Virginia District 12: My Site News
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Want to be a Better All-Star Coach?
How to make a difference as a Little League All-Star Coach
First, remember the all-star season is not about you, the parents or the fans; it is all about the kids. You have a key role to play but don’t forget that the players are the only ones who can go out onto the field and make the plays.
Second, understand that things are going to happen that you have absolutely no control over. In many cases they impact how far your team advances. Don’t get distracted or stressed about the weather, umpires calls, the teams you have to face, the behavior of other teams and coaches, the fans, an injury to a key player or the behavior of the fans and parents. It takes away from what you need to be doing with the players on your team. Remember, to advance you need to be good but you also need to have a little luck on your side.
Third, as a coach you need focus on providing a positive experience for the players and at the same time set them up to compete in every game they play. Here are a few things that you are in control of and should focus on:
* Make sure every player knows that being selected is a real accomplishment and you are excited about having the opportunity to work with him or her.
* Share your expectations with the players and parents as soon as the team is formed.
* Put together a pre-game routine that you will use for every game, regardless of who you are playing, the location and the importance of the game. Having a standard pre-game helps settle your team down and will provide them with confidence to compete.
* Look for ways to set your players up for success in every ball game.
* Regardless of the circumstance or the outcome, make sure your players know you are always on their side.
* Strive to be a prefect role model, be calm and cool, your team cannot afford to be distracted by you or your behaviors. (You need to bat 1000 as a coach on this front .300 isn’t good enough).
* Coach the game with integrity. Never put your players, or the players on the other team in any embarrassing, or compromising situations. You need to have the highest standards for fair play and sportsmanship of any one on the diamond.
* Celebrate the accomplishments of your players every at-bat, in every inning and at every step of the way.
* Be the best cheerleader on the bench and find a way to stay positive regardless of the outcome.
* And most importantly have some fun along the way.
Sunday, July 5
Why Play Little League Baseball and Softball?
Why Play Little League Baseball and Softball?
Little League is operated under Federal Charter approved by the Congress of the United States of America and signed by the President of the United States of America. The overall Little League program is organized and promoted for the benefit of children and youth from five years old to 18 years old inclusively. It is the largest, organized program for youth sports in the world. Over 3,000,000 players, supported by more than 1,000,000 adult volunteers, participate annually in the Little League program. The program is adapted to the physical and mental development of children and youth at specifically designed age levels.
Operated by Chartered leagues in the local communities, the Little League program must emphasize and promote fun for the players, and personal safety for players, volunteers, and fans during practices and games. Adult volunteers are screened and carefully selected to ensure their appropriateness to provide leadership and assistance for and with children and youth. In District 12, a detailed safety plan, under a specific director, by authority of board of directors of the local league and Little League Baseball, Incorporated, is implemented annually for each local league. The safety plan helps to ensure that proper, approved, player equipment and activity, and field facilities are used for practices and games. With what is best for children and youth in mind, published, Little League policies, rules, regulations, and organization and operation of the local league are very carefully designed, and their proper applications is required.
While the Little League program is operated by Chartered leagues in local communities, it is emphatically overseen by Little League Baseball, Incorporated, with international headquarters in Williamsport, PA and regional headquarters worldwide. There are many good reasons for parents to enroll their children and youth in Little League baseball and softball. See Little League publications "What Parents in Little League Should Know", and "Prepare the Child For The Path ... Not The Path For The Child", and others (available at www.littleleague.org). Little League emphatically protects its good name! Play in the Little League program is for children and youth, regardless of their level of playing ability, race, creed, national orgin, gender, sexual preference or religious preference.
If your community is interested in chartering a Little League Baseball program, please contact me: Fred Corbett, District Administrator, District 12, Virginia at (540) 989-3417 or email at fred_corbett@prodigy.net