“A coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in an entire lifetime.”
BILLY GRAHAM
Our focus at IMPACT BASEBALL is to develop the complete baseball player while emphasizing character and spiritual growth. We take this very seriously, and the person charged to lead that effort for each team and each player is the manager.
Our teams are managed by men who volunteer; they are not paid. They are men who love the game of baseball, want to teach it to the next generation, and want to do so in a healthy environment based in faith, encouragement, and learning.
Given the nature of travel baseball and the growth of Impact Baseball, there is an ongoing need for managers—especially at the younger ages when new teams commonly form. We often get inquiries from men who are interested in managing an Impact team and ask what our vetting process entails. Below are the required characteristics of and the process involved in becoming an Impact manager.
Bottom line, our goal is to develop young players to play at the highest level they are capable of, play at an increasingly competitive level as a team, and do so in an environment that fosters the love of the game, honors each individual player on the roster, and does so in a way that glorifies Christ in all we do.
CHARACTERISTICS
CHRISTIAN – Manager will be a follower of Jesus Christ who upholds biblical principles. Managers will lead their teams in a manner consistent with the program's mission and values, which are rooted in our desire to train and disciple young men and honor Jesus Christ in all we do.
PRIORITIES – Managers will actively seek to advance the program's mission and values. This involves placing others' interests ahead of his own, including the Impact Baseball program and its players and parents. Impact baseball is not about the manager.
PRAYER – Manager commits to regularly pray with his team at Impact games, practices and events.
UMPIRES – Managers will respect umpires and require their teams to do likewise.
PLAYING TIME – Developing players and being competitive is not the same as winning at all costs. Playing time should be shared by all players in a manner that results in each player wanting to continue on in the game of baseball.
PARENTS – Manager commits to be an open book with parents willing to discuss all topics at the appropriate time and place.
PLAYERS – Manager commits to treat his players with respect and to motivate and improve them through encouragement and teaching, not through punishment or embarrassment. Our goal is to teach life lessons through baseball in order to grow godly young men of character.
OPPONENTS – Manager commits to treat opposing coaches, players, and fans with respect, regardless of the situation. He will look for opportunities to praise players from the other team as if they were his own and use them as examples for our players when possible.
CONFLICT & RESOLUTION – Manager commits to handle issues/concerns/disputes in a manner that honors all involved, and with a mind towards demonstrating the Christ-like character we seek to develop in our players.
COACHES – Manager will assemble a coaching staff that can embrace the above tenets of Impact coaching. Manager will recognize where his staff falls short of that goal and manage their responsibilities appropriately.
PROCESS
Must be interviewed by Board President, Commissioner, and one other Board member
Must complete the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Ministry Leadership Application (MLA)
Must complete background check
Experience playing and/or coaching baseball is optimal and highly preferred
Having a son playing within the program is not required