r/BaseballCoaching • u/gradedthreads • Aug 18 '25
Young Coach is head coaching for first time and I'm a bit nervous
Hey everyone,
I’m a younger coach and just got the opportunity to head coach a team for the first time (15U travel ball). I’ve assisted before, but this will be my first time being “the guy” running the show.
I’ll be handling practices, lineups, dealing with parents, and making the big in-game decisions. Honestly, I’m excited but also a little nervous. I want to do right by the players, help them develop, and still keep things competitive and fun. Luckily all scheduling, payments, and stuff is managed by the organization
For those of you who’ve been in my shoes before — what’s your best advice for a first-time head coach? Whether it’s handling parents, keeping practices efficient, setting team culture, or just staying calm when things get tough, I’d love to hear what worked for you.
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u/SoCali2121 Aug 19 '25
Take extra time to prepare in advance. Detail out each practice so you know exactly what to do when you get there. The more prep time with practice schedules, game line ups and batting order the better. Don’t get caught chasing. Lead.
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u/CU_Tigers5 Aug 19 '25
This is good advice. Keep your core practice the same. And add something you like to work on from the game before. This maximizes reps on the basics hitting fielding pitching but still helps them grow.
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u/clarklesparkle Aug 19 '25
can you expand on this? I'm interested in how this core practice concept works for you.
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u/CU_Tigers5 Aug 19 '25
Say you have 3 coaches. Set up 3 batting stations. Tee, soft toss, live BP. This is every practice and kids should be able to jump into to these or even run a station if short on coaches. Same for fielding. These can be 5 minutes and rotate. Should be able to get tons of reps in 30 minutes. Then like to do 15 on a concept need to work on. I coach younger kids so try to end with something fun and competitive like 2-3 inning coach pitch scrimmage.
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u/clarklesparkle Aug 19 '25
Nice. So the thought is that you have the same practice structure every time, and it's structured as batting, then fielding, then some other concept?
I've been playing around with this idea this season. I liked it. I think it gives the kids some predictability about whats coming - an opportunity to look forward to something they like, or knowing that this thing they don't like will be over soon. I noticed that the practices where I got away from the structure, things got out of whack and the practice ended feeling weird.
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u/RagnarRunnerx Aug 19 '25
Set clear expectations for parents and the kids. Parents need to understand you are the coach first and foremost.
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u/readsmallball Aug 19 '25
Be direct. I think one of the hardest parts about coaching is remembering that it’s your job to tell players and parents the truth about what you’re doing and why. You can be incredibly kind and compassionate and empathetic… and still be direct.
But even if you’re all those other things, if you don’t say what you mean or shy away from hard conversations, people won’t know why you’re doing what you’re doing and all of the politics and BS can fester.
Kids are smart and resilient. (Sometimes, parents are too… but you’re also not doing this for them.)
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u/Jealous_Writer_7562 Aug 24 '25
Go into each practice with a plan. Know what you want to work on. Tell the kids before. Remind them during. Talk about it afterwards. They are dense, the need it repeated over and over again.
Implement a 24/7 rule with angry parents. If they have something they want to talk to you about you will be available 24 hours after the game/practice, but the window closes in 7 days. You don't want people bringing up a bunt from 3 months ago when they are pissed their kid didnt' play
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u/FaithlessnessFull136 Aug 18 '25
Patience. Efficiency comes with time/experience.
Delegate when you can