Thank you for your interest in coaching!

First, some paperwork.

Rookie coach? No problem.

The number of rules, tactics, and details associated with baseball can seem overwhelming to someone who's never played or coached before. When should my team bunt? What's a cutoff man? What's a pitch count?

Rules vary by division and we have them all detailed here. The most important rules concern playing time and substitutions, because it's imperative that all kids get an equal opportunity to play. 

Little League also has several resources online for coaches and prospective coaches; their pitch count regulations overview is especially helpful for coaches in Double-A and above, where kids will be pitching. Little League also has these 8 tips for first-time coaches, many of which we've included here.

Whether you're starting at the basic, younger levels or jumping in with an older division, there are experienced coaches in Amesbury who can answer questions explain anything that doesn't make sense - just email us.

Building a positive mindset.

Baseball is hard, especially for young kids. Basic skills like hitting, catching, pitching, and throwing are difficult to learn for a lot of players. There's also a lot to remember and in-game decisions need to be quick. Mistakes are inevitable. That's a lot of pressure to put on young shoulders, which, if left unchecked, can drain the fun out of the game.

As a coach, you have the opportunity to turn those challenges into positive learning experiences your players will remember long after they're done playing Little League. 

Amesbury Little League has worked with the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) for years to help our coaches bring a positive framing to the Little League experience. The PCA is a great resource for coaches of all experience levels, but this short list of tips for the first-time coach is good place to start.

Practice is where it's at.

Games may get all the attention, but practice is really the core of the Little League experience. This is where your team connects and builds an identity, and where you have the opportunity teach, inspire, and have fun, especially at older levels where the games count and the pressure mounts.

For new coaches, however, the task of planning practices can seem daunting. You can make it easier on yourself through a few key principles:

• Build a routine. Start and end practice the same way every time. This can mean doing the same stretches and warm-ups at the beginning of practice and ending with a fun game, whatever works best for your group
• Don't overthink it. You may feel the need to come up with complicated drills or cover a lot of areas in a single practice. Do the opposite and pick 1-2 areas to focus on, and tell your team what they are so they're focused on them too.
• Keep the kids moving but give them breaks. The more small groups you can break into, the better, because it minimizes the time kids spend waiting for their turn. Less waiting equals more focus and more focus means less wrestling/daydreaming/infield sand castle building. But don't forget water breaks!
• Make it fun. Keep things light and fun during practice. Give your players nicknames or come up with funny chants. Mix in games and mini contests at the end, like seeing who can knock a baseball off a tee with a throw. 
• Focus on effort and attitude. At the end of each practice, make sure to acknowledge the kids who brought their A-level effort and showed good teamwork. 

Over-communicate.

Communication is key to a good season. Introduce yourself to the parents via email as soon as you have your roster in hand. Talk a little about your goals, coaching philosophy, and expectations for the season. Invite parents to volunteer, whether it's helping during practices and games or organizing a team pizza party. Let them know that you'd appreciate a head's up as early as possible if a player can't attend a practice or game. Be sure to explain that Little League is not a win-at-all-costs program, and that your responsibility is to develop players and for those players to have fun.

The same is true for your players. Many of these kids won't have any idea who you are when the season starts, so your goal from day one is to built trust and camaraderie with each individual player. In an age-appropriate way, let them know what you expect in terms of attitude, effort, and behavior on the field. Let them know what you're focused on and how you're going to help them during the season. And make sure they know that win or lose, success or failure, you're all there to have a good time.

It’s good practice to put team rules in writing for players and parents. Be sure to list all important subjects so everyone is on the same page. Explain what time you want players at the field pre-game, proper uniform appearance (jerseys tucked in), your philosophy about food in the dugout, and the importance of sportsmanship toward umpires, opposing players, and teammates.

There are no dumb questions!

As your first game approaches, reach out to League Board members and fellow coaches to answer any questions you may have. You’ve probably been so focused on practicing and developing your players that you may not have thought about how to fill out and submit pitch counts, when to clear the field when a storm is approaching, and is the home or visiting team responsible for field prep before the game or tidying up post-game.

Games

Remember to have fun! Do not get overly caught-up in winning or losing. Your main responsibility is to provide an environment and level of instruction that will develop your Little Leaguers not just on the field, but off the field as well. Recognize solid play and good effort or attitude, and take note of areas to work on in subsequent practices. 

Questions? Email us!