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Baseball Canada is in the process of revamping its coaching certification program in order to give able coaches more effective training to get the tools they need to develop and create better resources to suit their needs.

“We’re looking to change the way we offer the program,” says André Lachance, Manager of Baseball Operations with Baseball Canada.  “We want to ensure that athletes receive the most competent coaching.”

“Before we would give an eight hour class, give (the coaches) a certificate, and tell them ‘ok, go coach.’  Now we’re going to have an evaluation process we didn’t have before and evaluate each competitive coach’s qualifications,” adds Mr. Lachance.

Baseball Canada, along with the provincial associations, is holding meetings to discuss the transition into the new program.  They are also looking to help improve communication between program facilitators and coaches.

“We’re looking to improve the discussion between the facilitator and the coach and only with better discussion is there going to be improvement,” says Mr. Lachance.

The new coaching training program will help advance coaching development, which in turn would advance player development.  With that said, Baseball Alberta is in the process of implementing a new strategy for athlete development to help better fit their needs.

Through the Long Term Athlete Development program, the provincial association is looking to put in place a pitch count system rather than an innings pitched system to help better develop pitchers in the future.

“We’re trying to give (pitchers) progression as far as limiting pitches early on and giving them a certain amount of required rest,” says Mark Randall of Baseball Alberta.  “This is more of a prescription as to what they should be doing throughout the season.”

“Bottom line is you’re going to protect the athlete and develop more pitchers,” adds Mr. Randall.