"Conduct During the Game"
From Coaching Fastpitch Softball Successfully by Kathy Veroni
 
Nothing is bigger than the game. Individual egos need to be managed in such a way that the attention of the audience is not on the individual but on the game as a whole. This can be accomplished when the coaches and players set a behavior standard that is beyond question. It is okay to get excited and show emotion, but not to disrespect the umpire, the opponent, or the game.

Your Conduct
Skills should have been taught in practice; the game is the time to coach the game, not the skill. For example, when the batter is on deck or in the batter's box, this is not the time to correct her swing. At this critical time the batter needs to be reminded to focus and make contact in order to hit the ball hard.

You should remain focused as well as your athletes. A good way to do this is not to get ahead of yourself. Play the game one out at a time. Try not to think of the what ifs. Let yourself see each play, out, or inning through. It is important for you to be focused on the situation at hand so that your athletes emulate your actions.

I feel it is always of utmost importance to never criticize or embarrass a player in public. Refrain from yelling at the athlete during the game or in front of others. Players do not want to disappoint with their performance, and I believe it is a serious flaw in a coach to belittle them by yelling at them.

There may be times when you need to raise your voice and these times are at practice. Practice is where the players learn to be disciplined. As a coach you have to teach discipline, hustle, and so on to make the practice efficient and an optimal learning environment. There are usually no fans at practice so the yelling done there is only heard by the team. In the game, if an athlete makes a mistake or an error, she feels bad enough because she has let her teammates down.

I also have a rule never to use profanity during a game, not at the players, the umpire, or the fans. It looks awful, sounds awful, and is degrading to those you address, to your team, and to what you represent.

As a coach you must also show respect for the umpires. I have the greatest respect for umpires and for the difficult job they have, making split-second decisions on balls and athletes moving with great force and speed.

Your conduct during the game must be exemplary. Remember that you represent yourself, your school, and your family and that you are also the team's leader. You are the top of the pyramid, with assistant coaches below you, and the players forming the all-important base. Your players will look to you and follow your example during the contest. If you cannot keep your composure, it will be difficult for your team to keep theirs. If you lose your temper, your team may do the same. Stay focused on the game and the challenges at hand, and work to set the best possible example for your players and your supporters.

Player Conduct
We expect our athletes to always behave proudly on and off the field. When on the field, they are representing the university and enjoying the privilege to play and showcase their talent in Division I fastpitch softball. But sometimes game situations will challenge their composure. For example, what happens if the umpire does not call certain parts of the strike zone? In that case the coach needs to tell both the pitcher and the catcher not to panic, and to keep throwing strikes. Instruct your catcher to talk to the umpire and to let the umpire know that the pitcher can throw that pitch for a strike and that she needs that pitch to get the batter out.

Differences of opinion about balls and strikes can be disturbing for the umpire as well, and if it is early in the season it may take him time to return to form. The pitcher and catcher should not get emotional in their actions or their looks because no one wants to be embarrassed, including the umpire. If the pitcher has a question about a call the umpire made, have her ask the catcher to ask him. The catcher and umpire must develop a relationship each game and it is quite permissible for the catcher to ask the umpire questions. It never works and you will never win the umpire's favor by being disrespectful, but you might win his favor by approaching him with respect.

We ask the same from our athletes on the bench, that when they disagree with a call, they do not question the umpire but respect his decision gracefully. We want all players to cheer for their own teammates and not to cheer against their opponents.