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

Little league is a competitive league. We have umpires, we keep statistics, we keep scores, we post scores and rankings on the web, and we give out 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 hits a bat or throws a ball without checking that everyone around them is safe;

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

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

We will put an emphasis on pitching and would like to get as many kids on the mound as possible. He must demonstrate the ability to throw from the mound to the plate with consistency to get into a game. For the first games, the children will throw an entrance. They will then pitch one and “win” the next inning. Over the course of the season, the shooting ability will become apparent and the guys who can really shut down the other team will get 3 or possibly more innings in one outing, depending on the game situation. We’ll be throwing a few “launch medley” nights where we’ll go back to the philosophy of one ticket for all or part of the game. This becomes necessary when we have games that are close together. We’ll use the walk rule: walk 3 in a row and out, walk 4 in one inning and out. This doesn’t mean he won’t get another chance, it just means he can’t help the team on that particular day with his release. Getting the guys to understand the importance of the team is going to be an underlying theme in everything we try to do.

We’d like to do as many practice scrimmages as possible and I’m working on one or two preseason scrimmages. 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 doing a lot of reps and we’ll get as many as humanly possible. The boys will have baseball homework: they must play catch 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 infield before every game. Come early to practice more.

Running bases and hitting:

Base Running: Little League allows you to steal a base once the pitched ball crosses home plate. You can keep stealing bases as long as the ball is live. The ball remains live until the pitcher has the ball in his glove AND his feet are on the mound. The team’s base runners will EXPLODE off base as EVERY pitch crosses home plate and will decide to continue to the next base or return to the 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 he does not slide onto a base where there is a play, the umpire will rule him OUT for creating an unsafe condition (possibly colliding with the defensive point guard). The Team will become adept at sliding and stealing bases! Therefore, you should always wear long pants. Slider pants (worn under long pants) are a very good idea. Your outer long pants will get dirty and ripped. Expect to get dirty at every practice and game.

Batting: We will be emphasizing pitch selection, batting discipline, bunting, and drawing walks. The purpose of an at-bat is to get on 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 strike zone. A pitcher is trying to strike you out. A pitcher will try to get you to swing at a (lousy) pitch that is too high (pop-up on out), too low (ground out on out) or too far in or out (foul out for one out). Strike). We won’t swing at Pitcher’s Pitches unless he already has two strikes. If you have two strikes, you will learn to Foul-off Pitcher’s Pitch until a Batter’s Pitch comes. A batter’s pitch is a near-half pitch that you can easily put into play to get on base and/or advance a runner.

Pennant and Picture Walks: Connecting a Home-Run is glamorous and exciting. You may think that making bunting or drawing a Walk is not so glamorous and exciting. However, the 2005 AAA Giants made the playoffs because the youngest kid on the team walked to get on base, and then ended up stealing home to win the final game of the regular season with two outs in the middle. bottom of the sixth inning. The AAA Giants then went on to win the 2005 AAA World Series. You’ll often hear the coach say, “If you bunt or hit a Walk to First, you can steal home on the NEXT pitch, and you better be home on the third pitch.” . !”

Team Rules and Expectations

1. All league rules will be followed, NO EXCEPTIONS. We’ll 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 consistently attend games and practices, do their homework, and work on their skills will have the best chance of playing more.

3. If your child cannot be at a game or practice, let the coaches know in advance. Please review practice and game schedules and notify us of conflicts as far in advance as possible. If something last minute comes up, 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 on the bench during games, unless they are scheduled to catch fly balls or coach a base. If a player must leave the bench, he must first ask the coach.

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

7. All trash must be cleared from the dugout. You bring it, 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!
has. 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 of missing a catch.

9. ¾ base on balls rule in effect at all times: 3 consecutive bases on balls or 4 bases on balls in an inning and the pitcher will be replaced.

10. ALWAYS be respectful to 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:

-Players will talk to the Trainer;

-The coach will talk to the referee.

11. Use a mug!

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

13. PARENTS PLEASE keep the field comment to the “attaboy” variety. Conflicting instructions from a coach and a parent in a game situation undermines the team. Say it with me “ATTABOY_______”

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

That brochure has evolved over the years and will most likely be revised for this year’s team. I think setting expectations from day 1 of practice so everyone knows exactly how the season will progress. In the past, I have handed this out at the parent meeting before the first practice. This year I will post it on a team blog before the parent meeting and tell everyone that no one plays or practices until I get a comment back saying they read it with their child.

When we practice, we have 6-8 stations that cover different skill areas. We have 2 kids at each station for about 5 minutes and rotate until every pair of kids has run 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 kid feels like he is 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 a chance to get on base and play in games.

Coaching Little League: Setting Expectations for Players and Parents

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