Many coaches have asked us what to do when it comes to playoff time and how to handle benching players and the communication of what to say to the parents.

This is a great question and we have many different answers. The key words to this question are GOALS

TEAM PHILOSOPHY

DEVELOPMENT

COMMUNICATION

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First, we have to ask ourselves as a staff what are our GOALS for this team and our players.  Everyone coaches differently and some are DEVELOPMENT focused, and others WIN at ALL cost focused.

Are we trying to WIN at all costs … are we trying to DEVELOP the players … or are we somewhere in the middle.

DEFINING our Teams PHILOSOPHY is STEP 1

This NEEDS to be DEFINED by your staff and communicated to your parents and players to ensure the VISION is the same.

This matters because if you start batting everyone (12 players), playing everyone, and shuffling positions around for 10 games, and then suddenly bat 9 one game, people are going to have questions and your inbox will be EXPLODED.

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The Goal and Philosophy of the TEAM needs to be clear to your parents up front so that there are NO surprises.

Yes, we are all trying to develop our players, even though there are some teams out there that just WIN at ALL costs and it doesn’t matter if a pitcher throws 180 pitches or a catcher catches 5 games in a row in a 110 degree weather that’s’ all some coaches care about.

A conversation with the TEAM will go along way.

Set up a PRE SEASON team meeting and it may go something like this;

Here are our goals and plan for the season.  .. and lay it all out.. that way everyone is on the same page.

During the Spring we are going to be about DEVELOPMENT

• Moving players around to different positions
• We will use it like a Spring Training
• and move players into different positions

The summer season

• we will move players around less
• but still bat the entire line up (12) players

The Heart of the Summer

• we will play the best 10 with a DH
• moving players still in and out
• but batting 10.

That is an example of what can be communicated, but the key to it all is the communication of the STAFF, the ORGANIZATION, the PARENTS, and the PLAYERS so that there are no surprises and way less headaches.

I hope this helps and it was a great question.

Keep developing the players, giving them drills to work on at home, and enjoy the Season.

Go Dominate the Diamond!

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