by: Bob Howdeshell
High School Baseball Web
That the responsibilities of high school coaches reach well into the lives of their players, therefore, goes without saying. That they understand the full scope of such responsibilities the focus of this article.
Most high school coaches expect more of themselves than of their players. They devote long hours during the season to practice and preparation for games, and afterward, they meet with seniors (or juniors) and their parents to discuss college, write letters, make phone calls, and meet with recruiters and professional scouts.
Some few, however, restrict themselves to the responsibilities involving only the practices and games. They forego the added responsibilities that accumulate when the season ends. They do this for several reasons:
Some feel that meager coaching supplements fail to promote involvement with players beyond the season. Some are unfamiliar with the protocols and processes for contacting a college coach.
Some work in litigious communities and fear legal reprisals from dissatisfied parents, so they avoid the process entirely. Others bump into obstacles such as inaccessible phones, secretaries, or office equipment.
Still others move into other sports and have no time for spill - over from the previous season.
And let's admit it, some just can't find time for the extra work. These latter coaches generally get involved in sports for the wrong reasons. They ask what playing or coaching can do for them, not what they can do for the kids. They may have good won - loss records and prominent reputations, but their motives are suspect. Such coaches, in spite of their apparent success, contribute little more to sports than an already pronounced preoccupation with winning.
Unfortunately, we can't do much about them, but we can help the well-intentioned coaches who care about kids and would provide more help if they knew how.
A good start would be to suggest to your son's coach that he look
around this website. If the coach is not computer / internet "savvy"
maybe you could get the ball rolling by printing out a few of the
articles and information on HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL WEB and giving them
to the coach.
