Little League Coaches

[LeoDev]

Here goes a rant:

Why is it we umpires have to take a test in order to work, but the coaches do not?

Case in point: I manage my older boy's Little League Jr. team (13-14). Yesterday, we were at bat, pitch comes in, bounces 5 feet in front of the plate, hits my batter in the knee. Umpire calls time and awards first base. Other coach starts in that because the ball bounced, that the batter DOES NOT get 1st base.

The crazy thing is that the umpire was a dad from the stands the the home team gave a "clicker" to and sent him out behind the mound to call the game. He did a decent job, was consistent with his zone. I had no complaints. I thought he did a good job.

P.S. I have worked 2 games for the opposing coach, so he knew the I was a certified (certifiable ) umpire.

It irritates the $^@* out of me that some coaches are even qualified to be within 100 yards of a dugout.

Here endeth the rant. Thanks for listening.

[Umpire in Chief]

That's an excellent question.

I'm sure the problem is the fact that there just aren't enough coaches out there, just as there aren't enough umpires and to weed them out beyond the sex offenders would mean there'd be nobody to coach the kids.

I encountered this problem last fall when my 6 y/o daughter wanted to do cheering for the first time. We went and registered her, but got a phone call that our daughter wouldn't be able to cheer unless they were able to find another coach to volunteer.

Luckily someone did. And as parents our general consensus was that our squad was the worse out there. One mother was fussing to my wife and I about how bad they were I told her "yea their pretty bad" she continued to rant about the coach not knowing whats going on, I said "No, shes not so good" in my best Borat voice. I then said "you seem like you know a lot how come you didn't volunteer to coach?" The conversation ended and I had a bruised rib from my wife hitting me out of embarrassment. But the girls all had the times of their lives, which was all that mattered.

I will take a brief leave of absence from umpiring, or at least severely limit my availability when my son gets old enough to play baseball. I will coach his teams and be in it for the kids.

[catoblue]

That's an excellent question.

I'm sure the problem is the fact that there just aren't enough coaches out there, just as there aren't enough umpires and to weed them out beyond the sex offenders would mean there'd be nobody to coach the kids.

I encountered this problem last fall when my 6 y/o daughter wanted to do cheering for the first time. We went and registered her, but got a phone call that our daughter wouldn't be able to cheer unless they were able to find another coach to volunteer.

Luckily someone did. And as parents our general consensus was that our squad was the worse out there. One mother was fussing to my wife and I about how bad they were I told her "yea their pretty bad" she continued to rant about the coach not knowing whats going on, I said "No, shes not so good" in my best Borat voice. I then said "you seem like you know a lot how come you didn't volunteer to coach?" The conversation ended and I had a bruised rib from my wife hitting me out of embarrassment. But the girls all had the times of their lives, which was all that mattered.

I will take a brief leave of absence from umpiring, or at least severely limit my availability when my son gets old enough to play baseball. I will coach his teams and be in it for the kids.

I've seen these things many many times. I just finished my 14th year of coaching LL, with one more to go until my youngest ages out. My umpiring has been limited to 1 or two games in divisions I'm not coaching in during regular season play, and district tournament games for the last 14 years.

This year, the league we play in posted a list of "Baseball Rule Myths" on their website. I doubt many other coaches have read it, because I've heard coaches recite these myths as gospel throughout the season. If you want a good laugh, check them out at http://www.ncllbaseball.com/RuleMyths.html

In a perfect world, all LL coaches should have to not only have to take the umpire exam and pass it, they should have to umpire 2 or 3 games before they can coach. Since we don't live in a perfect world, and coaches are always in short supply, we just have to deal with it.

UIC, good luck coaching your son. As they move up through the divisions, the commitment grows as fast the kids do, but if done in spirit of what LL is supposed to be about, it's can be a very rewarding experience

I've had years where we've done exceptionally well in the win-loss columns and years where we did terrible. When you think about what LL is all about, however, there are two questions to ask in gaging your personal success as a LL coach:

1) Did the kids have fun win, lose, or draw?

2) Did the kids improve their skills and level of teamwork?

If you can answer yes to these questions at the end of a season, you have successfully coached your LL team.

The best piece of advice I can offer a new LL coach is 3 words: "Keep it fun"

[Umpire in Chief]

there are two questions to ask in gaging your personal success as a LL coach:

1) Did the kids have fun win, lose, or draw?

2) Did the kids improve their skills and level of teamwork?

If you can answer yes to these questions at the end of a season, you have successfully coached your LL team.

The best piece of advice I can offer a new LL coach is 3 words: "Keep it fun"

AMEN!

That's what youth recreation ball is all about. If you want uber-competitive go to some of the select/travel ball clubs. Unfortunalely, some of these clubs have gotten so competitive that it just doesn't seem fun. And if baseball isn't fun then something is wrong.

