OT-Tball coaches

[LWatson]

Okay, so yesterday we went to my son's first t-ball meeting. We didnt know till we got there he didnt have a coach. So, DH & I volunteered to be coaches. This is the first time we have coached a team where they didnt provide all the stuff to hand out to parents (we have always coached on a military instillation and those were soccer). I printed up a team roster today, but I feel like maybe there should be more I should be handing out right now. We dont have the game schedule yet, or I would have that too. Can someone who has done this b4 (I played for 12 years, but cant remember anything since that was 7years ago) remind me of what all we need to be passing out etc? Our first practice is tonight (yeah another thing we didnt find out till last night...our field schedule), so I want to make sure we have everything ready.

 

[Fantasmic23]

Does your league require Medical Release forms for each player? You can print them and hand them out ... Or direct parents to the website where they can print it out themselves.

Maybe a list of what the players will need for each game - glove, bat, batting gloves (optional), white pants (and where to buy them), water bottle, etc.

Does your league require the parents to volunteer their time at the snack bar? On our league's website, there's usually a form to fill out.

Information about the Opening Day Ceremony (if your league has one) - when and where.

 

[mjkacmom]

DH has been coaching for years, and has done tball 4 times. The most important thing you want to do it to get everyone's email address, because it's the easiest way to communicate. Have a parent have families sign up for snacks for each game. I'm sad to say, you are going to find out there are some crazy parents out there!

Bring extra mitts to practices and games - kids will show up without them.

 

[mjkacmom]

Does your league require Medical Release forms for each player? You can print them and hand them out ... Or direct parents to the website where they can print it out themselves.

Maybe a list of what the players will need for each game - glove, bat, batting gloves (optional), white pants (and where to buy them), water bottle, etc.

Does your league require the parents to volunteer their time at the snack bar? On our league's website, there's usually a form to fill out.

Information about the Opening Day Ceremony (if your league has one) - when and where.

Our league doesn't require specific pants for tball (and provides black for the older kids), so find out league requirements (ours doesn't require cleats for tball). All of our coaches need to be certified, and fingerprinted, and take a 1 night course. Our league does provide balls and helmets, but most kids have their own helmets because of lice.

 

[Fantasmic23]

DH has been coaching for years, and has done tball 4 times. The most important thing you want to do it to get everyone's email address, because it's the easiest way to communicate. Have a parent have families sign up for snacks for each game. I'm sad to say, you are going to find out there are some crazy parents out there!

Bring extra mitts to practices and games - kids will show up without them.

Yes, I totally agree. Email addresses! Very important! DS's coach told me yesterday that email is basically the only way he communicates. Crazy parents when it comes to T-ball? Never!

 

[dawson5]

I've done the team mom thing a few times. What we've found to work best as they get older is assigning snacks. This makes it easier, we usually had three parents per game for a snack. They could trade dates. It never failed we had people sign up for one and there would be three open slots that no one would sign up for. At this age, snacks are everything, probably more important than the game.

You said you typed up the roster, we had a coach who actually separated the kids into neighborhoods when he handed out the roster, made it easier for carpooling.

What about an email and/or text sign-up for you? Our rec park has a wonderful site that now emails us reminders for games, practices, snack-bar scheduled times and any changes to those. There is a free site that allows you to call everyone:

http://www.dialmycalls.com/

Since we have the email & text set-up, our coaches haven't had to resort to this.

Does your park fundraise? If these are first timers, you might want to get the basic information and at least introduce them to it.

Do you have a D!ck's sporting goods or Dunham's nearby? In the past our coaches have signed up for a team discount and have handed out the coupons to the kids.

 

[adaygaby]

Okay, so yesterday we went to my son's first t-ball meeting. We didnt know till we got there he didnt have a coach. So, DH & I volunteered to be coaches. This is the first time we have coached a team where they didnt provide all the stuff to hand out to parents (we have always coached on a military instillation and those were soccer). I printed up a team roster today, but I feel like maybe there should be more I should be handing out right now. We dont have the game schedule yet, or I would have that too. Can someone who has done this b4 (I played for 12 years, but cant remember anything since that was 7years ago) remind me of what all we need to be passing out etc? Our first practice is tonight (yeah another thing we didnt find out till last night...our field schedule), so I want to make sure we have everything ready.

Welcome to the world of baseball..!! I'm on our league's board of directors and asst coach for my son's team.

- Do make sure you do have all of your team players contact numbers and email address.
- Get all important dates that have been set by your league (i.e. opening day, team mom meeting, etc)
- Hand out a sheet w/ cost that your team will acquire.
EXAMPLE

• • Team Banner $55
  • Names on uniforms $48 ($4/player)
  • Concession Buyout $80 (if your league has a buyout)
  • Scorekeeper/Announcer Cost $60 ($5/game)
  • Trophies $60 ($5/player; depends if your league provides a trophy or parent has to buy it)
• TEAM TOTAL - $303 COST PER PLAYER - $25.25 (assuming you have 12 players)

- After practice snack schedule
- After game snack schedule (our league doesn't allow outside food so we purchase snowcone tickets for our players)

Hope this helps a bit to get started off.

