How to Build a High School Baseball Program
High school sports have become a sophisticated operation. No longer is it a matter of a high school baseball coach taking a look at the incoming class of freshman and sophomore players and making a determination that the team will be good in the next year or two or poor during that same period. Coaches don't leave things to chance any more. Instead, they build bridges with the leaders of the local youth baseball programs and try to get coaches to train and teach players the same way they are taught at the high school level.
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Instructions
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Put together a plan on how you want the game taught and played by young players in the community. Let's face it, many of the coaches who lead youth league teams have little or no training. Many might be well meaning, but they might not know a good throw from a bad one or a good swing from one that needs work. Put together a simple, easy-to-follow plan that youth league coaches can follow and implement.
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Show a friendly attitude and warm demeanor when dealing with young players who will be coming up to the high school in a few years. You can influence more people if they like and respect you than you can if they fear you. You are trying to build a program so you have to get people to buy in.
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Work with the freshman and junior varsity coaches at your school to make sure you are all on the same page. You should be because they are teaching the game the same way you do, but you have to keep communicating. You need to know which of the freshman players are improving and the same holds true for the JV players. Make sure you are easy to reach and return phone calls right away from the other coaches.
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Put together an offseason training program for your players. It's one thing to practice and play during the season and summer. However, if you present an offseason conditioning program along with offseason skills sessions, you are likely to build a strong program.
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Build a routine in practice that the players can expect. Players respond well to routine. When they know they will have fielding practice at 3:15 p.m., batting practice at 3:45 p.m. and baserunning at 4 p.m., they will not be surprised by any developments and will be able to give full concentration to each aspect of the game.
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