Here are some tips that will help you make the most of the High School Season. I am lucky enough to coach both Club and High School and I truly believe a player that participating in both programs is going to gain an advantage over players only playing in Club Softball or High School Softball.
Attitude is Everything!
If you go into the High School Season with the attitude that you are better than all of your teammates, and know more than your coaches, I can pretty much promise you that you will not have a positive experience. You will alienate your teammates and you will quickly lose favor with the coaching staff.
Leadership
Lead by example when dealing with teammates. Showing them how you work hard, says a lot more than just telling them to work hard. Also, go out of your way to encourage other players that are working hard and grinding. You need to realize not everyone on the team plays softball for the same reasons! Some just want to have fun. One of my favorite sayings is to be confident enough in yourself to choose the “Hard Right instead of the Easy Wrong.” Example: Teammates are talking about someone behind their back. The easy wrong thing to do would be to make fun of that person with everyone else. The Hard Right thing to do would be to confront the teammates and tell them it isn’t okay to pick on someone on the team especially when they aren’t there to defend themselves.
Communicating with Coaches
When dealing with coaches, realize that communication and respect will get you a long way. You need to respect the position as most high school players have no idea how hard it is to be a varsity head coach. Coaches spend twice as much time off the field as they do on the field. Between scheduling games, apparel, dealing with parents, checking grades and so much more – they put a ton of time into the team. A smart player is going to take the best things from each coach that they get a chance to learn from. A player that assumes they know more than the coach will stop learning. This doesn’t mean you have to agree with everything. I would strongly suggest you “pick your battles.” If you’re going to the coach every day with a better way to do things, they are going to get annoyed with you very fast. But if there are a few things that you think may really help, save those conversations for the few important things.
Many ways to Skin a Cat
Just because your High School coach does something different than your club coach doesn’t mean the High School Coach is wrong. If you talked to 100 college coaches and asked them to describe hitting, I am guessing you wouldn’t have anyone explain it in the exact same way. Realize there are many ways to teach the game. If you develop a good rapport with your coach, you can talk about other ways you may have been taught and can have a good dialog. But realize some coaches may not care about other ways you have been taught and will want to do it their way. If there is a difference, try to do what they are asking to do and try to make it work. If it doesn’t work, PRAY that you don’t have the coach that DEMANDS you do EVERYTHING their way. Do whatever you can to avoid a power struggle.
Practices
Use your practice time to improve your game! There will usually be idle time before practice, after practice and during water breaks that you can try to get a few extra reps in. If you are going to work on hitting or something on your own time, invite a few teammates along. This will help them get better and will help you to get to know your teammates better.
Varying Levels of Skill
In High School you are in going to have different levels of ability and commitment. This will be your biggest challenge. Use what you have learned to help some of the players with less experience. This is also a great experience if you want to get into coaching someday.
Avoiding Drama
Try to do your best to avoid the drama. If you really want to help it be a positive season, try to do what you can to mend relationships that may not be the greatest prior to the start of the season. Even if that means you must be the bigger person. If EVERYONE on the team tries to do this your team chemistry will be much better!
Big Schools & Stronger Programs
If you go to a big high school with a strong program try to understand that there is a ton of competition for varsity positions. For my High School Program in Forest Lake, MN about 95% of the 55 players trying out play on some form of Club Softball Team. I will only be able to have 18 on my varsity rosters during section play. That means I will have about 35 or so club players that won’t make my varsity this year. I am lucky enough to be able to choose my varsity from the best 18U, 16U and 14U players in our High School draw area. It’s a lot harder to make the varsity than it is to make the local club team.
Dealing With Parents
The biggest mistake you can make is to automatically assume politics if your daughter doesn’t make the team she is hoping to make. Instead try having her ask the coach what areas she can improve on. Then, put the onus on your daughter to work harder to try to get where she wants to be. This lesson is one of the best things you can teach your daughter. You won’t be able to protect them from getting knocked down in college or in the real world. It’s always easy to cry politics and I realize a lot of times this is true. But often, the coaches are doing the best they can. Helping them learn how to bounce back after life’s challenges and difficulties is one of the best things you can help them with.
Community/School Pride
Take PRIDE in playing for the community you live in! There is nothing like the thrill of making it to state with the kids you grew up playing with! Enjoy these moments! These are the days you will think back to later in life with very fond memories.