Learning Life’s Lessons in Baseball

Casey Bass: I learned a lot playing Baseball growing up, mainly not to throw my helmet after striking out, I learned that in a hard way. Thanks dad, that kind of hurts. Today we are going to talk about those life lessons with Coach Wynn on ClubHouse Gas. Baseball Umpire: Safe! Casey Bass: We are fortunate enough that we are joined by Coach David Wynn. Dave wore many hats when it comes to Youth League Baseball. Coach, Dad, Board member and soon to be League President. Of course Dave, thank you so much for joining us. David Wynn: Thanks for being here. Casey Bass: I want to talk a little bit today about the challenges as a coach of dealing with young boys. David Wynn: Alright. Casey Bass: This is Baseball. We all know that who have played it, to be in one of the hardest, if not, the most difficult sports played in the world. How to deal with failure, pay intention for long periods of time, two things that young boys aren't too good at, and I want to start talking about the later. How do you keep your kids focused? David Wynn: Well, that's probably the hardest challenge as a recreational league coach is, particularly the younger, younger age groups, which is one of the reasons, one of the things we do here, is we limit the game times, so the kids aren't out there too long. Casey Bass: Right. David Wynn: But, you know, as you get older, just keeping the guys in it is a real challenge, because if they come up and strike out or they make an error, what you have always got to do is, just keep encouraging them, that it is the next play and there is a lot more baseball to be played, and forget about that and, you have got your teammates, and we love you and we support you, and we are here to do everything we can. You know, you have a good experience, so just forget about it. Casey Bass: So what about batting real quick. You know, you hit the star a lot, Baseball is the only sport where if you fail 70% of the time, you're considered a success, how do you teach a ten year old that if gets a hit three times out of ten, he is doing a good job. David Wynn: Well, that's hard for him to understand, because every kid at this level that you see coming in here at this park, they all want to be the next Chipper Jones or Jeff Francoeur, and what you can't tell them, is they are probably not going to be. This may be the only Baseball experience they ever have, so you got to keep encouraging them. And I'll give you a story last night, we were playing here on this field, eleven and twelve year olds, and one of our best twelve year old players, who has been struggling at the play was pitching, and he was pitching a beautiful game, and when he came out to bat, he hit a ball as hard as I have seen anybody hit one over here, but he hit it right off to shortstop, who made an incredible play on it. And what he did, is he completely put his head down, almost started to tear up, as a twelve year old. So we immediately grabbed him, and said, look, you hit it good, that's all you can do, you got a tough break, you made a good play, and you're tomorrow in the next inning. You are holding a lead, you have got to keep your head up until it strikes. So, it's just, it's almost like babysitting and being psychologist, because you are always just trying to pump the guys up for the next play. Casey Bass: Is there a different way of dealing with it from the other point of view, from the pitcher? I know you got a guy who goes up there, the number one stat that matters, how many runs did he give up, and guys make an error, or he throws a good pitch, and the guy just goes down and get inside the park and especially with today's technology, they hit one off the ground, over the fences, there are different way that you deal with your pitchers, in that situation, as oppose with your batters who may get out to 70 to 80% of the time. David Wynn: Well, you can. I'll tell you another story. It's the same kid, the same kid that he had to shortstop last night, he was down, gave about the three-run homer, in the bottom of the Firefly, right on this field again, and what he did is, he went over and congratulated the batter, as he ran around their base. So we had gotten his head back in shape, and he was okay, and that really just shows a maturing act from him, and it's just constant. You love, and care, and communication with these kids, and just knowing that they can do it, and we are behind them and we will do anything to help him get better. Casey Bass: One of the more challenging parts though, as we talked about batting and pitching, you know, if the guy strikes out, he is coming to you, and you're going to get to talk to him. You know, if the pitcher gets in trouble, you can call time, and can time him out. David Wynn: Right. Casey Bass: But what if you are starting an inning, and your right fielder makes an error, and they would have been out one, you've got three more outs to get, he is hanging is head, how did you from the dugout be able to help your right fielder. David Wynn: Well, you just yell some encouraging words, the best you can and hopefully that the next pitch is throwing pretty quickly, and if somebody makes an out, and he all of a sudden forgets about that, because your team has already turned the corner and gone on to get the next out. So you just got to hope for a good quick turnaround there. Casey Bass: Dealing with failure, realizing someone hit a home run and did a good job, and congratulating them, being out all by yourself, and right fielder making an error, and having to pick yourself up and rely on your teammates, those sort of things sound like a pretty good foundation for some pretty good life lessons. Is that something that you look at as a coach as an opportunity to teach the kids something that may pay off down the road? David Wynn: There's a lot of correlations between Baseball and life, and that's what we try to teach here. And as coaches we try to instill that in all of our players. Just to have a good attitude, come down here and have a great time. Well, we offer a great value proposition here. We try to assign very good coaches to all the kids that really care, and wouldn't be a coach, a volunteer coach, unless you really care, and that's really important. You know, it's important for kids to know that there is going to be plays made in baseball, but I tell them every night, look, you could be at work all day, and do what I do, but now you are out here playing baseball, so that's, enjoy it while you can, don't ever be mad or upset about somebody making a play against you, but just enjoy the experience. Casey Bass: How difficult as a coach is it to keep their focus on what they can control, how well they do, how they can control their actions, and whether or not the scoring is up in your favor? David Wynn: Well, and that's very important, that's a good question, and that's another tough task for coaches, is because, I think it's just constant communication, and it's talking to the kids about what to expect in certain situations, and that's why you practice. You know, run around first and second, little Johnny, when you get the ball third what are you going to do with it? So, you have to kind of walk them through the nuances of the game, and understand that there is going to be plays made, and there is not going to be plays made, and you just have to roll over the points getting ready for the next play, because there is the next play, and there is the next game. Casey Bass: I remember as a kid for me, that was kind of funny things that the coaches would say, but for you, and the coaches around the park here, some verbal cues or may be non verbal cues that you use to get a kid's mind, may be off of the bad thing which is happening, and getting looking forward. David Wynn: Well, you know, there has been times when I have gone out and talked to a pitcher about what he ate for lunch that day, or I just talk about his girlfriend, but I will get his mind off whatever he is going through currently, just to try to get him in a different mood. So he can get back to his natural instincts of throwing strikes. Casey Bass: And if they yell at a fielder who may be had an error or may be whistle out at him or tell him anything in particular? David Wynn: Shake it off, flush it, forget about it. You know, there is a next play, don't worry about it. Casey Bass: Okay, they seriously brought in the toilet. David Wynn: Right, exactly. Casey Bass: (Voice Overlap) wanted them to flush it. David Wynn: Yeah, and the kids these days, they come up with all the things, and I am not in the dugout a lot, because I'm always usually out in the bases coaching. So there's all kind of things going on at the dugout about. Even the kids, popping themselves up, and not let each other get down. Casey Bass: Well, coach Dave, we really appreciate you joined us, that little Johnny guy makes an appearance on a lot of our shows, even on couple of my articles, we should send him a T-shirt. David Wynn: I bet he does. Casey Bass: Poor Johnny, he is a ballplayer, he is all over the place. Let's go to out first today. 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