Batter...App

I often wonder what it would be like to coach a youth baseball team now.

There must’ve been numerous changes since June 2010. Even though four years doesn’t seem like a long time ago, it is. At times I do miss it. You might get the idea from the blog that I really enjoyed my time in the Concord Choppers’ dugout.

I did! (And I think Paul did too).

At the time we were going through our championship season, I could sense some elements of our game were changing. The game itself, of course, will always be a constant. But, the off the field approach is where I noticed the evolution.

Training regimens were changing and the overall serious nature of the enterprise was also ramping up.

Also, the travel league at our age was starting to go away. Indeed, we were the only 14U travel team at Farragut that year, so we had to travel to find our opponents. Since then, the Middle School baseball program -  throughout the county and surrounding area - has grown strong and it’s a great outlet for serious players. The academy teams are another source for competitive play.

These changes mean there are fewer and fewer youths playing in the traditional community travel leagues, especially at that age group.  

Another major change in the game is technology. That last season, one of the dads on our team purchased a brand new iPad. He found an app for keeping score of a baseball game. He used that technology to produce stats and compile information about the team. The fans loved it. Coach did, too. It felt fairly revolutionary at the time.

Anyway, the other day, I received a sponsored ad for TeamSnap in my Facebook feed. Interesting that someone can link my online activities to an activity I used to do!

Anyway, this advertisement endorsed an online service that allows a coach (or team parent) to manage all the logistics for the team. It can be done by accessing the website or through a smart phone app.

TeamSnap allows you to manage your roster, schedule, list of contacts and more. And you can do it at one convenient location.

Four years ago, we did all that by hand! The app even allows players and parents to let the coach know about upcoming absences for games and practices. Talk about a great convenience for the coach. And, of course, you can do the same sort of box scores and stats I mentioned before.

I’ll tell you: it’s hard to imagine that I would ever actively coach again but if I were to do it, I’d definitely look into some technology like this. And if you are a beginning coach (or even an old pro), I might check it out. And, who knows, there could be lots of other versions of the same technology produced by other vendors.

This is just the one that came into my in box.

It sure looks like it would be a lot easier than using the old pencil and paper scoring method. Then again, there was something to be said for doing it ‘old school.’

JG

Originally posted 1/14/2014