I am the coach of my son's little league baseball team. The kids are 7 and 8 and the game is 'coach pitch' with no score kept (the next level up after T-ball).  I know nothing about baseball coaching - any tips or resources for this age level? Besides team work, fun etc. - what should I be teaching them about the game at this level?
119348
i'm a little league coach for my little brother's team of 8-10 year olds. the whole fun thing is definitely important... also put a big emphasis on sportsmanship- the kids always have to cheer their teammates on, never make fun of the other kids, regardless of whether they're your opponents or teammates. respect the coaches!!, what the ump says goes... all that stuff. make sure the kids dont get stressed or tense. often they get nervous when they're up to bat and they're the main focus... also, avoid competition between players!! its a team game, and they have to be supportive and sportsmanlike... good luck!!
137197
Get some people (preferably older kids) and ask them to play t-ball in front of the little kids with a lot of enthusiasm as if it's the best game in the world. I learned that kids at that age, they're MUCH better at imitating than listening!
670548
go to any sporting goods store(i.e.-dicks, sports authority,dunhams and so on). get a baseball scorebook(some stores even have a softball scorebook). in the front of the book(or back) they give an easy step by step instructions on how to keep score. remember in softball you have 4 outfielders not 3 so the   positions in the oufield are left, left center, right center and right. most score booke have diagrams in them. good luck.\n\nmike
114818
In little league you only need one pitch.  That is a fastball.  Forget about the ohters.  The real art to being a successful little league pitcher is to throw strikes.  If you can throw 2 strikes out of every 3 pitches then you will do great.
214905
Practice with him. My dad starting teaching me how to play baseball as soon as I could walk. Right now I'm 13, I've played in two national tournaments and I am going to play in two more this year. My team is one of the best in Virginia, and its all because I started early. Also, I got a good hitting coach(rotational swing, never weight shifting. There are many people out there against rotational hitting, but its the best). But don't play with him so much that he gets burned out and bored of the game. That has happened to some of my friends and they were very talented. Also make sure he stays in shape.
238546
I think you should definitely handle this before it becomes negative. This guy obviously has potential to not be a good sport and interfere. To avoid conflict I would explain to him that yelling to the players is distracting, conflicting....etc. Just bull your way through calmly. If he does not understand that is is problem not yours as long as you are a good coach and handle him appropriately that is your only obligation. I wish you the best of luck in the situation. Plus my sons play softball and side line coaching is not allowed. The coaches are good guys they have a unwritten verbal rule "no side line coaching" I sometimes do not go by this. LOL but I just get a look and I know to sit down and shut up. But I still feel welcome and a team parent.
111576
each position has a number\n1. pitcher\n2. Catcher\n3. First Base\n4. Second Base\n5. Third Base\n6. Short stop\n7. Left Field\n8. Center Field\n9. Right Field \n10. is if there are 4 out fielders\n\nThe batters will be in the rows on a page\nThe columns on the page will display the inning.\n\nIn the First inning first batter you will use the top quare.\n\nIf he goes to first, draw a line from home to first in that box.  Same for second and so on.  If he scores make a complete diamond in that box and fill it in.\n\nMake sure the next inning you use the new column with the cordinating batter.\n\nIf a batter flies out to short stop write F6, stand for flew out to shortstop or (6).  IF the short stop picks up the ball and throughs it to first, it is a 6-3 out. (Short stop - First Base)  In the box of the out you may want to make it clear that there was and out by writing the 1,2, or 3 and Circle them, incase someone asks the outs.\n\nThere are many other statistics  the coach might want, but that should get  you started.
67846
go to a bookstore online or in person, get a book called "Nolan Ryans Pitchers' Bible". :) Read it religiously ;) a fantastic book written by the most unhittable pitcher in baseball history. he talks all about his training regimends.
666497
I don't think it should be allowed.  Little League is for kids trying to learn the game.  Getting beat by select teams over and over just discourages other kids and they end up quitting.  They should have a select league.  Your Little Leage president needs to be removed.
