Baseball Coaching Info

Keeping the “Face” Up

Without a doubt, all coaches want to win every contest in which they are involved. However, deciding not to focus on the outcome often leads to greater rewards of improved play, happier athletes and, ultimately, success. Concentrating on the process of performance, rather than the outcome, allows players to control their ability to succeed. Control leads to confidence, and confidence leads to better performance.

An acronym that can be helpful is FACE. Each letter stands for a component of performance that is completely controllable by each individual player.

Fun

Too often coaches forget the fact that they are teaching a game. Every year, the number one reason kids quit sports is because playing is no longer fun. Athletes play sports because they are fun. How often do you hear players comment how fun it was to play a well fought game? There seems to be a correlation between fun and good performance. One does not cause the other, but they interrelate and complement each other. So, if coaches and players can emphasize the fun component, athletes will tend to be happier, which will in turn lead to better performance.

Attitude

Charles Swindoll once wrote, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it”. Regardless of the score or circumstances, players can control their attitude on the field. Players cannot let their circumstances dictate their attitudes. Athletes must know that their attitudes affect those around them in a positive or negative way. This means all players must possess a positive winning attitude regardless of what is going on around them.

Communication

Communication is the lifeblood of successful teams. Without it, there are individuals on the field with no direction. Again, this component is100% controlled by the players, yet it seems to be the first thing to break down when things begin to go bad. When circumstances seem to turn against a team, the need for communication must be reinforced.

Effort

Effort occurs when skill and talent meet sheer determination. Effort does not always mean perfect outcome, but exceptional effort lays the foundation for great performances later. Most coaches would agree, they would rather have an athlete that gives effort more than a talented one that is apathetic.

Finally, FACE is not only an acronym for these elements of performance, it also represents the physical countenance on players? faces. The face is an outward expression of what is going on inside. Athletes must be good actors, and regardless of the situation, players must show confidence and a sense of control to those around them.

The principles of FACE can, and must, be reinforced in practice before they can be expected in competition. Each area of FACE is completely controlled by the players. They must learn to focus on those factors they can control and have a good attitude about the factors they cannot.