Coaching Philosophy
Saint Louis Esprit Softball looks for players who play with a naturally aggressive instinct. This will often lead to mistakes and at times costly mistakes. We believe it is from these mistakes we learn. Our first interest is to teach players the proper way to play the game. The reason to play an expanded schedule is to learn. A major component of the learning process is trial and error. We within the Saint Louis Esprit Softball organization believe this process speeds the learning curve. Players need to realize their full potential at all times through hustling and an aggressive playing style from an early age. It is the coach's responsibility to help the player harness and maximize her talents. The Saint Louis Esprit Softball organization works to develop players who put pressure on the opposition at all times. Working with players to be aggressive and know that she is in control at the plate and can hit every strike. Every ball she makes contact with is at least a double until she sees it is a single. All base runners are going to second on every pitch until she sees the catcher has caught the ball and she runs everything out. As a fielder players go for every catch until she sees she is not going to get the ball or it has been caught. She is always looking to back up even the most routine plays. As a player, she is always mentally in the game.
Part and parcel with the ideal player profile is innate intelligence, what many would call ball sense. To make a mistake on the ball field over and over again does not reflect well on the individual's ball sense. When you talk to coaches who have international experience, all seem to agree that what sets the American softball player apart from the rest of the world is her ability to think, to improvise, to adapt to the situation,. The talent level between our Olympic softball team and that of other countries like Australia, China and Japan is no longer that great. Their skill level and athletic ability is comparable, the American player's ability to react correctly in pressure filled situations sets her apart. Where does this skill come from? It comes from an environment where a player is not only encouraged to think for herself but expected to think for herself. It also comes from having played hundreds, maybe thousands of game, being exposed to similar situations over and over again. From this the player has built a framework of reference that gives her this ability to react correctly. It also makes the game so second nature that it frees her mind to exploit opportunities that the less experienced might not realize. Do not be afraid to let your child make mistakes or fail. If handled correctly she would grow from the experience.
The Saint Louis Esprit Softball Organization wants players who enjoy playing softball. No matter how gifted a player may be, no one enjoys watching her play if she has no zest for the game. Take your daughter to a high school or college game. Look to see which players are really enjoying themselves, who appear as though nothing could be more fun. I bet you will find that these are the players your daughter likes the most. Do not make softball a chore for your daughter. Do not nag her repeatedly over an error or mistake. Most of all let her have her space during practice and games. She has enough ability to be selected to play with a select softball team, let her learn. She is a talented observant athlete. You will have plenty of time after the game to review observations. The sport is too hard to play if she is not enjoying herself.
The Saint Louis Esprit Softball Organization also wants players with the mental toughness in order to accept the hard work that goes with becoming a better player. This includes hustling at practice, running from station to station during practices or activities, not sitting down when there is an interruption in the practice flow, and above all a positive attitude at all times. A physical error brought on by a player's lack of concentration is indeed a mental error. To a true competitor this should be unacceptable to one's self. A player also should have the discipline to respect her teammates and coaches. This includes being on time, not missing practice, and not putting yourself ahead of the team.
The Saint Louis Esprit believes the talent and skill of most select teams does not vary a great deal. It is their determination and willingness to work the opposition.
Saint Louis Esprit Softball looks for players who play with a naturally aggressive instinct. This will often lead to mistakes and at times costly mistakes. We believe it is from these mistakes we learn. Our first interest is to teach players the proper way to play the game. The reason to play an expanded schedule is to learn. A major component of the learning process is trial and error. We within the Saint Louis Esprit Softball organization believe this process speeds the learning curve. Players need to realize their full potential at all times through hustling and an aggressive playing style from an early age. It is the coach's responsibility to help the player harness and maximize her talents. The Saint Louis Esprit Softball organization works to develop players who put pressure on the opposition at all times. Working with players to be aggressive and know that she is in control at the plate and can hit every strike. Every ball she makes contact with is at least a double until she sees it is a single. All base runners are going to second on every pitch until she sees the catcher has caught the ball and she runs everything out. As a fielder players go for every catch until she sees she is not going to get the ball or it has been caught. She is always looking to back up even the most routine plays. As a player, she is always mentally in the game.
Part and parcel with the ideal player profile is innate intelligence, what many would call ball sense. To make a mistake on the ball field over and over again does not reflect well on the individual's ball sense. When you talk to coaches who have international experience, all seem to agree that what sets the American softball player apart from the rest of the world is her ability to think, to improvise, to adapt to the situation,. The talent level between our Olympic softball team and that of other countries like Australia, China and Japan is no longer that great. Their skill level and athletic ability is comparable, the American player's ability to react correctly in pressure filled situations sets her apart. Where does this skill come from? It comes from an environment where a player is not only encouraged to think for herself but expected to think for herself. It also comes from having played hundreds, maybe thousands of game, being exposed to similar situations over and over again. From this the player has built a framework of reference that gives her this ability to react correctly. It also makes the game so second nature that it frees her mind to exploit opportunities that the less experienced might not realize. Do not be afraid to let your child make mistakes or fail. If handled correctly she would grow from the experience.
The Saint Louis Esprit Softball Organization wants players who enjoy playing softball. No matter how gifted a player may be, no one enjoys watching her play if she has no zest for the game. Take your daughter to a high school or college game. Look to see which players are really enjoying themselves, who appear as though nothing could be more fun. I bet you will find that these are the players your daughter likes the most. Do not make softball a chore for your daughter. Do not nag her repeatedly over an error or mistake. Most of all let her have her space during practice and games. She has enough ability to be selected to play with a select softball team, let her learn. She is a talented observant athlete. You will have plenty of time after the game to review observations. The sport is too hard to play if she is not enjoying herself.
The Saint Louis Esprit Softball Organization also wants players with the mental toughness in order to accept the hard work that goes with becoming a better player. This includes hustling at practice, running from station to station during practices or activities, not sitting down when there is an interruption in the practice flow, and above all a positive attitude at all times. A physical error brought on by a player's lack of concentration is indeed a mental error. To a true competitor this should be unacceptable to one's self. A player also should have the discipline to respect her teammates and coaches. This includes being on time, not missing practice, and not putting yourself ahead of the team.
The Saint Louis Esprit believes the talent and skill of most select teams does not vary a great deal. It is their determination and willingness to work the opposition.