DEVELOPING THE HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PROGRAM Mike Morrison West Delaware Baseball

Whose Job is It? This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Implementation

Goal Setting Set achievable goals. Have a timeline for your goals. Set high level goals. Have players set team and individual goals.

Leadership You are ultimately responsible for the success of the baseball program. Surround yourself with strong leaders and strong supporters. Demonstrate confidence in your ability to lead the baseball program.

Support Circle

Assistant Coaches Find assistant coaches who: you can trust. are independent. treat kids with respect. share your goals. communicate effectively with kids.

Booster Club Be active in your Booster Club. Be a member at the highest level you can. They will provide many things you need. Cages Dugouts Full underground water Equipment, etc.

Dealing With Parents Parent Meeting Never discuss playing time with parents. Never discuss the poor performance of a player with parents. Give parents a role. Field maintenance Road game meals Concessions Planning post game parties Game announcer

What Parents Want They want their son to be happy. They want to be happy. They want to be proud of their son. They want the team to win. They want you to play the best 8 players plus their son.

Organization Plan your practices well in advance. Schedule your month of practices. Hang the daily practice schedule outside of your room/by the locker room/dugout door. Make a list of everything to cover before 1st game, 10th game, etc. Make notes of what goes well and what doesn’t. Cover it at least 3 times before it is game ready.

Establish Rapport Build rapport: mutual trust and respect. Develop rapport with other coaches in your school. Be visible. “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Handling Your Players Set high expectations for your players. Expect things to be done right. Create a comfortable atmosphere. Be their coach, not their buddy. Promote Family.

Summer Camps/Clinics Discourage it with our varsity players. We deal with it on an individual basis. If you do leave, you are opening up your spot for others. All head coaches support our policy. We have had excellent success working together. The kids know that all of the coaches are on the same page.

A JK-12 Approach Be active in your youth baseball organization. Hold coaching clinics for youth coaches. You and your players help with work days. Host baseball camps. Provide the direction needed to make your program more successful.

Marketing and Fundraising

Fundraising Great Team Building Activities. Work for Local Organizations K of C Fish Fry Donation of $700 to our program Host Pitching clinics Father/Son, Mother/Son, etc. Produced our own pitcher’s manual Attendance of 40 – 50 kids $20 each $800-$1000 profit for 6 hours

Fundraising Host Skills Camp Sell Season Tickets Host a Supper Two sessions 3 days each session Approx. $2500 profit Sell Season Tickets 150 tickets $4500 income guaranteed Host a Supper Soup Pancakes and Sausage Profit of $1800-$2200 Most product is donated Collect returnable cans and bottles 5 Saturdays for 2 hours each Make around $1500-$2000 per year

Marketing and Promoting Create a separate student section. Get people to come to your games any way you can. They will come back.

Marketing Host Manchester Kids League Opening Day Baseball Camp Night Each team scrimmages 45 minutes Home Run Derby for each age group Dunk Tank Radar Throw Picture of all participants on HS Field HS Teams scrimmage/practice in the evening under the lights Event lasts from 9 am to 10 pm Baseball Camp Night Campers admitted free, if they wear their shirt All kids from camp circle the bases One kid per grade throws out a pitch Host ACME Factory Night All employees admitted free ACME Factory makes a $200 donation, all employees get in free

Marketing Sell T-Shirts and Apparel Make your own website. www.westdelawarebaseball.com Provides alumni a way to keep track of your team. Easy way to communicate with your players and public Present awards between games to those who have been instrumental this year, in the past, etc. In conjunction with Manchester Kids League Honor the History of Your Program

5 Keys to Success Be innovative! Be aggressive! Have fun! Remember why you are in coaching! Put the kids first!

Copies of this power point www.westdelawarebaseball.com