Burnsville Athletic Club In-House Baseball Coaches Meeting

1. Burnsville Athletic ClubIn-House Baseball Coaches Meeting March 13, 2013

2. Team Structure • Head Coach • Assistant Coach • Team Manager • Players • Parents

3. Rookie Coach 1988

4. Head Coach • Commits to the Team • Ensure availability for most practices and games • Sets practice schedule/structure • Instills philosophy of game to coaches/players • Communicates to parents • Background checks/Concussion testing

5. Coaching Tree

6. Assistant Coaches • Commits to the Team • Coordinate with other assistants so that Head Coach always has help at practices • Commits to being at most games/practices • Has an understanding of the game and can teach young ballplayers the fundamentals with patience.

7. Team Manager • Calling Tree/E-mail List • Picture Day • Treat List • Relays information from Coach to parents • Team party or other fun events

8. Players • Have fun • Learn the game • Learn sportsmanship, work ethic, and teamwork

9. All Levels - Parents • Communicate more, not less • Plan a start of the season meeting where you: • Hand out contact info for coaches/players • Agree on method of communication • Request parents contact coach for missed practices and games. Repeated missed practices can result in limited playing time(contact league director) • Players need to have a fun, positive experience. 75% of players will not be playing after age 13, and we want to encourage players to come back

10. Parents – During the Season • Address discipline with players privately, involving parents where need be • Head Coach is responsible for the Parents! • Individual parent complaints – address as quickly as possible, in private. If you feel a situation is developing, do not hesitate contacting the League Director.

11. Practices • Minimum one practice per week, practice prior to a game does not count. • Start of practice talk – what will we do today • Team run or warm up drill • Break up into stations, keep kids moving • Work on one skill in each station per day-rotate • End of practice talk; what did we learn today • Drills

12. Mites • Position in the field – Infield/outfield, BAC allows an extra outfielder. Proper location for each position • Throwing the ball – Proper mechanics/form and proper grip on the ball • Hitting the ball – proper mechanics/form, stance is important at this level • Fielding the ball – ready position, proper form • Running – Which base to run to, when you can run, and base coach responsibilities.

13. Game Time!

14. Game Structure • Line-up and Fielding Order • Done before game time, ensure rotation is followed with infield/outfield and sitting time • Fielding Safety – 1st base and pitching, two positions where players are likely to get hard hit and thrown balls. • Batting Order – rotating order or continuous from game to game

15. Game Structure - Coaches • Base Coaches – Know the rules for advancing runners • Bench Coach – Keep batting order, ensure players are ready to hit(on deck), keep order on the bench • Pitching Coach – Make sure they can throw strikes • Head Coach -Keep the game moving by having players(defense, catcher) ready. Keep your cool, set an example.

16. Game Structure - Mites • Liberal player rotation • Resist temptation to allow better players to play only premium positions • Safety of players at pitch and first positions • Mites play 4 players in the outfield • Pre K/K gets 5 pitches and then an option to hit from the tee.

17. Squirts • Keeping Score • 8 runs per inning maximum • Can stop game after 5 innings, coaches should meet to agree on score in case both coaches agree to play the 6th inning • Report scores ASAP • Player Pitch 2nd half of season

18. Squirts -Rotation in the Field • Players must play 4 innings, 1 in the infield, and catcher does not count • Squirts is a developmental league, it is important that players are given the opportunity to play all positions. Try not to “hide” kids or keep better players at the better positions • Pitch, 1st – Safety of fielders

19. Add PDF for player rotation

20. Squirts – Base Running • Players can’t leadoff until ball is hit • Base coaches must be aware of advancement rules • Try NOT to “run” kids in situations that take advantage of weaker fielders/throwers • No runners allowed to advance once ball is in control of the infielder and “in the base lines”

21. Squirts - Coach Pitch • Distance is 35’ and should be measured prior to game and a line drawn. Exception for kids who have a hard time hitting the ball, discussed in the pregame meeting with the other coach • Batters encouraged to be aggressive • Coach/Pitcher must be able to throw strikes consistently. No coaching of batters while ball is on the way.

22. Rain Out Procedure -All Age Levels • Rain Out Procedure • Head coach responsible for checking field • Contact visiting coach to discuss field conditions • Voicemail/e-mail is not considered good contact for postponement of games • Reschedule game as soon as possible, this is the responsibility of the home team. Contact the league director if you are the visiting coach and are having trouble getting a game rescheduled

23. Squirts - Umpires • Umpires at this level are 1st year umps • Allow the umps to make the calls • Try to discuss calls between innings • No intimidating umpires, in a couple of years this may be your child wearing the blue shirt!

24. Coaching - Conclusion • HAVE FUN • Be a Mentor – the kids will remember you for years to come, and the positive lessons you teach them go well beyond winning and losing. • Teach sportsmanship in losing and humility in winning • Your job is to create ballplayers and memories