The Little League Coach

Coaches Needed!

Every year we struggle to fill the coaching vacancies in Little League. This is always inevitably at the lower divisions such as T-ball and Rookie Coach/Machine pitch. These divisions are vital to the league as it is often a child’s first exposure to baseball and the Little League Program. We all know you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Older divisions do not usually have this trouble because seasoned coaches that did well in the lower divisions move up in the ranks. Their experience and knowledge of the children in the league make them major assets to the league.

Always on the Prowl

During registration we always have our “coach-dar” on searching for qualified candidates to manage the younger divisions. Anyone that even subtly implies they are interested in coaching is encouraged do consider taking a team. Likewise, moms and dads that are not available all the time due to work commitments are paired in a attempt to fill teams with coaches.

Go Ahead, Be Nervous!

Ultimately, any new coach is nervous going into the season. This is understandable! If you have no real teaching experience and have spent time only with your kids the thought of facing 12 5-6 year olds and keeping them busy for an hour or more is very intimidating! I know people who can stand in front of a room full of adults and work them like they own them, but put them w/ a group of t-ballers and they fall apart!

KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid)

That said, it is important to implement the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) philosophy when coaching beginners. First and foremost you have to MAKE IT FUN!!!! Why else are they there? Baseball can be a slow game at times, so it is crucial for you to keep it moving and keep them focused. This requires constant attention to every child on the field! You will go home hoarse! If you don’t, you didn’t coach enough.

This doesn’t mean you are yelling at the kids, in fact, quite the contrary is true. You don’t yell at the you shout encouragement to them! Over and over and over and over and over and over again. It doesn’t matter how they play, what they did, how they did it, or whether they succeeded or not! They simply need encouragement.

We don’t sit there and let them do things wrong of course, we just disguise our criticism by surrounding it with praise! Let’s say that Jane doesn’t get her arm back when she throws and she throws the ball straight in the air over the first baseman’s head. Does it really matter that the runner is safe? Of course not, but it is important to correct her mechanics.

Surround a Critisism w/ Two Compliments

The way to do this is by surrounding the criticism with compliments. Something like this would work perfect “Jane, way to field that grounder, that was awesome!, next time lets get your arm back (demonstrating while you are talking) when we throw, awesome hustle to that ball, you are doing great!”. Jane leaves that conversation with a feeling of accomplishment and a desire to do better next time. Just watch her next play, she will concentrate so hard on getting her arm back it will make your eyes water up!

What do the Upper League Coaches Want You to Do?

So what does a minor league coach want his players to be able to do when they move up from the developmental leagues? Not much really, they want them to:

Have a love of the game because they were encouraged to have fun at the younger divisions
Have a positive attitude and understand basic baseball etiquette and manners in relation to their teammates.

Skills to Develop

What skills does the coach want his players to develop?

Get the arm back! - While many players master this instantly, most do not. Those that do master the skill can be taught more advanced dynamics of throwing, but the fact is, if players came out of the developmental programs simply getting their arms back when they throw, we would be very happy!
Keep the head still - When batting, younger players will be all over the place. Out of control. The best way to teach them is to get them still or quiet as we refer to it. They think if they rare back and swing as hard as they can they will kill it! While they may get lucky once in a while, they will hit the ball harder and farther if they stay still. Have their feet shoulder width, bat back at ear level, elbows relaxed NOT UP! Tell them “head on the ball” and have them watch the bat hit the ball. Arms go through the ball, roll at contact, and head stays still. All they have to do is stay still and turn into the ball. Keep them quiet when they hit, we will be happy.
Alligator - Teach them the alligator fielding position. Butt down, knees bent, left foot slightly in front of right (opposite for a lefty), but the key? Alligator hands! This is an easy concept for little ones to learn, they love it! You can have fun w/ it chasing them around w/ alligator hands and they don’t even know they are learning. Alligator is glove hand on the bottom, bare hand on top eating the ball up like an alligator. They love it! During the game encourage them to “eat the ball up”, like an alligator.
Know the bases - I know this seems obvious, but they don’t have any clue about the game when they start. They don’t know first base from home plate. How many times have you seen a player hit the ball and run to third base? Make sure they know all the bases and where they are. At the end of practice a few times a year as part of their ending practice run have them run to the base you call out as a pack. They have fun, and the parents will be laughing as they wander around in a quasi-pack.
Know the positions - Similar to knowing the bases, there is nothing worse than having a player at the older divisions slow down practice because they don’t know where the positions are. How many times have you told a player to go play second base and they go stand on the base? A great way to do this is w/ the pack run again referred to in #4 above. Only this time call out positions and have the pack run to the proper place. Sit back and laugh as they run all over searching for the shortstop position! incorporate both 4 & 5 into your call out run, it is a blast!
Know ready position - They won’t creep, but there is no reason you can’t have them have their legs bent, palms out (not hands on knees), and head up. All you have to do is call out (yes, just about every play, remember you are going to be hoarse!) “ready position”, and have them echo you. Another way to do this is the say “Yankees, baseball ready” and have them slap the ground and answer w/ a resounding huuu”. Make up your own way! It really doesn’t matter, just get them in ready position somehow and start training them at an early age.

Keep it Fun

New coaches, remember, chances are half of the other coaches in the league are new also. Understand that the experienced coaches have been where you are and know that you are doing your best for the kids. They are happy to help, observe, listen, and question them. They won’t mind a bit. In fact, they will probably be flattered.

We only have two rules on our teams of any age: