Coaching Job Description

Coaching a sport like baseball has different requirements at every level of play. High school coaches are trying to teach fundamentals of the game and make sure that they are used. College coaches are demanding teachers and strategists who want their players to get better and also want to win. Pro coaches have to continue to develop talent but their jobs are dependent on their team winning.

  1. High school coach

    • A high school coach must conduct tryouts for his team, organize a pitching staff, determine a starting lineup and get involved in all the day-to-day particulars that impact his team. That includes putting together a schedule against other high school teams, arranging transportation for road games, hiring umpires for each home games and establishing the rules of conduct for the players. The coach's bosses in the athletic department will help with the administrative tasks, but ultimately the coach must follow through to make sure those tasks are handled responsibly.

    College Coach

    • A college coach has to recruit players who have enough ability to make the team and be successful at it. This means determining which high school players are good enough to make the team, going to their homes to talk to the players and their parents, and selling them on the school and getting them to commit to going to it. The coach needs to hire assistants to help him run the team and coach the players. The coach needs to develop a game plan as to what he expects from each player and the way he wants to see him perform at practice. This is essential when it comes to college players. Some coaches are more relaxed, while others are disciplined and demanding. No one style is best. The coach has to be true to his personality.

    Professional Coach

    • The coach at the professional level is not the boss on the field. That title goes to the manager. The coach will assist the manager at every level, and that includes working with individual players on their skills. This means having a fine eye that allows the coach to see the flaws in the players and a formula on how those players can correct those flaws. The coach must also stand in the coach's box outside of first and third base and give instructions to baserunners. The coach will also have the responsibility of preparing scouting reports on upcoming opponents. The manager of the team will have a meeting before a new opponent comes to town, and a coach will give a report on the strengths and weaknesses of that opponent and how to attack them.

    Types

    • At the professional level, there are hitting coaches, pitching coaches, bullpen coaches, bench coaches and baserunning coaches. The hitting coach will work with batters on their individual strengths and weaknesses. The pitching coach will check on the pitchers' health and what they can do to improve. The bullpen coaches work with relief pitchers and try to make sure they are ready to pitch whenever they are called to come into the game. Bench coaches consult with the manager on in-game descisions. Baserunning coaches teach players how to get a lead, how to avoid a tag while sliding and how to get up to top speed quickly.

    Considerations

    • Most of the time, coaches are former players. Playing the game of baseball as a high school, college or pro player will give an individual a perspective on the game that non-players won't have. Players will have more in common with coaches who have played the game than those who have not. However, if a former player does not have the ability to communicate with and teach players, he will not be successful.