| When leading a baseball team, the organization of | | | | tournaments. Putting it online cuts down on |
| the sports team can often be the least fun part. | | | | needless email chatter and eliminates |
| You have to balance your players needs, with | | | | miscommunication. Be sure to include location, |
| your coach's needs, with your league's | | | | times and who is responsible for what. Remember |
| requirements and finally, with the parent's needs. | | | | to bring snacks for that extra 5th through 7th |
| With such a large cast of characters with | | | | inning energy boost. Services like Qlubb ( has the |
| sometimes competing interests, organizing this | | | | ability to publish schedules either privately within |
| chaos isn't easy. Here are just a few organizing | | | | the group or publicly. |
| (non-coaching) tips to help you get organized and | | | | 6. Figure out the budget. Most budgets for |
| to help ensure your baseball team accomplishes | | | | recreational baseball teams are simple however, |
| its goals. | | | | the numbers do have to add up at the end of the |
| The 10 Steps | | | | season. Make sure you account for all costs like |
| | | | league fees, equipment costs, tournament fees, |
| 1. Get the team roster down. Make sure you get | | | | transportation and housing costs. Remember that |
| every participant's key information like their | | | | having a fundraiser costs money too. Look at |
| preferred contact method (email, cellphone, etc.). | | | | ways to defray costs through activity fees, bake |
| Set up an email list using services like Qlubb ( so | | | | sales/car washes, sponsorships from local sports |
| that everyone can send an email to the group | | | | stores, subsidies from sports equipment |
| email address rather than having to list | | | | manufacturers, etc. |
| everybody's email address. Publish the roster on | | | | 7. Build on the community. A sports team is |
| the web so that people can get to know each | | | | comprised of a group of people that form a |
| other, set up carpools, and have their own side | | | | community around the common interest of sport. |
| conversations etc. | | | | However, over time as people get to know each |
| 2. Get the 911. Set up the call tree so that you | | | | other, bonds strengthen. Fostering the community |
| can get in touch with people when it counts. | | | | through things like photo sharing, team picnics, |
| People's preferred method of communication | | | | after game dinners are a great way to have fun |
| should be taken into account. Last minute rain | | | | while also improving trust and teamwork. |
| outs of games and other postponements require | | | | 8. Do something special. Getting your team |
| a quick and reliable response so that nobody gets | | | | excited about the sport can help enrich the |
| stuck. Maintain this roster online so that everyone | | | | experience. If the professionals are having a |
| has the most up-to-date contact information. | | | | tournament in town, arrange for a field trip. If you |
| 3. Understand your goals. Have that first team | | | | are budget conscious, you can see some great |
| meeting where everyone can get acquainted but | | | | competition at the college level, often for free. |
| most importantly get agreement on the goals. | | | | Most sports have a hall of fame that you could |
| Are you out to win the championship or to learn | | | | arrange a field trip to. And if you ask around you |
| and have fun? Who is the right person to coach | | | | might be able to find a pro in the area who might |
| the team? Prior to any meeting you should do | | | | donate some time to run a guest practice session |
| some informal polling and discussion so that you | | | | or to give a pep talk. |
| can go to the team meeting prepared. | | | | 9. Broadcast your accomplishments! Put up a |
| 4. Ask for volunteers. Don't get stuck doing | | | | public web page and talk about your wins! Nothing |
| everything. People are really willing to help if asked. | | | | makes a team more proud than to let people |
| At every meeting look for a chance to recruit | | | | know what you accomplished. It also lets players |
| volunteers, especially based on any skills they | | | | send that link to grandma. Sites like Qlubb have |
| might have. Some parents may have good | | | | the ability to automatically generate a public site |
| baseball skills and can be an assistant coach during | | | | based on the content of the site, which minimizes |
| practice. Online sign up sheets are very useful so | | | | the overhead. |
| that everybody knows what's been taken and | | | | 10. Ask for feedback. Keep an open dialog with |
| what's left to do and they can sign up on their | | | | everyone and be flexible. It's important to listen. |
| own time. | | | | Baseball teams live for months to years and |
| 5. Create the master schedule. Get a master | | | | needs change all the time. A good leader will be |
| schedule online published as soon as possible. It | | | | able to anticipate these needs by constantly |
| should include all practices, games and | | | | listening and thinking ahead. |