Expand the sections below for observations, insights, and perspectives to help us develop as a team.
Here are a few points of emphasis for how we approach defense.
Group mentality to have the pitcher's back
All positions are accountable for communication before and during a play - the goal is for the players to grow their knowledge and minimize reliance on coaches to tell them what to do ("loud teams are winning teams; quiet teams are losing teams")
Have active energy and aggressive anticipation of a batted ball - want the ball to come to you, and be ready to make a great first step
Communicate, communicate, communicate! (did we say that already above? Yes...it's that important!)
Daily focus on footwork and handwork, and developing at an advanced pace*
Focus on controlling the body's center of mass - we'll focus on footwork and rhythm to create efficient movements to get us into positions to make a great play
Team defense means picking each other up when mistakes happen, and never flinching when things get tough
We will have short memories and positive body language at all times
Situational awareness and sharp execution will be a collective expectation**
*Players who accelerate their development make daily habits for getting better. This could include things like purposeful throwing, taking ground balls, working on short-hops, hitting off a tee, and much more. Check out the rest of this website for ideas!
**What does this mean? One important example is thinking about "what will I do if the ball is hit to me?" and knowing what you'll do before the pitch is thrown
Here are a few points of emphasis for how we approach base running.
Base running is a hidden gem and a game changer - baseball is a game of little things that - when done right - turn into big things
We MUST put pressure on the opposing defense - think "gas pedal down all the say - all gas, no brakes!"
We don't run the bases for results - effort is never negotiable*
We never cheat the team - run everything hard out of respect for the team and the game
We ALWAYS run hard and do not run the bases with negative emotions, we run HARD, and we do it for the guy next to us and for the game
*What does this mean? We don't skip a steal sign because we're afraid of getting thrown out. We don't take short leads because we're afraid of getting picked off. We don't stop running if the base coach is sending us because we think we can't make it. We go for it, we play aggressive, not scared!
One of the big ideas that we preach at practice is "do everything with purpose." This means every ground ball, every swing, every throw, and every other action on the field is done with the purpose of executing well and getting better than the last rep.
Baseball is a game of repetitive movements, and drills are for the purpose of teaching our bodies to make these movements naturally, reflexively. So, every rep we take for a particular drill should be done with the goal of making that rep perfect, with the understanding that what we do on field in practice is what will show up on field in games. Focused, purposeful, practiced practice reps will show up as great plays in games; lazy reps that go through the motions without focus or intent in practice will show up in games as errors and mental mistakes.
As a player parent, you can help to reinforce this focus on "everything done with purpose" in your practice time at home.
When playing catch, focus on making a strong, accurate throw every time ("hit your target from the waist up")
When rolling ground balls, focus on getting into the correct position to field the ball - every single time
When swinging (hitting stick, tee, etc.), focus on every swing following correct mechanics
Respect is an important part of the Bulldawgs program. As coaches, we work hard to treat your players with respect as we train them to become strong baseball players.
We also require that our players demonstrate respect at all times:
Respect the coaches (listen, follow instructions, stay focused)
Respect each other (build each other up, encourage each other, call out inappropriate behavior by others)
Respect the other team (congratulate them on good plays, avoid negative language about them)
Respect the umpire (respect calls made, let the coaches do the arguing if it's necessary)
Respect the field (love and take care of our home field)
Respect your equipment (take care of your equipment, keep track of it, never throw it in frustration)
Respect the uniform (conduct ourselves in a manner that represents the Bulldawgs organization well)
Respect the game (always give 100% when we are at the field, whatever role we are playing at the time)
As a player parent, you can help to reinforce these values anytime you are practicing with your player, or even just talking about practices, games, or life.
Baseball requires us to build resilience - great hitters reach base only 3-4 times out of 10, and most teams lose almost as much as they win. Building the resiliency to bounce back is critical for baseball (and life).
Moment to Moment
We can think of this in small terms, moment to moment in a game. Inevitably, everyone will make an error. Everyone will strike out. The way we learn to react and respond will define us as players, as a team, and as people. Focus on encouraging your player to keep a positive, future-focused attitude when these down times happen in the game - some actions to take include:
Find another player to encourage
Identify why you didn't do as well as you'd like, and what you will do differently next time
Cheer on the next hitter
Talk a little more in the field (call out the number of outs, where the force play is, etc.)
The bottom line: players look to each other for cues on how to act, so every player on the team should focus on positive thoughts and actions.
