How to Be a Good Little League Coach

By: Jonathon Hardcastle
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:26:00
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

You've probably seen it at the local ball field. A well-meaning, but overzealous parent-coach screaming at a team full of little kids as if the World Series was on the line. On the other field, another team is wandering around looking for directions from their coach who is trying to figure out who's up next. What does it take to be a good Little League coach?

The number one virtue Little League coaches need to develop is patience. Children do not have the attention span or the discipline of adults and need to be constantly reminded about technique and sportsmanship. Coaches need patience to work with a large group of children who may be at different levels of expertise. Many major league ball players have stories of making it to the majors because of a coach who never gave up on them.

Organizational skills are also helpful to a Little League coach. Balancing playing time can be a sensitive task and good record keeping can help avoid many a dispute. If you're coaching a team that travels you have to be able to organize travel arrangements and have systems to keep track of all your players while you're on the road.

Tact is essential when dealing with parents. Children are remarkably open to coaching and are not typically sensitive to constructive criticism about their skills. Parents, however, frequently stress about their child's amount of playing time, and the amount of individual coaching time their children receive. It takes finesse and sensitivity to deal with these problems. Parents may also become overly concerned about the competition and may need to be tactfully reminded about the importance of good sportsmanship.

If your child is on the team you're coaching, fairness may become an issue. It's important for coaches to be fair to all their players and to judge players on their skills rather than their personalities. At higher levels, it's important to continue to praise and offer second string players at least some playing time, to maintain their interest and help them continue to develop their skills even if they do not have a great career in sports ahead of them.

Finally, every Little League coach must have a deep and abiding love for children of all ages. Coaches are some of the most formative people in a child's life and can imbue children with values they will carry throughout their lives.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Baseball, Games, and Recreation

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Recreation & Sports category

  • The Growth of Cricket - By: Sharon Samraj
    Cricket is considered as a religion in many countries. However thinking about the history of cricket is a big fact and for it is played from time immemorial. The history goes back to the thirteenth century or even further. It is likely estimated that the game of cricket was first played by the children of the farmers and the metal workers in England near a small place referred to as Sussex and Kent.
  • The Art of Boxing :Skills, Drills and Benefits - By: Sharon Samraj
    Boxing is considered by many as the worlds most ancient and most celebrated sports. Boxing had its beginning in ancient Greece when it was considered nothing more than a gentle art of self defense. Boxing has continually been refined and perfected over the ages.
  • Rules and regulations of Carrom Board - By: Sharon Samraj
    Carom is in the family of tabletop games and sharing similarity in its mechanics with billiards and table shuffleboard. This game is known by different names in different places such as carrum, carum, karam, karom and Indian finger billiards.
  • Archery in Nottingham Stag Weekends - By: Sara Punnoose
    Archery has always been a favourite outdoor event among stags and if you guys have ever fancied being Robin Hood then you won't get a better chance than this. Believe us guys handling those bows and arrow is not as easy as it looks, you will surely need a keen eye and concentration to hit the target.
  • Leeds Stag Weekends with Clay Pigeon Shooting - By: Sara Punnoose
    Leeds Stag Weekends and Party Nights with GoBananas Leeds is the ideal place for your Stag Weekend. Leeds is a destination for stag parties also. This place provides lots of scope for celebrations that includes the Stag weekend, Hen Weekend, Birthday party and corporate events.
  • Secrets to Improving Your Golf Swing - By: Carson Danfield
    Golf pros and golf magazines are filled with suggestions for improving your swing, but some of the most common advice is wrong. Experts have studied the golf swing, using high-speed photography, to determine what works and what doesn't.
  • The Round Rock Express - Celebrating America's Favorite Pastime - By: Joe Cline
    Everyone knows the Astros, at least everyone in Austin and in Texas. They are the major league baseball team of Texas, hitting homeruns and striking visiting players out whenever possible, from their home-base of Houston.
  • V8 Supercar Championships - make sure you are up to speed! - By: Paul McIndoe
    This year's V8 Supercar Championship Series is nearing the finishing line. But, with a long history of fast paced, action packed races, there is still everything to play for.
  • How To Use Video Analysis To Perfect Your Basketball Stroke - By: Fredrik Lönn
    There is a lot more to shooting a basketball perfectly than most people realize. And you will be amazed at the difference of your shot after video analysis of yourself. It gives you the chance to see how you are jumping, how far forward you are jumping, whether or not your elbows are in, and if your hand flicks with your follow through.
  • All work and no play makes for a dull student! - By: Paul McIndoe
    Being a student is hard work. However, it's essential you get out there and make some friends. Although the pub is a popular place for extra-curricular activities, why not use your imagination and find something a bit more adventurous to do?