Coaches are the most important people in our organization. Coaches determine the kind of experience our kids have with sports. We are committed to the principals of positive coaching. We expect our coaches to coach to win (not necessarily based on the scoreboard) and help players learn “life lessons” and positive character traits from sports. As a manager/coach (coach) you must follow all the rules and regulations of RLL while embracing the spirit of the game as expressed above. Reward effort not just good outcomes. Recognize players for unsuccessful efforts. Use encouragement and positive reinforcement as your primary method of motivating. Strive to achieve five positive reinforcements to each criticism/correction. The following is an outline of the key activities of a manager/coach:
You are in an influential position: How you teach is equally as important as what you teach.
Be a good role model: Present a model of behavior that you want your team members to copy. Set positive examples at games and practices. We expect our players to emulate us when we show them baseball skills; they will copy us in our behavior as well.
Everyone is important: Treat each player as an important human being. Each player has a different personality and skills and will progress at different speeds.
Have fun. Baseball is fun. Organize your practices and games so that each player participates as much as possible. Think of ways to keep each player’s interest. Do not focus on mistakes - each mistake is a chance to teach.
Conduct high-energy practices - Players learn by doing, plan to maximize participation, use a variety of drills that relate to game- like situations, teach what you want. Keep everyone active, which is hard in baseball.
Include players in the process: Ask players what positions they want to play. Explain why you do certain things. Don’t just tell the players what to do, tell them why so they learn better. Ask the players what they think you need to work on in practices.
Be patient: Baseball skills require high levels of timing, coordination and thinking. These skills can only be acquired through repeated practice. Encourage players to practice when they are not at practice: throw with dad or friends, throw a tennis ball against the garage door or onto the roof and field it, etc.
Avoid coaching players or shouting instruction during live play and while the batter is in the batters’ box – kids need to learn to think for themselves in baseball.
Wait until a player has returned to the dugout to correct a mistake and do so quietly and positively without making an example of the player to the rest of the team; kids generally do not respond well to being corrected loudly from across the field in front of their family and friends.
Attend coach’s clinic
Participate in the player placement of teams/draft
Notify your players of their team placement/attend the team announcements
Review and understand the rules for your level of play
Obtain and read the Rules of Little League Baseball
Communicate league philosophy and rules to all players and parents
Organize and run practices, recognizing the rules about the use of fields
Perform all necessary field maintenance and keep storage area clean
Distribute schedules, phone trees, picture day schedule
Return complete set of equipment at the designated time as set by the equipment manager
We encourage the involvement of parents as helpers throughout the season, allowing coaches to split teams into smaller groups and hold faster moving practices. However, the behavior of parents is the responsibility of the team coaches during games. We will not tolerate abusive behavior from parents towards umpires or opposing coaches. Only 4 adults, including the official coaches are allowed to be on the field or in the dugout during games. Only the official coaches are permitted to discuss/protest calls with umpires and other officials during games.
