| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Enine |
Posted - 06/06/2011 : 12:53:34
I'm trying to put together a list of questions to ask the next head coach/manager that may offer us a spot on a 11U team. Have I left anything out?
- What level will the team be competing?
- How many games/tournaments in a season?
- Will there be anything organized for the Fall?
- Where is the season ending tournament going to be?
- How many players are you carrying?
- How many are returning players?
- Who are the other coaches and what are their responsibilities?
- How is playing time/batting order determined?
- How are your practices organized?
- How many practices a week?
- What is your definition of a successful season? Did you achieve it in the prior year?
- What is the estimated cost?
- Which one is your kid and what position does he play?
I hope these questions can help us find a good home. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| OzoneWarrior |
Posted - 07/24/2013 : 17:15:35
All your questions are good I would add Two questions. Is may son going to be a better person as a result of being in this program and is he going to be a better ball player?
Everything rises and falls on leadership. It is important to find a program that believes "we don't coach baseball but baseball players." |
| a1prog |
Posted - 07/10/2013 : 17:49:28
hitandrun has great advice. but let me add three items to his note;
1. is the team fundamentally sound. they may or may not have talent but are they fielding, throwing, running, cutting off and positioning themselves properly if so- they are well coached. if not- well.......
2. does the head coach ask for advice and listen to his assistant(s). if so, thats the sign of a person willing to keep his eyes and ears open.
3. how is the game managed and whats the teams identity. are they scrappy, running, solid at execution, keep comin at you. always good to see them and how they react when the chips are down or the game is tight.
hope this helps.
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| HITANDRUN |
Posted - 07/08/2013 : 13:04:28
Best advice I can give is go watch a team and a coach coaching live in a game and really see what the team does and how he coaches. How they warm up, how they take pre game BP, do they allow kids to loaf on and off the field, do they scream, are they negative, find out who the coaches kids are and where they play and bat. Sit in the stands some and listen you can learn more about a team and coach from just listening and watching, than you can by asking.
Most coaches mean well but when it comes down to it, they aren't thinking about what they said before the season started. Do they punish or get upset for physical mistakes or just mental mistakes. Do they care about the score or how hard the team played?
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| lovestoplay |
Posted - 07/06/2013 : 12:53:31
Never mind newbie , it finally came up on phone . Very helpful! |
| lovestoplay |
Posted - 07/06/2013 : 12:25:38
Newbie BB Mom, what is the other thread ? |
| Newbie BB Mom |
Posted - 07/04/2013 : 12:29:27
This is another thread I found helpful when we moved to travel ball. Lots of wisdom here. Good luck to everyone looking for a team! |
| Strategizer |
Posted - 07/02/2011 : 21:58:56
quote:
Originally posted by Hurricane
Where do you practice.
What is your pitch count for pitchers.
Can I see a budget before my first payment.
When, where and what time are you holding try-outs for the Fall season? How many players are you looking to pick-up? Where do you practice?
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| No-No |
Posted - 06/09/2011 : 08:33:44
Try this Good Coach/Bad Coach quiz:
http://www.statsdad.com/2010/05/youth-sports-good-coach-or-bad-coach.html?m=1 |
| justletemplay |
Posted - 06/08/2011 : 22:36:06
We have learned many lessons this year. Interview questions mean nothing. Find a man, program, academy that you respect and a man or program that knows the game. If you get wins that's icing. Last years results usually mean squat, except at the major and above levels. The team that can muster thru a less than 500 season and go back to practice with a plan to work on the errors so the kids become better athletes will be a healthier environment. If the coach has a horse in the race, pay attention. If a coach raises his voice to any child, or at anytime that he is on the field or in front of children of any playing age, pay attention. If a coach will sacrifice any child's morale, ego or pride (on his team or another) for a win, take heed. It's about building up, not breaking down. Ask 10 opinions from people who have played for him and 10 from those who have not. Baseball is a small world and gets smaller with each passing year. |
| C. MORTON |
Posted - 06/08/2011 : 19:53:50
quote:
Originally posted by AllStar
quote:
Originally posted by C. MORTON
Get the kids in a good program where they are teaching them to get ready for high school not just chasing titles..
Players need to learn when they get older they won't always GET to play. Some will actually have to earn their playing time..
Both of these statements are true, but at what age do you think they need to learn that? And I mean really learn it. Like, if you are the second string SS, you don't play unless the starter is out or it's a blowout. Period. So you could go through a 5 game tournament and all you do is warm up the left fielder and courtesy run.
And how does that prepare them for high school?
Our #1 priority is prepping for HS, so my son plays on teams where the roster is small and everyone is going to play in most, not all, games. So we are not trying to get into an Elite 32 or a TC National Championship.
If he ever told me his #1 priority was playing for a Travel Team that was going for Disney or Las Vegas or whatever, our approach each season would be a lot different.
Most Travel teams don't have enough players for that... Some do, that's why players should able to play more than just SS. So many players get stuck in one spot on the field and when that spot is not open are sitting on the bench... as far as age goes it's more of the 13u and up... |
| AllStar |
Posted - 06/08/2011 : 14:51:40
quote:
Originally posted by C. MORTON
Get the kids in a good program where they are teaching them to get ready for high school not just chasing titles..
Players need to learn when they get older they won't always GET to play. Some will actually have to earn their playing time..
Both of these statements are true, but at what age do you think they need to learn that? And I mean really learn it. Like, if you are the second string SS, you don't play unless the starter is out or it's a blowout. Period. So you could go through a 5 game tournament and all you do is warm up the left fielder and courtesy run.
And how does that prepare them for high school?
Our #1 priority is prepping for HS, so my son plays on teams where the roster is small and everyone is going to play in most, not all, games. So we are not trying to get into an Elite 32 or a TC National Championship.
If he ever told me his #1 priority was playing for a Travel Team that was going for Disney or Las Vegas or whatever, our approach each season would be a lot different. |
| C. MORTON |
Posted - 06/08/2011 : 14:10:45
Beofre I asked any questions I would search out a team that has been around.. Get the kids in a good program where they are teaching them to get ready for high school not just chasing titles.. There is never going to be a team where everyone is happy with playing time or whatever.. Players need to learn when they get older they won't always GET to play. Some will actually have to earn their playing time.. |
| AllStar |
Posted - 06/08/2011 : 13:08:47
quote:
Originally posted by ramman999
I base quite a bit of my decision/questions on how the tryout is conducted - is there a plan, how does he interact with the kids.
Great call. You can figure out a lot of things from 1 or 2 sessions. Probably give you a hint whether or not they can run a practice as well.
I certainly don't have time to go watch 5-10 teams play and practice.
I have enough trouble getting to all my son's games and I don't hang around and watch practice anymore. Not sure how I ever had time to do that.
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| DecaturDad |
Posted - 06/08/2011 : 11:27:43
When we were looking, I went and watched a lot of the teams we were considering play. It takes a lot of time, but you learn alot about abteam just by watching: Do the kids seem to play well as a team? How does the coach react to a bad play? What are the parents in the stands like? Many times, I did not introduce myself, I just sat and watched. It was also a good excuse to hang out at the ball field :-)
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| ramman999 |
Posted - 06/08/2011 : 09:25:50
quote:
Originally posted by BREAMKING
"What is the main focus of the team? Win Games, teach fundamentals, mechanics...etc?"
+1... Too many people say they are "development based" - I'd ask for his definition of development, and how he tracks success/ failure.
quote:
Originally posted by BREAMKING
Do some digging ask around about other players family's that played for the coach before.
This to me is critical - if the team has high turnover, why? If the team is established and relatively stable (original core), Talk to the parents - a lot of times they will give you the real scoop.
I'd also do your research on the program and the coach - where has he coached before, where does he recruit from (huge red flag if he was a rec coach and doesn't have a following)
Most of your questions, however, should have been answered by team handouts - if it's in print, it can be used to hold accountable.
