Get to know Bloomington area鈥檚 youth baseball coach Satoshi Kido
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Growing up in Miyazaki Japan, Satoshi Kido鈥檚 father instilled in him a love for baseball. Having been coached by his father, Kido recalls three lessons that stand out above anything else involving hitting and fielding – respect. Kido says his father taught him to 鈥渞espect the game, respect the players and respect others.鈥�
This approach is similar to the 鈥渕artial arts approach I learned from baseball in Japan,” Kido said. 鈥淩espect the field, equipment, umpires, teammates, opponents, and parents.鈥� 鈥淚f we don鈥檛 have [respect], we do not have a game.鈥�
Kido has brought that approach with him as he coaches local kids and teenagers in the Bloomington area as a coach/instructor at Tier Ten Sports Campus. 鈥淚鈥檝e coached probably more than 100 kids in this community,鈥� Kido said, 鈥渋ncluding all players from the Edgewood High School 2019 team.鈥� That Edgewood Mustangs team was a family affair and played for a state title at Victory Field in Indianapolis. 鈥淢y oldest son Mac and I coached the team,鈥� Kido said as he described the 2019 team, 鈥� and Joe was the shortstop, Sam was the second baseman.鈥�
Mac is still an assistant coach at Edgewood, while Joe and Sam have moved on to play college baseball at Indiana State University and Indiana University-South Bend respectively. No doubt Hitomi Kido, Coach Kido鈥檚 wife, is proud of all the Kido men.
Kido stays quite busy working as the Assistant Director 鈥� Intramural Sports at Indiana University. He also enjoys several hobbies when time allows. 鈥淚 enjoy playing golf, taking a run with my dog, and still play slow pitch softball.鈥�
Several nights a week, however, you鈥檒l find Coach Kido in one on one or small group coaching lessons at Tier Ten Sports Campus near Spencer. You鈥檒l find him running them through fielding drills and working on their swing, and the kids love it!
鈥淲e love how Mr. Kido can simplify things for players of all ages and skill levels,鈥� said Zack Stevens (from this month鈥檚 featured family) whose son Mason works with Coach Kido. 鈥淗e is very positive but can also convey the importance of details when it comes to fundamentals of the game. [Mason] is energized and motivated to continue working on his baseball game after each session with Coach Kido.鈥�
Coach likes to look at this opportunity as a tool, 鈥淚鈥檓 teaching life skills to the younger kids,鈥� he says. Skills like communication, leadership, time management, respecting others (including parents), and teamwork.
鈥淧lay hard, play smart, and have fun!鈥� said Coach Kido, 鈥渢his is the way I coach all my players.鈥�
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