543216
sometims coaches are just assholes and only let thier favorites play, so if your not sucking him off then your not going to play.... but just try your hardest in practice and hustle all the time after loose balls, dive, dont be afraid to get scrapped up, and do the same with the little amount of playing time you may recive. and maybe if you show the coach your dedicated you might see yourself getting more time.
393927
Don't be too strict...don't let them run with the ball...but if they lift there pivit foot once don't sweat it...Let them touch each other but don't let them intentionally do it...if something is questionable let it slide...At that age the kids are just now learning the game...and calling every little thing won't help anything...all it'll do is make it a stop and go game...which no one will enjoy
577251
Evaluate your lineup and player attributes. Place the best contact hitters and speed runners near the top of the lineup and play small ball to score runs early. Be aggressive on the bases and try to steal often. Most pitchers won't expect it, or might make a bad throw to the base, either way you advance the runners. Teach the hitters to work the count and take pitches. Most pitchers will not get the ball over the plate everytime. You can get more walks and increase the pitch count on the opposition which will force them to go to the bullpen. Play the outfield deep so they can run toward the ball if it is hit shallow, it is much harder to run backwards and catch a pop fly. Teach pitchers two good pitches and make them stick with it. A decent breaking ball in would very difficult for most 16 yr old hitters to make contact with. Even if the breaking ball ends up in the dirt , they will swing. I could be more specific if you gave more detail on the team's weaknesses.
624166
In the end, everyone needs to remember that it is just a game.  That starts with the coaches and umpires.    The adults (parents included) set the precidence that the children will carry throughout their lives.   If the games are about fun and teamwork, that's what the kids will remember.   If it's purely about competition, then that's what the kids will remember.\n\nI didn't quite understand what you said about why the child was thrown out of the game, but to throw a 9-11 year old out of a game because they spoke out of place (whether they were right or wrong is inexcusable.)   As a coach, I would petition the league to not reinvite that particular umpire back to judge games.   This is supposed to be fun.   If the child pushed another child, or swung the bat at someone, or even did something to the umpire...that might warrant the child to be evicted from the game, but not speaking (unless vulgar profanity was being used).    There are rules that need to be enforced and we can't have anarchy on the field either, and you need to have an umpire that can distinguish what is appropriate and what is not.  \n\nI know as an umpire I wouldn't appreciate a 9-11 year old taunting me with the usual, "Get some glasses ump." stuff that you hear from the older kids and from the stands, but I wouldn't evict the child.   I might warn the child and the coach that I wouldn't tolerate it and the next time I'll make the kid sit out an inning or two.
206069
Ok I was a left-handed pitcher and just graduated after playing in college. The best source in baseball right now for pitching is Tom House. If you are really serious about becoming a good pitching coach you'd learn as much about him as possible -- buying one of his recent books is a great option. He is not only a former baseball pitcher / pitching coach, but also has a Phd in bio kinetics. He was Nolan Ryan's, Randy Johnson's, Curt Schilling's, etc. pitching coach. For quick refence I'll go over three things: mental aspect, mechanics, and drills. \n\n1. Mental aspect. Pitching is all mental. It is as much about confidence as anything. A good pitcher is not just talented physically but also understands a batter's stregnths and weaknesses and exploits them. He also follows these goals...\n\nA.Get ahead in the count (throw a first pitch strike)\nB.Get the first out of the inning (this takes away the opposing team's ability to play small-ball)\nC.When you get a hitter 0-2 change head or change feet. That means make them reach for a pitch off the plate or brush them back inside -- this choice will become more clear when you know the hitter.