RAAA In-House Baseball 2019 Coaches’ Briefing

RAAA In-House Baseball2019 Coaches’ Briefing Matt Norris, Program Director Tyler Young, Rules & Umpires Director and Coordinator

Agenda • Rules • Weather Cancellations • Behavior • Field Boxes & Equipment Care • Coaching Resources • Pitching Machines – 2nd Grade

Send all questions and feedback on rules to RAAARules@gmail.com

Rules: Introduction • Rules are rules, not guidelines • Follow them to the letter • Don’t confuse ball players, coaches or umpires • Give us your feedback • 3 levels, allowing for age-appropriate options • Minors (Pre-K through 2nd grade) • Intermediate (3rd and 4/5th) • Majors (6/7/8th)

Pre-game Conference • Both coaches • Before every game • Review ground rules • Set expectations • Shake hands

Rules: Highlights • Pre-K & K game start and stop times • 30-40min practice followed by a 45min game • During school year: Start at 6pm, end by 7:15pm • After school year: Start at 6pm, end by 7:30pm • 1st and 2nd Grade games Start at 6pm and end by 7:30pm for the entire season

Rules: Highlights • Number of fielders • Pre-K, K and 1st Grade: 10+ • 2nd Grade: 9 • 1st and 2nd Grade games: Start at 6pm and end by 7:30pm all season • 2nd Grade: No longer having an end of the year tournament, so there is no need to report scores

Rules: Highlights • Batting • Pre-K, K and 1st Grade: Once through the batting order, regardless of outs (when they are out, have them sit) • 2nd Grade: 3 outs or once through the batting order, whichever comes first • Coaches announce when last batter is up • Uneven number of players: one team has 11, one team has 9. Team with nine bats 2 extra batters each inning. Batting order must be continuous.

Rules: 2nd Grade Fielding Matrix Coach must utilize a fielding matrix. See league fielding matrix on the RAAA website under “Player Rotations (Fielding and Round-robin batting”). Click here for the In-House Baseball website. All players will rotate through all positions, with the exception of Pitcher, Catcher & First Base. Coach may use discretion on not allowing a player to play these three positions if deemed unsafe. Coach should explain the decision to the player & his parents. Each of these players may not play the same position for more than one inning and may not play consecutive innings at those three positions. Coach may NOT utilize the same players at these three positions and must follow the example on the next slide.

Rules: 2nd Grade Fielding Example Johnny is playing first, Joey is catching and Jimmy is playing pitcher in the first inning. The rest of the game Johnny is not allowed to play first, Joey cannot play catcher and Jimmy is not allowed to play pitcher. The second inning Johnny, Joey and Jimmy are not allowed to play at any of those three positions. In the third inning, they may play one of the positions that they did not play during the first inning. The fourth inning they would not be allowed to play any of those three positions and the fifth inning they could play the one position that they have not yet played.

Pitching – 2nd Grade • Machine-pitch all season • Coach-pitch only if both teams’ machines are not working • No kid-pitch • Develop pitchers at practice, to prepare them next-level play

Weather Cancellations • RAAA In-House Baseball will now cancel program wide for inclement weather • A mass email will be sent out as well as current updates across our social media accounts. Our aim is to have a decision and communication out by 4:30 if possible • Individual fields may still have unplayable conditions that force coaches to cancel, even if the program doesn’t cancel

Behavior • We do this for the kids, not ourselves • Kids will act as you act; be a role model • Be a “Double Goal Coach” • Strive to win • Teach life lessons • Coaches are responsible for players & parents • Report incidents to Program Director within 24 hours: inhouse-baseball@rosemount-aaa.org

Field Boxes & Equipment • Investment in new field boxes & equipment • Combo locks on yellow field box • Front panel, below handle to open the box • Combo is 2018 • Help us keep registration costs low: • Always lock the field box when you leave; check to ensure the lock is locked; spin the combo • Tees: • Make use of them, regardless of age group • Collapse fully and gently place in field box • Do not set anything on top of tees • Ensure you have all team equipment in your bag before you leave • If you find equipment left behind, lock it in the box when you leave and contact the program director to find the owner

Coaching Priorities

Interact with Parents • Introduce yourself • Tell them your goals for the team • Set your expectations of them • Ask for help at practices / games

Develop ALL of Your Players • Find one thing to develop for each player • Equal practice time • Use fielding matrix • Develop pitchers

Make a Practice Plan • Do this before practice • Stick to it • 3-5 skills/drill per practice • Split teams into manageable groups • Resources • Coach Swansson’s sheet – test your players • Our website: http://rosemount-aaa.org/program/inhouse-baseball/ • YouTube • Other coaches

Sample Practice Plan 1 • Warm up (stretches, throwing progression) • Run to burn off energy (game/race) • Split into 3-4 groups and rotate • Hitting drill • Fielding drill • Pitching drill • Sliding drill • Situations on the infield with runners • End the practice with something FUN!

Sample Practice Plan 2 • Warm up (stretches, throwing progression) • Run to burn off energy (game/race) • Verbal Instruction (topics vary, but keep short and interesting) • Fundamental drills, in stations when possible • Focus on key skills of hitting, throwing, catching • Try to get a lot of reps, and make games of it • Game simulation activities with hitters/runners • Coaching comments and motivation

Practice Plan Takeaways • Work on core baseball skills • Do some one-on-one coaching • Keep all the kids moving and engaged • DO NOT have one kid with a bat and the rest of the team in the field • Use your coaches and parents

Pitching Machine2nd Grade

Pitching Machine: Background & Use • Began in 2015 based on feedback on 2nd Grade player pitching experiences • Each team will be issued a machine to use • Game use • 3 strikes per hitter (most pitches will be strikes) • Home team provides the machine for the game • Visitor team machine should be used as backup • Coach-pitch only if both machines aren’t working • If both machines are not working, contact Program Director to assure they are repaired as soon as possible

Pitching Machine: Set Up • Set up the machine 40 feet from the back point of home plate • Use at least 2 or 3 practice pitches to line up with home plate • Use the provided spikes to help anchor the machine after it is placed properly • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd5Y0h5tHdw

Pitching Machine: Settings • Use these settings to start: • Use diagram on the top shield of machine • Setting 4 on tension spring (C) • Setting 4 on release block (B) • Setting 3 on throwing arm for pitch height (A) • Use the micro adjustment on arm to fine tune • Try to keep pitches flat across 40 feet • If you have issues, please let us know

THANK YOU FOR COACHING!ENJOY THE SEASON! Questions on Rules: RAAARules@gmail.com

RAAA In-House Baseball 2019 Coaches’ Briefing