Hopedale Youth Baseball Association
Coaches Guide - Major League
OBJECTIVES:
To have fun.
For everyone to
participate.
To learn
fundamentals and improve skills in baseball.
To learn good
sportsmanship.
To provide a safe learning environment for all players.
CONDUCT:
All adults, both coaches and parents, are expected to
show good sportsmanship.
Be as supportive as possible, Praise them for making a good effort as well as
when they do well.
Opponents should be treated
respectfully. Do not allow your players to use abusive or discriminating
language. Correct children who laugh, make fun, or make negative comments
toward other children. At the end of the game both teams line up and shake
hands. 'Good game' or some other
like praise should be used. Instruct players not to use negative comments such
as 'bad game.'
SCHEDULE:
Major
League games start promptly
at 5:30. Games are typically scheduled Monday through Thursday and
ROSTERS:
Team
rosters are determined by a draft of all eligible players. All new players will
be rated at tryouts and players returning to league will be evaluated by
coaches prior to draft, preferably at end of previous season. All coaches will
participate in draft with League Coordinator as facilitator and two members of
the board who have no affiliation with particular league. The coordinator and
two members of the board will vote to resolve any conflict that coaches cannot
agree upon. See draft guide.doc.
PARTICIPATION:
As
stated above a primary objective is to provide all players with an opportunity
to participate as much as possible. Coaches should make every effort to allot
playing time as equally as possible. In the Major League, position play is more
restricted than lower leagues. Ball players begin to develop specific skills
associated with certain positions and moving players around is not as prevalent
as in the lower Leagues. Players should be given the opportunity however, to
try different positions if they are willing and able. Players must play a minimum of four innings per any one game and
everyone must sit out an equal amount of time.
COACHING:
Coaches in Major League must keep
the objectives of the league in mind. First and foremost kids should be having
fun. Please be as positive as possible and refrain from negative reinforcement.
No yelling or berating players for mistakes, rather
instruct players on what they can do to improve! Secondly we want our coaches
to teach the fundamentals of baseball. Coaching does not mean carrying around a
clipboard and keeping track of the score. Enlist the help of another parent to
keep track of who is playing and where. We want the coaches teaching during
games as well as practices. There are many situations that occur during games
that are hard to duplicate in practice. Explain to your players what to do in
these situations. In every play in baseball, players should be made to think
ahead; what to do if the ball is hit to them, how many outs, whether to tag up,
etc. It is up to the coaches to keep the players on their toes! Remember be active and positive!!
GENERAL RULES:
In addition to the following, the Major
League follows the general rules of Little League Baseball.
·
Pitchers can pitch a maximum of 6
innings per week. The week begins on each Sunday and ends on the following
Saturday.
·
If a pitcher throws one pitch it is
considered an inning.
·
Anything over 3 innings requires a
minimum of three days rest.
·
No pitcher can pitch on consecutive
days (No Back to Back), even if the days fall in
different weeks.
·
Only the starting pitcher is allowed
to return to pitch after being removed and this pitcher can only return to
pitch once in a game.
·
A coach must remove the pitcher on the
second visit to the pitcher in one inning. A coach must remove the pitcher on
the third visit to the pitcher in a game.
·
Players should avoid contact into 2nd,
3rd and Home whenever there is a play at the base. Failure to avoid
contact will be an Umpire decision to call the base runner out. The Umpire’s
call is not subject to protest. Head first slides into an advancing base are
not allowed. The player will be called out. A player may slide head first when
returning to a base.
EQUIPMENT:
· It
is the responsibility of each coach to keep the equipment for the entire
season. Please do not lend out equipment for any purpose. Equipment is to be
used for your teams games and practices only. Each
coach will be provided with a checklist at the beginning of season which
indicates what they have received for equipment. Please check this list to
insure it’s accuracy. At the end of the season this
list will be checked to make sure that all equipment has been returned.
· Please
regard equipment as if it were your own. It is the single largest expense of
running the league and we count on the coaches to help keep it in good
condition. If you have equipment which is showing wear and tear please notify
the League Coordinator. If necessary the League Coordinator will repair or
replace.
· Baseballs
should not be passed out after games. Please retain the game balls to use for
practice. Please turn in all baseballs you have left at the end of season.
These are then used to begin the next seasons
practices.
SAFETY:
·
Helmets with cages
will be provided by HYBA and available for all players. Players and parents who provide their own
baseball helmet will have the option to play without the cage. Souvenir helmets are not allowed.
·
The League maintains complete First
Aid essentials at the Concession Stand as well as ice and ice packs. The League
also has a cellular phone available at all games in case of emergency.
TRAVEL TEAMS:
One of the responsibilities of a coach is
to select players for summer travel teams. Coaches have an obligation to watch
as many games as possible in order to evaluate players at each age level.
Please review the Travel Team Selection guidelines for details of selection
process.
Revised: April 16, 2010