Goals of the Crush Program
- Provide a fun, positive, and competitive baseball environment
- Teach the game the right way while helping players reach their individual goals and continue to grow
Goals of Crush Coaches
- Model strong character, leadership, and sportsmanship
- Teach new skills and continue developing existing ones
- Use practices and games as opportunities to teach, reinforce development, and help players learn from mistakes in a positive way
Player Expectations
We encourage players to:
- Continue practicing at home to reinforce skills learned at practice
- Take ownership of their development by staying focused, working hard, and applying coaching
Parent Partnership
Parents play a huge role in player development, and we value that partnership. To help create the best environment for growth, we ask families to:
- Encourage extra practice and skill development at home
- Serve as a positive source of encouragement during games and practices so players can stay focused and coaches can lead instruction
- Reach out to the head coach with any questions or concerns (we find a 24-hour pause after games can often lead to more productive conversations)
A "Silent Source of Encouragement"
One concept that strongly shapes our philosophy comes from The Matheny Manifesto by former MLB player and manager Mike Matheny:
“The biggest role of the parent is to be a silent source of encouragement.”
While every family is different, we’ve found players often respond best when they feel supported without added pressure during games and practices.
During Games & Practices, We Ask Families to Avoid:
- Coaching from the sidelines
- Interacting with umpires or opposing teams
- Giving competing instruction during practices or games
Final Notes
Our coaches are committed to creating a positive, developmental environment for players, and we appreciate families supporting these guidelines so players can learn, grow, and enjoy the game.
If you have not already, we highly recommend reading The Matheny Manifesto by Mike Matheny, which has had a meaningful influence on our program philosophy. (Click to read).