In coaching my daughter's softball team, I've tried to vary the activities/drills we work on during our weekly practice. My daughter Olivia, though, has been urging me all season to have a scrimmage between the parents and the kids.

At our last practice on Friday, I decided to take Olivia's advice. I e-mailed the parents a few days before to let them know, and the moms and dads came ready to play. The kids were very excited when I told them what we would do at the beginning of practice, and were clearly ready for the challenge.

Right from the start I knew this was a great idea. The kids liked the idea of taking on their parents, and the parents enjoyed being more involved with their kids during practice. The best part is that we worked on all the same skills we would have during a normal practice, but with many more smiles. There was plenty of good-natured trash talking from both sides, and the hour practice just flew by.

The parent vs. child game is something I'll definitely do again, as will asking my daughter for her thoughts and ideas on practice. After all, I got into coaching to spend quality time with her, and I've realized that part of the fun for her is to have some input.

Olivia's input this season included choosing the color of our uniforms (purple), suggesting practice ideas (she liked working on popups in addition to proposing the scrimmage) and helping to make the lineup (she never wanted to bat in the top two spots, and one week wanted to bat last). 

This was truly a special practice, and I'm already looking forward to working with Olivia to plan our first practice of next season. 

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 09:19 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

At a recent softball practice, I heard parents tell their daughters to do several things I had not mentioned to the team that were good ideas. One was to run through or beyond first base rather than stopping at first, which is what most of the girls did, and the other involved differentiating between a force play and the need to tag the runner to make an out.

These conversations were between parent and daughter, but it taught me the value of listening to these comments, and incorporating those I think the girls can benefit most from. Working with 8 and 9 year olds who are just learning softball, there is a lot to teach in a little time, so why not take all the help you can get?

Our team parents have been great, very supporting and willing to do whatever they can to help, and many also know softball. They are trying to improve their daughters' understanding and skills, not trying to second guess or take over the coaching. Yet it's silly not to act on some of this free advice. After all, it makes the parents feel more involved, helps the girls improve and most importantly, have more fun. It's a win-win for everyone.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 08:19 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The University of Michigan was expected to be one of the nation's best college football teams this season. The Wolverines were ranked highly in all preseason polls, and despite a very difficult schedule figured to contend for the national title.

Today, though, Michigan lost to Appalachian State 34-32 in what some are calling one of the biggest upsets in college football history. Appalachian State had won the last two I-AA titles, but this is the first time a I-AA team has defeated a ranked I-A team.

Imagine the emotions of the Michigan players and coaches, of whom so much was expected. Some people were even calling for Wolverine coach Lloyd Carr, who has won 76 percent of his games while coaching in one of the nation's toughest conferences, to resign, with others in the media saying he's now on the "hot seat."

The overreaction to losses like this one are incredibly unfair. True, Michigan lost a game it was heavily favored to win, but my guess is that at season's end Michigan will have won at least 8 games, and probably more, while Appalachian State will show everyone it is no fluke.

Having said all that, it was still a heartbreaking loss for Carr and his team, which made Carr's postgame news conference all the more impressive. He gave Appalachian State credit for playing a great game, and said that while his team made a lot of mistakes and missed out on a lot of scoring opportunities, that it was unprepared to play and that that was his responsibility. Too often in sports today players and coaches do not take responsibility for their actions, and it was nice to see Carr take the high road in a very difficult situation.

There are valuable lessons here for youth sports coaches, parents and players: losses happen, and when you lose, do so with class. No matter how much of an "upset" a loss may be, they happen, and as coaches and parents, it's important that we set a good example for our players and kids. The bigger the "upset" the harder this may be, and the more important it is to do. After all, even in Michigan's case it's only a game, and the key in this situation is to put the loss behind you and work hard to prepare for your next game. The longer the loss lingers the harder it will be to overcome.

This may be harder said than done, but give it a try -- after all, taking responsibility for our actions is one of the biggest and most important life lessons we can, and should, teach at every opportunity. 

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 09:47 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I've devoted several blog posts to coaching my daughter's softball team, and he's another.

Saturday was our final game. Our rookie league team, made up of many girls who had never played organized softball before, showed steady improvement all season. On Saturday the team had its best fielding game of the year, hit the ball well and even communicated with each other about strategy for the first time all season. The net result was a season-ending win.

What made me feel good, though, was to see the girls improve, work together and have fun, not necessarily in that order. 

The girls were glad to win, but were more excited about our post-game party that featured cupcakes and ice cream sandwiches. Similarily, after our practices many of the girls ran to the playground to have fun before going home.

The lesson to me is that for 7-9 year olds, they've got things in pretty good perspective. They did the best they could while on the field, but transitioned quickly to fun activities.

Watching the girls eat their cupcakes after our final game was a fitting end to what by any measure was a successful season. They were happy, having fun, and enjoying the moment. Cupcakes for everyone indeed.  

