FIRST COLONY LITTLE LEAGUE COACHING GUIDE Change History Date Author Description 20-Jan-04 Rodney Walther Minor changes in preparation for Managers Meeting 17-Dec-03 Rodney Walther Update Majors for new continuous batting order 30-Nov-03 Rodney Walther Make consistent with Coaching Clinic presentation 18-Nov-03 Rodney Walther Updated links to other resources 06-Nov-03 Rodney Walther Original version Copyright © 2004 by Rodney Walther. All rights reserved. Document may not be copied in part or full without express written permission from the author. Contents Purpose.....................................................................................................................3 Terminology.............................................................................................................4 Qualities of a Great Coach.......................................................................................5 Manager Responsibilities.........................................................................................6 Communicating With Players..................................................................................7 Communicating With Parents..................................................................................9 Communicating With Umpires ..............................................................................11 Teaching the Mechanics: Fielding........................................................................13 Teaching the Mechanics: Throwing .....................................................................15 Teaching the Mechanics: Hitting..........................................................................18 Teaching the Mechanics: Baserunning.................................................................22 Managing a Teeball Team .....................................................................................23 Managing a Rookie Team......................................................................................25 Managing a Peewee Team .....................................................................................28 Managing a Minor Team .......................................................................................32 Managing a Major Team........................................................................................36 Suggested Drills / Games.......................................................................................39 Other Resources.....................................................................................................40 First Colony Little League Coaching Guide Page ii of 40 Updated on 1/20/2004 18:33 Purpose This document is intended to give FCLL managers and coaches detailed guidelines for communicating with players and parents, organizing practices, and setting a good example at games. It is ideal for the first-time manager, especially at the Teeball, Rookie, or Peewee level. If you have never coached/managed youth sports before, this is required reading. Even if you have coached kids before, please read this document to pick up new ideas and more effective strategies. This document explains how to: • Communicate with young kids in an effective, positive way • Instruct the mechanics of fielding, throwing, hitting, and baserunning • Be a good team leader at practices and games First Colony Little League Coaching Guide Page 3 of 40 Updated on 1/20/2004 18:33 Terminology In Little League, a team is led by a manager. The manager is usually known as “Coach Bob” or “Coach Johnson”. The manager is almost always a parent (usually a dad) of one of the players. The manager has other parents who serve as coaches. When this document uses the term “coach”, you can mentally substitute “coach/manager”. Both men and women can be excellent coaches. However, since the vast majority of Little League managers are men, we will use the terms he/him/his in this document. It is merely a simple convention and not intended as a slight against women coaches/managers. In addition, girls participate in Little League (more so in the younger ages), but we will use he/him/his to describe a player simply because the overwhelming number of players are boys. First Colony Little League Coaching Guide Page 4 of 40 Updated on 1/20/2004 18:33 Qualities of a Great Coach Being a coach/manager of a kids’ athletic team may be one of the most important jobs you’ll ever do. Just as an elementary school teacher teaches more than English and Math, you will teach more than how to play baseball. You will teach kids how to be responsible, work hard, delight in success, handle failure, and exercise good sportsmanship. Because you serve in such a prominent and important role, there is immense responsibility that comes with coaching/managing. Your behavior must, at all times, be of the highest standard. A great coach will: • Care about all the kids individually in his charge • Ensure player safety in all aspects of practices and games • Teach the rules and mechanics of baseball in a way that is correct and clearly understood • Foster a team environment by building camaraderie between the players • Understand his priorities and put his ego on the shelf • Earn a reputation among players, parents, and other coaches as a “great coach” • Have his kids return year after year, loving the game of baseball, and requesting to play on his team How does FCLL judge if the coach is great? ok? poor? Most of this judgment comes from parental feedback. Managers that have mixed-up priorities and out-of-control egos are recognized by the parents and other coaches. Managers that are great with all the kids (including the strong players and the weaker players), lift everyone’s game up, and conduct themselves with great character are recognized and respected by players, parents, and coaches. First Colony Little League constantly assesses the volunteer coaches and managers to make sure they are meeting the high standard the players deserve. First Colony Little League Coaching Guide Page 5 of 40 Updated on 1/20/2004 18:33 Manager Responsibilities In addition to his role as leader of his team, a manager must also be part of the overall “team” of First Colony Little League. The manager has responsibilities within the league. These include: • Attending league meetings such as the Coach’s Meeting in January • Attending coaching clinics and reading the FCLL Coaching Guide • Learning the rules of baseball, plus FCLL-specific rules as listed in the FCLL Handbook • Identifying a Coach of Record to assist during practices/games • Recruiting a team parent (“team mom”) to communicate with parents, coordinate snacks, pictures, fundraising, team party, etc. • Recruiting volunteers from the team to help at practice and games, such as base coaches, field coaches (in Teeball and Rookie), pitching machine “pitchers”, dugout monitors, umpires, etc. • Finding a team sponsor for the team (sometimes the league has enough sponsors that step forward, but it’s better when someone associated with the team will sponsor it) • Checking out the FCLL-supplied equipment, taking care of it throughout the season, and checking it back in to league officials at the end of the season • Attending Umpiring Clinics (esp. Peewee and older) • Helping umpire games in the Minor/Major divisions (or finding person(s) on the team willing to help umpire) • Staying informed about the status of games and any rescheduling • Communicating the proper code of conduct to the team’s coaches, players, and fans in order to prevent any problems during the season First Colony Little League Coaching Guide Page 6 of 40 Updated on 1/20/2004 18:33 Communicating With Players Even if a coach knows all there is to know about baseball, he cannot be effective unless he can communicate it effectively to his players. Here are some communication tips: 1. Remember that they are kids. You can’t expect to teach them the same way you might teach an adult. 2. Kids learn by seeing the right way, trying it, and being praised when they do it right (or at least doing it “more right”). 3. When talking with a kid one-on-one, always get down to his level by getting on your knees. If you need to talk to him individually, use a voice that only you and he can hear. 4. When giving correction on a skill, use the Oreo method. Say something positive as you arrive, give the correction, and say something positive as you leave. Example: “Brandon, man, you’ve got a strong arm! But you’re not getting all the power I know you can get. When you pull your arm back, don’t just stop at your head. Make your arm like an “L”. Get that ball back behind your head. See what I mean? OK, now try again, buddy. Let’s see that rocket arm!” 5. When addressing a discipline problem, it’s ok to use a firm DAD voice. “Put the bat down, now!”, “Stop climbing on the fence” “Cut it out. Don’t push in the line” are fine things to say to your team. Sometimes, all it takes is to say a player’s name firmly. Remind your team that you’re not just a coach, you’re also a dad (and expect to be listened to). They totally understand that when they are told to do something (or not to do something) that is related to their behavior, they must listen. Enforce discipline by having a kid sit out for a brief period. Yelling is not appropriate. 6. When talking with a group of kids, you have to get their attention first. Having them circle in front of you and “grab a knee” is an important part of team discipline. 7. During the first few practices, make part of that circle time a time for kids to learn/know