A GUIDE FOR ORGANIZING HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAMS A Project Presented to the Faculty of the School of Education The University of Southern California In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in Education "by Nickolas Louis Salerno June 1950 UMI Number: EP46038 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Dissertation Publishing UMI EP46038 Published by ProQuest LLC (2014). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 £ >^ro S / b z Pr - This project report, written under the direction of the candidate’s adviser and approved by him, has been presented to and accepted by the Faculty of the School of Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Education. ............ Adviser Dean i i i TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. HOW TO PREPARE ITEMS OF NECESSITY........... 1 How to prepare publicity ........... 1 How to use personnel data . . . . . . . . . 3 How to handle equipment inventory ....... 5 How to set the schedule for the season . . . 8 How to ready facilities................. 10 How to organize team rules and regu­ lations ............................. 12 II. HOW TO PRACTICE............................ 14 How to practice in pre-season . . . . . . . 14 How to practice in early-season . . . . . . IS How to practice in mid-season........... 19 How to practice in late-season........... 22 III. HOW TO ORGANIZE GAME PROCEDURES............. 26 How to Investigate player needs . . . . . . 26 How to handle player assignments.......... 28 How to plan strategical Instructions . . . . 30 How to make home facilities preparations . . 31 How to organize traveling procedures . . . . 33 IV. HOW TO INSURE SAFETY........................ 3© How to utilize health cards . . . . . . . . 36 How to organize first-aid............... 37 How to handle batting practice........... 38 CHAPTER How to take infield practice .............. How to hit fly halls to the outfielders . . How to slide safely . . . . .............. How to cover a base . . . . . . . . . . . . V. HOW TO ARRANGE CRITIQUES.................... How to utilize critiques prior to the game ....................... . How to set-up critiques for first practice following the game . .......... How to make announcements . . . . ........ VI. HOW TO UTILIZE PSYCHOLOGY .................. How to have ideal player-coach relationship . . How to handle discipline problems . . . . . How to set proper player-team manager relationship . . How to get ideal relationship between players ........ . . . . . . .......... VII. HOW TO HANDLE PUBLIC RELATIONS . . . . . . . . How to handle public relations within the school....................... . . . How to have ideal relations with commu­ nity organizations ...................... How to work with the newspapers . . . . . . V GHAPTER PAGE How to acquire proper relationship with parents ........... 65 BIBLIOGRAPHY................................... 68 LIST OP TABLES vi TABLE PAGE I. Publicity Check-List . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 II. Personnel Data Card .......... 6 III. Baseball Equipment Inventory . . . . . . . . 9 IV. Skills Check L i s t ................... . . 16 V. Coach* s Check List .............. 23 LIST OP FIGURES FIGURE PAGE 1. Suggested Positions of Players During Practice Sessions . * .................. 42 PREFACE This project is written with the intent of helping those individuals who seek guidance and instruction in the organization of a typical high school baseball team (enrollment — 1500 students). There are many individuals who, because of the lack of proper training or initiative, have failed in their all-important position, which is so dominant and prevalent in the lives of future American citizens who are under their influence and leadership. It is hoped that this project will enlighten those with no background and be of service to those with much experience by opening up new phases which, heretofore, have been unknown to them. Too many high school coaches place an over-amount of emphasis on the game of baseball itself, not realizing that in so doing they are overlooking the really important aspects of their responsibilities. In marriage it takes two individuals to make a success of it. In coaching a high school baseball team it takes careful planning to mould distinct and separate personalities into an efficient and effective working unit on the playing field. A coach may have a fine knowledge and understanding of the game, yet be an utter failure because he cannot attain proper relationship and' respect from his players, or vice-versa. Knowing only the game or any one other phase v iii is only a minute factor in making for a successful per­ formance. This project will include and discuss all problems and situations that might be prevalent during a high school season of baseball. There has not been enough work done in this field and in relating fields. Today the lack of proper training in the coaching profession is being realized much more. We see big-name men, authorities in their chosen fields, writing books and articles of instruction. Only through an exchange of ideas and viewpoints, through an open mind, can we improve ourselves into being better coaches, business­ men, gentlemen, and citizens. There is much more to the organizing of teams than the ordinary individual thinks. Merely coaching is not enough. Any successful coach in any sport must be a well- rounded individual, knowing psychology, organization, public-player-coach relationship, and the game itself. How many times have we read of famous athletes who have failed as coaches, and others, comparatively unknown, who make a successful bid in coaching? The reason for this is simple. The famous athletes usually are not conscious of how they did a certain maneuver. For instance, Jack Dempsey thought he threw his left hook in a certain manner until shown by pictures that he did otherwise. Also, famous ix athletes who were perfectionists themselves don*t have the patience to work with someone making mistakes at something that seems so simple to them. Many athletes also know how to do something themselves, but don't know how to get their point across to instruct a pupil. Each of these points just mentioned might prove a downfall to success in coaching, along with the fact that many famous athletes, being leaders for years as individuals, lack or have not had proper training in group leadership. Bob Zuppke, for years a famous football coach at the University of Illinois, never played a game of football himself. How is it then, that he, an individual who had never played the sport himself, could coach it successfully where others with a greater “game" background through playing had failed? Bob Zuppke undoubtedly was a great student of the game as well as a great student of human character. Zuppke, with the exploratory type of mind, aggressiveness, personality, ability to organize, and the ability to get along with others, integrated all these fine qualities to rank himself with the outstanding coaches of his day. This project will cover a typical high school season of baseball, from the preparation phase at early season to the year's finale. Preparation, xvhich will be discussed in Chapter I, is the vital part of successful coaching, the phase where many do not have the proper background or