How to Manage Little League Baseball

Managing a Little League baseball team is a great challenge and responsibility. You are helping young people get introduced to the game. You want them to learn the game and you want them to enjoy themselves. You have a responsibility to the parents of the children to manage them fairly and to give them all a chance to learn the game and improve. You are there for the kids and not to show your peers how great a manager you are by putting together a winning record.

Instructions

    • 1

      Introduce yourself to the players on your team on the first day of practice. Tell them about yourself and why you are managing. Tell the players your goals: Teaching baseball and helping your players enjoy the game. Then ask the players to introduce themselves. In addition to giving their name, ask them who their favorite major league baseball team is and what their favorite food is.

    • 2

      Have your first practice. Teach the fundamentals of the game. Teach them the proper form to catch a baseball and to throw a baseball. Hit grounders to your infielders and tell them to get in front of the ball and not go after it from the side. Teach them to bring the ball up by their ear when they throw the ball. Step towards the target and then deliver the ball.

    • 3

      Communicate with the parents. Let them know what the practice schedule is and when the games will be played. Tell them your procedures for cancelling games and practices due to inclement weather. Use email to communicate with your players' parents and your assistant coaches.

    • 4

      Make practice fun. Have drills in which players want to participate. Encourage them and don't berate them. If a young player is looking at a passing airplane or train, remind them to refocus on the practice. Take your players into the batting cages and throw them batting practice pitches. Help them with their swing with simple and straight forward instruction. Stay calm and help them to improve.

    • 5

      Make out your lineup for games. Winning is not the most important thing, but learning to compete and doing the best you can to help them win is fine. Don't do this by sticking the worst players on the bench and letting the best players pitch and catch every inning. Give your players a chance to compete. Don't put a player in a position where he may not be able to protect himself. A 9-year-old player who can't catch the ball should not be put at first base. It may be too dangerous and you have to look out for your players' safety.