Coaching Youth Softball - My Experience Coaching a 16U Team
Next week, we are officially starting our 2009 summer season with our first tournament.
I can tell you I am really excited and the girls are too.
It's my first season with this 16U team. Last time I coached at this level was almost 11 years ago.
I've spent the last decade working mostly with elite players at the college level, with the Canadian National Team and with elite 18U, 23U, and women's major teams.
So, it's quite a change for me.
It's different and can be challenging at times but I really do like it.
There is so much to teach these young ladies besides just the game of softball.
I have to teach them the game of life.
Almost on a daily basis, I will talk about…
- Emotional control
- Dealing with adversity
- Understanding the learning process
- Focusing on the controllables
- Dealing with stress
- Team work and respecting each other
- Leadership
- Being open-minded and coachable
- That talent alone isn't enough anymore
- Working hard and getting out of their comfort zone
- Etc.
It's challenging but rewarding at the same time.
It's incredible the changes you can see in these young ladies in only a couple of months.
And I am not only talking about changes in their skills and fitness level, I am talking significant improvements psychologically and in their maturity level.
That's what makes coaching a youth softball team such an enriching experience.
As a coach, you can definitely have a strong positive influence on the lives of your young athletes.
It's definitely not easy every day but at the end, I think it's totally worth it.
I have learned over the years that as a coach, you give a lot early but you receive a lot more much later.
Either months later or even years later. Athletes end up recognizing all you did for them but unfortunately, not right away!
However, they eventually do and that's gold for any coach who coaches for the right reasons.
What can I say… I do love it.
Who loves ya? 
Coach Marc
"Your softball Peak Performance Coach"
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