Struggles of Coaching Freshman Baseball

Coaching Freshman Baseball is probably the most difficult job which I have had while coaching. There are a bunch of different things which make it difficult none of which are truly "problems" as you would normally think of them.

The biggest struggle which I face on a daily basis is the competitive nature which I naturally have. It is normal to line up on a baseball field or any field for that matter and want to compete and win each and every game. That is not the problem with freshman baseball. The problem is that the goal of Freshman baseball in my own eyes is to get each player repetitions, at bats, and make it so each player can eventually compete at the varsity level. Sometimes that goal is meet with the fuel of my own competitive spirit. The biggest question which I face on a game day is how do I balance building a winning baseball culture vs. what is best for all players. 

Building a winning culture is difficult for any baseball program. A loser's mentality can go either from the varsity down, or work its way from the freshman team up to the varsity. Winning is not essential for freshman baseball. I do not want to make the goal of the season to win every game. Freshman baseball at its core is about building the foundation of a successful baseball program. 

On the other side of building a winning baseball culture is doing what is right for all players on the team. Not just the players who are bound to play varsity their sophomore year but also planning for the long term when looking at all players in the program. This problem can be split into two distinct categories. The natural vs. the player who needs work.  

The Player: This category is difficult when looking at balancing playing time. These are the players who are going to play varsity no doubt. For them freshman baseball is a time for leading, gaining confidence and really learning the inside of the game. Finding playing time for these guys is essential and when they are with you on the bench it almost seems as though you are doing them a disservice by not allowing them to play the game. Think of it as stifling a student who is extremely bright with just doing worksheets and not allowing them to express their true self. 

Needs Work: These players can be just as difficult to manage in freshman baseball. These players are the ones who truly need the repetition of freshman baseball. They need game speed ground balls, curveballs, and popups. These are the players who can help to build a successful baseball team. These players can make it so that you can go from a 50-50 club to one that is truly exceptional. The problem with balancing these players with the "The Players" is what I stated above. These guys might not be able to lead the time all by themselves but can help to get you to where you want to be eventually. 

This is obviously a balancing act for any freshman coach but I find myself struggling on a game to game basis finding time for both sides of the coin in this instance. What do you think about this situation? Have you come across this in your time as a coach?  Do you think there is truly a right way to go about this?