Coaches Should Have Positive Attitudes Too
In the sport of softball, competition and emotions can run high at times. Coaches preach to their players the importance of having a positive attitude and a strong mindset at all times. On the flip side, it’s also important that coaches hold themselves to the same standards. This goes for parents too. You can’t expect a player to maintain a positive attitude and mindset if her leader on the field and role models off the field aren’t doing the same.
We can learn a lot from watching the Little League Baseball World Series on ESPN. All of the coaches have microphones on them, which gives viewers an all-access look at what goes on in the dugout, team huddles, and trips to the mound. One may argue that the coaches are conscious of the mic in their back pocket, and that’s why they are able to relay positive affirmations to their players in high-intensity situations. I beg to differ when every single coach in every single situation was able to communicate something positive or motivating.
It can be easy for coaches and parents to get caught up in the moment. Softball is a very passionate sport and coaches, parents, and players invest so much time, money, and energy into it. It can be very frustrating at times as a coach to spend time practicing something, a play, signs, batting situations, base running, etc. and have it go wrong on game days. Parents who catch their pitcher may not understand why the pitcher continues to make the same pitching mechanic mistake over and over again. Instead of letting the anger and frustration manifest, it’s okay for coaches and parents to point out the mistake, that’s how the player will learn from it.
When coaches or parents point out a mistake, try doing it constructively. Instead of accusing the player, which is easy to do, try to make it a learning experience by receiving feedback from the player. As a pitching coach, I have found it to be beneficial to ask the pitcher why a certain pitch went where it did, or what the pitcher felt during that pitch. This takes the pitcher’s focus away from the outcome and challenges her to learn and understand. Once a pitcher or a player learn on their own what they did wrong, and how they did it wrong, next challenge them to tell you how they are going to correct the next one.
Softball players, especially at the youth and traveling levels are like sponges. These players are so eager to learn that they will take everything in and do their best to apply it to their game. These players also often tend to get caught up in people-pleasing their coach and parents. Coaches and parents need to understand that their players look up to them and will feed off their attitude and energy too. If a coach gets worked up about a call that the umpire made, it is common that the players in the dugout and on the field may think it’s okay to do the same.
Bad attitudes don’t just magically show up one day and stick with a player; they are learned and developed over time, usually because the player is exposed to one or more bad attitudes. It’s important that coaches and parents nip a bad attitude the second they see it developing in their player. If they don’t, the player is doomed. Once a player develops a negative attitude, it will be very challenging to flip the switch. Negative attitudes and emotions consume athletes, and once the mind goes there, the athlete will have a hard time finding joy in the sport they once knew and loved. A negative attitude creates unrealistic high expectations for the athlete, and they will put a great deal of pressure on themselves to succeed. Athletes with negative attitudes often struggle with being part of a team and aren’t easy to be around.
It’s important that coaches, parents, and players all actively work together to develop and maintain positive attitudes in softball. The sports and the game should always be fun. I challenge all coaches and parents, that no matter how frustrated, you get with a player take a step back and turn it into a learning experience that everyone can benefit from. If coaches and parents are able to commit to having a positive attitude, this will reflect on their players. Keep in mind that a negative attitude never wins in softball or life. What you teach your players in this sport are things they will take with them and apply to the other areas of their life. Softball is only a small piece of the overall impact coaches have on their players, make it a positive one.
