Get to know Bloomington area’s youth baseball coach Satoshi Kido
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Growing up in Miyazaki Japan, Satoshi Kido’s 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 “respect the game, respect the players and respect others.”
This approach is similar to the “martial arts approach I learned from baseball in Japan,” Kido said. “Respect the field, equipment, umpires, teammates, opponents, and parents.” “If we don’t have [respect], we do not have a game.”
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. “I’ve coached probably more than 100 kids in this community,” Kido said, “including all players from the Edgewood High School 2019 team.” That Edgewood Mustangs team was a family affair and played for a state title at Victory Field in Indianapolis. “My oldest son Mac and I coached the team,” Kido said as he described the 2019 team, “ and Joe was the shortstop, Sam was the second baseman.”
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’s wife, is proud of all the Kido men.
Kido stays quite busy working as the Assistant Director – Intramural Sports at Indiana University. He also enjoys several hobbies when time allows. “I enjoy playing golf, taking a run with my dog, and still play slow pitch softball.”
Several nights a week, however, you’ll find Coach Kido in one on one or small group coaching lessons at Tier Ten Sports Campus near Spencer. You’ll find him running them through fielding drills and working on their swing, and the kids love it!
“We love how Mr. Kido can simplify things for players of all ages and skill levels,” said Zack Stevens (from this month’s featured family) whose son Mason works with Coach Kido. “He 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.”
Coach likes to look at this opportunity as a tool, “I’m teaching life skills to the younger kids,” he says. Skills like communication, leadership, time management, respecting others (including parents), and teamwork.
“Play hard, play smart, and have fun!” said Coach Kido, “this is the way I coach all my players.”
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