Vision

Well, Christmas is over and once again the all of the opened gifts are spread out around the house. As it is every year, the jigsaw puzzle is spread out in pieces on the coffee table in the process of completion (with just the border done) and the box top that reveals what the completed puzzle will look like is lying on the floor next to it for constant reference. Looking at that box top, I thought "Wow, imagine trying to put that thing together without having that picture to look back upon as a guide". I then realized that many of us attempt to live our lives (or at least parts of it) just that way. We attempt to walk through different areas of our lives without the top of the box to look at, or without a VISION of what we, or more importantly what GOD really wants the outcome or completed picture to look like.

As baseball & softball coaches, I believe that many of us lack an overall vision or "big picture" as to what we truly want to acheive with our teams and the athletes that we coach and influence. Therefore, we often miss the mark and fail to reach the full potential of the platform that GOD has given to us as a coach.

A vision is a destination. It is the big picture of where you want to end up. The clearer your vision, the fewer options that you have and the easier that it is when it comes time to make a decisions. Vision is a mental image of what could be and maybe should be in regard to the different areas of your life.

We are all within a few weeks of starting back with our teams and preparing for the upcoming spring season. I want to encourage and challenge each of you to start thinking about and praying about the vision that GOD wants for you as a coach for this upcoming season. As you begin to ask those questions and also draw on the resources that you already have, I believe that you will begin to develop a mental picture of what could be and what you believe SHOULD be the direction in which your team is to go this season. I believe that as the vision for your team becomes clearer, the options that you have as a coach will get fewer and the decisions that you will need to make will get easier. Remember..If you have the top of the box to look at, it makes putting the pieces together so much easier.

So, what is the vision for your team? What does the big picture look like? How does GOD want to use you as a coach? Here are three things that I believe will help each of you as you go forward into the beginning of a new season.

1) Begin to pray for GOD to give you a clear vision as to what HE wants to achieve through you as a coach this season. Begin to develop the top of the puzzle box.

2) WRITE THE VISION DOWN! Just a simple sentence or a short paragraph is all that is needed to say "Here is what I want to achieve with and through my team this season".

3) Act accordingly. Begin making your decisions based on your vision and do not stray from it.

I believe that through this process, you can fully achieve great things using the platform given to you as Coach.

If You Get Along, They'll Go Along

God has blessed us all with many things, both material and immaterial. As we grow older and hopefully wiser, many of us begin to realize that what truly matters most during our short stay here on earth are the relationships that we cultivate while we are here. The loving bonds that we have with our families and the special bonds that we have with our close friends.

As coaches, we develop very special relationships with the athletes that we coach. Relationships that could influence our athletes as much and sometimes more so than any other person in that athletes life. Relationships that are built around trust. So...what can a coach do to manage and cultivate good relationships? Here are a few things taken from the book "The 21 Indispensable Qualities Of A Leader (Becoming The Person Others Will Want To Follow)", By John Maxwell.

1. Have A Leader’s Head – Understand People (how they think and feel)
Below are some common things found in people (coaches and athletes):
a. They like to feel special, so sincerely compliment them
b. They want a better tomorrow, so show them hope
c. They desire direction, so navigate for them
d. They are selfish, so speak to their needs first
e. They get low emotionally, so encourage them
f. They want success, so help them win

2. Have A Leader’s Heart – Have empathy for others and a keen ability to find the best in people, not the worst, by truly caring for others.

3. Extend A Leader’s Hand – Keep other’s interests in mind; focus on what you can put into people rather than what you can get out of them…they’ll love and respect you for doing so.

Remember coaches....Put the person before the player!

The Heart of an Athlete

The biggest intangible in sports is knowing an athletes heart. Their heart is what drives them, what provides their "makeup". This is the invisible quality that comprises the soul, strength and mind of a team. Although we cannot see it or measure it, we know it is difficult to win without it.

While every coach knows that the team must have heart, it is often very difficult to cultivate it. Heart is the most elusive factor to quantify when recruiting or evaluating an athlete.

Scouts call it the athletes "makeup"....who they are as a person inside and the type of competitor they are. It is difficult to look past the physical attributes to get at the mental, spiritual, emotional and relational aspects of an athlete. However most bad recruiting decisions are rooted in this part of the player.

