Brian Gotta

If you’re coaching a youth league baseball or softball team and want to have the most success possible, pick up a copy of my book, Winning Secrets. Below is an excerpt:

The next discussion I’ll have with my team relates to effort. I like to tell the kids, “Congratulations on making this team. We picked you because we’ve seen you play, or there was something you did in tryouts that impressed us. It wasn’t just luck. They didn’t draw the names out of a hat and assign you to us. We wanted each and every one of you.” I’m trying to make every player to feel special and know they already accomplished something of significance for me to have picked them. Then I’ll continue.

“So you made this team, and there are no cuts. You’re a (team name), for the rest of this season. But what you probably didn’t know is that the tryouts are actually just starting today.”

This usually generates some shocked and confused looks among the players.

“If you already made the team,” I ask, “what do you think you’re trying out for?”

Typically, one or two of the bolder players will answer. “We’re trying out for positions.”

“That’s right,” I tell them. “And not only positions, but where you’ll bat in the order. Right now, the coaches and I don’t have a lineup and we don’t have anyone playing any particular position. We have some ideas, and we think we know where some of you will play and who will be batting at the top of the order, but these next several weeks are when we’ll be making those final decisions.