How to Find the Right Coach for Your Child's Development
The coach your child has during their formative baseball years has an enormous influence on their development, their love of the game, and their long-term trajectory.
What Great Coaches Do
Great youth baseball coaches share several characteristics: they teach the fundamentals correctly and patiently, create an environment where players feel safe to make mistakes, develop the whole player, communicate clearly with both players and parents, and prioritize development over winning.
Red Flags
Be cautious of coaches who use fear or public humiliation as motivational tools, prioritize winning over development at the youth level, play favorites based on factors other than effort, or discourage questions from players.
How to Evaluate a Coach
Watch a practice before committing. Talk to current and former players and parents. Ask the coach directly: What is your coaching philosophy? How do you handle players who are struggling? A great coach will welcome these questions.
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Clint McGill
Former Professional Baseball Player · Founder of Baseball Notes
Clint writes about confidence, mental performance, and the habits that separate good players from great ones — all from the perspective of someone who lived it professionally.
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