KiaOra Coaches
May 2012
Welcome to a new series of monthly of coaching hints, tips, news and views for you, the valued softball
coach.
I am really keen to invite comments from a wide range of people from not only within the softball
community, but also our sporting friends from other codes. Please feel free to contact me if you would
specifically like some aspect of softball covered in this newsletter. Sharing is caring...feel free to send this
onto your network contacts.
Wayne Goldsmith – Sport Coaching Brain – www.sportcoachingbrain.com
This guy is really worth listening to. I am going to highlight a article from his website every month...but I do
encourage you to go to the website and see what Wayne has to say...across a number of many different
topics.
End of Season Review
Who is Generation Y?
Before we can coach and lead we must be able to understand and connect. Because the attitudes of those
entering into organised sport have changed, we must alter our coaching approaches accordingly to better
suit the morphing expectations of today’s youth.
Generation Y (ages 13–27) is the most educated, entertained and materially endowed generation in
history. Having been raised and socialised in a highly technological world, they enjoy interaction and
spontaneity but are suspicious and wary of contrived messages. Gen Ys want to be involved with
passionate leaders who produce emotional experiences.
The important thing to remember with Generation Y is that they are not only at a different life stage to
most coaches, but they have also been raised and educated in a very different era. Despite living through
an era in competitive sport where Australia has hosted both the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and
Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games in quick succession, Gen Ys are more interested in the social
aspects of sport. Furthermore, their expectations of a coach and their preferred styles of coaching have all
been shaped by their times.
What do they want?
Though coaches need not react to every whim of a new generation, they cannot hold fast to old methods
and expect emerging generations to conform.
The ever-present generation gap is very visible when we attempt to coach Generation Y using our old
methods. Traditional leadership stresses controlling, and they want relating. We focus on structure, they
are influenced by style. We think framework, they think freedom. The answer is to take the time to better
understand them, and then we are well on the way to being able to engage, coach and lead this emerging
generation in new and innovative ways.
Gen Y’s preferred coaching style is one that is more consensus than command, more participative than
autocratic, and more flexible and organic than structured and hierarchical. Gen Ys want to create a culture
where interaction can take place, where those of different ages can mix and, thus, where intergenerational
perspectives are shared.
In short, Generation Y wants the 4 Cs: character, communication, cooperation, and competence. They are
primarily concerned with social connection, being entertained, having fun, and being presented with lifeenhancing experiences (character). Their ideal coach is someone who values the exchange of ideas and
creates an environment of transparency and respect for the team (communication). They want a coach
who is willing to listen to their ideas and opinions, and is happy to oblige with public displays of affirmation
and positive reinforcement (cooperation). And finally, Generation Y wants someone who is experienced,
friendly and who will take the time to get to know them (competence).
So in summary, when it comes to participating in organised sport, Generation Y is clearly expressing their
desire to have fun, to build new and lasting friendships, and to be empowered by their coach.
Go to this Sport Australia link for the full article: Coaching Generation Y
Nathan Twaddle HP Workshop – World Champion Rower, Olympian & HPSNZ Athlete Life Advisor
Brief summary as follows:
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When at school, Nathan played every sport available. The turning point to stay with Rowing was
when he became part of a school team that won a national title. It was then that he determined
that Rowing was where he could go places (Reference this to SNZ Junior Development Teams and
impact on impressionable young people when they are named in a national team)
Rowing has a very structured programme that filters down and measures are stringent. You have
to buy into the programme, do as you are told or be released (not selected)
Rowing has a centralised programme with full support services (strength & conditioning, mental
skills, nutrition etc) provided for coaches and athletes
Coaches and Athletes may meet for the first time when named by the selection panel. However, as
everyone is part of the same programme, this is not viewed as difficult...you just get on with it
Rowing NZ Coach Accreditation has been bought back in after being dropped earlier (perceived
lack of value). Coach Development now recognised as important to move forward and grow the
sport
Athletes must have an absolute belief in their goal (this will help overcome most issues)
The coach sets the tone; the athletes must have total responsibility for the outcome
Athletes must take ownership of their work ethic to achieve
No one else can do it for you (Persistence)
It takes years to build mastery
Always challenge your athletes to be better
Required coach qualities: Passion; Depth of Knowledge; Drive; Analytical
APP of the Month
Coaches Eye – A Video analysis tool that gives you slow-motion review, drawing tools and simple sharing.
