Lightning and Youth Sports

Here's a great article on lightning and taking precautions for youth sports.

Positive Coaching Alliance

Check out the Positive Coaching Alliance website for all things coaching youth sports and sign up for their free talking points emails.

Cheer for kids regardless of what happens

Magic Ratio

Maintain a "Magic Ratio" of five truthful, specific praises for every one specific, constructive criticism. If you do, you will find out why it's called that, because children will be able to do things you wouldn't have thought possible.  From Responsible Sports

Why are you playing

If the kids aren't having fun, why are they playing?

Five keys to playing you're best on the pitch

1.  Stay focused on the game.  Watching anything other than the game is asking for trouble.  Ask your family and friends what they were doing after the game.  Keep your eyes and ears on what's going on within the game.

2.  Listen to the coaches.  The coach is trying to help you understand something specific about the current game.  Be open to adjusting your play to help the team.

3.  Keep moving.  Never stop when you're on the pitch.  You can't do much for yourself or your team standing in one spot.  Move, and keep moving.

4.  Think and react.  Focus on the task at hand.  Ask, "what should I be doing right now to help the team," then do it.

5.  Put a smile on your face.  If you're not having fun, find something else to do.  It's soccer!  What could possibly be more fun than running around kicking a ball?

Are youth coaches over using young arms?

If you haven't read Tom Verducci's article on MLB pitching injuries, do so now.  It's an interesting insight into the rate of pitcher injuries in MLB.  

I've also been reading some of Eric Cressey's pitching information on his site.  I was especially interested in this article on the amount of pitching young people should be doing each year.  Although I don't agree with everything Cressey says on the topic, I think it at least should make a coach think hard about the impact each and every season can have on a young person's long term health, especially pitchers.  It's very easy to always look to your go to guy when you need a big win.  But is it the right thing to do?

Opening Day 2013

Opening Day 2013.  Baseball's back.

Bling guy hitting, Mark Wetzel

I had the privilege of spending some time learning from the blind guy hitting coach Mark Wetzel this afternoon.  He has a really concise message when it comes to the baseball swing, keep it simple, don't move you head, relax, set up is key, and get the barrel of the bat squared up on the ball.  Mark was working with a young man while explaining his basic technique, and the you could see the kid improve with his simple instructions.

Thumbs up to Blind Guy Hitting Mark Wetzel.  

But did you have fun?

On your ride home ask your kid, "Did you have fun?" Follow up with "Did you have fun with your friends?"  Leave the game recap and strategy talk for the next practice.

Keep practice lighthearted, let your kids smile

If there's one thing I've been learning about practice lately, it's this:  If your kids are smiling they're having fun.  If they're having fun, they're learning.  As coach it's your job to get them to learn, therefore get them to.......

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