Yelling is NOT Coaching

Our philosophy at the Summit County Buzz Saws is that yelling is NOT coaching.  That's why all of our coaches take the "yelling is not coaching" pledge.  This page is dedicated to explaining our policy.

It's been said that "coaches who yell have run out of ways to teach".  We believe this philosophy is 100% true, especially in the world of baseball.  Baseball is hard enough without the added pressure of trying to perform when you know that any error or strikeout will causes the coach to yell at you with statements like "you just have to want it more" or "you need to give 110% percent".  Sometimes in baseball, the harder you try, the more difficult it becomes.  We use the mantra of "try easier" during games rather than "try harder".  It's difficult to try harder to hit a baseball or field a grounder because you do not want to be tense when trying to do either of these activities.  Practice is the time for the coach to ask his players to work hard and try hard, not the game.  However, a player should be fully engaged mentally in a game at all times.  If the coach senses that a player is not paying attention which leads to an error or mistake, it is appropriate to call out to the player on the field to get his attention.

When coaching players under the age of 15, the coach must understand that these players are not professional athletes.  In travel baseball, the players who choose to tryout are serious about learning the sport so they should be expected to perform or risk losing playing time or losing their position.  However, they are still kids who are playing the sport for fun.  It is more fun for the player, the team, the coach and the parents if the team is winning.  But the coach needs to realize that he is coaching to try and help the players develop as a ballplayer and as a young man.  If a players experiences a setback or difficulty, it does not necessarily mean that he is not trying hard enough.

We believe that there is a time for the coach to raise his voice but it should be used sparingly, and basically in an attempt to get the players attention.  But if the coach raises his voice during every game, he loses the attention getting effect.  The following summary lists what is expected of the both the coach and the player. 

Expectations of the player:

• Be on time to practices and games

• Be willing to work hard during practices without complaining or being disruptive

• Be respectful of the coach and other adults

• Follow all team guidelines and rules

• Follow the coaches instruction on the field (ie bunting, taking a pitch, NOT stealing in certain circumstances, throwing the pitches the coach calls)

• Understand that playing time is earned through hard work in practice and executing on the field

Expectations of the coach:

• Be prepared for practices and games

• Treat each player fairly

• Communicate expectations to the players and parents

• Always be willing to communicate honestly with parents and players

• Treat the players like young men

• Limit the yelling to attention getting situations only

• Never yell at or punish a player for a physical error (ie strikeout, error). 

  • It is ok to punish a player for taking a bad approach that led to the error.

  • It is ok to punish players for mental errors and mistakes (ie making mistakes that have been covered in practice multiple times)

• Never let the players give up

Expectations of the parent:

• Make sure the player is willing to make the commitment necessary before accepting the invitation to join the team

• Have the player to practices and games on-time.  Communicate with the coach if an issue comes up that will cause a delay

• Understand that the coach must make decisions that are best for the team

• Refrain from instructing the player from the stands

• Never approach a coach about playing time during a game or immediately after