WYC 103 – Youth Baseball & Softball – Marshall Lehr talks playing to win vs. playing not to lose

Quote

‘The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place’ – George Bernard Shaw

Coaching your own kids

• Make decisions based on results more than potential (it is easy to see the potential in your own kids, but the results need to be the criteria used)

Cringe Moment

• Marshall had two moms complaining to the ref and instead of diffusing the situation he got in an argument with them.
• Diffuse situations with the phrase ‘I can see why you think that’

Teaching Skills

• ‘The ability to learn faster than your opponent may be your only true competitive advantage’
• Make everything competitive to raise the energy level – You can buy one of those little scoreboard flip charts
• Game – Pull out a stop watch and see how quick the girls can get fly ball into cutoff

Championship Culture 

• A healthy learning environment is one where kids are playing free and aren’t afraid to make mistakes
• Keep one error one error.
• Book: Top Dog – Penalty kicks:
  • Kicking not to lose: 63%
  • Kicking to win: 93%

Rewards

• They had toy WWE belt they gave to best defensive player – and would use Discount Double-check motion during games to lighten the mood and excite each other
• First out after an error is huge – so after games they would recognize who made the play to get the first out after an error

Connecting with and Impacting Kids

• Marshall sends notes in the mail to his kids – there is a service where you can print pictures off Facebook in a card format.
• Reinforce with kids their importance is not dependent on their sports performance

The One that got away

• Marshall got a 2nd & 3rd chance – He had a kid struggling with pitching and took himself out of the game. The first time he let the kid leave the game. 6 months later the kid wanted to take himself out, Marshall asked the kid to get him 1 out. The kid still struggled. Then 6 months later he asked the kid to get him 1 out and he worked out of a bases-loaded no outs situation without giving up any runs.

Best borrowed/stolen idea

• The decision is part of the skill – learned from Mark Upton
• Compete and measure it!

Favorite coaching book/quote

• Quote/Book: ‘We went out looking for exceptional kids and what we found is exceptional conditions’ – Benjamin Bloom in Developing Talent in Young People. Be the coach to develop exceptional athletes and people.
• Book: Mindset by Carol Dweck

Parting Advice

• You can’t teach everyone the same way
• Have a preseason meeting with your parents to set expectations. ‘The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place’ – George Bernard Shaw