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Life Lessons Life Lesson #42: Roles- Manager vs. Coach Comparing the responsibilities of managers and coaches... As the spring season approaches, many volunteer parents are preparing to make huge sacrifices filling the roles of team managers and coaches. Strange sicknesses seem to regularly occur Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30pm, as Mom and Dad stretch to accommodate the ever-expanding baseball schedule. Defined, the roles of manager and coach have important differences. Let?s examine some of those differences. Later, we?ll use examples of Major League Baseball as well as corporate America to better understand these varying responsibilities. Traditionally, the role of a baseball team Manager includes:
A big league dugout similarly mimics a traditional business. The team?s manager represents a CEO or President, in charge of vision and upper management. The coaches represent marketing, sales and business development managers, assisting company workers to hit goals and supporting their efforts in the process. These workers are represented by the big league ballplayers. The hierarchy of accountability is consistent as well, with players reporting to coaches and coaches reporting to managers. In the example of a big league baseball club or a large corporation, these roles are clearly defined and well staffed. (Interestingly enough, this is not the case in the small business world of baseball instruction ;-). In the case of a youth baseball team, the requirements and responsibilities of manager and coach need also be handled. However, the main difference is that a separate volunteer may not be available for each role. These two positions (manager and coach) often become the job of a single person, and this is something that must be recognized. The responsibilities associated with managing the team; its operations, decisions and actions fall upon the shoulders of the same person that is instructing, coaching and running practices/games. While this may be an unavoidable situation, I think it?s important to recognize and respect the associated workload. Certainly, it?s not an overwhelming workload, but better to over-prepare and subsequently over-produce. If a single volunteer is going to manage as well as coach, he must spend the time before a team gathering to prepare. Stereotypical manager duties such as putting together batting lineups, pitching schedules, and defensive positions should be done before reaching the field. This manager prep work will make the on field coaching work much easier. Fittingly, it also helps to make sure playing time is appropriately distributed, league rules are followed and any parent requests or concerns are accounted for. Attempts to do this ?manager work? during a practice or game will leave 12 young persons just enough time to effectively drive you nuts. And the associated raise in frustration level saps everyone involved of fun and enjoyment ? the real reasons for being a part of the game. A final suggestion for youth league volunteers is to bring on as much help as possible - the more coaches the better! Multiple coaches help to divide the workload of games and practices. Game management requires warming up pitchers, adjusting defenses, monitoring dugouts and jawing at umpires. Practice execution requires fungoes on the diamond, fastballs in the bullpen and fly balls in the outfield. Multiple coaches can bring down the number of kids in each group or station, allowing itineraries to dive deeper into instructing baseball fundamentals. Personally, know your strengths, and focus your efforts there. Seek assistance in areas you are not proficient in. If you stink at teaching kids how to play defense, and a parent just happened to play college baseball? ask him to help! But if you manage a corporate office during the daytime, those skills are directly applicable. You just might be an effective CEO for the 12-year old worker bees! |
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