Obviously, as a coach, I can’t play the game. My job is to put each child in a position to succeed so that the team can succeed. The following is a booklet 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 award 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:
Security: No one swings a bat or throws a ball without checking to make 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: “Win” is an Attitude. If you’re confident, have 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. He must show the ability to throw from the mound to the plate with consistency to get into a game. For the first few games, the children will throw a ticket. They will then pitch one and “win” the next inning. Over the course of the season the pitching ability will become apparent and the kids who can really shut down the other team will get 3 or possibly more innings in one outing, it will depend on the game situation. We’ll be throwing a few “pitcher medley” nights where we’re going back to the one inning philosophy 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 you’re out, walk 4 in one inning and you’re 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 pitch. Getting the guys to understand the importance of the team will be an underlying theme in everything we try to do.
We’d like to do as many scrimmages in practice as possible and I’m working on one or two preseason scrimmages. We will also spend time on all the skills through a variety of drills and drills. Defending on and off the pitch 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 to 15 minutes every day until the start of the season. Good arms come from thousands of casting hours, SO GET STARTED. On game days, at least one of us will be on the field an hour before game time. I 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 alive. The ball remains live until the pitcher has the ball in his glove AND his feet are on the mound. The team baserunners WILL EXPLODE off the base when EVERY pitch crosses home plate and decide to continue to the next base or return to home base from approximately two steps out. The runner SHALL 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 colliding with the defensive guard). The Team will become adept at swiping 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 tear. Expect to get dirty at every practice and game.
Hitting: We will emphasize pitch selection, hitting 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 Hitting 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 an out), too low (ground out on an out), or too in or out (foul for a strike). We won’t swing at Pitcher’s Pitches unless he already has two strikes. If you have two strikes, you will learn how to Foul-off Pitcher’s Pitch until you get a Batter’s Pitch. A batter’s pitch is a pitch almost down the middle that you can easily put into play to get on base and/or advance a runner.
Pennant and Cartoon Rides: Hitting a Home-Run is glamorous and exciting. You may think that making banners or drawing a Paseo is not so glamorous and exciting. However, the 2005 AAA Giants made it to the playoffs because the youngest kid on the team was walked to reach base, and then ended up stealing home to win the final game of the regular season with two outs in the 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 draw 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 children will play each game, sometimes they will play 3 innings, sometimes more. Children who attend games and practices consistently, do their homework, and work on their skills will have the best opportunity to play more.
3. If your child cannot be at a game or practice, please 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 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 enlisted to catch fly balls or coach a point guard. 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. No batting or bats in hand unless at bat or on deck. Safety is important!
A. 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 the event of a missed catch.
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:
-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 comment in the field to the “attaboy” variety. Conflicting instructions from a coach and a parent in a game situation undermine the team. Say it with me “ATTABOY_______”
14. WE ARE A TEAM, I HOPE THAT EACH CHILD IS PERFECT. (“Perfect” means you always do 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 booklet has evolved over the years and will most likely be revised for this year’s team. I think setting the expectations from day 1 of practice so everyone knows exactly how the season will progress. In the past, I’ve handed this out at the parent meeting before the first practice. This year I’ll post it on a team blog before the parent meeting and tell everyone 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 each kid feels like he’s contributing to the team’s success. Bunting is also enormous on my teams and kids who aren’t the best hitters will play a lot. This gives them a chance to get on base and participate in the games.