The Little League Coach

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I received an email today from our Umpire in Chief . He was commenting on the spectator’s perspective. Here is his observation:

"You see that crowd over there, they REALLY want the outcome on a play to be one way. And that crowd of people over there, they REALLY believe what they’re about to see is going to have a completely different result. In a way they’re all predisposed to believing what they see, before the play even happens.

Now me, as I don’t care either way who scores the most runs, I may just be the best judge of things out there - good angle, bad angle or no angle at all"!

How true is that observation? So often we see managers, coaches, and spectators questioning umpire’s calls. Why? If you don’t dwell on a bad call, it will quickly be in the past and as you move forward, it will not really even be an issue in the game.

I have noticed a continued lack of respect for authority. Check out #2 on a softball blog I found. He provides an interesting insight to the spectators chastising of the umpires. Besides his perspective, what are we teaching the kids? Why are we surprised when they disrespect all levels of authority when they are older? Why are we surprised so many kids get in so much trouble any more? Might we all want to look in the mirror?

Everyone needs a moan and grown every now and then, but constantly abusing the umpires is ridiculous!

How will we ever find umpires if this is how they are treated? How will we ever raise leaders if they are not taught respect?

Do you have any bad spectator or manager stories to share?

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• Don’t Like What You See on the Field?
• Not as Good as We Thought We Were
• Power in Numbers
• Thank You Little League Moms!
• Playing Time
• Taking Soft Toss to Another Level
• Season Over Finally!
• Wood vs. Aluminum/Composite/etc. Debate
• Worry About Your Own Team, not the Other One
• 2008 Chevy Tahoe Raffle

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I have one of the most incredible wives in the world! First, she has to put up w/ me, that is a feat in and of itself! But she is very understanding of my time away from the house, almost every night! For that, I owe her more than I could ever give her!

That said, our 18th anniversary is coming up June 2nd. Wow, that is a long time! Seems like it was just yesterday I was anticipating the big day! I want to do something special for her. Anyone have any ideas? If I pick your idea I will give you a free link back to your site for 1 year! What should I do?

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• A Typical Long Saturday
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I will admit it. I had every ozzy album, every sabbath album, and I loved "the Ozbourne’s" TV show. Some of the greatest music ever created! No doubt about it. But the guy is nuts! Of course we all knew that.

On my way into my day job today I was listening to Mike and Mike in the morning on ESPN . They were playing the worst renditions of the song "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at Wrigley field. I was shocked at Ozzy’s! You will be too!

Click here to watch it on Utube.

Unbelievable!

Anyone have any other great renditions of this song?

Related posts that may interest you:

• An Umpire’s Viewpoint
• NBC Improv Everywhere Invades Lugnuts and Mudcats
• Thank You Little League Moms!
• Playing Time
• Don’t Like What You See on the Field?
• Taking Soft Toss to Another Level
• Season Over Finally!
• Wood vs. Aluminum/Composite/etc. Debate
• Worry About Your Own Team, not the Other One
• Quick Play Drill

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The Three B’s

I learned this from my assistant coach this year, he learned it from his travel coach. On defense, you need to take care of the three B’s! They are:

B1 - Ball
B2 - Bag
B3 - Backup

The Application

What does this mean? It makes total sense. First you have to catch the ball, second you get the bag, third you backup. The practical application of this is very cool.

With a perfect throw, they really don’t come into play. But when the throw is off line, you must leave the bag and take care of the ball first. If you still have time to cover the bag so be it, but take care of the ball first. Of course, you should always be backing up.

The Process

On every play, each player should make this three step decision process . First they should go for the ball, if they have no play on the ball, they should go to their appropriate bag, if they have no bag to cover, they should backup.

How great is that???!!!!

We are using this on all our teams now and the kids understand the simplicity of it and react appropriately.

You are never too old to learn a new trick!

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This is a great video where NBC Improv Everywhere shows up at a game between the Lugnuts and the Mudcats. The players have no idea and it turns out to be the best game ever and certainly a lifelong memory. Complete w/ Jim Gray play by play and an NBC Broadcast truck! And yes, that is the GOODYEAR BLIMP!!!!!

How cool is this?

Click here to view the video on utube.

Do you have any cool video to submit?