It really is very good!
Recommended Book of the Month....available from the Softball NZ Loan Library
Winning – The Mental Way by Karlene Sugarman. Contact [email protected]
Great Equipment Deal
I recently purchased a hand held Pocker Radar from Ken Sommers at Sirius Sports in Auckland. At $340.00
it’s a terrific deal. Take a look at the you tube link and if interested go to [email protected]
You Tube Link Pocket Radar
National Director of Pitching - The Debbie Mygind file
Off Season Winter Pitching Training
When is your pitcher starting winter training?
What does your pitcher need to work on?
The first thing to do is assess your pitchers skills against the Softball NZ Measurable Standard.
Click here... Softball NZ Battery Resources
This indicates the expectation for each age group with regards to speed, spins, control and the
mental approach. From this you can tell what your pitchers work-ons will be.
Here is a sample assessment:
16 year old
boy pitcher
Dominant pitch is drop
4/6 in strike zone: Yes can consistently pitch strikes
Drop
Spin
Yes forward
Speed
104-108
Yes just makes standard
Control
Knee height: Yes
Inside/outside: No
Mental
Approach
Learn about key
words to make
adjustments
Rise
Spin
No - spiral
Speed
98-103
Control
Yes can pitch it up
Desire to
improve
Change up
Deceptive
No – slows arm down
Speed
68-69 Too slow
Control
Constantly too high
Get confident
to use this pitch
as weapon
This pitchers dominant pitch is a drop which he has good spin on but there is a need for more speed. His
riseball spin is a spiral so he needs to work on getting under the ball more to get the correct backwards spin.
His change up needs serious attention and I suggest he experiments with a different change up so he can be
fast through the bottom of the motion. Control is always a biggy for boys of this age. However, control can be
prioritised in preseason which is August/September. Right now we are in Off Season April-July. Speed and the
movement pitches is the priority.
Off Season
Work ons
Off Season = April-July
Priorities
Drop
More speed
Pitch more often and
pitch with pace
Throw hard
Sprint in drills
Fast arm drills
Leaping
Create a ‘go for
it’ attitude
Rise
Better spin
Check the grip
Work from Letter K
position to get hand
under ball
Work with a smaller
ball so can get hand
under it
Put tape on ball so
can see the spin
Make the time
to work on the
spin
Change up
Find a better change up
Experiment with
different grips and
releases
Pre-Season
Work ons
Pre-Season = Aug/Sept
Control of all pitches is priority
Make the time
to find a better
change up
For more information on off season pitching training email the National Director of Pitching Debbie
Mygind [email protected]
Wide Coverage on ESPN
The Women’s College World Series is on tap in Oklahoma City (USA). The fast pitch tournament will crown
the national champion and is being given extensive coverage on ESPN. Their broadcasts include
commentary from Olympic softball medalists Michele Smith and Jessica Mendoza. Numerous international
athletes from various national teams have played in the WCWS over the years. More
Last Word from Naomi...
The “off season” is a time to rest and reflect. I found time to watch a Drama on TV2, Tuesday nights at
9.30pm called “Necessary Roughness”. Interestingly it is a drama series based on the life of a clinical
psychologist who handles a number of different cases on the trot. One of her clients was a very petulant
TK who was a gridion star with attitude. The parallels for me were about how do we manage our own
“stars” within our teams so that we get the best value out of them. Not quite sure what the answer is
here...or even if the show gave me the right answer...but I do think this series is well worth watching over
time, if anything to help understand how and why people act the way they do. Interesting, informative and
entertaining....have a look and see what you think.
Kind Regards
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Softball NZ Inc PO Box 30322, Lower Hutt, New Zealand