Friday, August 6, 2010

Softball Coaching Tips - On Using MP3 Players and Cellphones

The great thing with today's technology is that it has made it easy for almost everyone to communicate and enjoy their favorite music.

With cellular phones, you can get connected with your friends and colleagues every time through calls and text messages. And with the newer generation of these phones, you can even receive your email, get directions through GPS, and check the web almost everywhere.

And in the case of MP3 players, you can now bring along your music with you anywhere you go. With today's batch of players, you can literally bring along with you thousands of songs in a little package. That's of course way better than lugging around a bunch of tapes and a humongous Walkman, for those old enough to remember what I'm talking about.

But for all the benefits of these gadgets, they could also be detrimental to your players' performance when taken in the context of softball. These gadgets could cause a major distraction to your players that could prevent them from performing well, or from immediately getting what you're trying to tell them.

The secret here is that you, as the coach, should help your players strike the balance between the benefits of using these gadgets and their negative effects on your players' game.

So how do you prevent your players from getting distracted by MP3 players and cellphones? Here are some of my suggestions:

1. Tell them to keep their cellular phones in their bags during team-oriented activities. These activities include practices, meals with teammates and of course, games. Tell them that they can only use their cellular phone before and after these activities. However, if they really need to use this device,, let them ask for your permission first.

2. Let them use their MP3 players when you think it can benefit them. Ever noticed how plugging earphones on your ears can help you focus on the task you're doing? This kind of focus brought about by MP3 players can be beneficial to your players.

So let them use it during practice or training. But advise them not to turn it up too loud so that they can still hear you just in case you have to tell them something.

Aside from practices, you can also let them use their players during long trips to help them feel psyched and help prevent boredom.

Finally, listening to music can also help them relax before games and while doing their warm-ups, so you tell them to use their players during those times.

But remember that some players might prefer to do away with MP3 players. So all in all, using MP3 players during the occasions I've mentioned should be optional.

3. Absolutely no distractions when you're talking to them. When you're talking, you want your team to listen. So you should keep their attention away from their gadgets and let them focus on what you're saying. That way, they don't miss any concept, strategy or advice that you want to tell them.

Again, it's about helping your players balance the benefits of MP3 players and cellular phones to their game. When you want to keep them from getting bored during road trips, or help them focus while training, these gadgets would be really helpful.

But if it's about listening to what you're saying or doing team-oriented activities, then these things should be a no-no.

There you have it, another softball coaching tips for you on using MP3 players and cellphones.




Marc Dagenais is a Softball Peak Performance Coach that helps softball players turn their athletic talent into extraordinary performances and help coaches get more out of their players, turn their struggling team around or get an edge over their opponents. Visit us to sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!

Visit : hoover steamvac carpet cleaner with clean surge f5914 900 ge smartwater mwf refrigerator water filter 1 pack pur crf 950z 2 stage water pitcher replacement filter 3 pack Simpomna Health Blog