Coaching all stars for the first time.

[SC_Josh]

Anything I should know?

[songtitle]

You need to know where to place 9 shortstops.:clowning:

[CircleChange11]

You need to know where to place 9 shortstops.:clowning:

Classic.

Oh yeah, and bat everyone 3rd.

Just remember the only thing the fans are keeping track of is ...

1. Where the coach's kid plays.
2. How many mistakes the other players make.
3. Where their kid plays and bats.
4. If you coach everyone "equally".

Oh yeah, be sure to win.

*grin*

I found All-Stars to be very enjoyable. Be positive and have fun. If possible move players around so that each player is not playing the same position all the time.

[SC_Josh]

On the first day of practice we told them to go where they think they would best help the team out. We had 3 shortstops 2 at third 2 catching 1 at second 1 at first 1 at left 1 at right and 1 go to center. Out of 12 kids no one went to the pitchers mound.

[SC_Josh]

Classic.

Oh yeah, and bat everyone 3rd.

Just remember the only thing the fans are keeping track of is ...

1. Where the coach's kid plays.
2. How many mistakes the other players make.
3. Where their kid plays and bats.
4. If you coach everyone "equally".

Oh yeah, be sure to win.

*grin*

I found All-Stars to be very enjoyable. Be positive and have fun. If possible move players around so that each player is not playing the same position all the time.

I'm 22 no coaches kids.. None of the other coaches have any kids on the team either which helps alot.

[tg643]

Anything I should know?

Three or four sets of parents are going to hate you because you're such an idiot you can't see their little Johnny is better than Billy and Joey who you chose for the team.

[tg643]

Make the last selections on your team role players who can fill a situation. Think about team chemistry. Assign someone to instructing outfield play who knows what they're doing. Bad outfield play will kill you. The best defense is pitching that strikes out 12 hitters.

[AdamInNY]

I started the same thread last year:

http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?104802-Advice-for-kids-just-starting-to-play-travel-ball/page2

Some good advice and lessons learned.

[SC_Josh]

Three or four sets of parents are going to hate you because you're such an idiot you can't see their little Johnny is better than Billy and Joey who you chose for the team.

I didn't choose the team. I took 1 player of my choice and everything else was voted on. I know what you mean though the parents don't know that.

[SC_Josh]

I started the same thread last year:

http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?104802-Advice-for-kids-just-starting-to-play-travel-ball/page2

Some good advice and lessons learned.

Thanks! Will read

[Standballdad]

Know the rules of All-Star tournament play, usually different than normal league. Really understand the substitution and courtesy runner rule as well. Have a talk with your players about how this is an All-Star team and that they will need to compete for their spots. Explain that some will play all innings, some maybe half and some will get the minimum. Tell them you will make adjustments based on game performance. All-Stars is about winning, it is not about keeping everyone happy. Once you lose that first game you go into the losers bracket, very difficult to get out of because of number of games you play (eats up your pitching quickly).

[SC_Josh]

Know the rules of All-Star tournament play, usually different than normal league. Really understand the substitution and courtesy runner rule as well. Have a talk with your players about how this is an All-Star team and that they will need to compete for their spots. Explain that some will play all innings, some maybe half and some will get the minimum. Tell them you will make adjustments based on game performance. All-Stars is about winning, it is not about keeping everyone happy. Once you lose that first game you go into the losers bracket, very difficult to get out of because of number of games you play (eats up your pitching quickly).

Yeah we have no sub-district this year so we have an extra week of practice and our tournament only has 3 teams. Which is great our pitching isn't their this year we may have 6 pitchers 3 aces though. I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited I hope they are. I really wanna take this team to state this town has only been to state twice in the last 30 years. I really wanna do it with this group of kids because everyone is doubting them saying their the 2nd string all stars because like 5 kids who would have made all stars are playing in a tournament at the beach the day we play our first game. It will be very nice to show everyone what these kids are made of.

[CircleChange11]

I would also point out that ...

1. I was mostly joking in my first post. All-Stars is generally very fun and exciting for everyone.
2. If you play "prep tourneys" before districts, move the players around a bit in regards to positions.
3. In district play, it's "play to win" (best kids at the best positions).

4. Know the pitcher IP and catcher IP rules. 40 pitches and a pitcher cannot catch in the same game. catcher cannot catch 4 INN and then pitch in that game (at least at 9U).

Know the equipment rules. Lots of catchers have their own equipment, and many use the hockey-style mask, which does not include a "hanging throat guard". An umpire was *this close* to not letting us play a tourney game because the catcher's mask did not have a throat guard". We found one and used zip-ties to attach it. The throat guard ended up protecting the catcher's sternum ... but rules are rules.

I'd brush up on not sliding headfirst into any base when advancing (but allowed while retreating), and be sure to understand what plays and positions runners must slide into home and exactly where your catcher can be and do in rgards to blocking vs. obstruction ... same things with pitchers covering home on WP/PB.

Edit: If I recall correctly, there are strict time limit rules for in between inning action, so prepared to hustle in and hustle out. have a coach help the C with his gear and have another warm the pitcher up. Chances are as soon as the C gets on the field, the ump is going to tell him "take it down".

I'm just trying to think of things that were "surprising" to me when I was a 1st time AS coach.

[Standballdad]

Yeah we have no sub-district this year so we have an extra week of practice and our tournament only has 3 teams. Which is great our pitching isn't their this year we may have 6 pitchers 3 aces though. I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited I hope they are. I really wanna take this team to state this town has only been to state twice in the last 30 years. I really wanna do it with this group of kids because everyone is doubting them saying their the 2nd string all stars because like 5 kids who would have made all stars are playing in a tournament at the beach the day we play our first game. It will be very nice to show everyone what these kids are made of.

Good luck to you and your team.

[SC_Josh]

I would also point out that ...

1. I was mostly joking in my first post. All-Stars is generally very fun and exciting for everyone.
2. If you play "prep tourneys" before districts, move the players around a bit in regards to positions.
3. In district play, it's "play to win" (best kids at the best positions).

4. Know the pitcher IP and catcher IP rules. 40 pitches and a pitcher cannot catch in the same game. catcher cannot catch 4 INN and then pitch in that game (at least at 9U).

Know the equipment rules. Lots of catchers have their own equipment, and many use the hockey-style mask, which does not include a "hanging throat guard". An umpire was *this close* to not letting us play a tourney game because the catcher's mask did not have a throat guard". We found one and used zip-ties to attach it. The throat guard ended up protecting the catcher's sternum ... but rules are rules.

I'd brush up on not sliding headfirst into any base when advancing (but allowed while retreating), and be sure to understand what plays and positions runners must slide into home and exactly where your catcher can be and do in rgards to blocking vs. obstruction ... same things with pitchers covering home on WP/PB.

Edit: If I recall correctly, there are strict time limit rules for in between inning action, so prepared to hustle in and hustle out. have a coach help the C with his gear and have another warm the pitcher up. Chances are as soon as the C gets on the field, the ump is going to tell him "take it down".

I'm just trying to think of things that were "surprising" to me when I was a 1st time AS coach.

Thank you! Most of the things you mentioned we already deal with in our rec league.

Expect this "40 pitches and a pitcher cannot catch in the same game. catcher cannot catch 4 INN and then pitch in that game (at least at 9U)." Which I wish we did at (12u). I would also like to mention that this is Dixie youth baseball and not LL