Don’t Stand in the Way: Let Private Coaching Enhance Your Players’ Skills

I did something I’ve never done before this year with my softball team. I stood in front of a group of parents, looked them in the eye, stuck my chest out, and… told them to take their daughters to private coaches.

Did I check my pride at the door? Or am I just a terrible coach and I’ve finalized realized it? Maybe a little of both? The truth is that I’ve realized that I simply don’t have enough time to teach each girl every skill and make every nuanced adjustment they need to be successful on a softball field. Sure, I can teach a girl to hit, run, throw, catch, field, and more, but if I took the time each practice to work with each girl individually, I’d get nothing accomplished.

Sure, we need to teach some specific skills over time, but I like to carve out time during certain practices for position work or hitting adjustments. I can’t do it every practice. And because of that, I sent my girls to private coaches. I’ve been sending my son for years, despite being great friends with the head coach of his previous travel team, so why not suggest it for the girls?

But, there some things to consider when your players are working with private coaches, and if you want as much development as possible, here’s what you need to know.

A Quick Story

Last year, one of my best players started working with a hitting coach. The mother, who also knows her fair share about softball, let me know that the lessons have started and that some aspects of her swing seem off but that they’re trusting the process.

Her swing looked like crap. And worse yet, she wasn’t connecting at all in the batting cage despite being one of my most consistent hitters. Luckily, it was early enough in the season that we didn’t hit the panic button, and neither did they. We let her continue to struggle at practice, didn’t offer a ton of advice other than small reminders like loading and keeping her head locked in. It’s not that we didn’t want to help her, but that her mother’s reminder of trusting that process seemed important to her and her daughter.

And it worked. Eventually, she put the pieces in place and started hitting again. But this time, she was hitting for more power and even more consistently. She teamed up with two other girls to be absolute forces in the lineup at tournaments, and we rarely thought about her struggles again.

While I’d already known the value of private coaching (my son had a private coach for two years at this time), that situation really taught me a lesson. Not screwing with her swing so she could simply make contact at practice again lead to greater results in the end. And, most importantly, when a parent starts taking a child to a private coach, they have to buy into that coach’s theory or style to make it work. And since there are so many ways to accomplish anything in baseball and softball, it’s okay to let them run with it a bit.

Embracing the Value of Private Coaching

Private coaching isn’t about questioning our methods—it’s about giving players that extra edge. Think about it: when a child gets private lessons, they’re receiving one-on-one attention, personalized drills, and specific feedback tailored just for them. Parents invest in these lessons because they believe it will help their kids develop unique strengths that might not be addressed during team practice.

By allowing private coaching to do its work, we’re not saying our coaching isn’t valuable. Quite the opposite—we’re creating an environment where multiple coaching philosophies can coexist, and that’s a win for the players. After all, every player learns differently, and exposure to diverse approaches can only help them become more adaptable on the field.

Respecting Different Coaching Philosophies

We all have our own coaching styles, and that’s something to be proud of. The techniques a private coach uses might differ from our team approach, but that doesn’t make them any less effective. In fact, these differences can enrich a player’s overall skill set.

When a private coach works with a player, it’s a focused effort on their individual needs—whether that’s refining swing mechanics, perfecting fielding techniques, or boosting overall confidence. Let’s trust that these coaches are adding value and giving our players another layer of learning. We should be supporting their progress rather than inadvertently undermining it.

How Private Coaching Boosts Player Development

Private coaching can be a game-changer. Here’s how it helps:

• Personalized Attention: In one-on-one sessions, private coaches can hone in on a player’s specific needs, offering immediate feedback that is hard to achieve in a busy team setting.
• Skill Refinement: Small adjustments in technique, when addressed personally, can lead to significant improvements. Private coaching often focuses on these subtle details.
• Confidence Building: Seeing improvement in a private setting boosts a player’s self-esteem, and that confidence naturally transfers to the team environment.
• Flexibility in Learning: Every player is different. Private coaching allows for a pace that suits each individual, ensuring that skills are mastered properly before moving on.

When players see progress in these areas, they’re more likely to carry those improvements over to team practices and games.

How Team Coaches Can Support Private Coaching

So, what can we do to support this without compromising our own coaching philosophies? Here are a few suggestions:

• Keep an Open Mind: Recognize that there isn’t one “right” way to coach. Different approaches can complement each other, and our players benefit from hearing a variety of perspectives.
• Collaborate When Possible: If you know a private coach is working with one of your players, consider having a conversation. A simple discussion about shared goals can go a long way in ensuring everyone is on the same page.
• Reinforce Fundamentals: Use team practices to build on the basics that both you and the private coach emphasize, rather than trying to completely change a player’s technique.
• Encourage a Unified Message: Let parents know that you support their decision to invest in private coaching. This unified approach helps create a positive learning environment for the player.
• Focus on the Big Picture: Our ultimate goal is to develop well-rounded, confident players. When we allow the private coach’s work to complement our team sessions, everyone benefits.

Wrapping It Up

At the end of the day, our players’ success is our success. By embracing private coaching and allowing it to enhance our team practices, we create an environment where players can thrive. Different coaching methods are not in competition—they’re in collaboration, all aimed at building better, more versatile athletes.

So, let’s trust the process, support the private coaches, and focus on what really matters: helping our players grow into confident, skilled, and adaptable athletes. Together, by blending our efforts, we can give every player the chance to shine on and off the field.