During practices and games, a high school softball coach manages and motivates her team. However, in many cases, this is only a small part of her responsibilities. Prior to the start of the season, she is usually in charge of selecting team members through tryouts. She may also be expected to organize fundraising events and petition her employer for new uniforms and equipment. Finally, she may be responsible for arranging transportation, lodging, and supervision for out-of-town games, as well as accompanying her team to away games and tournaments.
A high school softball coach must hold tryouts to select her team members prior to the start of the season, which usually lasts the entire spring semester. She puts potential players through a variety of drills during tryouts, observing their ability to bat, pitch, run bases, and field the ball. These tryouts may last several days, with the coach weeding out ineligible players at the end of each session until a team is formed.
The high school softball coach’s next task is to prepare her team for the season during preseason practice sessions. She may have assistant coaches to assist her as practices begin, or she may have to work alone, depending on the school’s budget. Her primary concerns during this time will most likely be determining her players’ strengths and then assigning positions, running endurance drills to improve the team’s physical fitness, teaching team members about strategy, and conducting scrimmage games to allow players to get comfortable with one another on the field.
The high school softball coach is responsible for overseeing all practices and games once the season begins. She needs to schedule practices and use them to improve the players’ techniques and practice new strategies. When the team has a game, she must establish a batting order and then closely monitor the game, offering players advice, keeping them motivated, and replacing tired team members as needed.
A high school softball coach is frequently in charge of organizing fundraising drives, with the proceeds going toward team transportation, uniforms, and other expenses. She could assist her team in organizing fundraising events such as car washes or bake sales. She may also approach her school’s athletic department to request funding for team needs, such as new equipment.
A high school softball coach’s other typical responsibilities include accompanying her team to all away games. She may also be asked to arrange for team transportation to away games, such as hiring a bus or assisting in the organization of a carpool. When the team travels to a tournament and needs to stay overnight, the coach may be in charge of booking accommodations and overseeing check-in and check-out. She’ll almost certainly have to act as a chaperone during these overnight stays, ensuring that her players are behaving responsibly.
It should be noted that coaching takes a significant amount of time during the softball season. Coaches at the high school level typically work full-time and are often teachers at the school where they coach. They must then give up evening and weekend hours to their coaching responsibilities in addition to their full-time jobs.