Matt Thompson

Software Engineering Manager. Travel/Baseball Coach. (Former) Ultimate frisbee player and high school coach. Writer. Atlanta sports fan. Board game enthusiast.

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

@dawgsports https://t.co/VswdiIeUZU

[Walden Thompson @walden_thompson]

Great outing on the mound this weekend for @TgDbacks to start the summer off. We also were tournament champions! @bwoodbsball @coachscott07 @coachrob16 @T2_BASEBALL @peytonglavine @sewell_6
4 IP
3BB
3H
1ER
8K

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

@ericfarkas

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

@gondeee @scottcoleman55 This is Martin Prado erasure

[Next Level Baseball @nextlevelbb]

Yelling at players-nope.
Cussing at players-nope.
Being a passive aggressive smart ass to players-nope.
Being a lazy check collecting coach that expects his players to run through the wall-nope.
Clearly explaining expectations and standards-yep.
Sitting players on the bench when they don't meet expectations and standards-yep.
Playing time is the reward and lack of playing time is the punishment.
For it to work.
Every player must be held to the same standards.
Your least talented player will advertise the strengths of your culture.
Your most talented player will advertise the weaknesses of your culture.
Real players want structure and discipline.

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

@ethanfoster64 @bwoodbsball @charliefoster05 Charlie is a 1/1 dude. Root hard for him.

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

If there was a stat for overcoming adversity or being the hardest worker on the team he’d have led in those categories too.

[Walden Thompson @walden_thompson]

Great season with @bwoodbsball JV where we finished as JV champs
I finished the season with:
.375 BA
.531 OBP
1.073 OPS
Pitching:
1.38 ERA
1.18 WHIP
30 K
25.1 IP
15 BB
@peytonglavine @coachscott07 @T2_BASEBALL @sewell_6 @coachrob16

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

@AnthonyDasher1 Charlie Foster revenge game over the weekend as well.

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

@scottcoleman55 They look like the uniforms 12U teams get when they go to Cooperstown

[Baseball Dudes Inc. 🇺🇸⚾️ @BaseballDudes48]

20 Reminders for Coaches:

1. Be prepared to repeat yourself. Empathy towards their age, maturity level and aptitude is required.

2. Be an expert at communicating. No fluff. If we say it we BETTER follow through and when plans change there needs to be a clear reason as to why communicated.

3. Be the type of student we want them to be. There is always something to get better at. There are more ways to do it than what worked for us.

4. Team culture and atmosphere starts with us, the standards we set, what we allow and how we handle it when something happens that will affect that.

5. Be organized. Never show up without a plan. Be prepared for an audible at any point but never get caught not ready.

6. Lead by example. They are always watching. They will emulate our behavior.

7. If we want their trust we have to gain it. How we talk to them, how we talk with them, how we follow through and how we hold them all accountable, no matter who they are, who their parents are or how talented they are.

8. No standing around at practices. Find ways to keep everyone moving. No long lines in drills.

9. The game is relatable to life in many ways. Always be looking for ways to help them develop their character through it.

10. Never forget this is a game. They will only get to play it for a short period in their lives. We are here to teach it to them and help them enjoy it. Make it a memorable phase for them.

11. Coach confidence. If the goal is to get the most out of the players, they need to believe. Everything we do needs to be done with this in mind.

12. Get them talking. Hear their thoughts before we give ours. When they know they will be asked to speak we will see more focus and engagement.

13. TAKE NOTES! Keep a note pad during games/practice to jot down points to discuss. Don’t let those important moments slip through the cracks.

14. Make eye contact, take off your sunglasses. Make them take theirs off. Position yourself so their back is to the sun.

15. Pitchers and catchers need/deserve dedicated time each week for bullpens and dedicated time for catching fundamentals. NEVER IGNORE THEM!!

16. We never know what’s going on in their life. We get an opportunity to possibly be a bright light for them. This is MUCH bigger than the game.

17. Development is a process. The process requires patience and opportunity…And plenty of it.

18. Read your audience. Know when it’s time to move on. Once we lose their attention everything we want them to hear will go in one ear then out the other.

19. Be careful of getting caught up in the emotions of the moment. We need to remain calm and focused to make clear minded decisions.

20. It’s their game. Our playing days are long over. We are the lucky ones to get to be a part of their journey. Be grateful for it and be the best possible leader we can be FOR THEM.

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

@GregBerge So then how does a coach motivate effort? How do they reward effort? How do they communicate and demonstrate the benefits of effort?

We can say "give effort" or "I care about effort" - where's the "money where their mouth is?"

[Walden Thompson @walden_thompson]

Nice outing last night for @bwoodbsball
4.1IP 2ER 2 H 6K 72% Strikes 25% Whiff rate.
@sewell_6 @peytonglavine @TgDbacks @coachscott07

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

@YourFriendKyle_ Kerry Lightenberg

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

@dawgsports You mean chatG Ts and Ps

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

@RadiNabulsi These late season cupcake games have got to go amirite?

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

@RadiNabulsi Three o lineman downfield …

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

@AnthonyDasher1 That’s illegal downfield isn’t it

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

@gvedak @CapitolAvenue weekly or monthly "org roundup"? for those sorts of guys as success for the non-prospects might be indicative of a "filler call up"?

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

@andy_snow what's next <urine> tags instead of <p>? we gunna appease canadians and make it an <eh> tag?

[Matt Thompson @nicemlt]

@scottcoleman55 At worst you should get to sign one FA that has a QO with no loss of pick. Maybe some sort of escalator or something to prevent super teams if that’s the other concern