| The following article is an excerpt from the free | | | | schedules and other things. Either way you go, it |
| online course "Learning to Coach Youth Baseball". | | | | is important to have one of the two. You will |
| When you get the job as a new coach, it is | | | | need to write down phone numbers, dates, |
| important that you meet the league director. You | | | | contact names and other miscellaneous notes |
| might have already met the league director as he | | | | about your team. Later on, as you gain more |
| or she may have been the person that hired you. | | | | experience, you might even find yourself writing |
| If this is not the case, I recommend you set up a | | | | down different batting lineups to try in the |
| meeting as soon as possible to review several | | | | upcoming games. On the front of your notebook, |
| things. | | | | you will write down the year and your teams' |
| Get your notebook handy, as I will give you a list | | | | name. |
| of some questions to ask them. | | | | The director has probably given you a set of local |
| First, you should ask: May I get the final copy of | | | | city rules. These rules more than likely will be |
| the league rules and a game schedule if available? | | | | modifications to particular national, state or high |
| It is obviously important to get a finished copy as | | | | school sets of rules. Some of the more common |
| soon as possible, as this will be a blueprint for | | | | local rules address game length, safety of players, |
| your calendar. | | | | batting orders, player substitution and re-entry. |
| Second, you should ask: Will I have any assistant | | | | When you get your league rules, make sure you |
| coaches? Do you know where I can find a | | | | read them thoroughly. Give them to your |
| couple? | | | | assistant coaches and have them read the rules |
| Next I suggest you ask, What fields will we be | | | | thoroughly. Try and get the rules in your hands as |
| playing at? | | | | soon as possible so you can do your homework. |
| And, Do we have a block of time available for | | | | While reading them, I suggest you take notes in a |
| baseball practice and which diamonds? | | | | notebook on interpretations or any questions you |
| The next question should be, What type of | | | | may have. If you do not have any questions on |
| equipment do we have available? | | | | the rules, you did not read them well enough. Do |
| Finally, inquire about special days that the team | | | | not be afraid to get your questions answered at |
| needs to get together. These days will probably | | | | a coaches meeting or at league wide tryouts. |
| include a picture day, uniform day and end of | | | | There probably will be a league wide meeting |
| year tournament. | | | | where you can network with some of the other |
| With this information in hand, you have the basis | | | | coaches who will have similar questions. |
| for some advanced planning and organization. I | | | | Pay particular attention to substitution and |
| have found that being organized will help with | | | | re-entry rules. Understanding these will be very |
| everything you do for the coming season. I | | | | important when switching pitchers, pinch hitting, |
| recommend you buy a spiral notebook or create | | | | pinch running, and getting all your players in the |
| a ring binder for the coming season. Notebooks | | | | game. Finally, obtain your game schedule as soon |
| tend to be easier to carry around and write on, | | | | as possible, so everyone can begin planning his or |
| while binders have the sleeves for handouts, | | | | her summer. |