Throwing the Ball - West Seattle Little League

[pic] WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE
COACHES MANUAL Table of Contents TAB 1: General & Reference Information 4
League Guiding Principles 4
Coaches' Responsibilities 5
General League Policies and Procedures 10
Equipment Information 10
Private Clinics / Private Batting Cages or Field Policy 10
West Seattle Little League Code of Conduct 11
Fan Behavior/Etiquette 12
Field Etiquette 12
Protest Filing 13
Other Violations 13
West Seattle LL Alcohol, Tobacco and Weapons Policy 13
Safety 14
General Safety Rules for Coaches and Managers 14
Accident Reporting Procedures 15
Seattle Police Department 15
Important First Aid Do's and Don'ts 17
General Health of Athletes 18
Coaching Resources 19
Coaches/Players Conventions, Seminars and Associations 19
Books 19
Videos/DVDs 20
Advanced Baseball Books & Manuals 20
TAB 2: Coaches Guide 22
Introduction 22
Your Overall Goal 22
Some Fundamentals to Remember 22
Getting Started: Start of Season Checklist 23
Example Letter to Families (from the Manager any division) 25
Identifying and Understanding Player and Parent Expectations 30
Team Volunteer Duties 32
Skill Development Goals 35
T-Ball: (Typically 4 mostly 5 year old players) 35
Coach Pitch (Typically 6-7 year old) 35
AA Rookies (Mostly 8 year old) 35
Rookies is designed to help young players get used to live pitching and
called balls and strikes via kid and modified coach pitch 35
Minors (9-10 some 11 year old players) 36
Majors 36
General Practice Guidelines 36
Teaching without Fear 36
What to Do With Talent Imbalances 37
Getting the Most Out Of a Practice with Kids 38
Making Sure Your Players Respect (and Obey) You 38
Use of Competition and Incentives 39
Equipment Choices and Lost Equipment 39
Throwing vs. Hitting Practice Balls 40
Single Team vs. Two Team Practices can work nicely... 40
Running an Efficient, Productive Practice 42
Plan Before You Practice 42
Get to Practice Early 42
Finish Practices on Time 42
Set Up the Stations in Advance 42
The Secret to Getting Kids to Show Early 42
Keeping the Team Together 42
Keeping Station Transitions Seamless 42
"Suggested" Practice Template (Managers To Adjust) 44
Pre-practice (Decide your teams skill levels and adjust as needed this
guideline) 44
Warm-up/Stretching Exercises (10 min) 44
Throwing and Catching the Ball (10 min) 44
Station Based Drills (40 min) 44
Strategy Talk (5 min) 45
Simulated Game (25 min) 45
Proper Techniques and Drills 46
Stretching and Warm Up 47
Cardio Warm Up (30 reps for each exercise, fewer with younger kids) 47
Stretch Legs (30 sec interval): 47
Stretch Arms (30 sec interval): 47
TAB 3 : Throwing & Catching 48
Throwing the Ball 48
Proper Throwing Technique 48
Suggested Drills 48
Coaching Tips 49
Catching The Ball 49
Proper Technique 49
Suggested Drills 50
Coaching Tips 50
TAB 4 : Infield & Outfield 51
Fielding a Ground Ball 51
Suggested Drills 51
Coaching Tips 52
Outfield 54
Suggested Drills 54
Coaching Tips 55
TAB 5: Hitting 56
Proper Technique - Preparation 58
Suggested Drills 59
Coaching Tips 59
Proper Technique - Lower Body 59
Suggested Drills 59
Coaching Tips 60
Proper Technique - Upper Body 60
Suggested Drills 61
Coaching Tips 62
Bunting 63
Suggested Drills 63
Coaching Tips 63
TAB 6: Pitching 64
Proper Technique 64
Pitches & Grips: 68
Stances (Half the battle!!) 70
Receiving (Centering) 71
Blocking 72
Throwing 73
Tag Plays 74
Bunts 76
TAB 8: Base Running 77
Proper Technique 77
Suggested Drills 77
Coaching Tips 78
TAB 9: Situational 80
Skill Development Path AA Rookies, Minors and Majors 81
Offense 81
Defense 82
TAB 10 : Standard Signs 84
Skill Development Path Minors and Majors 84
Batter/Base Runner Signs (Examples to be modified by Manager) 84
Pitcher Signs 85
Catcher to Pitcher and 2B/SS Signs 85
96
TAB 12: Baseball Is Fun - Scrimmage 96
TAB 1: General & Reference Information
1 League Guiding Principles
Little League Mission Statement To teach our youth the values of Character, Teamwork and Sportsmanship
through the game of baseball. Our Vision Our goal is to provide a comprehensive program of baseball that is
appealing to kids of all levels of enthusiasm and ability; for treating its
players and their families in a fair and caring fashion; for rewarding
effort, improvement and striving to excel over winning; for outstanding
coaching, instruction and player development; and most of all, for being a
fun and enjoyable program that our players, their families and their
coaches want to participate in again next season. Baseball can bring a
community together! Our Values Provide supervised competitive athletic games under the Rules and
Regulations of Little League Baseball. The attainment of exceptional
athletic skills or the winning of games is secondary and the type of
