FUNGOMAN JOURNAL

As new players take the field in practice with the start of a new year, team chemistry will be important. But why leave team chemistry to chance? Coaches have the responsibility to give their best efforts to understanding each player to effectively motivate each one, and collectively influence the entire team. Each player displays different strengths and weaknesses, and thanks to the DiSC test assessment, we can boil down a myriad of personalities into four basic behavioral profiles: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance. These four profiles make up the the study’s acronym to feature the profiles within its very own name, and while people will exhibit a mix of each of the four, most of us are particularly "high" in one or two areas. If baseball is 90% mental and 10% physical, the DiSC personality assessment could be just the key coaches are looking for to unlock more of their players' mental game.

Most of us can pinpoint one or two coaches who changed the game for us. But every once in a while, a great coach will not only change a few dozen lucky ones who got to play for him, but touch thousands with the impact of his legacy and of what it means to be a champion. Todd Oakes is one of those coaches. Read on to see his legacy.

Trying to nail down the elements of a championship team is as hard as trying to pick out the best ingredient of your grandma's secret apple streusel recipe. There are so many elements to consider, and one ingredient doesn't work without the other, so as we draw to a close on this blog series Baseball Team Intangibles That Win Games, we can consider a vital component of winning teams -- developing a culture where what you say has power. Whether you're giving the motivational speech of your life, or just giving instruction, let's take a look at how to develop your unique language as a coach. Perpetuating that language within your team will reap winning benefits in life and the game.