Youth baseball coaches burn out too
Coaches burn out, too, and I've seen it happen. You're juggling recruiting, parents, your job and your own son, often for little or no pay.
I never came close to burning out as a coach, but I understand why coaches do. It’s a perfect storm of mental and physical stress, for a job that’s often unpaid.
The dad/coach and son relationship is a tough one. Recruiting season is another, and it starts right when you’re the most spent. Wins and losses cut both ways, because winning a lot puts every loss under a microscope. There’s emotional exhaustion and physical exhaustion (we’re old, and we’re not made for this!). There’s trying to do everything yourself, your work suffering, rivalries, and parent texts at midnight. And finally there’s your health, because all of that stress lands somewhere.
A few things help, though I’m bad at some of them…
Define your role. This is something I got firmer about over the years. I’m the coach. If you want a party, a parent needs to plan it, and if you want to run fundraisers, set up a committee.
Set clear expectations for parents, in writing. Most problems come from expectations that were never made clear.
Set boundaries. Okay, I’m terrible at this one, and I’m just as bad at having friends and hobbies outside of baseball.
Take a break. When parents asked about fall ball, I was spent from the season. I asked an assistant to run it, and he was happy to. Just removing that from my brain was a huge relief.
Take care of yourself. I became a runner. I truly hate running, but it’s good for me, and it’s the one hour when no one can text me a lineup question.
Parents, you can help, too. Volunteer for something. And every once in a while, just say thank you.
What has helped you avoid burnout?
Still have a question? Ask Coach Fungo.
“You're the coach, the recruiter, the party planner, the fundraiser and the scheduler. You do it all, and you probably shouldn't.”
I wrote the long version of this when I coached the Spiders: Coaches Burn Out, Too on SpidersElite.
A preseason personal inventory for every player
Each player writes down one strength, one weakness, three specific things he'll do about it, measurable team and personal goals and how he'll lead. Then the coach sits down with him to go over it, and again at midseason.
“It can't just be 'practice harder.' These need to be specific things you'll actually do.”
Before you coach your son’s team, ask him
Before you volunteer to coach your son's team, ask him whether he wants you to. Don't assume you know the answer -- being the coach's kid isn't always easy.
“If he doesn't want this, it's really a non-starter. You shouldn't coach him.”
The playbook
Thirty-three defensive plays, animated. Cutoffs, relays, first-and-third, bunt coverage.
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