Fall ball, and the part I like most

Fall ball with Sherman Oaks has started. I am assistant coaching the Tigers with the same crew from last spring.

This is the part I like most. It is developmental, not win oriented, and that is exactly what I want with kids nine and under. Every kid has something of their own, and I try to take my time with each one. My job is to make them want to come back for spring, so I keep it fun, keep encouraging them, and help them learn how to move on from a mistake.

Last night was special. I saw a kid from spring who, when we first got him, was not really into playing baseball. The coach from the season before said it took a couple of games just to get him on the field. Last night I went up to the field to work with my son, and I saw this kid practicing while what looked like an older kid pitched to him, with a dad watching on the side. He was doing really well. I walked over, and it was the same kid I had coached. He looked awesome. His dad said that after spring he was excited to get better, and he has been practicing ever since.

I cannot help feeling like I had a part in that. That is the best part of coaching.