have started your seasons already and may be experiencing a year that's a whole lot tougher than you thought. None of us plan to have a horrible season so when it happens we're often at a complete loss on how to handle it and how to possibly turn it around.

That's why I picked one of my favorite quotes to use in this issue, because I think it really sums up the hardest part about coaching - and that is, to stick by and with our team when the going gets tough. That's when our players need us the most and when they need the best coaches - when the going gets tough and they start struggling and losing. It doesn't take much of a coach to point fingers, and yell and criticize when the losing starts, that's easy since almost everyone is doing it. But, like the quote says, how many of us run TO our team when they start to struggle? It's hard isn't it? But, it's also where we can help our players the most.

If you're currently facing a rather tough season, or think you might find yourself there later this year, then the following 6 keys just might come in handy:

1. Be the GOOD FINDER - You must be the person that looks for and finds the good in anything your players are doing! The final score might not reflect it but that doesn't mean your players didn't out practice their opponents, out hustle them, get into their ready positions better, talk better, bunt better - whatever it is that they are doing GOOD both as a team and as individuals you've got to find it and comment on it. Make sure you're real - if something isn't good then don't say it is or else your words won't mean anything to your players.
2. Make Things Possible, Don't Become Defeated - You're their leader - so lead! Avoid becoming negative and defeated. It's their season too and nobody joined the team to lose so make things possible. Look for and find ways out of the problem. Don't criticize the last play, fix the next one!
3. Support Each Other - you are all in this season together. It's a team so be a team. When do people need each other more if it's not in the bad times! Be together and stick together! And dump anyone off the team who cannot support the team and stick with the team!
4. Pitch GROUND BALLS - Your pitchers (or pitcher) might try to do too much so just have her pitch so the opposing hitters hit groundballs. Don't let your better players try to win games by themselves as that's when they will start forcing things and playing horribly.
5. Win What You Can Win! -
   • Can you win the error game?(make less than your opponents)
   • The bunt game? (bunt better than your opponents)
   • The walk game? (more when you're hitting and less when you're pitching?)
   • Can you win certain innings? (maybe you score more in innings 1-3 but lose the game - you would still win those innings, just not the whole game)
   • The pitch selection game? (can your team have better pitch selection?)
   • The change up game? (can your pitchers throw better changeups than the opposing pitchers?)
   • Win the smaller parts of the game that you can win!
6. Develop the Younger Players so that your future seasons are successful - this might mean letting the younger players get more playing time, or play them in positions where they'll play in the future. Also, be sure to develop your pitching for the future

For more information on building team confidence and all matters of Team Building, check out our book, A Coaches Guide to Creating Team Chemistry; Tips on Coaching the Female Athlete.