North Everett Little League: Coaches' Corner

1. Managers, coaches and umpires should have some training in first aid. First Aid Kit should be available at the field.
2. No games or practices should be when weather or field conditions are not good, particularly when lighting is inadequate.
3. Play area should be inspected frequently for holes, damage, stones, glass and other foreign objects.
4. Only players, managers, coaches and umpires are permitted on the playing field during play and practice sessions.
5. Responsibility for keeping bats and loose equipment off the field of play should be that of a player assigned for this purpose.
6. It is important to establish zones of defense to avoid collisions between players tracking fly balls. The responsible player should call out the intentions in a loud voice to warn others away. i.e (centerfielder has the right of way in the outfield, outfielders should have priority over infielders for fly balls hit between them, shortstop should call all balls reachable which are hit behind third base, second base should catch all balls reachable which are hit behind first base, third base should catch all balls which are reachable and are hit between third and the catcher, first base should catch all balls reachable which are hit between first and the catcher.)
7. Unsportsmanlike practice of crowding the plate or jumping around to rattle the pitcher must not be tolerated. This could endanger the batter if it causes the pitcher to lose control. Umpires should stop such actions.
8. During practice and games, all players should be alert and watching the batter on each pitch.
9. The stretching and contracting of muscles just before a game or practice will improve general control of movements, coordination and alertness.
10. During warm-up drills players should be spaced so that no one is endangered by wild throws or missed catches.
11. Base runners should be taught to run outside the foul line when going from home plate to first to reduce the chance of being hit by a thrown ball.
12. Equipment should be inspected regularly. Make sure it fits properly.
13. Batters must wear approved protective helmets during batting practice, as well as during games.
14. Development player ability to take evasive action on a wild pitch. Players with slow reflexes can also be helped by simulating batting and ducking practice with a tennis ball.
15. Catcher must wear catcher’s helmet, mask, throat protector, long model chest protector, shin guards and male catchers must wear a protective supporter at all times.
16. Head-first sliding has been eliminated for ages 12 and below, except for when returning to base.
17. During slide practice bases should not be strapped down (use break away bases)
18. At no time should “horse play” be permitted on the playing field.
19. Parents of players who wear glasses should be encouraged to provide “safety glasses.”
20. Players should not wear watches, rings, pins or other metallic items.
21. Catchers must wear catcher’s helmet and mask with a throat protector in warming up pitchers.

Mistake Ritual
Mistakes are a necessary part of learning and a part of all sports. Just ask Bill Buckner, who had a Hall of Fame calibre career but remains best known for an error in the 1986 World Series.
In youth baseball, of course, errors are even more common. Little League believes it is important to learn from mistakes. In fact, we use an acronym, ELM, to represent the three most-important values of a positive youth sports culture: Effort, Learning and bouncing back from Mistakes.

The Mistake Ritual helps a whole team bounce back from the initial disappointment of a mistake. One version is the “flushing” ritual, where players make the arm motion of flushing a toilet to “flush” the mistake out of their system and move on to the task at hand. Another version is the “no sweat” ritual, where players make the motion of wiping sweat from their foreheads and casting it aside.

These rituals are helpful even at the highest levels of baseball. California State University-Fullerton sports psychologist Ken Ravizza, a member of PCA’s National Advisory Board, introduced the flushing ritual to the Titans, which helped spur the team to a recent College World Series Championship!

Coaches should participate, as well, both to model behavior for the players and to reassure them the mistake really has been flushed. The mistake ritual can be a lot of fun for young players and it helps player and coaches succeed.