Mixing the Set and Windup Positions

[DBull]

Originally Posted by Coach Dykhoff

I have played many years of baseball and as a coach I feel I should coach everyone (Wierd I know). Even if I see someone on the other team doing something incorrectly I want to correct them, but don't because I don't want to show up their coach. I coach youth baseball to teach them for the next level. If they don't learn what they have to learn prior to the next level they are behind the power curve. Maybe this is why I am a volunteer coach in a league that I don't have a kid in.

I am also one of those coaches that teaches my kids by showing them. I do sliding practice, diving practice, infield practice etc. at practice with the kids. I don't like just telling them and getting on them when they do it wrong because the misunderstood me. If I show them there is not much misunderstanding about that.

You are just the kind of coach that I would want coaching my kids. Active, knowledgeable, and a desire that is lacking in most volunteer coaches. I also admire your desire to learn the rules of the game; another thing that most volunteer (and pro) coaches will not do. But, please remember that umpires also know the rules (for the most part), and the majority of them don’t like to have coaches holding rules clinics during the game.

[TwoBits]

After reading several of your recent posts, Coach Dykhoff, I'd say you are doing your kids a great service teaching them fundamentals and the correct rules. However, one more thing they (and you) will need to understand is that, in a lot of rec ball league's umpires only know what their own fathers have taught them years ago, and that information can be incorrect. You will get nowhere trying to correct them.

[TwoBits]

Coach, if you have seen this post, then disregard.

Top Baseball/Softball Rules Myths, 2011 Edition

[TussAgee11]

I concur - you won't get the best umpiring in those youth games from a rules standpoint (at least around here) but you won't get the best baseball either.

To worry about the umpires is doing the kids at that level a disservice. Its teaching them to whine, complain, assume the umpire is wrong, etc. Then, if any of them get good, they have a bad approach and attitude that holds them back. The best players are the ones that don't flip out when something doesn't go their way. They just take a deep breath, retoe the rubber or step back in, and do what they know how to do.

Baseball is a calm sport, kind of like golf in that sense. You can't be all hyper out there. Teach your kids to be cool to umpires and they'll become better players and probably better people.