Having Belief
If you are a good coach, and you coach players that want to advance in their career, buy in should be the easiest thing ever.
Player buy-in is about two things: your goals for the player and the players goal for them self. If you want to get the player better and the player wants them self to get better while believing that you can do it, it will be really hard for you guys to not be on the same page.
The chosen issue of course, is that oftentimes players do not truly believe that you have their best interests in mind. They believe you have priorities that do not directly align with their career. Obviously, as a coach you have to prioritize other things sometimes, but the overarching mindset of the team can very much be centered around player development.
Believe it or not:
Better Players → Better Team → More Wins
I know, crazy. Sometimes you have good players that are absolute headcases, that happens. As a coach, you can try your best, but sometimes there is nothing you can do about it.
However, if players believe they are getting measurably better, keeping them engaged and locked in on what you are doing should be easy.
Most of the time it comes down to clear and concise communication, if you can properly tell the players exactly what your goals for them are, and how it plays into their careers advancing.
Having a clear-cut path to success is oftentimes a lot of “player buy in”. Players will go out of their way to find something to believe in, so if they think you don't believe in them or that you don't have plans for them to succeed they will move on.
Make it Simple
Before every season, have clear cut goals for everyone involved. You should have goals for yourself, your other coaches, and your players.
Players should know
What you expect from them
Where they are good as a player
Where they struggle as a player
Where they project in the team at this date
After this, most players will be in a much better spot mentally. Simply having a coach that has a plan for you and the team is inspiring as a player. Most coaches, even at the collegiate level do not properly communicate their plans.
If you don’t communicate your plans, the players who are supposed to base their careers on your plans simply will think you don't have a plan at all.
Players that don't know if you have a plan for them will think you don't care about them getting better, and then won't be bought in on anything you are doing. Right or wrong, it is what will happen.
Over Communicate
In college, most coaches are incredibly unorganized. There is so much going on within the program that oftentimes things get lost in the shuffle and plans are in flux.
I have played for 2 top 5 teams nationally that were both ranked #1 in the country when i was there, and i have played for a team that was likely bottom 25 in the country for division 1. The teams that are good have all their ducks in a row. They have everything you need nailed down and taken care of. They do not leave things up to chance.
Oftentimes, the meetings and little stuff you have to go through as a coach can make it feel like more of an office job. I get it, you're a baseball guy. We all are, but being able to take care of business will make your players better.
In pro ball, the schedule is riddled with meetings. The best managers and coaches keep them short and sweet. They cover all the needed points while being time efficient and respecting everyone's time.
Individualize
This advice is great for teams, but the magic happens when you get into the nitty gritty with every single player. When you meet with players, have the information you need. Do not make generalizations with them, have clear cut evidence for what they do and need to do.
When a coach shows up ready to go, the player believes. When the coach doesn't give them clear-cut advice or direction the meetings can feel pointless and disrespectful. Player meetings are stressful on the players, interacting with the entire coaching staff can be brutal because most of the time the conversations are negative.
Go out of your way to make sure everyone knows exactly what they are being led to do. When players have a road map to where they want to go, they will do their best to follow it. When they have nothing but a murky future, they are likely going to be frustrated and not very bought in.
John