Inside: Get the Ump to Like You and Preseason Checklist for Leagues

OnDeck

Baseball & Softball

Volume 4 Issue 12

December 2011

In This Issue

Psychological Consequences of Injury

Has Your League Thought of Everything?

Get the Ump on Your Side

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Happy Holidays from CoachDeck!

It's hard to believe 2011 is nearly gone and the 2012 season is just around the corner. As you plan your coaches meetings, imagine the excitement you'll create by handing every volunteer a CoachDeck. Better-run practices and more kids coming back to play means that CoachDeck is an investment that pays dividends.

In this issue: Ryan Sienko offers another fantastic article delivering advice on how you and your catchers can bring out the best in umpires. Has your league thought of everything as you plan for 2012? Brian Gotta's updated article, originally published last year and among OnDeck's most widely-read, might save you from controversy down the road. And, in the third part in our series on the impact of injury on athletes, Dr. Alan Goldberg discusses the psychological consequences of injuries.

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Psychological Consequences of Injury

By Dr. Alan Goldberg

The third in a series examining what happens to athletes when they are injured. This installment discusses what happens to athlete's self-esteem and ability to cope with stress and other external factors. Read Article

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Topics to Address Before Opening Day

By Brian Gotta, President of CoachDeck

So often, youth league boards of directors are viewed with suspicion and mistrust from the outside. Folks envision a "good 'ol boy" network where deals are cut in smoke-filled rooms to benefit board members. Here are some issues you can address before the season begins to help ensure no one accuses the league of being unfair. Read Article

A Ball is a Ball, A Strike is a Strike
by Ryan Sienko

Ball!!! How many times has that four letter word frustrated pitchers, managers, and fans that thought the pitch was a strike? We all understand that the umpire's calls are part of the game, but that doesn't soften the blow of a ball thrown right down the middle on a 3-2 count and called for a ball. I am going to try to give you a different read on how to accept calls but why happy umpires are important, and how you can learn about, and from, each umpire. Read Article

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