Bats are a safety issue...
Keep all bats in one place on the field. Keep one parent there to
supervise at all times.
Equipment will be lost...
Tell parents to put players' last name and phone number on all
personal equipment (i.e. under the bill of the cap).
Buying a glove...
Find out which hand the player can throw most accurately
with. Buy a glove for the opposite hand. Reccommmend a
glove that closes easily.
Players do not know the field...
For very young players, run them around the bases before
each game.
Home plate is the most dangerous position...
With young players, you may choose to eliminate the catcher
position. Always have a coach with the catcher to guard
against the following:
Batter throwing the bat
Upcoming batters swinging the bat
Catcher being hurt by runner from third
Young players are unfamiliar with the game
Your least experienced players need your best effort.
Parent's who are impatient with their own children...
Compliment their knowledge of baseball, "I see you know a lot
about baseball." Then ask the parent to coach a specific
position other than where their child is playing.
Rubber balls are a great training tool...
Tell the parents and players to practice with a rubber ball at
home. Rubber balls are safer and rebound back to them.
Teach your parents some cheers...
Long game, hot day? Use the cheering parents to energize the
defensive players.
Plastic sleeve for your team roster...
Your copy will get a lot of wear and tear. You also need to keep
your copy dry.
Bats are a safety issue...
Keep all bats in one place on the field. Keep one parent there to
supervise at all times (repeated for emphasis).
Call it alligator catching...
Have the players put their glove down close to the ground for
grounders. Also, have them position the other hand on the
heel of the glove. Otherwise, the ball may pop up and hit the
player in the face.
Teach players to run through first base...
Position a coach five to ten feet behind first base, and just
outside the base line, to give each player a high five as they run
through.
Call the ball...
Teach players to call the ball while catching grounders; calling
grounders makes it easier to teach them to call fly balls later in
the season.
Use a longer base path if possible...
Fifty to 60 feet between bases gives the defensive players time
to get the ball and complete the play. A longer base path also
gives you more room to place extra players in defensive
positions.
Assume all batters are going to throw the bat...
Place an object (i.e. a bat bag) down the first base line. Instruct
all batters to carry the bat to that object and drop the bat at
that point.
Parents who are critical of your coaching skills...
Admit you could use more coaches to help the team. Ask them
to help at the next practice.
Batting tips...
Repeatedly say, “Watch the ball until the ball hits the bat.”
If the player squares up to the plate, the ball will be hit to first
base. Instruct the batter to move the lead foot back from the
plate so the ball is not hit towards first base for an easy out.
Keep all bats in one place on the field. Keep one parent by the
bats to supervise at all times.