Coaching Little League: Setting Expectations for Players and Parents

Obviously, as a coach, I can’t play. My job is to put each child in a position to be successful in order for the team to be successful. The following is a brochure that I give to each child and parent at the beginning of each season:

Little league is a competitive league. We have referees, we keep statistics, we keep scores, we publish scores and rankings on the web and we present trophies to the winner of the World Series. The goal of the team is to win. The goal of each child is to do everything possible to help the team win. Remember these three things:

Safety: No one swings a bat or throws a ball without making sure everyone around them is safe;

Fun: We are here to have fun. If someone is not having fun, let the coach know and he will work to remedy it;

Victorious: “Winning” is an attitude. If you’re confident, having fun, and have a winning attitude, the score will take care of itself! “

We will put an emphasis on pitching and would like to have as many kids on the mound as possible. You must demonstrate the ability to throw from the mound to the plate with consistency to enter a game. For the first games, the children will throw a ticket. They will then pitch one and “win” the next inning. Over the course of the season, the ability to throw will become apparent and the kids who can actually stop the other team will get 3 or possibly more innings in an outing, depending on the situation of the game. We will be launching some “Pitching Medley” nights where we will revert to the one inning philosophy for all or part of the game. This becomes necessary when we have games grouped closely together. We will use the walking rule: walk 3 in a row and exit, walk 4 in a doorway and exit. This doesn’t mean that you won’t get another chance, it just means that you can’t help the team on that particular day with your pitching. Getting children to understand the importance of equipment will be an underlying theme in everything we try to do.

We’d like to play as much of the game as possible in practice and I’m working on a preseason game or two. We will also spend time on all skills through a variety of drills and exercises. Defense on and off the field can only be improved by getting lots of reps and we’ll get as many as humanly possible. Boys will have baseball homework: they must play ball for 10-15 minutes every day until the start of the season. Good arms come from thousands of hours of casting, SO GET STARTED. On game days, at least one of us will be on the field an hour before game time. I do the painting before each game. Get there early to practice more.

Execution of bases and batting:

Base Execution: Little League allows you to steal a base once the thrown ball crosses the plate. You can keep stealing bases as long as the ball is alive. The ball remains alive until the pitcher has the ball in his glove AND his feet are on the mound. Team base runners WILL EXPLODE off base when EACH pitch crosses home plate and decide to continue to the next base or return to starting base from approximately two steps out. The runner WILL SLIDE to any base where the possibility of a play exists. AAA rules state that if you don’t slide onto a base where there is a play, the umpire will call you OUT for creating an unsafe condition (possibly hitting the defensive point guard). The team will become an expert in sliding and stealing bases! Therefore, you should always wear long pants. Sliding pants (worn under long pants) are a very good idea. Your outer long pants will get dirty and tear. Expect to get dirty at every practice and game.

Batting: We will emphasize pitch selection, batting discipline, pennants, and drawing runs. The purpose of a turn at bat is to get to base. You can’t score from the Dugout!

Pitch Selection and Batting Discipline: We will learn the difference between a pitcher’s pitch and a batter’s pitch. A pitcher’s pitch is outside or along the edges of the front zone. A pitcher is trying to strike you out. A pitcher will try to get you to swing him on a pitch (lousy) that is too high (pinch in one out), too low (rolled in one out), or too in or out (foul out for one out). Strike). We will not swing at Pitcher’s Pitches unless he already has two strikes. If you have two strikes, you will learn how to throw the foul pitcher until a batter pitch appears. A batter’s pitch is a near-middle pitch that he can easily put into play to get to base and / or advance a runner.

Pennant and Cartoon Walks: Hitting a home run is glamorous and exciting. You may think that making pennants or drawing a walk is not that glamorous and exciting. However, the 2005 AAA Giants entered the playoffs because the youngest kid on the team made a walk to get to base and then ended up stealing home plate to win the final game of the regular season with two outs at the end of the sixth inning. . Then the AAA Giants won the 2005 AAA World Series. You’ll often hear the coach say, “If you touch or draw a Walk to First, you can steal home on the next pitch, and you better be home. on the third pitch.! “

Rules and team expectations

1. All league rules will be followed, NO EXCEPTIONS. We will go over the League rules in person.

2. All the children will play each game, sometimes they will play 3 innings, sometimes more. Children who attend games and practice constantly, do their homework, and improve their skills will have the best opportunity to play more.

3. If your child can’t be in a game or practice, let the coaches know ahead of time. Please review practice and game times and notify us of conflicts as far in advance as possible. If something comes up at the last minute, please call

4. Uniforms are for games only. Wear comfortable baseball clothing to practice. NO SHORTS! You will not be allowed to practice in your uniform, you will not be allowed to play in a game without one. Uniforms will require a $ 25 deposit this year. You can keep the hat and socks.

5. Players are expected to remain in the dugout during games, unless they are ready to throw flying balls or train a base. If a player must leave the dugout, they must first ask the coach.

6. Parents and siblings must not be on the bench. WITHOUT EXCEPTIONS.

7. All trash must be removed from the dugout. You bring it in, you carry it out. Spectators, please keep the field clean.

8. Do not bat or bat in hand unless at bat or on deck. Safety is important!
For. We will not swing a bat near other people;
B. We will not throw the ball if there are people behind any of the players in case the reception is lost.

9. ¾ Walk rule in effect at all times: 3 walks in a row or 4 walks in one inning and the pitcher will be replaced.

10. ALWAYS be respectful of teammates, opposing players, coaches and officials. Disrespectful behavior from players or parents will not be tolerated. Referees are human. If there is ever a disputed call:

-The players will talk to the coach;

-The coach will talk to the referee.

11. Use a mug!

12. Show up on the field ready to play ball!

13. PARENTS PLEASE save comments in the “attaboy” variety field. Conflicting instructions from a coach and parent in a game situation undermine the team. Say it with me “ATTABOY_______”

14. WE ARE A TEAM, I HOPE EACH CHILD IS PERFECT. (“Perfect” means you always try your best, if you can look your teammates in the eye and know in your heart that you did the best you could, then you are PERFECT)

That brochure has evolved over the years and will most likely be revised for this year’s team. I think I set expectations from day one of practice so everyone knows exactly how the season will progress. In the past, I turned this in at the parent meeting before the first practice. This year I post it on a team blog before the parent meeting and tell everyone that no one plays or practices until they get a reply comment saying they read it with their child.

When we practice, we have 6 to 8 stations that cover different skill areas. We have 2 children at each station for about 5 minutes and we rotate until each pair of children has passed through each station. I always keep my kids moving so they don’t have time to get bored. I like to have as many pitchers as possible so that each child feels like they are contributing to the success of the team. Bunting is also enormous on my teams and the kids who aren’t the best hitters will play a lot. This gives them the opportunity to get into the base and participate in the games.

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