As a youth baseball coach, your job is, undoubtedly, to
teach your young players how to be the best athletes they possibly can be.
However, being a great player isn’t all about knowing how to catch a ball and
hit like a pro. That’s part of the game, sure, but an even bigger part of the
game and of your players’ growth and development is building self confidence.
If you can build that skill, which is really a mental skill, not only can you
create talented players but you can also play a part in creating talented,
successful people in general, which is really what sports are all about.
So, how can you build confidence in your young baseball players? It’s no
easy feat, that’s for sure. However, it all starts with examining where your
focus as a coach is. If your focus is on winning, then that’s a selfish
purpose. Everyone wants to win, but your primary goal and focus needs to be on
improving skills and making players feel good about their strengths. The funny
thing is that, when you do that, you’re likely to see better playing on the
field and, thus, more wins. More importantly, however, you’ll also see players
who feel good about their skills and who are willing to work on their
weaknesses, which also breeds winning.
Also, you want to be careful about holding too many drills and
batting practices. That is not to say that these types of things aren’t useful.
They most definitely are. However, you can certainly overdo practices and
drills, which will lead to burnt out players who don’t have a passion for the
game. And, when you have that, is it really even worth playing? Even if you
win, there is no joy in it. You, as a coach, have to find that careful balance
between drills and practices and just plain fun and love of the game.
So, how do you find that balance? How do you build strong
players without burning them out and, while, at the same time building
confidence? It all starts with attitude. Encourage your team to maintain a
positive attitude no matter what happens. Say positive things to your players,
and pose negative criticism in a kind and helpful way. Always up-play strengths
and downplay weaknesses. You can be honest, just speak the truth with kindness.
And, always remember that your players’ mental health and self image is more
important than how well they perform on the field.
Also, promote focus. Demand that your players, no matter how
“good” or “bad” they may be- and those terms are always relative- stay focused
on and involved in their games and their playing. If they are truly focused and
trying their hardest, that’s really all that you can ask of them. Focus means
they are giving the game their all, and that can really go a long way in
creating strong players.
Above all else, believe in your young players. Expect a lot
from them, and make your expectations clear. But, at the same time, don’t hold
back confidence-boosting praise if you feel they are giving their all. As long
as your players are committed and trying, they (and you) can and should feel
good about that, no matter what the ultimate outcome of the season may be.
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