_
My friend and mentor, Dr. Tom House, once shared what he believed to be the most important role of a baseball coach at any level. He said the highest priority for a coach is to simply make each player want to play baseball next season.
I have often thought about the different applications of that brilliantly simple idea, and here are a handful of them:
* Make sure your pitchers are having fun.
I have often thought about the different applications of that brilliantly simple idea, and here are a handful of them:
* Make sure your pitchers are having fun.
Seriously. It needs to be enjoyable. Cal Ripken Jr., when asked about his record-breaking streak, said the following:
* Make sure your pitchers are prepared.
"If I had to choose one thing that caused me to break Lou
Gehrig's record, it was the simple fact that I loved playing baseball. It's easy
to go to work day after day, month after month, year after year, when you really
love what you do. Every day is fun. "
* Make sure your pitchers are prepared.
If they are fatigued they are at-risk of getting injured. If they lack experience they may resist the mound for the rest of their careers because of one miserable outing. Plenty of rest and adequate practice can make all the difference in a young pitcher.
* Make sure your pitchers are given the freedom to fail.
* Make sure your pitchers are given the freedom to fail.
Every pitcher, even the very best of pitchers, will fail. It is part of the game and the reality of it needs to be recognized. Having unrealistic expectations for a perfect inning, outing or season puts unnecessary pressure on a pitcher and can take the enjoyment out of competing.
