Tips for Coaching Little League

Most people who get asked to coach Little League aren’t seasoned professionals. In fact, most are volunteers, parents, or just former Little Leaguers themselves. As such, a lot of people feel overwhelmed with and “not cut out for” the job. Don’t worry though. With the help of a few tips, you can be a great Little League coach in no time at all.

Introduce Yourself

Parents are protective of their kids; it just goes with the parenting territory. As such, don’t be

surprised if the parents you don’t know are a little leary of you at first. They just have to get to know you and see that you have their kids’ best interests at heart. You can speed up this “getting to know you” process by touching base with parents early on. Call them up before the first practice and introduce yourself. The fact that you took extra time out of your day just to say, “hi” and answer any questions about the coming season will put the parents at ease and make a great impression on them from the get-go.

Be Firm but Kind

As a coach, it’s your job to lay down the rules. In order to set a good standard, you want to be firm but still kind and understanding from the start. For instance, it’s a good idea to create an “attendance policy” for players. Most coaches, for example, require players to be at every game or practice unless they have a good reason, such as a family vacation that the team knows about ahead of time or a sudden illness. Remind parents and players that unreliability hurts everyone.

Demand Respect

Respect from both players and parents is absolutely essential for a good season. Remember, you get respect by giving it, so set a good example for your players by how you treat them. Also, don’t demand respect just for yourself but also for other players on the team, all staff and volunteers, umpires, and everyone the members of your team come into contact with.

Let Mistakes Happen

The absolute worst thing you can do as a Little League coach is to make players feel bad for their mistakes. This won’t win you any parent fans, and it’s detrimental to young athletes as well. Instead, treat mistakes as learning experiences and take them as a cue as to what to work on with your players. Teach these little ones that trying their hardest is what matters the most.

Have An “Open Door” Policy

Both parents and players need to feel like they can talk to you, about anything and at anytime. A truly great coach is one who is always willing to take time out of his day to listen. Allow parents and players to call, text, email, or visit you- within reason. Knowing what’s going on in your players’ lives and acting as a true friend and listener will make everyone love you, and it will make you a truly great coach to boot.

Develop a Good Support System

Even the world’s best coach can’t do everything on his own! If you try to, you’re going to get burnt out pretty quickly, so don’t be afraid to ask for and recruit help. Whether it’s a “team mom,” an assistant coach, parent volunteers, or all of these, having people to help you handle the responsibility will enable you to get more joy out of the job, and you’ll be a better coach when you’re less stressed out.

Have Fun!

Above all else, have fun! The experience of coaching Little League is supposed to be enjoyable. There is nothing wrong with taking your position as coach seriously, but remember, you’re coaching kids, not professionals. So, it’s okay to take a day to goof off during practice or to hold a big celebration whether the team wins or loses. At the end of the day, the biggest and most positive impression you’ll make comes from just loving these kids and helping them to have fun and enjoy what they’re doing.

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