Being a coach can have a very profound effect on the social, emotional, and physical development of an athlete of any age. Each player’s experience on the baseball field, whether positive or negative may last their entire lifetime. The Gibsons Minor Baseball Association strives to assure that the coach/athlete relationship and learning environment is always a positive experience so that each player’s unique development can be maximized. Above all a GMBA coach must exhibit the highest ethical and moral qualities while being a strong role model for each of the players he coaches.
Coach Requirements:
Coaches must:
- Treat each player with the highest level of respect and dignity.
- Exhibit sportsmanship at all times and require that his/her players do the same. Never engage in or allow his/her players to use profanity, trash talk, be verbally abusive, taunt or behave in ways that demean players or coaches on either team.
- Learn to control his/her competitiveness. Keep his/her ego out of coaching. Emotional negative outbursts such as anger and frustration are unacceptable. Make the experience for the players interesting, enriching and fun.
- Not challenge judgment calls by the umpire. It is acceptable to challenge the interpretation of a rule, but only in a courteous non-confrontational manner. Shouting or gesticulating reactions to umpires’ calls are unacceptable. Remember the younger umpires are in a learning phase and should be treated with dignity and encouragement. Concerns should be forwarded to the Umpire-in-Chief.
- Always be in control of his/her players. Any player who is not in the infield/outfield, at bat, on deck or a substitute must be sitting on the bench inside their respective dugout. Note: There may be occasion where a coach may want to bench a player for disciplinary reasons. Although GMBA does not condone this action routinely, should it be the case, a coach in doing so must notify the other coach, the umpire, the parents/guardians (as soon as possible), and the league coordinator.
- Exemplify honesty, integrity, and fair play no matter what the impact might have on the outcome of the game.
- Remember, “baseball is only a game”. A good coach is one that can honestly say after the game that both he/she and his/her players, win or lose, had fun out there today!!!
- I have read, agree with and will endeavor to administer all of the above GMBA principles.