Positive Coaching - January 2008

The Positive Coach's New Years Resolutions
By Bob Henderson
Positive Coaching Alliance

Just in case you have not made (or kept!) any New Year’s Resolutions, Positive Coaching Alliance would like to suggest a few. In fact, here is a whole line-up of ideas.

Some of these resolutions may prove easier to keep than others, but all will move you, your players and their parents toward a rewarding season, where players have a positive, character-building experience.

Resolve to:

1. Help conduct a fair player draft.

2. Teach players about the ELM Tree of Mastery, which rewards Effort, Learning and bouncing back from Mistakes.

3. Recognize that the umpire, who may very well be vision-challenged, or perhaps may have learned a radically different view of the strike zone, is, in fact, human and worthy of your respect.

4. Finally convince that one kid not to throw the bat.

5. Make it through at least one game without stepping in a wad of chewed gum on the dugout floor.

6. Persuade league leaders to create a Positive Coaching culture, where coaches, parents and players get to the ROOTS of Positive Play by respecting Rules, Opponents, Officials, Teammates and Self.

7. Help players understand the signs...for take a pitch, for bunt, and for "flush that mistake," the PCA "mistake ritual," where coaches make a toilet flushing motion to remind players to get rid of that last mistake and prepare for the next play.

8. Help parents understand the signs...including PCA's "We Honor the Game Here" banners and whenever necessary, the universal sign for "zip your lips."

9. Get to a PCA Double-Goal CoachTM workshop or take the Little League Double-Goal Coach Course at http://www.positivecoach.org/LittleLeague to learn how to pursue wins while teaching life lessons.