| Little League Digest: You Can Make Yourself a | | | | coach knows baseball fundamentals and knows |
| Better Little Coach Instantly with this Quick | | | | how to teach them. Your baseball knowledge will |
| Preseason Evaluation | | | | definitely give your team an advantage in the |
| The quality of a Little League Team's play | | | | coming season. Congratulations! You have |
| depends greatly on the quality of coaching the | | | | completed this coaching self-evaluation. |
| kids receive. Coaches spend most of their team | | | | If you answered NO....Make a commitment now to |
| assessing and trying to improve player skills and | | | | commit time and effort to improving your |
| performance. The theory is simple, improve your | | | | knowledge of the rules of the game of baseball |
| player's talent and you improve your team. I have | | | | and the fundamentals of baseball that your |
| a different approach. I say, improve your | | | | players must be taught and master. The internet |
| coaching skills and your Little League team will | | | | is a valuable resource for finding free baseball |
| definitely play better baseball. How do you | | | | coaching articles and drill videos. Three great sites |
| improve your coaching skills? I have a simple | | | | for free articles are the Baseball Coaching Digest, |
| evaluation that will help you become a better | | | | the Youth Baseball Digest, and the Little League |
| coach instantly. | | | | Digest. |
| Ask yourself these the three simple questions | | | | Every Little League Coach has a responsibility to |
| listed below. Depending on your answer, chose | | | | put effort in learning more than they know. How |
| the recommended approach and set your | | | | can we expect players to improve their |
| standards for this coming season. | | | | knowledge of the game if we refuse to? Not |
| Question #1 - "Coach, are you a good a planner | | | | knowing baseball is not the ultimate sin of a |
| and organizer when it comes to Little League | | | | baseball coach. Refusing to become a student of |
| Baseball Practice?" | | | | the game is the ultimate sin. If you knowledge is |
| If you answered YES...Congratulations! Your | | | | limited and you do not wish to increase your |
| planning and organizational skills should help your | | | | knowledge, you might be doing your team a |
| team have high quality practices in the coming | | | | favor to offer your time and effort as a Little |
| season. Move on to question #2. | | | | League volunteer in another capacity other than |
| If you answered NO....Make a commitment now | | | | coaching. |
| that you will spend at least 20 minutes | | | | How did you score? |
| pre-planning every practice and write your | | | | One Yes Answer - You are definitely an honest |
| practice plan on paper. Carefully plan each drill and | | | | person and honesty is a strong virtue of a good |
| activity with specific start times and end times. | | | | Little League Baseball Coach. You now know what |
| Make sure that drills are short with time periods | | | | two areas you in which you need to improve. You |
| restricted to 10 minutes are less. Make a | | | | are commended for taking the first crucial steps |
| commitment to make a copy to give to each | | | | toward improving your qualities as a Little League |
| assistant coach that you have helping you. | | | | Coach. Improvement will come with the right |
| Question # 2 - "Coach, do you value time and | | | | commitment and continued effort. |
| punctuality as much as you should?' | | | | Two Yes Answers - You should be proud that |
| If you answered YES...Congratulations! You are a | | | | you only have one area where improvement is |
| coach that knows the value of time and | | | | required. You are close to being a top notch Little |
| punctuality. Your players are lucky to have such a | | | | League Coach. You should focus all of your effort |
| coach. Move on to question #3. | | | | into eliminating the weakness that you have |
| If you answered NO....Make a commitment now | | | | identified. Set your goal now to improve your |
| that you will be the first person on sight at every | | | | qualities as a coach in that particular area. |
| practice and game. It is bad policy for Little | | | | Three Yes Answers - Congratulations! You are a |
| League coaches to arrive late at a practice or | | | | top quality Little League Coach. With your skills |
| game. If you expect your players to always be | | | | and talent, you should be able to help every |
| at practice on time, you should set a good | | | | player on your team improve and become a |
| example and be the first person arriving each day. | | | | better player. You team should have a great. |
| Make it your personal goal to not be late for a | | | | I hope that this evaluation helps you improve as a |
| single practice or game. Always plan and give | | | | coach. Enthusiasm is one trait this quick evaluation |
| yourself extra time to arrive at practice. | | | | did not address. Along with the qualities evaluated |
| Question # 3 - "Coach, do you really know | | | | here, you must possess and display a high level of |
| enough about the baseball fundamentals and the | | | | excitement and enthusiasm for the great game |
| rules of baseball to adequately teach your | | | | of baseball. Thanks for taking the time to read |
| players?" | | | | this article. Good luck in the coming season! Have |
| If you answered YES...Congratulations! Your | | | | a great day, Nick. |
| knowledge of baseball is commended. You are a | | | | |