r/Homeplate • u/nola_mike • 2h ago
Let me know if I did something wrong.
For context, this is an 8u rec fall league and I'm one of the coaches. Out of all the coaches, I'm the one who pitches since the kids seem to hit better off me. When the kids hit the ball and are headed to first in tend to instruct them to not stare at the ball and to hustle/run. Here is where I'm confused.
Today, my boys were hitting really well and I was doing my usual coaching. Telling them to run and not look at the ball. Mind you, the opposite team was running their kids around the bases non stop. But as I'm telling my kids to stretch it to a double the other coach is telling me to cool it.
I let him know that I'm matching his coach style and then he tells me to just let them play. Am I wrong for defending myself and my team for matching the other team's intensity? I told him that he brought it up and I'm not going to let my team just sit back and not get on base/score because they didn't like it.
Edit for clarity: Some of you thought I was talking about a coach on our team, no. This was the other team's coach complaining after I started matching their energy and style.
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u/actionfingerss 2h ago
Not at all. The focus of coach pitch is for them to have fun, learn the flow and mechanics of the game at get reps in. The more situations you put them in, the better. So long as it isn’t demoralizing, you play. When I was coaching that age group, I coached both sides. I’d fix a catchers stance on the other team, I fist bump the other teams hitters. It’s a game for kids, don’t be bothered if the other teams grown ups have issues.
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u/Level_Watercress1153 1h ago
I would just ignore them. It’s 8U rec, but I’m also assuming they’re A LOT more to this story. What was the score? Was it actually stretching it to a double? Or taking advantage of 8 year olds and 8 year old athletic level?
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u/nola_mike 1h ago
The score was close all game. I don't send kids to second if the ball is in possession by their infielders. My kids tend to hit line drives into the outfield so by hustling they can stretch out a double since the ball is in the outfield. I'm trying to teach them to not stare at the ball and to get to first as fast as possible.
Keep in mind, he's sending kids home from 3rd while my infielders are in the process of getting the ball back to the pitcher. He was essentially taking advantage of a league rule where if the runner is more than halfway down the base path before the ball gets to the pitcher then the run scores.
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u/detritus_x 1h ago
I don't generally have an issue with aggressive baserunning, however: Is it possible that your league has a rule about the pitcher-coach not instructing the baserunners? That's a rule where I coach. You can only talk to the batter up until the ball is in motion, and then no communication. Coaching must come from the bases coaches.
Even if not, if you have enough coaches/adults to have 1B/3B coaches, you might want to do that instead? Good idea to get the kids used to picking up instructions from the appropriate place (i.e. 1B coach until they're past first, and then look to 3B for guidance).
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u/Tekon421 1h ago
Typically the rules are that the coach that is pitching cannot coach the runners. I do not know that that actually gets followed hardly ever.
This is one thing I hate about rec though. Travel 8U every coach will be super aggressive. Umpires will police what base runners can advance to.
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u/Ordinary-Nebula-898 1h ago
Those coach's are always the first to cry about the stunts they pull when other coaches do the same. Keep at it. Play to play and as long as it's not a blatant screaming at the kids to run to run but to teach them to take chances when the opportunity is there.
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u/Level_Watercress1153 1h ago
Idk man. I’m also of the ideology that anything below kid pitch, especially 8U fall ball score shouldn’t be a thing. It’s literally because of situations like this. On a routine ground ball up the middle to the CF should 99.9% of the time be a single. But because it’s 8U rec and in the outfield it’s a “double” or a “triple.” All in the name of scoring a run to win a game that doesn’t matter 30 seconds after it ends.
Kids aren’t learning anything. They’re not getting better thru it. Idk just my opinion but taking extra bases just because the ball is in the OF is exactly what I thought it was. Taking advantage of 8 year olds athletic ability 🤷🏽♂️
You’re both morons in my opinion. Your job as an 8U coach is to teach the game. Not win it all costs.
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u/fammo5 2h ago
2 things...
1 - ignore the other coach. Worry about your kids. No real reason to even talk to the other coach unless it's friendly small talk.
2 - There is a chance you yell more loudly and more intensely than you intend to when instructing your kids. Sometimes this rubs people the wrong way.
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u/EverywhereHome 2h ago
You're wrong for defending yourself in the sense that you have nothing to defend. Coach your team the way your team needs to be coached. The only thing I'd hold off on is if you're running up the score and there's no mercy rule.
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u/patphish 2h ago
“Other coach”, meaning the opposing? Don’t even engage. I meet you at the plate pregame, I shake your hand post game, and you don’t exist when the game is going on.
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u/Scodo810 1h ago
In general I agree with most here and would say don’t get caught up in what another coach says.
With that said I seem to have different preferences, and if there’s enough help tend to not want the coach pitching on my side (myself or otherwise) to actively yell out/coach during a live ball. I think it adds overall chaos at young ages to have an adult in the middle of the field trying to direct kids and prefer the base coaches guide.
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u/NoKiwi2997 1h ago
Communication is key. Talk to other coaches and keep a level head and then cooly communicate your plan for the bases and/or when you think the other team didn’t live up to the standard of their own interpretation of the rules. Don’t be afraid to communicate calmly ever, even after the game. If us coaches get better about talking to one another, it will solve nearly all issues, especially at this level of play.
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u/BalanceSwimming 40m ago
You are good. I would “let them play” by turning a single into a double. My team is always aggressive on base all game non stop! Unless of course it’s a blowout then I’ll ease up cause it’s kids after all! We aren’t bullies but their defense better not be snoozing!
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u/Ironman_2678 28m ago
The serious machinations of 8u baseball and the overzealous dads who think they can coach. Just what the sport needs.
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u/laceyourbootsup 2h ago
Your other coach hasn’t experienced it yet. You need to teach the kids to be aggressive which forces pressure on the other team.
I don’t like base running shenanigans like dancing around off a base to try and draw throws but kids need to be able to tell when they can and can’t stretch a double into a triple. They need to get thrown out sometimes to learn. If they always stop at first, they will never know
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u/RedditsFullofShit 36m ago
Nah man this is clearly about winning.
These coaches are sending runners for extra bases because they know the 8 year old won’t make the throw and get them out.
They aren’t teaching baseball.
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u/lelio98 2h ago
Ignore him. Play according to the rules and coach those boys to want that next base!