Broke Rule #1
Image by alandberning via Flickr
The softball Gods really don’t appreciate you breaking their rules and they almost always make you pay dearly when you do! Rule #1 of tournament play, you can’t play tomorrow, if you don’t win today, so you can’t save anything for tomorrow!
I tried to make sure all my pitchers were ready for tomorrow’s game. Guess what?! I will be watching tomorrow’s game from the sidelines. I tried to out-smart the softball Gods, and they made me pay dearly. I deserve every bit of it as well. Our #1 was on fire, she was happy, and would have dominated.
I bow to the power of the softball gods and hope that I never cross them again! Hopefully, they will not hold a long term grudge against me!
What is the stupidest coaching decision you have ever made?
Read Your Rule Book
Image by dareneilert via Flickr
Biggest Geek in the World
I am the biggest geek on the planet! I actually look forward to the release of the new rule book each year so I can read it cover to cover! Baseball and Softball btw. So I have little patience for people who try to throw the rules around and make rulings that have an impact on the game.
Don’t Impact the Game
My basic rule of thumb, if it is going impact the game and you are unsure, don’t impact the game! That said, an official really should know all the rules, but I know that when you have volunteers you can’t expect this. In that situation, you need to make sure to take the time to get it right.
Great Job Girl!
Tonight, we had a young girl umpire who did just that. When she had something wrong, or when in doubt, she took the time to get it right! This was wonderful! I only wish the other team knew the rules so that it was never an issue in the first place, but again, they are volunteers, so it isn’t that big of a deal. Coaches just try to bring rules from other leagues into Little League , and that’s not good. Little League almost always sides on leniency. We should learn from that.
18 Years Straight of Reading the Book
I heard my wife say it best in the stands as we were debating this, "why do they argue with him about the rules?". I don’t know them all, don’t always get them right, but I bet I am 99% right 1/2 the time! (Yogi would be proud). I have read every word of each rulebook and the operators manual for 18 years straight. Yes, I am the biggest nerd you will ever know! But at least I know the rules.
What are the most common rules violations you see? Let us know.
Wood vs. Aluminum/Composite/etc. Debate
Image via WikipediaBanned in NYC
I found the following article in relation to wood vs. metal bats being banned in New York City High School Leagues. It is apparent that Little League fully anticipates the city trying to impose this rule on all city programs, including privately run and chartered, Little League Baseball .
Hate Gov’t!
I have to admit that I hate ANY kind of government intervention in ANYTHING! I am a total anarchist! Provide military to protect me, judicial to rule when states have a battle, and legislative to assure my rights are not trampled on THEN get out of the way!
That said, Little League has more rules than just about ANY organization yet I fully support it! Why? Because it is a private organization that is fully self sufficient. It is one of the greatest organizations in the world.
What Makes Little League so Great!
What makes it so great is the way it provides minimum standards, rules, and guidelines, then allows the local leagues to impose additional rules, decide draft procedures, decide all-star selection processes, and much more, to reflect local culture. Being a worldwide organization, I do mean culture! Having participated in Little League in one of the busiest metropolitan areas, Northern Virginia, and one of the smallest DeBary, FL , I have seen both extremes. Both function very differently, and both function very well!
Therefore, if Little League decided to vote to use only wooden bats, I would support it. If ANY form of government tells us to use wood only bats, I would disagree. Please read the statement from Little League below to decide for yourself.
Savings, not Performance
I would remind everyone that when I started Little League we only had wooden bats, they broke all the time. Using aluminum bats originally wasn’t about performance, it was about savings! We could use one bat for many years.
I submit that if we go to wood only bats, manufacturer’s will develop technology that makes them perform just as good as the composites on the market today. What will happen then? We will have the same performance ratings, but have to replace the more expensive bats more often. Sounds like a great deal for the bat manufacturer’s and a bum rap for the local leagues and parents that have to purchase more bats.
To prove this point we need only look to Major League Baseball . The bats they use are today are considered "hot" to the ones of the past. The increase in home runs certainly supports this theory.
What Little League Says
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (March 23, 2007) — Recently, Little League International has received a number of inquiries regarding non-wood bats, particularly in relation to a March 14 vote by the New York City Council to ban the use of non-wood bats in high school baseball games.
It is important to note that the New York City Council’s vote applies only to high school baseball games played in the city, and does not apply in any way to Little League games at any level in the city or anywhere else.
Little League International has and will continue to provide as much factual information as possible on the subject to the media, to volunteers, and to legislators considering laws that would dictate the use of certain types of equipment in Little League Baseball and Softball. It is Little League International’s belief that the same governmental imposition may soon be directed at Little League Baseball and other youth baseball programs.