Game to Game
We will lose some games. We may lose several in a row (but hopefully not!). And when that happens, it's easy for players to feel frustrated, or - even worse - to accept and expect losing. A big part of winning at the youth level is belief, so even if we lose some games we should keep our heads up and maintain confidence that we can win the next game.
On a more practical note, it's important for players to think about why they lost, and what they can do differently next time. Talk to your players after the game, and ask them what they think went well, and what they can do differently next time to help the team win. Focus on what is in the players' control (e.g. better discipline at the plate, more focus on defense, more focus and encouragement in the dugout, etc.).
The bottom line: losses can sting, but we can teach our players to view them not as failures, but as learning opportunities that help them enter each new game a little better.
When we say "learning how to win" people often think of sportsmanship, and this is an important part of the game. We should have class when we win, and when we lose.
But there is another part of learning how to win, which is...learning HOW TO WIN. It's easy to feel confident and believe we can win when we score early and maintain a comfortable lead the whole game. But what if it's a back and forth battle? Youth players can sometimes get down on themselves and lose confidence when they see a lead disappear, or if they have been trailing for several innings. And when their belief that they can win goes, their chance of winning goes with it.
Help your player prepare for this by reinforcing concepts related to tenacity, resilience, and perseverance:
Never ever quit. Quitting is a guaranteed loss, but fighting on gives you the chance at a great-feeling win.
Keep giving 100% until the very last pitch.
Believe you can succeed. Even if you failed the last 10 times, this could be the time it happens.
Work hard. Nothing worth achieving is easy. A hard fought win feels better than an easy one.
Always believe you can win (because you can). The game isn't over until the last out is recorded.
Set the tone for your team. Talk and act like you know you can win - it's contagious!
A side story...
I was 12 years old in 1994 and my 12U team was in a tournament against a team from the bigger city a few hours away. The players on that team seemed huge, I thought they must all have been at least 14 years old. They jumped all over us in the first inning, and were out to a quick 9-2 lead by the third. But we kept fighting, giving our 100% best on every single pitch, and never gave up. The game was a battle the whole way, but when the last out was recorded, we had won 13-12. If we had coasted to victory, I'm sure I would have forgotten that game with the hundreds of others I played in my life. But I will never forget that game, or how good it felt to win, all because of our team's fight, perseverance, and refusal to give up. The battles are where the best memories are made.
Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck is well known for popularizing the idea of the "Growth Mindset," which is the idea that talents, skills, and capabilities can be learned. By contrast, a Fixed Mindset is the idea that our talents are innate, and largely the result of our genes (and therefore fixed - they are what they are).
With this definition in mind, it seems obvious that we would want our players to focus on having a growth mindset. The more our players believe that they can build the applicable skill to be great ballplayers, the more motivated they will be to put in the work to get there. This is especially important for players who are playing against a higher level of competition, and who may be facing new challenges in a new league.
Players who hold onto a fixed mindset of their skills may believe they aren't good enough or don't have what it takes, and this will lead to discouragement, frustration, anxiety, and stagnation.
Players who build a growth mindset will be more likely to identify what they need to get better at, and want to put in the work to build those new skills.
My favorite word to turn fixed mindset ideas into growth mindset perspectives is "yet." Watch how it transforms these phrased from fixed to growth:
I can't do xyz...yet.
I'm not good at xyz...yet.
I'm not as good as the other players...yet.
I'm not making plays in the field...yet.
I can't seem to hit the ball...yet.
By adding "yet" to any ideas or comments like these, you introduce the idea that with additional practice, hard work, and perseverance, your player can do these things.
Once you've focused on the idea of "yet," a great follow up conversation with your player is to discuss what it will take to get better in those areas (coupled with a lot of reinforcement, belief, and confidence-building from you as the parent):
What can you practice to help you get there?
What is something we can work on together?
What do you need to do more of?
What questions do you have about how to do xyz well, and who can help us answer them?
A few more tips for helping your player embrace the growth mindset:
Focus on inputs more than outcomes ("great job on practicing your swing every day this week!")
Find and celebrate progress, no matter how small ("great job keeping your front shoulder in longer on that swing, keep it up!")
Praise effort and perseverance ("wow, I can tell you gave 100% today, that's awesome!")
Focus your feedback and encouragement on behaviors and actions when your player is learning a new skill, with less emphasis on the results (for example: "great job getting in front of that ground ball")