BTW welcome aboard catoblue!

[catoblue]

AMEN!

That's what youth recreation ball is all about. If you want uber-competitive go to some of the select/travel ball clubs. Unfortunalely, some of these clubs have gotten so competitive that it just doesn't seem fun. And if baseball isn't fun then something is wrong.

BTW welcome aboard catoblue!

Thanks for the welcome!

That's the main reason I've always steered clear of coaching Little League tournament teams. The tournaments take the competitive nature of the sport to a level that is no longer fun. Coaches and parents turn into monsters and set a rotten example for the kids - I want no part of coaching that kind of baseball with kids at Little League ages. Save that competitive aspect for when the kids are older.

However, I regularly UMPIRE tournament games. It gives me an opportunity to remind coaches why they're there, and if they don't take the reminder to heart and act like animals, off they go to the parking lot and as an added bonus, they get a one game suspension for getting themselves tossed.

I'm involved with LL for the kids sake and for what things that LL stands for. When I played (years ago) we used to recite the Little League Pledge right after the National Anthem before every game... I'd like to see that come back into fashion - just as a not-so-subtle reminder.

Edited June 30, 2008 by catoblue

[littleleagueump]

I had the same situation happen in a Little League jr. game one evening. Batter was hit by a pitch that hit the dirt first, the batter made every attempt to avoid the pitch. I called time and awarded the batter first base. The opposing coach came out to let me know that I can not do that. "Do what?" I asked. He informed me that due to the ball hitting the ground first, it is a dead ball therefore the batter can not go to first. This went on for a minute, it went around three times before I finally called to the batter now standing on first, "hey batter, this coach says you can not be on the base and that you are supposed to bat again." He started to come back but I stopped him. Then the coach said, ''blue, you don't have to get upset, all you had to do was explain it to me." DUH!! That is what I was thinking and what my partner standing 10 feet away was looking as if to say with his hands up in the air.

After I went back to the plate to resume the game, the catcher who I have known for several years told me that I was wrong too. He said it isn't any different than a foul ball hittin the fence. WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where do you people come from!

The next week it happened again wth the senior league. Hit batter, pitch in the dirt, "time, go to first." Then I hear a coach from the dugout, "it hit the ground first!" Oh no, not again. The coach never came out but the pitchers said, "hey blue, the ball hit the ground first." I said "right, you saw that too, you have good eyesight, PLAY BALL!"

I have been the UIC fo one leage for 12 years now and have absorbed another league this past year. I have tried for all of those years to make it mandatory for coaches to attend the umpire's rules clinic. I had a good turn out a few years ago but it is hard to get more than 3 to 4 coaches to show up and then they don't understand the rules when they are on the field. All they have to do is show up to these meetings and I will explain, help them. Simple enough?

[Bigdog]

I had a good turn out a few years ago but it is hard to get more than 3 to 4 coaches to show up and then they don't understand the rules when they are on the field. All they have to do is show up to these meetings and I will explain, help them. Simple enough?

Hey all,

NOT EVEN CLOSE! I was the UIC for our LL for two years and the major/minor league rep this year. With the UIC being new this year, I had the unofficial title of rules interpreter.

During our managers meetings before the season started, when ever the managers had a rule explained to them that changed, was a point of emphasis, etc,... , that the didn't understand or think was "right", they would tell each other that they'll just figure it out when they get on the field.

Then they wonder why the umpires are being so hard on them and calling the rules by the book, and why the younger age groups of players don't do crap when compared to other All Star teams.

SOME coaches are just straight out IDIOTS that are only doing it for their own or their kids egos.

Or is it just me?

Bigdog:cool:

[littleleagueump]

Hey all,

NOT EVEN CLOSE! I was the UIC for our LL for two years and the major/minor league rep this year. With the UIC being new this year, I had the unofficial title of rules interpreter.

During our managers meetings before the season started, when ever the managers had a rule explained to them that changed, was a point of emphasis, etc,... , that the didn't understand or think was "right", they would tell each other that they'll just figure it out when they get on the field.

Then they wonder why the umpires are being so hard on them and calling the rules by the book, and why the younger age groups of players don't do crap when compared to other All Star teams.

SOME coaches are just straight out IDIOTS that are only doing it for their own or their kids egos.

Or is it just me?

Bigdog:cool:

I ain't you bigdog. In these days, people (coaches and parents) don't have time to do anything such as read a rule book or volunteer in the consession stand. All they have time for is making money, even if it requires not doing anything. They would rather go to the ballpark and have the league pay someone on the outside to do it all for them and then complain if they have to pay a little more to make it better or if they don't understand the rules. THEY DON"T READ THE RULES!!!!

If their job was at stake, they would read the rules. If you had a rules clinic that all coaches were to attend, and you ws to give each person money and/or free lunch, they would show.

We are a lazy society. Agreed?