A Coach's Manual for Beginners: Coach's Pocket Guide

By Craig Shankle

This book is a compilation of my observations and experience over the years; it represents my personal philosophy of the game and coaching. As such, against the dictates of proper English language usage I have used personal pronouns ad nauseam because it is my experience and my philosophy.

Much of what I have espoused in this book goes against sound, winning baseball theory and sound baseball strategy, specifically with regard to the batting order and rotation of players through the positions. These are formative years for players and their baseball experience should be fun and of an instructional nature where they experience different positions and test their newfound skills and abilities. The stated premise of this book is to have fun and learn to be good citizens.

There will be plenty of time, later on, to hone skills and settle on one or two positions for specialization and to develop the killer instinct. For now the objective is to acquaint players with the game while having fun and not drive them from it for life by insisting on perfection.

Just because you adopt the techniques espoused herein does not mean you will have a losing season or that you are not being competitive or teaching sound baseball. It just means you are considering the individual as a whole and helping him/her to become responsible members of a team whether athletic or social.

Some players seem to be born with presence while others may have it instilled by their parents at a young age. Finding these rare and stimulating leaders and challenging their abilities in order to stretch their performance level is the coachs job. Because they learn so quickly, you may teach them more perhaps than you would a player not similarly gifted. This does not mean the accomplishments of the less gifted are inferior to those of the gifted player. Try to challenge each player according to his/her abilities and reward their successful achievements with positive reinforcement.

Winning baseball strategy dictates you place your best six hitters at the top of the batting order: Most consistent at getting on base bats first. Best bunter second. Best hitter third. Next best hitters, fourth, fifth and sixth. Poorest hitters seventh, eighth and ninth. The eighth and ninth slots are usually reserved for the catcher and pitcher. Then place your best fielders at all the key positions and play them there constantly. Rotate your worst players into the game where they can do the least damage and leave them there for the shortest time possible under league rules.

If thats the way you want to play the game and coach your players, then this book is not for you. Conversely, if your goal is to help small children grow to learn to enjoy baseball at all levels and in the process become good citizens and have fun doing it, then this book may help.

Throughout I have made many blanket statements and stated things should or should not be done a certain way. Please do not misunderstand me; just as Baseball is a game of inches, so too is it many shades of gray. Please feel free to adjust and compromise as necessary from time to time for the mutual benefit of both the team and enjoyment of the players. I guess all I have been saying is just try to do whats right.

I know I have forgotten to include many important details that may have been helpful to your coaching experience, please forgive me. I tried. I hope that this will give you enough information to overcome your fears and give coaching a try.

Thanks for your attention and perseverance. Good luck next season and may you have many successful seasons and dedicated players in the future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 4, 2003
• ISBN: 9781453582909

Book preview

A COACH’S

MANUAL FOR

BEGINNERS

Coach’s Pocket Guide

Craig Shankle

Copyright © 2002 by Craig Shankle.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

16679

Contents

DEDICATION

KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE

DISCLAIMER

SO NOW YOU’RE A COACH

MY BASEBALL STORIES

COACH VS. MANAGER

ORGANIZATION

RULES

LEAGUE MEETINGS

THE FIRST TEAM MEETING

EQUIPMENT

FIRST AID FOR COACHES

THE FIRST PRACTICE

THE SECOND PRACTICE

THE THIRD PRACTICE

SUBSEQUENT PRACTICES

FIELD ETIQUETTE

LINEUP CARDS

THE FIRST GAME

CHOOSING THE COACHING STAFF

TEAM EVENTS

POSITION PLAY

FIRST BASE

SECOND BASE

THIRD BASE

SHORTSTOP

CATCHER

PITCHER

LEFT FIELD

CENTER FIELD

RIGHT FIELD

ROVER

BASE RUNNING

BATTING

SAFETY

DISCIPLINE

DUGOUT DECORUM

TEAM SIGNALS

COACHING YOUR OWN CHILD

UNIFORMS

HECKLERS

IRATE PARENTS

GAMES AND DRILLS

TAKING INFIELD

UMPIRES

PLAYER ROTATION ROSTER EXPLANATION

POST SEASON

AWARDS

REWARDS

SUMMARY

AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to all my little ball players from over the years. Especially my own children who have all had or are still having splendid baseball careers. My son Kirk, daughter Katie and daughter Sarah and of course my nephew Nick. May the game give you all as much fun, excitement and joy as it has given me.

Since circumstances have not let me give my children everything I wanted in the way of love, affection and time, I have done my best to give them a love and understanding of the game. And I hope Jason and Jeff may someday come to appreciate the game as I do. Maybe this book will help bridge the gap between generations.

I would also be remiss in not thanking all those who have offered their encouragement and support during my struggle to be diligent in the assembly of this book. And of course a special thank you to Mary for her support and indulgence.

KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE

For me the dream began when the rumor of Little League tryouts flashed through our school. We heard the tryouts would be on a Saturday morning at the Seven Hills Ball Field.

Bright and early Saturday morning we saddled our trusty mounts (bikes) and rode into history. We biked six or seven miles to the ball field, wangled our way into trying out and went home, eagerly awaited our Call to greatness. It never came. Oh well, only one minor setback on our way to the Big Leagues.

It took me several years to figure it out. We had not filled out any registration forms, never got our parents’ signatures or paid any league fees. But what does all that really matter if you are good enough to make the team? Coaches would soon be begging us to play for them. All that trivial paperwork will be meaningless in the face of unheralded skill and unbridled enthusiasm. We were naive kids but we had the dream.

Now the years have past, many of nature’s cruel jokes have been realized, and the dreams have turned to reality. But, you know, I did play a lot of organized baseball over the years. The memory is getting blurred so I can’t remember many of the plays or games nor do I remember being taught the game and all of its intricacies.

What I do remember are two or three really great coaches from those early years: One used to drive all seventeen of us eager little ball players to the ball park every Saturday and twice during the week in a beat-up old Champion Studebaker, talk about stuffing telephone booths. Another was an old Texas League coach who took a short, squat, nearsighted kid under his wing and taught him how to play second base and to love the game.

I often ask myself, WHY? It’s on days like this as we reflect back on the season that I realize it’s all part of hoping to make a difference by KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE.

Coach Craig Shankle

June 1, 1995

DISCLAIMER

The material contained herein is entirely my own, except as noted. It is the product of nearly 30 years of coaching and 15 years of playing experience. It reflects what I consider a common sense approach.

This book in not intended to be the last word on coaching. Neither is it meant to be a medical or legal guide. It is just the way I do things. Others will need to do things their own way, always seeking sound legal and medical advice.

The author, publisher and sellers of this book are in no way responsible for any injuries, real or imagined, physical or mental, arising from following the principles outlined herein.

The Author

SO NOW YOU’RE A COACH

So now you are a coach . . . What’s a coach? Good question! Many newly designated coaches have never given the question much thought. Now that you have been selected to serve a season as a coach you will be forced to give some thought to this question, and frankly it could be cause for concern. Not to worry! Coaches come in all shapes and sizes, as do players, although usually smaller. Some have more experience than others, some are better than others. Do not despair by asking these questions; you are on the right track. There are as many philosophies of coaching, as there are coaches. The only real decision to make is to what philosophy you will subscribe. Once you have made the decision, you are home free. Most important, do you want to do a good job? If you have the desire then you already have the most important ingredient for being a good coach. It is my hope that in outlining my philosophy it will help you develop yours.

If you do not have the desire then you must ask yourself, Self, what am I doing here? If you can’t answer with a positive and enthusiastic response even if apprehensive then get out now before you take on a commitment you do not want or need. Get out before you negatively influence a lot of innocent, eager, young future ball players.

These early years are the most important and formative for children and they do not need negatives in their young lives. They probably already have enough of these and if not will soon get more than their share from other sources as they enter their teenage years. Therefore, at this time in their young lives they need someone who can be positive and enthusiastic, someone who cares about their success as ball players and as developing personalities. Someone who will take the time to explain all the little things they do not understand about the game and life. Also to demonstrate by example what it means to be a man or woman and a responsible involved citizen. It is important to deal with the whole person not just the athlete.

At this age, honesty is extremely important. If you make a bad call or tell a player to do something that is wrong for baseball then fess up, admit it and apologize to the player(s) involved. When a player makes a stupid mistake, and you told him to do it, don’t try to cover up; when you are at fault admit it; they’ll love you for it. They have never experienced this level of truth before, on or off the field. It is refreshing for everyone.

If you have ever chased the dream of becoming a big league baseball player then you can understand the thoughts of almost every eight-year-old would-be ball player. Moreover, you know what they do not: Most of them will never make it to the professional ranks. So maybe you can help them live the dream for a few years and who knows . . . ? At least they can have some fun and a positive baseball experience that will help them to grow in more than just their physical prowess. Learning through baseball a sense of responsibility and general awareness of the world and their place in it can and should be a positive experience that they may one day pass on to their children.

Even as a coach, you may still dream that someday one of your players may make it to the big leagues. So, what is wrong with chasing a dream now and then, as long as you do not force your dream on your players? Many promising young players have been forced out of the game by domineering parents and coaches, because the game was no longer fun. There is enough self-imposed stress without coaches adding to it.

MY BASEBALL STORIES

One of my many baseball stories includes the story of the quiet little toddler who used to show up at many of my ball games when I was a young adult. He always came round to the back of the dugout and poked my back through the holes in the chain-link fence.

Most of the players would run him off but I used to try to communicate with him and once in a while throw a ball over the fence for him to play with. Over the years as he grew I would let him into the dugout with the players. I told him he if he could