Related posts that may interest you:

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• Thank You Little League Moms!
• Playing Time
• Don’t Like What You See on the Field?
• Taking Soft Toss to Another Level
• Season Over Finally!
• Wood vs. Aluminum/Composite/etc. Debate
• Worry About Your Own Team, not the Other One
• Quick Play Drill

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There are not enough kudos to send out to the Little League Mom. She sometimes works all day, runs home and gets dinner on the table, gets the kids to their games an hour early for batting practice and cheers as if she isn’t tired all night long.

Uniform coordination, coaching assistance, team mom, party organizer, domestic planner, they are often the unseen heroes, and sometimes on the front line. They tirelessly work concessions, console strike out victims, provide first aid for skinned knees and bruises, and offer encouragement in the face of discouragement.

A true Little League mom knows the difference between and injury and a little pain from getting beaned. "Get down there", "Get over it", is often heard from the stands, but the same voice consoles truly upset Little Leaguers.

I know at my house my Little League mom has 4 uniforms, 3 coaching shirts, and 3 practice shirts to keep track of. She has to make sure umpiring clothes and jock straps are laundered and ready to provide protection! Socks, belts, pants, underarmour, cleats, bat bags, hats, everything ready to go. Dinner ready at 5, coach in and out in five minutes at 5:15. It is a mad rush at our house every night. Snack bar duty, snack night for the kids, birthday parties to plan, attend and buy for, school events to keep track of, grades to keep up with, homework to manage, showers and in bed late every night, and up early the next morning to do it all over again!

Wow, I had a glimpse at her job today as I helped w/ everything I usually don’t attend too. An SHE CAN HAVE IT! I have no idea how she does it, I am only thankful she is so good at it!

Thank you to My Little League Wife and All of the Little League Moms and Wives around the world! You are the true driving force behind our success.

Anyone know a great Little League Mom? Give her props here!

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• Take the High Road
• Season Over Finally!
• Worry About Your Own Team, not the Other One
• Right Field/Key Attributes

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Fire Play

One of my most favorite plays is the "fire play". It is simple, and most teams use some variation of it, but calling and utilizing it as the "fire play" makes it simple to communicate w/ the players involved immediately.

What is the "fire play"? Very simply it is when the right fielder throws to first to retire the batter . The ole’ 9-3 out so rare but so exciting. Why do we call it the "fire play"? Because as the right fielder is approaching the ball, we can yell "fire, fire, fire, fire!" and then he can focus on fielding the ball. He doesn’t have to look up and make a decision thereby giving the runner an extra step.

The fire play is almost always close, so it is important to take every last inch away from the batter. Yelling to the fielder helps, having a first baseman w/ a good stretch helps also.

Catcher Backs Up

Finally, the catcher HAS to back up the fire play. He should run down the line and get in behind the first baseman in line w/ the throw. Quite often you will get a cheap out at second because the runners instinct is to immediately take off for second.

Do you have any cool plays you use? Let us know!

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• Get Throws Down at the Knees
• Variation of the Around the Horn Drill
• Take the High Road

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People Appreciate Your Efforts

Those of us who volunteer countless hours need to be reminded occasionally that giving truly does give back at least 10-fold. This sounds slightly religious, or even a bit trite, but it is a fact. Why is this? Because people appreciate your efforts!

How do They Reward You?

How many leads have you gotten from your volunteer hours? How many times has someone informed you of a job opportunity? How about when you donate to a charity run or dinner and show up there. What does that do for your personally or professionally?

At work, if you are polite and help someone in need, don’t they always go out of their way to help you out for the rest of the time you or they work there and beyond? How often does that tiny effort lead to a lifelong friendship?

The old saying you can get more flies w/ honey than spice is very true. How many times when you were younger did your volunteer hours lead to social invitations? Dates? Etc.

Always Be Giving

We need to make sure that we are always trying to give something to somebody. The "pay it forward " scenario really works, use it! You will see. Miserable people seem to bring more misery to themselves, happy giving people seem to always have someone helping them that they can count on.

Thank you for everything you do. You will be rewarded.

Know of someone that deserves special notice? Let us know about them!

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• Taking Soft Toss to Another Level
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• Get Throws Down at the Knees

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Inclusive

Little League is inclusive. You don’t have to try out to get into the league , only to balance the talent among the teams. Anyone that signs up gets to play! That said, back in the olden days when I was playing, there were no minimum play rules. In fact, there were no reentry rules! Once you were out, you were out.