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 09:14 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

In the wake of San Antonio's sweep of Cleveland to capture its fourth NBA title in 9 years, there are some clear lessons for youth sports coaches, players and the kids themselves:

1. Teamwork wins championships. The Spurs are truly a team, and won with a great team effort. Although they have three stars in Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, it was arguably defensive stopper Bruce Bowen who played the biggest role in this championship, as he shut down LeBron James, who shot less than 35 percent during the Finals.

2. Take responsibility for your actions. Moments after the final game, LeBron James was asked all sorts of questions about why his performance wasn't up to his usual standards. Rather than making excuses, James said he didn't play well enough for his team to win, and said he had a lot to work on during the offseason to improve as a player. That's saying a lot, given James is arguably one of the NBA's best five players already.

3. Win with class. I think back to Penn State coach Joe Paterno, who encourages his players to hand the ball to the referee after scoring a touchdown rather than celebrating wildly, the point being that you should act like you've been there before. This is San Antonio's fourth title in nine years, and the Spurs know the right way to act, which is a refreshing change.

The Spurs are not the most exciting team, but from their coach and star players on down they set a great example both on and off the court. Too many times these days we see players and coaches making a scene, taunting other players, saying inappropriate things and not being good teammates or ambassadors of the game. It's nice to have a champion we can feel good about.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 11:40 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I'm the coach of my daughter Olivia's softball team, and we practice Fridays at 6:30. This past Friday the weather forecast called for a high of 95, but I didn't think anything of it when seeing that in the morning paper.

Upon getting to work, though, a friend mentioned that I might want to consider calling off practice due to the heat.

Coaching my daughter is something I look forward to, and given that the season is only seven weeks long, with one practice and game a week, I'm loath to cancel one of these opportunities.

My friend's comment, though, got me thinking to last week's practice. Although not nearly as hot as this past Friday, it was warm, and after about 45 minutes the girls let me know they were ready to stop.

I also thought about this from the perspective of a 7-year-old's parent instead of a coach, and saw nothing to gain from my daughter practicing in such heat.

At that point, I e-mailed the parents suggesting that we cancel that night's practice. Several parents let me know they thought this was the right thing to do, so I called it off. I then phoned all the parents, and their responses confirmed that this was the correct decision.

It's easy to lose sight sometimes of what's really important, as I did in this case. A big part of coaching on any level is taking, or at least considering, the advice of others, especially from those who are talking from experience. I can site many incidences this season when that advice has come in handy, with Friday being just the latest example.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 06:02 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

As parents and coaches, we often have a hard time teaching our youth sports athletes the concept of team. This covers everything from working together rather than going it alone, showing up for practices and games because others are counting on you and your actions on the field impact your teammates to name a few.

Further blurring the concept of team are all the stories about high-profile college and professional athletes who receive no or reduced punishment for transgressions large or small, thus not affecting the team much at all. Compare this to the recent story about Penn State football coach Joe Paterno and his team. Several Penn State players were involved in an off-campus fight and arrested. To send a message both to these players and their teammates that no player or players are bigger or better than the team, Paterno said the team would clean 107,282-seat Beaver Stadium after each home football game this season.

Needless to say, this is not something other Division I football players are likely to be doing this season. Perhaps the best part of this story is that Penn State's club sports teams usually do the stadium cleanup as a way to raise money, and Paterno said that won't change, even though his players will be doing the work.

Paterno, who has been Penn State's head coach since 1966, may be old school, but his emphasis on doing things the right way -- both on and off the field -- is to be admired. This is just the latest example.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 02:24 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Having coached youth sports basketball, baseball and now softball, I've learned how important it is to have realistic expectations, and to celebrate small accomplishments. Working with kids who are learning the fundamentals, as a coach you can't, and shouldn't, take anything for granted.

Remember what it was like when you were learning the sport -- or anything new for that matter. It takes time to become good at anything, so rather than be upset by fielding or baserunning errors, focus on catching your players doing something good, and celebrate those moments with them.

These moments, be they a first hit, catching a pop fly, or turning a ground ball into an out, are special to your players, as evidenced by their smiles. Praising them for such plays increases their confidence, which makes them more likely to succeed the next time as well.

Working with young kids and/or those relatively new to a sport provide many teaching moments. You want to show your players the right way to do things and correct mistakes, but in as positive a manner as possible. Yelling and screaming is harmful not only to the player in question but to the entire team, as all players will fear a similar fate upon making a mistake.

Conversely, sharing your players' joy as they make plays and improve is what coaching is all about. After all, the more fun your players have the more excited they are going to be about participating, which should be what you and they are trying to achive in the first place.

It's easy to get caught up in winning and other issues head coaches on any level face, but keep in mind it's only a game, and games are meant to be fun.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 09:22 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

My daughter Olivia decided she wanted to play softball this spring. New to the sport, she is in the Rookie League, which is comprised of second and third graders who are just learning the game. 

After having several practices or clinics involving all the Rookie League players, a draft was held to select teams. It turned out that they had more teams than coaches, so Olivia's team needed a coach.

I've coached both youth baseball and basketball previously, but not my kids' teams. I was interested in doing it, but wanted to get Olivia's thoughts before signing on. She was all for it, so I said yes.

I've read a lot about what to do and not to do when coaching your kids, but what I was most looking forward to was spending some quality time with my daughter doing something we were both interested in.

Driving to and from practices and games, we have some interesting conversations about my coaching her team, what she likes about softball and how the practice or game went. Once we arrive at the field, she helps me prepare, sort of like an assistant coach.

And once the practice or game begins, she listens well to me and the other coaches, tries hard and seems to have fun, not necessarily in that order. The fact that I am there to witness and share in this is special. This is our time together, and I look forward to future practices and games. Olivia and I have always shared an interest in sports and games, and it's fun to be doing this together.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 08:38 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Indianapolis Colts' head coach Tony Dungy won his first NFL Championship in 2007, and from all accounts he's a great coach to play for. Just as importantly, he's also a good person and role model off the field, as highlighted in Rick Reilly's column in the April 30 issue of Sports Illustrated.

Dungy, whose 18-year-old son committed suicide in 2005, has reached out to several people -- all strangers -- who recently lost loved ones to see if there's anything he can do to help.

It would have been easy for Dungy to dwell on his loss, but instead, he's been helping others who have faced similar situations. Too often in sports we judge coaches solely on wins and losses, and not on the values they teach the players -- no matter what age -- and the example they set.

Dungy rates very high on all counts. His Colts teams have been very successful, and he's a good person. In today's world when every wart and problem a player or coach experiences is publicized in the media, it's nice to hear a story like this one about a coach with arguably one of the busiest and most stressful jobs around. No wonder his players like and respect him so much.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 09:19 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Starting at 7:01 on Sunday night, once the NCAA men's basketball tournament field was announced, coaches of teams who felt like they should have been included started complaining. These coaches include Syracuse's Jim Boeheim and Drexel's Bruiser Flint, both of whom had a right to be upset, as these were the two teams most of the experts felt were the most deserving not to be invited.

In interviews these coaches talked about how shocked and upset they were, and in general were very bitter.

There were many other teams, though, that had a legitimate beef as well, one of which is Kansas State. The Wildcats were 22-11 overall and 10-6 in the Big 12 Conference. They also beat Texas Tech, who did get a bid, handily in the Big 12 Conference Tournament before losing a close game to eventual tournament champion Kansas.

Kansas State Coach Bob Huggins, when asked the same questions about why his team didn't make it, took a different and refreshing tact. He said that the NCAA Selection Committee had a very difficult task, and that if his team had won a few more games, it would have gotten in.

It's easy to blame others and complain, and harder to blame yourself. I applaud Huggins for his comments, and wish other coaches would react with similar class in the future. 

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 08:45 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  My son Graham is playing in an instructional basketball league that starts in a few weeks, and I wanted to coach his team. Rather than just calling the league to volunteer, I asked Graham what he thought of my coaching. "That's great dad," he said, "as long as it's something you want to do."

We then talked a little about how I would need to treat him and his teammates the same, and that during practices and games our relationship would be more coach-son than father-son. He was fine with that as well. The real challenge for me is to not be harder on, or expect more from, Graham than from his teammates. The bottom line, though, is I'm glad he wants me to coach his team, and I'm happy I asked him his thoughts before signing up.

Posted by at 09:08 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

This video Tip from Coach Bob Schurtz focuses on shooting basics every kid should keep in mind. 

Bob is the basketball coach at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School in New Jersey.

Posted by at 10:44 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I played many sports growing up, and my dad, who was a good athlete, would frequently dispense instruction, often in front of others. I can remember some of these impromptu lessons vividly, more for the embarrassment factor than for what I learned.

Kids, after all, want to do things their own way, and they make the distinction between advice from a true coach and a parent very quickly, soaking up the former and often rejecting the latter.

As the parent of 9 and 7 year olds, I now have experience from both the child's and adult's perspectives. Like my dad, I too and big on instruction, and have learned the hard way from my kids that less is often more. Rather than trying to analyze and correct every throw or swing, which usually resulted in my kids not wanting to play any more, I've realized that it's sometimes better to let them do things their own way at first. They gradually learn what works and what doesn't, and tend to be more open to tips from me once they've tried it their way.

All of which is to say my kids are now more eager to go to the park to play soccer, basketball, baseball, Frisbee, etc., with their dad, which is really what I wanted all along -- to enjoy sports with my kids.

Continue reading "Instruct Your Kids With Care" »

Posted by at 05:46 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)