This holds true even when selecting players for youth baseball and softball teams. How many times have you seen a promising athlete who possesses all of the desired physical skills end up giving the most problems to a coach because they didn't have what it took inside to be a competitor.

We can look to the bible to see a perfect example of this principle. In 1 Samuel 16:7 the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart."

God sent Samuel to the home of Jesse, who had eight sons, to anoint one of these sons as the next king. Jesse lined up his players (sons) to pass in front of Samuel. The first was Eliab who had impressive physical features and whom Samuel thought would be Gods choice. However as the verse above states God did not want Eliab. Six more of Jesse's sons passed in front of Samuel but none were Gods choice. Samuel asked Jesse's if he had any other sons. Jesse told him about David his youngest, who was a unimpressive shepherd boy. This was Gods choice.

David was so far from making the team that he wasn't even on the sideline. His own father didn't recommend him for the job. However God knew Davids heart and chose him.

Coaches need players who possess not only the right physical and mental abilities, but also the commitment and dedication of heart.

As we evaluate players for our team, whether as a professional scout, college recruiter, or youth team coach, let's pray for Gods wisdom to see the players heart and consider their makeup as well.

A lot of kids get passed up merely because they didn't have the physical attributes. One only needs to look at players like David Eckstein to understand that it isn't always about physical appearance that makes a leader and champion.

Come to think of it, I guess God has a liking for guys named David with big hearts and a desire to make an impact!

Become a Student of the Game

What does it mean? It means if you're going to coach baseball become a student rather than a fan. Put aside any fan fanaticism and take into consideration the importance of coaching.

You are coaching and teaching young people and like it or not you are a role model for them. Give them your best. A fervent fan does not make a good coach. Learning the complexities of baseball presents a formidable task for any novice coach.

I believe a teacher (Coach) should become the most ardent student of all, much more than his players. Becoming a student. It takes time and patience. You will not be successful overnight. Read! Use the Internet! . You can never have too much knowledge.

Baseball is very deceiving because of the simplicity of the game. But behind that simplicity are numerous complexities. Don’t let your ego get in the way and allow a few youth baseball successes mesmerize you into thinking you know it all.

There’s an old saying, “When you’re green you grow; when you’re ripe you rot.”

Here are some suggestions for you to consider.

*Baseball is the most difficult game to teach and play. Give the teaching of skills your highest priority.

*Place development over winning. Strive to win every game, but take into account the importance of HOW you win. Don’t overuse a dominant pitcher, show favoritism to more talented players or lose your control over player miscues and flaws.

*Learn something about baseball everyday. (The kind of information that is not in the box scores.) Most effective coaches eagerly soak up every scrap of information they can get their hands on.

*Whether at practices or games develop the ability to see the entire field at once. This is a learned skill and must be acquired. It will bring your coaching ability to the next level.

*Remain in control at all times, including umpires’ questionable calls. This may not seem to you as if it belongs in the “student of the game” category but by controlling your temper (and realizing that the umpires are just part of the game) you will find that you are more open to learn from negative situations. Don’t take bad calls personally.

*The more you learn the better your team will be. Teams seem to play at a higher level of competence when they believe their coach is superior to the opposition’s. They will play with more confidence because they will feel their coach can handle any situation.

*Discuss the game with your players, immediately after the game. Take them away from everyone (Down the foul line in the outfield grass is good) and talk about the game; why you won, why you lost, stress great defensive plays and talk about the next practice. Listen to the feedback you get from your players. The students can often become the teachers.

*Become proficient in all areas of the game. Even though you need assistant coaches make it your business to learn all you can about pitching, hitting, base running, etc.

*Baseball skills all have various movements that are efficient and correct. Learn what they look like and correct them when you find flaws. With (just a few variations) there are correct ways to throw a baseball, pitch, hit, field and run. Don’t try to reinvent the game. Learn the correct way it is supposed to be played. Like the old scout said, “I don’t know how to describe it but I’ll know it when I see it”.

*Learn the basics of each skill and expand from there. For instance, an experienced coach looks at how quickly a hitter can get his bat from the back of his shoulder to the contact zone; a very short distance. Teach the correct path to the ball and other things fall into place.


Coaching young baseball players can be the most rewarding time of your life if you give it your best commitment of time and effort.