I also started playing as a 9 Year Old. There was no minors program, there were no developmental or t-ball programs either. The fact is that playing time in Little League has increased astronomically.

Earn Your Position

That said, this isn’t "feel good league", it is Little League. You have to earn your position on your team in the Major ’s. This is NOT a bad thing! This is a great life lesson . How many times have you thought Jimmy was going to be the shortstop but Johnny beat him out. Then Johnny worked real hard and won the spot back. What was the result? Two great shortstops!

Regulation IV (i) in the Little League rulebook requires that "every player on a team roster will participate in each game for a minimum of six (6) defensive outs and bat at least one (1) time."

In minors this year for the first time consecutive batting orders are mandatory. Many leagues already did this, but now it is the rule. The minimum play times in regulation IV still apply, but free substitution is now permitted on defense. Our league made a local rule that no player in minors may sit for more than three consecutive outs thereby guaranteeing that a kid in minors will play every other inning at a minimum.

What if Your Kid Isn’t Playing Enough?

What if you think your kid is not playing enough but is playing the league minimums? The board of directors has no choice but to hear your concerns, graciously console you, and then inform you that the manager is within their rights to manage the team as they see fit. As long as Jimmy is playing the minimum, there is nothing the board can or will do.

Now what to do? Some would be tempted to "take their ball and go home" and this reaction is understandable. But what are we teaching our kids if we allow them or even encourage them to do that? Wouldn’t it be better to take Jimmy to the field and work him out? Make it impossible for the coach to keep him out of the game? How about encouraging him to support his teammates? Stepping up as a moral leader?

There are so many valuable lessons to be learned in Little League. One of the most valuable is that you don’t always get your way, or what you want. You do what is best for the team and respect your manager’s decisions. Likely you are young or inexperienced if you are playing league minimums. Your time will come. Look up to the others, try to emulate them, try to make yourself better, and do everything in your power to improve.

Or you can take your ball and go home, another life lesson?

There is a kid waiting in minors that would consider it an honor to play 6 outs and bat once in the Majors.

How do you keep kids motivated that only play minimums?

Related posts that may interest you:

• Thank You Little League Moms!
• Little League Bulletin MAJOR All Star Rules Changes
• Power in Numbers
• Wood vs. Aluminum/Composite/etc. Debate
• 2008 Chevy Tahoe Raffle
• Don’t Like What You See on the Field?
• Right Field/Key Attributes
• Shortstop/Key Attributes
• Pitcher/Key Attributes
• Not as Good as We Thought We Were

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Two Perspectives

I have to wonder what happened to fun. I watched today as two people had the exact same task to accomplish. One got angry cussed and complained, the other smiled and went about his business. I asked the happy guy what was wrong w/ the angry guy and he said, "I don’t know, just how he is". Then he went on to say, "I don’t get angry, it’s not worth it, life is too short".

WOW

Life Changing Moment

I have to admit, that since my accident , I have had the same attitude towards life. Once you have driven 80MPH upside down on the interstate, it puts life into perspective. I used to make fun of people that said that, but now I understand what they meant.

Today, as I waited in bumper to bumper traffic on my way home, I got that sick feeling I now get every time I approach an accident scene. Again, I used to be the guy that said, "if we have to wait this long in traffic, I want to see some mangled cars!". I no longer think that way at all. As I approach accidents now I find myself tense and eager not to see anything serious. I pray and hope that all is well with everyone involved.

Not So Lucky

Today, I was not so lucky. I knew it was a bad one because traffic was extra slow. When I finally reached the scene, it was pretty much cleaned up. But there was one of those superfast crotchrocket motorcyles in the emergency lane . Or at least half of it. The front half was missing. I can only imagine where the rider is. I am fairly certain he has met his maker. This makes me ill thinking about it. Likely somebody’s young son.

Rumblings in the League

About this time of the year, there start to be a few complaints in the league. They are usually silly, but sometimes legitimate. The fact is, we should thank our lucky stars that there but for the grace of God it is not us dead on the interstate. I know for a fact, it could easily be me!

That said, why would we argue constantly on the field, with our coaches, with manager, with other team’s parents, with co-workers, with bosses? Is it really worth it? Or, as my buddy said today, Is life just too short to be miserable? What ever happened to good old fashioned fun?

What do you think?

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• Practice Ending Throw Around
• Opening Day a Huge Success!

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