There are plenty of different types of management style, where different types can
work during the same situations. Other times, only a specific type of management
style may work for a specific situation. During the fall of 2012, I had a chance to
interview Louis Calderon, who is a player/manager for the Oak Forest Indians, a
South Side Wood Bat League. As a player/manager, Calderon is responsible for
recruiting new players, holding tryouts and making a final roster, providing
equipment for the team, such as catcher’s equipment and practice balls, setting a
lineup each game and setting players positions. In addition to his managerial
duties, Calderon also plays bullpen and backup catcher, and reserve outfielder.
The type of management style that Calderon uses is a permissive democrat. A
permissive democrat “makes decisions participatively” and “gives subordinates
latitude in carrying out their work.” (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) There are
two coaches on each of Calderon’s teams, himself and an assistant coach. The
coaches are present to setup the team and to keep the team’s focus on the task at
hand. It is both coaches’ jobs to push the team to win, but remind the players to
have fun and play the game that they have been enjoying ever since they were
young. Calderon develops a plan with his assistant coach before practices and
games, whether it is stretching and exercising, or focusing on fielding or batting.
Players also suggest what they need in order to become better competitors. That
is why Calderon uses a permissive democratic style, because with as many as
