Moving Down from 12 yo to 9 yo

Hi DRP

A couple of thoughts:

One thing to keep in mind is that this will be your first season with this particular team. You are an unknown quantity, (quality?) to these particular kids. First impressions are so important, with the kids AND their parents, and there is going to be substantial anxiety on their part.

I devote an entire chapter to this reality in "Bean's About Baseball", but one aspect I did not spend enough time on is the idea that you should try to get down to the kids' eye level as often as you can figure out an excuse to do so...WITHOUT BENDING OVER FROM THE HIPS TO THEM.

To start the first practice, or meeting with the kids and their parents, SIT DOWN INDIAN FASHION ON THE GRASS, (OR PAVEMENT, OR WHATEVER), WITH THE KIDS!

During the course of the season, spend a lot of time on one knee if they are standing, and sit Indian fashion if they are sitting on the ground, but this first practice is especially crucial.

This one single nod to their dignity, and this one single habit on your part will change the entire paradigm of your relationship to these kids. Now you are part of THEIR team. The parents won't even conciously remark upon this gesture, but their attitude will be that you are truly on their kids' side.

In addition, you will find yourself speaking more softly, more intimately, and more honestly with the kids.
"We're in this together. Let's see how much fun we can have and how well we can play this game."

So many coaches are sooooo anxious to get out on the field and start teaching stuff, they forget to enfold the kids' hearts and and minds first.

I forgot this one season, and it was awful until my son reminded me that "This year you didn't ask the guys' permission to teach them stuff."

See, they didn't trust me yet.

One small difference in color to Splitter's thought about encouraging the kids' natural competitiveness: Direct their competitive urges toward the game itself, sort of like a runner competing against the clock, or his former lifetime best time.

Have a ball and best regards
Kenneth Bean