BASEBALL VICTORIA - COACHING ACCREDITATION July 2014 | Page 7

Coaching During the Game

The coach of the team is the most influential member of the squad.
A coach can dictate whether a participant has a positive or negative experience simply by
how they relate information to them. Coaches should;
Focus on being positive
Reward effort not result
Be enthusiastic and highly involved
When coaching is needed, coach discretely to an individual
Don’t be negative towards an umpire or the opposition
Approaching the game with sportsmanship
Be a positive role model

Sportsmanship

Participants look to the coach to guide their behaviour, if a coach is negative and
unsportsmanlike, the participants will follow.
Sportsmanship isn’t just being humble in victory and gracious in defeat but it also relates
to how the game is played. When sports manship isn’t conveyed, the umpires are put
under unnecessary pressure to maintain a positive environment. Sportsmanship includes:
Common sense approach to providing positive experiences for both teams
Not stealing or bunting when leading by large amo unts (7 runs a good guide)
Not Sliding at first base where avoidable
Not over celebrating runs or opposition strike outs
Never directly approaching opposition players negatively

“The journey around the bases is
different for everyone”