07/12/2023
The Coyotes will return for the 2024 season!!
We've got a former college baseball player on the coaching staff again, and a new focus on preparing our players for high school baseball. Read below for the full details:
The Glen Carbon Coyotes’ plan for the next 2 seasons (13u and 14u) is to get our players ready for freshman baseball... wherever they choose to go to high school. We have a former college baseball player on the coaching staff once again. We will dive deep into the mental side of the game, and go to depths that most SWIBL players aren't even aware of... yet. Think of this as the youth version of a baseball "Masterclass", if you're familiar with the online subscription learning platform. But in order to do this successfully, we’ll need boys who:
a) really want to play baseball
b) are willing to focus & pay attention
c) will put in some time on their own outside of practices and games
Three important notes about the Coyotes:
1. We carried 10 boys full-time this past season, and that is our preferred roster size. It gives the boys a lot of playing time, and much less time sitting on the bench. We just completed a 30-game season (SWIBL games and playoffs, 2 tournaments, and scrimmage games), and that means a lot of innings to gain experience in the field and at the plate. Now, that does come with a certain level of commitment to the Coyotes by both the player and family, but...
2. We're not looking to take over a family's life with baseball, either. Kids should be participating in other activities. The Coyotes have never been a baseball-only environment. Our athletes have played football, basketball, soccer, hockey, track, wrestling and tennis. That is fantastic, and we will do everything we can to schedule around those activities if we have enough advance notice. In the event of unavoidable absences or unfortunate injuries, we typically roster a couple reserve players.
3. We prioritize developing the player’s physical and mental skills, while igniting their competitive spirit, over all else. If that happens, success (personal and team) will follow. Wins and losses in SWIBL really don't mean anything. Wins and losses do matter once you get to high school and people start keeping school records and report on the games in publications. (And that perspective is supported by both the SWIBL Commissioner and the Fr. McGivney head coach.) So why not get these kids as best positioned as possible to succeed when the games count for something?
Utilizing this approach does not result in a team that never wins, though. The Coyotes have won 3 tournament trophies during our 4-year existence, and overall have averaged a .415 winning percentage. We're always a competitive team, playing 3 of our 4 seasons at single-A, with one season at AA. We understand that winning is fun and feels better than losing, but the final score is not the primary focus. Developing the player and the person is the priority. Helping our kids be fans of the game and love the game is more rewarding in the long run.
We realize this might not appeal to everyone, but if this sounds like a good fit for your son, we encourage you to register for our tryout on July 13.
https://forms.gle/kBKJCMW1o9YfmjJK9
