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