An explanation of the approach the coach will use in running the team, who will play, how much, etc. and guiidelines for the players.
A COACHING POLICY
Our team is formed with players from several different teams. Everyone will have an equal chance to compete for every position and every player should be willing to try new positions.
The challenges are to insure that for every game the best 9 players are on the field, depending on whom the team is playing; to find out in what ways each player can make the greatest contribution to the success of the team; and define his/her most productive role.
Baseball is a team game, everyone wins or everyone loses - together.
Work hard, physically and mentally (lots of defenses, plays, etc.) push everyone to their maximum, strive for excellence, and be the best you can be.
Defense and pitching are keys, hitting follows.
Early in the season everyone will play "equally" to decide on the most effective lineups. Later in the season a “starter” concept will be used in which the best players are starters.
At that point, during pool games, and possibly early single elimination games, everyone normally plays at least two games but in key elimination games the “starters” will play. Generally players prefer to play a full game, rather than parts of two games. The designated player, pinch hitters and pinch runners are helpful and will be used. In league games everyone will play.
Minimum playing time will be approximately ______ games and ______ innings. Innings played can be misleading – sometimes a full game is only 3 innings and sometimes a game goes 7 innings.
Early in the season it is most important to develop depth - 2-3 players at each position, 2-3 positions for each player. Developing depth is more important than the won-loss record at that time, although the team will try to win.
Given all this, experience shows that at the end of the season, no matter how hard the coach’s try, one or more families will be unhappy about playing time. We will try our best to give everyone an equal chance to compete for playing time, and plenty of opportunity to play. However, in a competitive program, in key games, players who give the team the best chance for success will play.
Picking up 1 or 2 players for higher level tournaments is an option available to all teams. The team will pick up players, and they will participate, if and when they can help the team to be stronger.
PLAYERS SHOULD APPROACH THE SEASON WITH THE FOLLOWING IN MIND:
1. Keep your emotions under control. Never let an opponent know how you feel.
2. Handle every play the same, take one play at a time. Keep on an even keel.
3. Do your job and let the results (i.e. winning or losing) be as they are.
4. Keep in mind that success is giving 110% all the time.