leadership extended to our player members is of prime importance. Provide
solid training and development for our players, coaches and umpires. Treat
everyone with respect and fairness. Most of all, HAVE FUN! Building Character / Opportunity in Coaching Players should be playing to win as a "team" and at the highest possible
level of expertise, but coaches, and parents, should bear in mind that few,
if any, of your players will even play in High School, let alone college or
professionally. SAD FACT: The majority of kids (73%) never participate in organized sports
after age 12 For all kids, but especially these, the most important things they'll learn
from participating in Little League are not how to turn a double play or
develop the perfect swing, but how to be a good teammate, how to win - and
lose - with grace and dignity (and what can be learned from each),
sportsmanship and most importantly, how to set goals, work to achieve them,
and strive to improve. What they will remember is not how many hits they
got or games they won, but how much fun they had, the friends they made,
and whether you, as their coach, were a positive - or a negative -
influence on their character and development as a person.
2 Coaches' Responsibilities
WSLL Managers/Coaches' commitment: Managers and coaches need to be willing
to attend league meetings when requested, participate in West Seattle
Little League functions, such as "Manager meetings and field preparations
pre and during the season" (volunteer as needed for player evaluations,
pre-draft for Rookies and Minor / Majors Tryouts prior to draft day).
Additionally Managers and or their coaches must also actively take
refresher Coach Development clinics organized by the Director of Coaching,
participate and help communicate to their team reminders about Opening Day
Ceremonies, fundraising efforts, work parties, picture day, and be willing
and able to spend the time necessary with the team at practice and games.
Managers and Coaches must submit a background check form as required by
Little League. The Manager responsibilities include the following: Responsibilities to the League
Fill out a Volunteer Application to be a coach or manager each year that
authorizes the League to perform a "Background Check" on them as required
by Regulation I of Little League Baseball, Inc. by the League. Abide by
the results of this "Background Check" procedure. (Form can be found on the
WSLL website)
Learn and abide by the national Little League, Inc. Rules and Regulations,
District 7 Rules and Policies and by the West Seattle Little League Local
League Rules. Adhere to their intent and be capable of correct
interpretation and implementation
Abide by the WSLL Little League Code of Conduct, and Alcohol, Tobacco and
Weapon Policy.
Read, sign and adhere to the Sportsmanship code of conduct (Form can be
found on the WSLL website).
Reflect the values of West Seattle Little League in all dealings with
parents, athletes, umpires and league officials.
Work with the Umpire in Chief and his volunteer umpires to assist and
support League officials to build an effective umpire program for the
league.
Attend league and/or District 7 clinics on coaching set up by the Director
of Coaching or the District. Learn and review all rules and be current in
required safety programs, (including first aid training). Be willing to
learn more about baseball and how to teach young people the proper way to
play the game.
Handle the administrative requirements of the team: Manager must attend
the Draft selection meeting, (as applicable, depending on the WSLL
division).
Obtain from the Player Agent (Managers may be required to assist during the
WSLL registration process to assist the board members in League
registration. Player Agent will direct and organize all aspects of the
registration process to include the following: finalizing a team roster for
all managers all divisions, obtain as required a medical release form for
each player, league registration form, proper birth certificates and proof
of residency (as needed with two documents showing residential address
within District 7 boundaries for WSLL zoned residential areas) and other
items that may be required by West Seattle Little League.
Review safety checklist and comply with these recommendations and rules
provided by the WSLL Safety Director.
Respect all WSLL League equipment distributed by the Equipment Director and
be sure the inventory assigned is in proper condition. Communicate with
the Equipment Director on any and all malfunctioning equipment and or
replacement of said items. Pick up and return equipment in compliance with
the dates/times set by the Equipment Director. Make every effort to clean
equipment at the end of the season and place and inventory list of all
items retu