Play Ball!

Much like a dramatic walk off home run in the 9th inning to win a game, my son and I are back in baseball this season in East County Little League. After coaching a Farm Division team last year, I walked away with pride of a job well done with a group of wonderful kids. Unfortunately, my son didn’t have the best experience his first year. That left a him not wanting to give the game another chance. I told him I would not pressure him to play this year. Sign ups came and went in December, followed by the try outs in January. With nothing said, baseball was in our past. “Play Ball!” would not be heard this season.

I spoke to another mom, who’s son is a schoolmate and was surprised to hear her son’s team had no manager. That elicited an email to the league inquiring about the vacancy. After some back and forth with a ECLL board member and a discussion with my wife, it was apparent the time I would be investing in the game, as a manager without my son playing would be too great. I backed out citing family reasons.

A few hours later I get a phone call from last year’s Farm Division coordinator, who is in charge of the lower divisions this season. He said he had one question for me and to call him. I called him, we briefing talked and then he asked, “Is your son interested in playing?” I told him now that all his school friends were on teams he was feeling a bit left out, which I knew he would. The deal, I could manage the AA Braves (8-9 year olds) and my son could be on the team. Instead of a 12 man roster, we now have a 13 man roster. That doesn’t bother me at all, but Zachary and I were back in baseball again!

On Sunday, I spent 4 hours at Big Al’s Coaching Clinic, hosted by ECLL in Oakley, concentrating on teaching 9-12 year olds. After participating the 5-8 year old clinic prior to last season, I was excited to return and learn more in order to develop the player and the person (as Big Al says). I had another coach with me and hearing Big Al discuss baseball and how to teach and coach, got both of us fired up for the season. I make no bones about it, I don’t like baseball. I lost a love for the game many years ago and don’t watch it. Coaching is something different, regardless of what I feel about the game. This allows me to get involved with the kids and teach them what I know and what I have learned in order to make them a better player and hopefully a better person.

I am thankful I have all the materials from last season, including a pile of practice schedules I will be updating and reusing. All my practices are highly structured and broken into blocks, in order to keep the kids motivated, so they don’t lose interest. I suspect it will go just as smoothly this season when we begin practice on February 1. Unlike last year, we must develop pictures and to a lesser extent catchers.

In our team meeting last night, I just happen to talk to the ECLL President, who oddly enough drafted my team, using the resources and scores from tryouts from another individual. I was told this is a pitching heavy team, which is great to know, than we need to develop 5-6 quality pitchers. At this level, good pitching will be a huge benefit for our team. It was great to talk to the President and VP of Baseball/Softball Operations last after our meeting. They just happened to be at the same local restaurant for another baseball meeting. Both fine guys with an open door policy, if I happen to have any issues along the way.

While I don’t expect any problems, now that winning counts for something, we know how coaches and parents can get. I took a page from Big Al and  drew up expectations, from the player, from the parents and family and what they can expect from me. Manger, player and parent will all sign this document and hopefully this helps stem any problems, but I am always open to suggests, comments and yes, even criticism.

Even now I still have wonderful thoughts of one of my first manager, Keith Voigt. He was a great person and outstanding manager! He has an enthusiasm and passion for the game and as I remember kept everyone interested in playing the game. I also remember my dad coaching a number of years and what he instilled in the players he coached and the time he put into the league. I guess there are pieces of both of them in me when it comes to managing.