\nD. Never commit a cardinal sin of pitching (0-2 to 3-2 or even worse a walk, 0-2 hard contact -- they should never hit an 0-2 pitch hard if at all, lead-off walk)\nE. Pitch down in the zone and on the corners\nF. Have command of three pitches (i.e. fastball, breaking pitch, change-up)\nG. Know the how attributes of pitches rank (1. Location, 2. Movement, 3. Velocity -- don't try to overthrow the ball)\n\n2. Mechanics\n\nA. Have good posture and good balence (be over the center of gravity, pitch off your toes not your heels)\nB. Throw with equal and opposite (if front side is high back side is low)\nC. Stay in the box keep your front elbow between your shoulder and your hips at all times, don't pull it out of the that box on follow through -- it will move the release point)\nD. Keep your head still (1 inch of head movement moves release point 2 inches...something like that not positive)\nE. IMPORTANT Throw to your glove. Hold your front side glove out, push it closer to the plate, and aim it where you want the pitch to go. When you throw move your throwing arm to the mit. It is like a site on a gun. The front side (glove) is a muzzle, your arm is the bullet. Point the muzzle and direct the bullet to it. If you miss low push out farther with your front side. The farther you extend your front glove the closer you throw to the plate, which creates preceived velocity. A good drill for this is the Towel Drill.\nF. Step over the buck with your back foot when you follow through. \nG. When you throw a curveball you wrist should be at full pronation. When you throw the pitch you do a karate chop motion. Your fingers shoould be folded over the ball. \nH. When you throw a curveball hold it in your glove a second longer before you part your hands.\nI. Change-ups are thrown with full supination -- like a screwball. Drop your thumb to your hip -- set that angle and keep it, unless you do that the pitch will be ineffective and will hurt your arm. (a left handers thumb will be facing first base at release, a right hander will face third)\nJ. Pitches are more a matter of arm angle than grip. \n\n3. Drills \n\nA. Towel Drill -- Go through your motion with an 18-inch towel held with your middle finger 6 inches down. Mark off full extension and have a buddy hold out his glove there. Try to slap his glove with the towel. If you can, move your buddy back and try again. This will help extension and is also a good way to solidify mechanics without pitching a ball. \n\nB. Knees -- start each day throwing all your pitches from both knees (both knees on the ground). This should isolate the upper body and allow you to get a feel for your pitches and help solidify release point. \n\nC. Hat drill -- Take off your hat and put it about 15 feet in front of you. Have your buddy do the same. T
570579
Here's a link to some very informative fast pitch material which, in chart form, nicely presents situations for a pitcher and recommended pitch types and placement. I'm sorry, it is much too detailed to recap for you here, but I recommend that if you are serious about being an effective fast pitch chucker, you place the link in your favourites or print it out. ty.
675943
Getting hit by the ball is part of the job.  I ump for young kids, 12U.  I wear steel toe shoes, shin guards, and a chest protector (sometimes).  Tell this umpire that if he can't take it, he shouldn't ump.  The league should be notified too.  Also, the league should do more to encourage and train more umpires.
189460
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/scoring2.shtml\nhttp://www.baseball-almanac.com/scoring3.shtml\n\nthis is the best site to learn from, as i did\n\nThe Scorecard \nThe form appears complex but once examined makes perfect sense.\n\nInnings run across the top. Spaces for the player name along the side. There are extra spaces for pinch hitters and extra spaces for an extra inning game. Each grid, where the inning and player name meet, has a small diamond that represents the actual playing field. Spaces on the right side of the sheet are used for tracking the players final statistics at the end of the game.\n\nYou begin by filling in the players name using the team line-up. Use a second page to place the visiting team's line-up on a card. When each player comes to bat in an inning you fill in the small diamond with the appropriate code and actions taken.\n \n\n\nKnowing The Player Numbers \nThere may be many different methods of scoring and many different types of scorecards but there is only one player numbering system. You have probably heard the play-by-play announcer on television or radio call a play "6 to 4 to 3" then mention what a great infield and double play combination your favorite team has. He is using the following chart to describe the play and you should memorize this chart and be able to recall it as easy as you can recall your favorite players vitals.\n\n\n \n\n\nBasic Abbreviations \nAbbreviation  Definitions \n1B Single \n2B Double \n3B Triple \nBB Base on Balls \nBK Balk \nCS  Caught Stealing \nDP Double Play \nDH Designated Hitter \nE Error \nFC  Fielder's Choice \nFO Force-Out \nHBP Hit By Pitch \nHR Home Run \nI  Interference \nIW Intentional Walk \nK Strikeout \nPB Passed Ball \nSB Stolen Base \nSF Sacrifice Fly \nSH Sacrifice Hit \nWP Wild Pitch