gut;1402428 wrote:Because when I played it was far easier to do the things you talked about in baseball than it was to be in the right position in zone defense. I don't get why you think it's so much harder to play a sloppy zone defense than it is to throw to the cut-off man.

LOL, yeah, the kids know to get into a 1-3-1. I'd guess your 9 baseball kids generally know where to start out in the field.

I just don't see a major distinction of knowing where to position yourself based on the ball and where the other offensive players are vs. knowing where to position yourself on the baseball field as the play unfolds.

gut;1402428 wrote:Because when I played it was far easier to do the things you talked about in baseball than it was to be in the right position in zone defense. I don't get why you think it's so much harder to play a sloppy zone defense than it is to throw to the cut-off man.

LOL, yeah, the kids know to get into a 1-3-1. I'd guess your 9 baseball kids generally know where to start out in the field.

I just don't see a major distinction of knowing where to position yourself based on the ball and where the other offensive players are vs. knowing where to position yourself on the baseball field as the play unfolds.

se-alum;1402434 wrote:Because in baseball/softball on one hit ball, the player has to distinguish what their role is in a split second. The second baseman may be a cutoff man, they may be covering the bag, they may be backing up a throw from the outfield. Then all the other position players have to make the decision based on where they are playing. Getting 9 or 10 kids do the right thing at the same time is very difficult. It's the decision processing that makes it tougher.

Classyposter58;1402437 wrote:Golf easily. It takes well over a year to develop a swing and usually two of constant practice to get good. To develop that patience, and all the little ins and outs of the swing. That's not even before getting to the rules and course management. The thing is you're not playing other inexperienced kids at the same age like other sports, you're playing a course and that course is the same for everyone. Plus it's a lifestyle, you can't just play on weekends or every now and then and get good. You have two hit daily

Basketball and Soccer are the easiest IMO. Haha especially soccer, you run around and kick a ball

Tiernan;1402309 wrote:Passing and catching a lacrosse ball on the run while another player is wailing on the kid with a stick. BTW...Jim Brown once said lacrosse is much harder than football.

Ghmothwdwhso;1402439 wrote:^^ Agree on Golf. Especially since not many parents are able to help out in a meaningful way.

gut;1402436 wrote:It's no different than playing a zone defense correctly. And "split second" is more accurate for basketball than baseball - you generally have relatively quite a bit more time, on average, to get into position in the baseball field vs. a ball being rotated around the court. I don't think you'll find many people to agree the decision process is more complicated and faster in baseball than it is in football or even basketball.

You are grossly over simplifying playing zone, and you gave that away when you said "guys know to get into a 1-3-1" and ignore all the positioning aspects and nuances needed to play together to be effective, while going to lengths to explain the same in baseball.

You did the same for football - "a guy plays cover 2 he goes here". Yet when you talk about baseball you're talking about how people need to move as the play unfolds and changes, and appear to be ignoring that in other sports.

se-alum;1402445 wrote:Not over simplifying anything. I've coached them all. Zone defenses are an easy concept, as each player has only a small amount of area to cover. Which is why less athletic teams run zone defenses, they're easy. Football is very instinctual, which makes it easier to teach the basics. I think communication in Baseball/softball adds to the difficulty, because often you're playing with your back to what's actually happening.

Manhattan Buckeye;1402468 wrote:People can argue this until they are blue in the face...

gut;1402471 wrote:Haha, I think I could probably guess which sports most of these people played. C'mon, where are all the HS bowlers?!?

I actually chose a sport I never played - diving. But maybe I should have gone with hockey - seems the fact you have to teach the kids to skate before you can really even start teaching the game trumps everything in this thread.

thePITman;1402553 wrote:I laugh every time I read or hear or people who think that the game of baseball is simple, not a "team" sport, not any plays, easy to teach, and easy to learn (the right way). Sure, anyone can throw a baseball 90 feet or hit a 60mph fast ball. But playing the game right and being successful at it is a different story. There is SO much to the game of baseball that goes unnoticed or taken for granted. I've coached baseball at the varsity level and can attest to this.

WebFire;1402557 wrote:IMO, the big difference between baseball and many other sports, is that a kid can't get by on athleticism alone. He really has to know the game. In basketball or football, you can be good just being athletic. But that same kid may suck in baseball because he can't grasp the mental part of the game.

said_aouita;1402551 wrote:How about motocross? Watching junior hit his first triple (jump) during a race plus stick the landing (done at Kenworthy's- B class pro race 125's) had to take a year off of Mrs. Conley's life.

like_that;1402592 wrote:Not a sport.

like_that;1402592 wrote:Not a sport.

Tiernan;1402622 wrote:
...same as NASCAR, only diff is even more rednecks.

Manhattan Buckeye;1402468 wrote:People can argue this until they are blue in the face...I've only coached two sports: Basketball and track. And they were both great experiences. No one was going to be an NBA player or run at the Olympics, but it was relatively easy coaching.

I haven't coached baseball, but can see how it can be very frustrating. Some kids simply aren't cut out for it and regardless of the coaching they won't progress.

Fly4Fun;1402765 wrote:I agree that coaching is a great experience. It's great just to be around the general exuberance and excitement that kids have on a daily basis as opposed to most adults.

I will say that I was lucky enough to coach a young girl that has a shot to be something really special. I got her in her first year of club swimming, she is just a person with an incredible independent drive. As an 8 year old she would show up to practice early and do push-ups and sit-ups on her own before practice began. I never had to question how hard she was working herself in practice, she never took it easy unless it was a "recovery" set. Her physical awareness and body control is out of this world. Often with swimming when changing a person's stroke/technique it's a long process that requires exaggeration of movement. But with her, you could literally tell her what to do, show her what you mean and she would change her stroke within the next few minutes of instruction and attempts at fixing it she would have it fixed. I learned she was also an excellent gymnast, which isn't surprising given her physical strength and coordination.

As far as accomplishments, she continues to break every single record in every stroke and distance she does. She could have qualified to the District Meet (HS swimming goes Sectionals --> Districts --> State) as a 9-10 year old this year.

I had a blast coaching all the kids I coached. But I felt privileged to have the opportunity to coach that girl for the period of time I did. It was truly amazing seeing her abilities and drive.

like_that;1402773 wrote:Don't hurt yourself patting yourself on the back. This whole post def stuck with the thread topic :rolleyes:.