Just Let Them Play

I see it all the time. I saw it again this past weekend. There are far too many “coaches” in youth baseball who wish that they were on the field playing.

My 11U team competed in a tournament and played a team from La Mirada, California. I mention the city only for point of reference. This team could have been from anywhere. The reality is that this happens a lot.

And before I get too far along on this rant, let me be the first to say that we meet many, many great people in baseball. It’s a wonderful sport with interesting people and rewarding experiences. The majority of players are great kids. Most of coaches are polite, hard-working, under-appreciated people.

But there are those who lack the perspective they need to teach our youngsters, and the fellow I ran into this past weekend is one of those. His type is the most bothersome of “coaches” in youth baseball. He roamed foul territory just outside his dugout and continually yelled instructions to his players on defense: “Take two steps back” and “remember to go to first” and “left, right, left” and “your elbow needs to be up when you make that throw” and on and on and on. All the things he should be repeating in practice, he repeated during the game.

Late in the game I asked the manager of the opposing team where he found his coach. I had a hunch about the guy, and it was quickly proven. “He’s very intense,” the manager told me, as if that was an excuse. “He’s that way all the time. Even when he eats a burger.” It turns out the guy played “pro ball” for eight years.

It’s extremely rare to run across a former major-leaguer coaching in youth baseball. On the other hand, it is common to find coaches (some getting paid) who played professional baseball at a minor league level. I’ve long since stopped being impressed by my peers who are former minor-leaguers. Not because they are necessarily bad coaches. In fact, many are very good. I’m just not impressed any longer because I’ve met so many of them.

But here is the point … Some of these former players are coaching and managing games as if they are sitting in the living rooms playing PlayStation baseball. If they could move their young players around the field with controllers, they would. I don’t know if they are bitter because they didn’t go as far in the game as they wanted. Perhaps they can’t let go of that feeling. Whatever the case, their players will not learn to think for themselves or synthesize their instruction unless they get to play the game on their own.

In the end, it all works out. With the help of their parents, players move from team to team until they find the right fit. Some players learn well when given continual instruction. Some don’t.

One thing is certain, though. The game is more fun when it’s played and not worked. Work during practice. Play during games.