A tough 3rd inning for Jimmy as he throws his 8th walk of the night. He seems to be really letting down his 10 year old teammates. But wait - they don't care - since most of them just can't wait to either go home or get some candy from the snack bar. Jimmy hurls another pitch and it is just high as it bounces off the top of the backstop. Ball four - the 9th walk of the game. "Arrrgghhhh!!! Where was that one blue?!?" bellows the coach. This isn't his first complaint - he has been on a role since the 1st inning. Miraculously, Bobby Catcher throws out the truck of a runner Tommy as he tries to steal 2nd to snag the 3rd out.
In between innings, the coach makes another comment about my strike zone. I walk over to the coach in the dugout, and say to him, "Coach, if you don't stop right now, I will throw you out of the game. Have you ever been thrown out of a 10 year old baseball game because you can't handle your emotions? I'm pretty sure you don't want that to happen." From then on, Coach Loudmouth kept his mouth shut the rest of the night.
Coach Loudmouth is just one of many coaches who volunteer their time to coach their kid's baseball team. Nothing wrong with it, especially since somebody has to do it. But when you are focusing on the lineup and where you will be positioning your bench players the next inning, don't start barking at the umpire. Let me just say this - the more you bitch about the strike zone, the larger the zone is going to become for your players. The coach acts like I care who wins the game - trust me, I could care less, as long as the game is smooth and quick. But If you decide to harp on me about my zone during a ten year old game, I am going to widen it even more. These kids don't get the high school strike zone - they get the zone that is from armpits to the bottom of your knees. Swing the bat, because Mommy and Daddy aren't there to watch you look at pitches. They want a reason to cheer for you.
One more thing about Coach Loudmouth - when you have your butt parked in the dugout and I call the other team's runner safe because your fielder missed the tag, don't come storming out to the field ranting and raving that he was clearly out. This goes back to a prior post, but I feel that it is relevant to bring it up again. Yesterday was a great example - I'm umping a 9 year old game and there's a close play at first. The visiting team is already getting blown out. A close play at first and I call out the runner of the losing team. The coach hollers: "Are you serious?!?" My response: "Yes I'm serious." That shut him up - something nice and simple. Why don't you take that can of tobacco out of your back pocket, put it in your mouth, and focus on teaching your players fundamentals?
Every one of us has had a long day at work and we are hear watching a little league baseball game. You have two jobs to do as a coach for kids this age - teach them the fundamentals of the game and make sure they have fun. Bitching to the umpire is not of those responsibilities, so keep your trap shut.
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