This summer, I'll be helping to coach my nephews Little League team (ages 10-12). Does anyone have any good tips on: how to conduct a productive/fun practice, dealing with the players (and parents), etc.? This will be my first attempt at "coaching" at any level. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
2007-03-12 14:37:19 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
I've been there and I also have attended the Al & Al weekend clinics and highly recommend their clinics and their videos.
Get in touch w/ LL inc and see if you can find one in your area.
I have a rule that no pitcher will pitch more than 2 innings period end of story . LL pitchers tend to have high pitch counts - like 30+ per inning because a lot of kids are encouraged to get walks rather than swing away and umpires won't expand the strike zone.
One of the nice things about the 2 inning rule is that it really cleans up your paper work. You can almost do all the pitching changes and line-up switches before the game.
If a kid is really getting hit hard out there ask him if he wants to come out if he says no ,leave him in. I have actually had that conversation and my thinking was that if he can stand it, well so can I.
It is so destructive for a kids ego to be yanked out of a game.
Encourage your kids to hit. Teach them how to bunt.
Never let a kid throw a curveball , change ups are even questionable -fastballs only is the prefered philosophy
Get parental involvement for your skills drills
because if you have enough adult supervision this scenario is possibe:
I5 kids 6 coaches 5 skill stations and 10 minutes per station,
That means that 3 kids and 1 coach are doing one skill for 10 minutes.Nobody will have time to get bored and quite honestly if you're doing it with 3 kids it can be quite a bit of a work -out
One more thing; all baseball fields have a white line, make the parents understand that when their child steps across that line he's your player first and their child second.
Above all make sure that you and your players have fun.
Baseball can humble the most mighty of players because unlike other sports that allow players to hide their mistakes in a tangle of bodies baseball gives you nowhere to hide. The whole world sees your mistakes.
So when one of your kid makes one of those inevitable mistakes the last thing he needs is for you to be critical. Be nice
2007-03-12 15:42:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
RELAX....trust your best instincts & most important....have FUN !!
More specifically , keep practices fun, but maintain some basic discipline. As Cal Ripken Sr once said , "Practice doesn't make perfect...PERFECT practice makes perfect!!" Allow some of the less talented players to try out some new things during practice to keep them involved & hopeful. In addition you might just uncover some talent!!
Decide early on in your heart of hearts if you are concerned w winning (based on talent you have) or if the focus is more on fun, learning baseball, & teamwork/sportsmanship.
I usually make clear early on that those who practice consistently will get priority regarding playing time.
Encourage parents to be involved. As members of your coaching team if you wish, but that YOU are the coach, & that any questions/suggestions , while welcomed, should not be offered in front of the kids.
Just remember through it all that baseball is FUN & you should be having fun too!! Good Luck!!
2007-03-12 14:42:07 · answer #2 · answered by SantaBud 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2007-03-12 14:46:54 · answer #3 · answered by cubcowboysgirl 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
a big one is to not be intimidating or an as*hole. if u do that they will be scared and afraid of doing poorly. thats the most important thing. another is to put your main focus on hitting. if you have a good hitting team in LL your team will dominate. and the third is to never leave one or 2 kids on the bench. their parents get pis*ed and they feel bad. you come out looking like the bad guy. NEVER SHOW FAVORATISM!!!
even tho u will have the kids u wanna play all the time.
2007-03-12 15:02:44 · answer #4 · answered by simkvn64 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Simple practices with batting and fielding. Don't do anything over the top. These kids need to know the basics only. Make it enjoyable for them. You will be able to see who is developing quicker than others, but treat them all the same. FUN is what they should be having.
2007-03-13 10:28:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
pointers time league coach
2016-02-01 05:41:45 · answer #6 · answered by Janean 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1-Get your guys as much batting practice as possible with an emphasis on just making contact
2-Teach them to watch the ball all the way into their glove and all the way into the strike zone
3-Teach them to stay in front of the ball at all costs. It cuts down on opposing runners taking extra bases on errors
4-Your best glove men should be at short and at first
5-Your best arm should be at third
6-Don't let your pitchers get too "cute" with what type of pitches they throw. They just need to throw strikes, plus young arms can get damaged if they start throwing curves and sliders too soon. Teach them a change-up and a sinker in addition to a fastball.
Good luck and just try to have fun.
2007-03-12 17:04:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Discipline!!! and always praise every single kid for their effort, that will give tthem more confidence to learn more and do better. Never get so angry that you lose control.
2007-03-12 15:41:38 · answer #8 · answered by Txbellcowgirl 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Watch kicking & screaming and do the same thing, bat the most productive kids 3rd and 4th
2007-03-12 14:43:11 · answer #9 · answered by christian m 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
what every kid needs to know a practice all the time is FUNDAMENTALS!! look at Japan and Korea in the WBC
2007-03-13 05:24:11 · answer #10 · answered by jjddbbjr 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