| These ideas are for managers, coaches, | | | | coaches, and other players should be a |
| players, and parents. While this is written | | | | friendly one. |
| primarily for the beginner in baseball - the | | | | |
| Little Leaguer - the reader will discover | | | | Keep in mind that players should participate |
| that the same fundamentals work in all | | | | for the enjoyment and benefit they derive. |
| branches of baseball. The right way to | | | | Too often the tendency is to shower attention |
| execute a play and the right attitude get the | | | | and awards on the talented lad and to ignore |
| same results in the major leagues as in the | | | | the benchwarmer. Achievement is its own |
| Little Leagues, and the wrong way is just as | | | | reward, and a boy who hits a home run gets |
| inimical to good results. | | | | sufficient satisfaction from performing that |
| | | | feat. He doesn't need additional honors. |
| The surprising thing is that so many major | | | | |
| leaguers make mistakes - correctable mistakes | | | | Too often on the playing field participants |
| - which proves that we shouldn't expect too | | | | develop an escapist complex by blaming defeat |
| much of boys and that we should always | | | | on the officials, teammates, or "dirty work |
| remember that it is human to err. At the same | | | | at the crossroads". Youngsters should learn |
| time, we should never lose sight of the | | | | that the best teams don't win all the |
| opportunity to teach fundamentals of play and | | | | time-even when they put forth their best |
| of constructive living. | | | | efforts - and that the worst teams don't lose |
| | | | all the time. There are days when the |
| It was Herbert Hoover who observed that team | | | | pennant-winning team gets the bad bounces, |
| sports are the greatest training in morals, | | | | all the close plays go against it, and |
| second only to religious faith, and one of | | | | "bloop" hits land between the fielders. |
| the greatest stimulants of constructive joy | | | | |
| in the world. We can provide this joy and be | | | | The team that continues to hustle from day to |
| a part of it if we realize the potentialities | | | | day, profits by its mistakes and learns not |
| of a program like Little League and make the | | | | to repeat them, and learns to accept the fact |
| most of them. | | | | that the "breaks" will even up over a season |
| | | | is the team with the right mental approach to |
| Know Your Players | | | | the game. It has come to recognize that a |
| | | | majority of games can be decided by good or |
| If you get to know your boys, their physical | | | | bad play on the field and by the type of |
| limitations and capabilities, their | | | | leadership provided, and it conducts itself |
| environment and their personalities, you will | | | | accordingly. |
| able to help them grow and develop. Thus you | | | | |
| may find a boy whose parents take little | | | | Develop All Players |
| interest in him and who has limited ability. | | | | |
| A little praise will give a big boost to his | | | | You will build morale by developing all of |
| morale. Remember that boys have a short | | | | your players - not just the nine or ten best |
| interest span. Vary your instruction program | | | | boys. The day may come when several of your |
| and keep it fun. | | | | players are absent, and you will be in |
| | | | trouble if you haven't given your reserve |
| To serve youngsters well, you must know their | | | | players "game experience". Every manager can |
| needs, interests, and ability, and you must | | | | find a way to play all of his players at |
| know your own limitations, too. | | | | regular intervals, and he will have a |
| | | | stronger and happier team at the end of the |
| Attitudes Are Important | | | | season and in forthcoming seasons if he gives |
| | | | all of the boys a chance to play and develop. |
| Perhaps the greatest opportunity comes to the | | | | |
| adult leader in developing attitudes. Since | | | | The dividends for making these extra efforts |
| his own attitude will be reflected by a | | | | to prepare for leadership come to the manager |
| majority of his players, it is important that | | | | through the privilege of building better boys |
| he understand and instruct that the | | | | through baseball. |
| relationships with umpires, managers, | | | | |