When practices begins for the '07 season next Feb., do most KY High School coaches, have a philosophy or an approach in how they try to win games. Are teams built around pitching, hitting, power, fundamentals, "small-ball". Is there a plan to the practice and specific goals to accomplish, or is it just simply batting practice and infield/outfield.

 

Do coaches often design or coach, to the ability they have ( if they have power hitters, does that change their mindset about the game; if they have speed; pitching or a balance; does it not change their approach). Is hitting the emphasis during practices. Is pitching stressed, as the key to winning games and are teams relying on small-ball, speed and fundamentals, as there approach to the game.

 

I enjoy discussing aspects of the game and the inner-workings of a program. What are your thoughts, on building a solid high school baseball program and your approach.....

When practices begins for the '07 season next Feb., do most KY High School coaches, have a philosophy or an approach in how they try to win games. Are teams built around pitching, hitting, power, fundamentals, "small-ball". Is there a plan to the practice and specific goals to accomplish, or is it just simply batting practice and infield/outfield.

 

Do coaches often design or coach, to the ability they have ( if they have power hitters, does that change their mindset about the game; if they have speed; pitching or a balance; does it not change their approach). Is hitting the emphasis during practices. Is pitching stressed, as the key to winning games and are teams relying on small-ball, speed and fundamentals, as there approach to the game.

 

I enjoy discussing aspects of the game and the inner-workings of a program. What are your thoughts, on building a solid high school baseball program and your approach.....

 

I believe that as a new coach you would have to play to your teams strength whether it be power, pitching or speed. Slowly work in the other aspects of the game during practice but to start winning and keep winning I think that you have to start with the strength. As for the 2nd year though, you should be able to lead into the other aspects of the game and prepare a more balanced team. The reason for this is because if the team is winning then more players want to play. and out of the extra 15 that want to play, only 2 or 3 actually have potential. But you only field 9 so....

 

I as a coach do have a design for the up coming season and I already have work outs for pitching, hitting, conditioning, fielding and pretty much any other part of the game. I know growing up and playing h.s. ball that my coach would only work on hitting. during a 4 hour practice, there would be 3 hours of hitting, 30 minutes of throwing 15 minutes of running and 15 minutes of fielding. While doing this, the pitching was never really that good and we/they usually lost because of 2 or 3 errors/game.

I believe that as a new coach you would have to play to your teams strength whether it be power, pitching or speed. Slowly work in the other aspects of the game during practice but to start winning and keep winning I think that you have to start with the strength. As for the 2nd year though, you should be able to lead into the other aspects of the game and prepare a more balanced team. The reason for this is because if the team is winning then more players want to play. and out of the extra 15 that want to play, only 2 or 3 actually have potential. But you only field 9 so....

 

I as a coach do have a design for the up coming season and I already have work outs for pitching, hitting, conditioning, fielding and pretty much any other part of the game. I know growing up and playing h.s. ball that my coach would only work on hitting. during a 4 hour practice, there would be 3 hours of hitting, 30 minutes of throwing 15 minutes of running and 15 minutes of fielding. While doing this, the pitching was never really that good and we/they usually lost because of 2 or 3 errors/game.

Excellent information.....

 

Do you think most coaches have specific roles, or even understand them for the 9 offensive batting positions. I've always thought and felt, that each position had a purpose and obligation, that worked in unison with the others.

 

Same with the concept of middle infielders, working over and over on pivots, tosses, double-plays, coverage, tags, etc....these are aspects of the game but often, the proper time is not devoted to teaching them.

 

Do other coaches, find themselves teaching what they were taught, when growing up and playing baseball. How important can video be, in today's teaching methods.

I think most coaches like to play to their statogy. Some think that pitching is everything and are good at developing pitching. Others think that the little things get it done and look for the inteligent ballplayers. I think they select their teams based on their phylosophy whenever possible.

I think successful teams are made by getting players to understand their roles. To be a quality team you must have power,speed,pitching,hitting and all the other aspects of baseball but to really be a great team a coach must have his players understand the roles of a player and not just their roles individually. What I mean is if Johnny is a great power hitter and it's a tie ballgame in the 7th with runners on first and second needing to be advanced with no outs the Johnny needs to understand the role of the player in that situation regardless of if he is a power hitter, great pitcher or whatever. In that situation he needs to understand his job is to bunt, hit the ball to the right side etc. depending on that coaches strategy. I think high school coaches in Ky do an excellent job with the short time they have their kids but the really good one get kids to understand the game and thats where I think the Mac Whitakers and Bill Millers of the world build good programs.

All the knowledge and philosopies in the world won't help you if you don't have the athletes that can function in each of those various and varying roles. Knowing each role is certainly key to coaching, knowing how to teach each role is even more important, but having players with the ability to perform those roles is equally as important. You can't teach an athlete with no power to be a power hitter and you cannot teach speed (improve yes, but teach that type of speed that results in 40 stolen bases a year, probably not). Some schools, expecially the smaller ones, must rely on fewer athletes and perhaps incomplete rosters of player types. Those coaches at those schools who still yet consistently produce winning teams are the most creative and most able coaches in my mind. It's like winning the shootout at the OK Corral without all your bullets. Those are the guys I admire most and who probably are really enjoying coaching. We'd all love to have that situation where you've got a stud at every position who can fulfill his role in the offensive and defensive schemes, but those situations are relatively few. The great coaches overcome and adapt their philosophies to the talent and abilities available to them. Again, a Mac Whitaker comes to mind for me as does a Coach Sawyer at Corbin.

I agree. Some of the better coaches are at the smaller schools. Their records don't show it because for the most part they must play some players out of position. Still, they find ways to win. Gene COmbs (used to be at Lee Co.) and John Meehan at Hazard are two great examples of good coaches at small schools.

Agreed. I do believe that if a coach can get kids to understand roles they may be able to get that 4.6 speed kid that can't hit the barn but might steal a base as a courtesy runner and be content with that playing time or find that pitcher that can't do anything but throw the baseball and be content to do only that every fifth or sixth day. Even in some of the small schools those kids are out there but if coaches can't convince kids that they are an valuable part of a solid baseball team even if they don't swing the bat or catch ground balls then I think that is what sets the Combs' of the world apart from the rest. He does it and does it well with or without a super talent base. High school baseball coaches in KY still do more with less than any sport in the mid west. Kudos to them all.

.....You can't teach an athlete with no power to be a power hitter and you cannot teach speed (improve yes, but teach that type of speed that results in 40 stolen bases a year, probably not). Some schools, especially the smaller ones, must rely on fewer athletes and perhaps incomplete rosters of player types.

 

....Those coaches at those schools who still yet consistently produce winning teams are the most creative and most able coaches in my mind.....The great coaches overcome and adapt their philosophies to the talent and abilities available to them. Again, a Mac Whitaker comes to mind for me as does a Coach Sawyer at Corbin.

I understand your point but I believe power hitting can be taught, regardless of size. Hitting for power, is directly related to proper load, bat speed and drive, at the point of impact.

 

Very good point on speed and being a "role player". Players don't often realize the importance, of courtesy running for the catcher/pitcher and how they can affect the game. Most student-athletes, want to start and play, but since all can't, an area of impact is base-running.

 

Pitchers also must realize, that with mandatory rest and limit on consecutive days of play, they can be in a relieving pitching role and be a vital part of the baseball program. Many would like to be a starter but key innings in relief and closing, are essential to winning.

 

Understanding the roles by players, is critical and helps not only with team morale but making good programs, successful year after year.