Little League Baseball has always advocated that local leagues and individuals may choose wood or non-wood bats for use in our program.
Little League supports the right of a local Little League to implement a wood-only rule, and we support any league’s right to make that choice for its local community. Some prefer the game played with wood bats, and that’s fine as well. But Little League International does not accept the premise that the game will be safer if played exclusively with wood, simply because there are no facts — none at all — to support that premise.
As a result, any individual or league choosing a wood-only option must understand that the choice is not being made because of any factual data or scientific information.
Little League volunteers already know that participation in Little League is made safer by Little League rules, regulations and policies. Little League’s safety record is second to none, as less than 1 percent of all participants annually in Little League require medical treatment of any kind as the result of an injury in a practice or game.
As Steve Keener, Little League Baseball and softball president and chief executive officer, said: "If there was a safety concern, based on Little League’s proven history of attention to safety with matters such as mandating background checks and pitch counts, we’d be the first in line to address it."
Safety continues to be Little League’s No. 1 concern, and the non-wood bat issue is no exception. For that reason, we are providing these facts:
* More than 10 years ago, the major manufacturers of non-wood bats reached an agreement with Little League to limit their bats to a "Bat Performance Factor" (BPF) of 1.15. … The BPF is essentially a measure of a non-wood bat’s performance (how fast the ball exits the bat when hit) in relation to a standard wood bat’s rating of 1.00. A very good wood bat’s BPF is 1.15.
* That means today’s best non-wood bats (usually made of aluminum) used in Little League perform statistically the same, in terms of how fast the ball exits the bat, as the best wood bats.
* For the last 10 years, bat manufacturers have only been producing non-wood bats for play in Little League Baseball that do not exceed the 1.15 BPF. Most of these bats are already printed with the BPF of 1.15, but beginning in 2009, all bats used in Little League Baseball must be imprinted with the BPF.
* A common misconception is that lighter bats always translate into a baseball being hit harder. This is not the case, because there is a point at which a lighter bat (even though it is swung at a higher speed) does not exert the same force on the pitched ball as a heavier bat does. A simpler way to understand this is to consider a small hammer used to pound a nail: Although the small hammer may be swung with much greater speed, a heavier hammer (swung at a lower speed) will drive the nail with fewer blows because it has more inertia at the point of impact. This is why the non-wood bat manufacturers have agreed to the current standard — so that the non-wood bats perform at a level close to wooden bats, even though a Little Leaguer may be able to swing them faster. … Imposing a wood bat mandate could result in fewer players in the game. A more forgiving bat means more players have a chance for some success and therefore will want to play and enjoy the game.
* Little League reached this agreement in the early 1990s with the manufacturers of non-wood bats because it noticed the number of reported injuries to pitchers who were hit by batted balls had increased to about 145 in a year.
* Since that agreement, these types of reported injuries have decreased to their current level of 20-30 per year. Considering there are more than a million Little League games played each year, with hundreds of millions of pitches, this safety record is nothing less than outstanding.
* Little League also has addressed the baseballs used in games. Requirements for baseballs to have standardized hardness and liveliness have been in place for several years as well.
* In 2002, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reviewed this issue thoroughly and resolved that there was inconclusive data to support such a ban of non-wood bats from use in high school and youth baseball.
* Since records were kept beginning in the 1960s, tragically there have been eight fatalities in Little League Baseball from batted balls. Six of those resulted from balls hit by wood bats and two from balls hit by non-wood bats. Those two fatalities occurred in 1971 and 1973, prior to the 1993 implementation of today’s youth bat standards.
* This is not a business interest for Little League Baseball. While Little League does receive royalties from the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association Youth Bat Licensing Program, these royalties amount to only about 2 percent of Little League’s annual operating budget of $18 million. … If a wood-bat mandate were imposed, Little League estimates that its royalties from this program would either equal or exceed current levels.
I wonder why there is no outrage about using big barrel bats in AAU and other travel programs?
What is your opinion? Wood or Metal and why?
Good Advice for New Coaches
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:
- Have fun
- Quiet when a coach is talking
These two rules, along w/ the basic mechanical instruction above, will teach the kids just about everything they need to move up to the next level.
Now go out there and HAVE FUN!!!!
Does anyone have any tricks they use to keep younger kids focused and attentive? Please share them.
Other articles that may interest you:
Good Advice for New Coaches
Get Their Arm Back First
Calm, Comfortable, Confident, Hitting
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