Have you ever wondered why the head of the baseball is called a manager while the head of the basketball team is called a coach? Apart from the obvious differences between the two sports, it also has to do with how the players are coached and managed during the games. While baseball is all about directing players, basketball requires more of teaching the players.

During a baseball game, the manager focuses primarily on strategy and managing the flow of the game. He decides who pitches and when. Positions the players in the field. And, relays commands to coaches, who then tell players about what actions to take on the field.

In a basketball game, a coach has the same authority as the baseball manager, he gets more involved with the players and their actions on the court. His role is inclined more towards developing the players rather than directing them. He calls out plays and defensive schemes to the players, but they are then free to implement those (using their skills and knowledge of the game) as they see fit. Apart from coaching he also offers encouragement, support, and suggestions to the players.

The role and responsibilities of a baseball manager and basketball coach may overlap but the impact that they make on their people is different. Let’s look at the contrast of the role and responsibilities of a coach and a manager in more detail in the image below: