Staying in the Game
Since my playing career is over, the next closest thing to staying involved in baseball is to coach it. I have always had a passion for coaching, even from the time I was just helping my brother learn the game. There is no greater feeling for me then to help younger players learn the game the proper way, and then to see them evolve as players as the season goes on.
Don't be This Coach
RBIS Baseball Academy
This past summer I got the chance to be the Head Coach for a 14 year old summer baseball team out of Randolph, New Jersey. The experience I had was one that I will never forget.
As a team, we would have two games a week, with one practice in between. When I first started with these players, they were very raw in terms of baseball knowledge. I saw the talent in each player, and knew that it would be tough, but that I could help them reach their true ability.
The first game of the season we were blown out by 30 runs. A lot of the players were upset, but I told them that if they kept working hard, good things would happen. And they did. The team progressed each week, and they stopped getting blown out, and the games were very close. We ended up playing the same team who beat us by 30 to start the season in our last game, and only lost by four runs.
Coaching Technique
I try to coach the way I liked to be coached when I played. For starters, I never yell at the players ever. I believe that this is the worst way to ever coach a player, because yelling does no good other than either make them mad, or make them unresponsive. Instead of yelling, I teach them what they did wrong. I will pull them to the side and explain to the players what they could have done in the scenario that would have been the better play. I also like to keep things light and fun with the players by making jokes and playing games at the end of practice. Baseball is a game, it is meant to be fun. Once you start stressing out about the game and making the players work too hard, you are robbing them of a chance to love the game. That's why I make sure that I never push my players too hard, and stress to them the importance of staying relaxed at the plate and in the field.
First Coaching Experience
I began coaching with my father when I was 13 years old. My dad was the head coach for the Little League All-Star Team in my area, and my brother played on the team. I would go to the games and practices, and would help out by hitting ground balls to the players, and throwing batting practice. It was not a lot at the time, but I still loved helping out my brother and his teammates, and help them grow as players.
Along with coaching actual teams, I have also coached a couple of clinics with the head baseball coach at Pace, Henry Manning. Coaching a clinic is much different than coaching a baseball team. When I coach a clinic, I have to address the group as a whole, and not as much as individuals. This is a challenge for me, because all the players are so different, and each has their own approach to hitting.
Most of the time, when I coach clinics, I will bring a pen and pad, or keep notes in my phone on each player. This way, I remember week to week what I have to tell that player, and help them progress and succeed.