Also, I base quite a bit of my decision/questions on how the tryout is conducted - is there a plan, how does he interact with the kids. More importantly, how does my son interact with the other kids? Never underestimate "feel" |
| oldmanmj |
Posted - 06/06/2011 : 22:04:45
Allstar, how many games did I have to be kicked out of in 25 years before I am considered "Bad Coach"? The real question is why does it matter if I got kicked out when the umpire was so wrong, the other coach defended my actions and got kicked out also, is he a bad coach and should be avoided? I think the other recommendations are great, especially about young pitching. |
| 4bagger |
Posted - 06/06/2011 : 20:43:17
Is the name on the front of your shirt more important to you than the child? (You all know what organization I mean)
Do you teach/coach a player to help him improve or do you rely on insults and threats?
Like a previous poster said, you will be told all the answers you want to hear. The best way to find a coach you want to have influence over your child is to ask the parents of players who left the team. Not just one, but as many as possible. If you hear the same negative things from all those parents, then move on to another team. |
| gasbag |
Posted - 06/06/2011 : 18:11:23
No different than a job interview...ask for a list of references ! |
| AllStar |
Posted - 06/06/2011 : 16:53:59
quote:
Originally posted by UGA12
Went to a new team this year and all of the questions you pose were asked prior to forming the team. The answers were all straighforward and to the point and were acceptable. With 6 weeks left in the season, half of the answers given are not the case. Everything from Catching a kid before pitching in a game to the number of tournaments and even how the batting order/lineup is determined has changed. Kids batting .119 (yes that is correct) batting 2/3 with kids batting +0.340 batting 7/8.
With that being said, 6 weeks left and $2,000 later what do you do? I would ask those questions and do some digging to see if you can find anyone who has played for him or against him in the past and get some feedback.
Unfortunately, it's like a job interview and people know what you want to hear. Trust, but verify. If possible.
I did that with outside coaches that we brought on board. Total train wreck. Had references and everything.
It's like the wild, wild west out there and unfortunately by the time you've "figured it out" your son is 15. |
| BREAMKING |
Posted - 06/06/2011 : 16:47:43
I would ask what he does in pool play games. Does he bat everybody and or just 9. I guess that would come under the question someone answered earlier.
"What is the main focus of the team? Win Games, teach fundamentals, mechanics...etc?"
Me at this age I would look for the teacher not the win at all cost guy. Anybody can let the horses run if you got them but not everybody can take a weak team and improve every year.
I think this might be the most important question for younger kids. Do some digging ask around about other players family's that played for the coach before. |
| UGA12 |
Posted - 06/06/2011 : 16:40:25
Went to a new team this year and all of the questions you pose were asked prior to forming the team. The answers were all straighforward and to the point and were acceptable. With 6 weeks left in the season, half of the answers given are not the case. Everything from Catching a kid before pitching in a game to the number of tournaments and even how the batting order/lineup is determined has changed. Kids batting .119 (yes that is correct) batting 2/3 with kids batting +0.340 batting 7/8.
With that being said, 6 weeks left and $2,000 later what do you do? I would ask those questions and do some digging to see if you can find anyone who has played for him or against him in the past and get some feedback. |
| PerfectGame |
Posted - 06/06/2011 : 14:37:15
How long has the team been together and how many original players are still with the team?
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| Hiredgun |
Posted - 06/06/2011 : 13:46:23
I am not sure if this is important to you or not but, you might want to ask how many weekends per month will the team be playing.
How many out of town events does he anticipate the team participating in?
You seem to have it mostly covered but the main thing is to find out where the "drama mommas" sit. That way you can direct your wife to the other side of the field so that she won't be influenced by them. |
| rustybucket |
Posted - 06/06/2011 : 13:43:10
What is the main focus of the team? Win Games, teach fundamentals, mechanics...etc? |
| baseballready |
Posted - 06/06/2011 : 13:23:26
Which kids are the assistant coaches' and where do they play?
Who is the business manager and how frequently will budget/actual expenses be shared with team?
Does sponsoring facility require service by team during season (concessions, field duty, rec ball evals, etc.)?
Anything not included in the estimated cost?
Best of luck in your search. |
