The Backyard Batting Cage

For years, I have had to put up with youth sport coaches and parents echoing the words and mimicking the behaviors of successful coaches such as Vince Lombardi and Mike Ditka.

True.

You can’t argue with the success those guys had.

But do you really think that yelling at 10-year old football players for making a ‘bad play’ or chastising 12-year old soccer players for ‘missing a shot’ is the best and most sane way to coach kids?

Unfortunately, my arguments have fallen on deaf ears more than once over the past decade.

I just couldn’t make youth sport coaches realize that aggressive and negative behavior can be damaging to young athletes, and that a primary reason why so many kids drop out of sports at an early age is because of the often abusive treatments they get from their coaches.

"But", the coaches would tell me, "Look at how Ditka treated his players… and you can’t argue with his success".

"You’ve got a point", I would grudgingly admit, "But Ditka was dealing with adults, we’re talking about kids here".

Ha… I got ‘em now. No come back on that point…

Or so I hoped…

"Whatever, Brian. You show me someone at the elite level who is as successful as Ditka, Lombardi or Bill Parcels, and I’ll change my ways. Until then, I coach the way I know will work".

YOUTH SPORTS COACHES & PARENTS OF THE WORLD…

I AM PROUD & HONORED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO A COUPLE OF WONDERFUL MEN AND TRULY SUCCESSFUL HEAD COACHES…

This past weekend saw two of the nicest and most positive coaches in the world compete for the supreme prize of North American sports – The Super Bowl.

Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith.

They respect their players.

They never raise their voices.

They look to try and make each and every one of their players better – in both football and life.

They are as successful as it gets.

Sounds to me like every abusive coach and parent just lost their final argument.

- Brian

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