Tips On Coaching Little League

In Little League baseball and softball, volunteers act as coaches, umpires, field workers and other personnel. These dedicated volunteers make it possible for many children to experience the joys of Little League. Since volunteers act as coaches, many do not have significant experience coaching children. However, knowing some tips and learning from the experience of others can help you be a successful coach, no matter what your experience level.

Set Ground Rules

Before meeting with your new players, decide on some ground rules that you will explain to them. These rules not only help your team run smoother, but also instill a sense of responsibility and teamwork in your players. These ground rules should cover player absences; respect for coaches, umpires and each other; and expectations on the field. Also stress communication with the parents. Explain the ground rules to the parents as well as the children, and tell the parents that you expect them to follow the ground rules, too.

Be Positive

Little League baseball develops self-esteem, as well as developing baseball skills. As a coach, you play an integral role in this process. By being positive, encouraging and reinforcing their efforts to perform skills correctly, you can help increase the self esteem of your players. Make it clear that what matters is the effort, not whether they win or lose, or hit the ball or miss. Let your team know that you believe in them and enjoy being their coach. Begin each practice by sharing something positive about each player; this helps create a positive atmosphere. And as a side benefit, your team might perform better when the players feel better about themselves.

Practice

Baseball begins with practice. These practices help players learn to play better, and they help the players gain confidence in their abilities. Practices are usually less than two hours long, so you need to plan the practice in order to use the time efficiently. Have the children warm up by pairing off and playing catch as soon as they reach the field. After warming up, hold a brief team meeting, followed by fielding drills and finishing with batting practice.

Enlist Help

You cannot do everything yourself. Find an assistant coach and team parents to help you. An assistant coach, or two if possible, can help during practices and games, allowing you to split the team into groups during practice and have base coaches during games. Team parents can help coordinate after-game snacks, as well as help maintain order in the dugout while coaches are acting as base coaches.