Baseball Coaching--Don't Overlook Any of Your Baseball Players!
Posted: Monday, February 08, 2010
by Larry Cicchiello
Larwenty Online Enterprises Inc
As a baseball coach, I've always enjoyed watching my so called "superstars" perform. Hitting a "seed" up the gap or pitching six scoreless innings is lots of fun to watch. But I also enjoy a player who has been struggling and then overcomes any baseball struggles. I've had my share of championships and have enjoyed them tremendously. After one of them, my 10-11-12 year old team doused me with many different colors of an athletic beverage. One of my player's mothers asked me, "Larry, doesn't that feel terrible?" I was sticky, slimy and multicolored from head to toe, including my glasses. I looked at her in honest disbelief and replied "No, not at all. It feels great." Being a very competitive coach, what mattered to me was my kids were celebrating their championship victory and not hanging their heads. OK, so we all enjoy winning and I'll put myself at the top of the list.
Our regular season begins and Nick is struggling big time. After about ten games Nick is hitless for the year. Hitless as in 0-20 for the year. I'm coaching third base and Nick is up. He has a count of 2-2. For about the hundredth time, I call out to Nick, "Come on Nick, short to the ball." I then actually demonstrated it to him as if I were swinging the bat.
Nick is a right-handed hitter and the pitcher throws him a fastball over the outside portion of the plate. With this lightning quick motion, Nick throws the head of the bat directly at the ball. It almost looked like a quick karate chop. He hits a seed into the right-center field gap and gets a stand up double. I can't describe the great feeling I had!. Remember, this is a great kid who had been severely struggling at the plate. Nick is standing on second base and looking toward home plate with his usual humble expression on his face. I called out to Nick. Before he completely turned his head toward me, I could already see a very, very huge grin. When we are making eye contact, I wave my right fist in the air at about head height. Nick, who is usually refined and quiet, shakes his fist back at me so aggressively that I honestly thought he could have injured his right shoulder. Really, I give you my word on that!
Sure, I remember many details of important playoff victories and championship victories. I can tell you who got the big hits, who pitched great, who made game saving defensive plays, etc. But I remember Nick's seed to right-center like it happened five minutes ago and not seven years ago. If you are into baseball coaching, maybe you have a player similar to Nick on your team.
I promise you that helping that player will be at least as rewarding as any playoff or championship victory. And believe me, I love to win as much as anyone you will ever meet!
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