And yes, you will see that there are some crazy parents out there..! Even though we always want to win, we need to remember that in T-ball we are teaching our players the fundamentals of baseball and always try to make the sport fun for them in practice and during a game.


Good luck and have a great season....!

 

[Zdog]

All excellent idea's from people who've listed above. I've got one more: grab a few other parents to help out. Considering the age of the children who are playing, you'll need someone to be in the dugout while your team is at bat, or at the very least, base coaches. And for practices, the more adult involvement you have, the better, since boredom can settle in quickly if you have all players taking part in one particular drill. I've found that setting up different coaching stations, ie, one for hitting, one for fielding, one for throwing and catching, ect, works best for practice. It keeps things moving, and keeps the kids focused on learning, instead of a butterfly floating by, picking up grass, throwing pebbles. And, always include something fun to end practice with. Leaves things on a good note.

And as others have posted here too, please make the goal having fun first, learning second, and winning last. Our league has become ultra competitive due to parents who are reliving their Little League glory days through their kids. Our t-ball league doesn't keep score, although you know darn well the kids do. I knew I succeeded when the kids asked after the game, who won?

Good luck this year!

 

[brymolmom]

As far as handouts...ways to get a hold of you...what you plan for practice schedule (even if you don't have field info yet - just days and times is a good start)...what kids should bring with them (water bottle, glove, uniform) and PARENT EXPECTATIONS. Especially with the young kids - IMO, parents do NOT get involved enough. Explain what you consider 'the rules' and that parents are expected to be there with their child. Also say that you will need assistance from parents during practices (to play catch with kids for example) and also if their own child is not 'into' the game or is misbehaving on the bench - you do not think it is the coaches or other parent's responsbility to correct that behavior - it is for their own parent to either correct it or pull their child out of the game.

I know - they're little and should get some slack. But you wouldn't believe what parents will sit there and watch. like I was trying to get one child to stand in the field and look at the batter (he was playing 3rd so could have gotten hurt sitting backwards - probably would have just left him after 2 attempts if he was in the outfield) - after REPEATED attempts to get this child to comply and participate - I didn't know what to do. And honestly, we're not getting paid -the parents SHOULD be handling that type of thing. I have 11 other players that want to learn how to play.

So at this young age - I would focus on how you want the PARENTS involved.

Good luck!

 

[deerhart]

What you require really depends on your league.

For my kids baseball (tball/pitch for my youngest) we get a team roster with phone #s and emails, a team schedule, shirt, hat. Usually someone on the team plans a snack schedule and we all get the rainout phone number. That's it!

My son's soccer league we got practice times and schedule and jersey nothing else.

We aren't required to be at practices or games with our kids. We simply can't. My son's soccer practice is at 5pm, both DH and I work so grandma drops him off and takes older bro home. We then pick him up at 6pm, rush home eat, and take older bro to TKD (Wed is a busy night).

As for getting the parents to make the child comply.. while that isn't likely to happen. If a child is a safety risk, you simply remove him from the game. We had to remove my oldest several times when he was younger because of attitude/safety issues (we always end up coaching the kids teams because we have always had to be around for my oldest) etc..

 

[brymolmom]

What you require really depends on your league.

For my kids baseball (tball/pitch for my youngest) we get a team roster with phone #s and emails, a team schedule, shirt, hat. Usually someone on the team plans a snack schedule and we all get the rainout phone number. That's it!

My son's soccer league we got practice times and schedule and jersey nothing else.

We aren't required to be at practices or games with our kids. We simply can't. My son's soccer practice is at 5pm, both DH and I work so grandma drops him off and takes older bro home. We then pick him up at 6pm, rush home eat, and take older bro to TKD (Wed is a busy night).

As for getting the parents to make the child comply.. while that isn't likely to happen. If a child is a safety risk, you simply remove him from the game. We had to remove my oldest several times when he was younger because of attitude/safety issues (we always end up coaching the kids teams because we have always had to be around for my oldest) etc..

ITA about removing the child - I just think that's best up to the parents, not the volunteer who has 11 other kids and doesn't have the time to cajole a child into standing or moving. And often, parents do not want another adult to lay a hand on their child so I would be hesitant to do so. Our league DOES require a parent (or standin- neighbor or grandparent who is 'in charge' of that child is OK) and personally for the 5 year olds I wouldn't coach without that. It is too much to ask for someone not getting paid. As it was - even with some of the parents assiting - we always could use more. And usually it's the kids who need it the most whose parents are not getting involved to deal with their behavior. As they get older the parents aren't required any more...but at the t-ball level with 5 year olds they are.

 

[LWatson]

Thanks everyone. When we met last night we did inform them they would have to provide the Gray Pants and green socks (we are the A's). I have a list of people who need to turn in Candy b4 April 20th already, and we have each kids medical release form (those were done at registration). Thankfully since these are ALL 4 yr olds (yes we have 8 4yr olds) they dont keep score!!!! I have to remind the parents though that we dont. We havent gotten uniforms yet (dont know when that will be), and we are waiting on our game schedule too. On top of all that there are 4 teams practicing on one field at a time. This deff will be interesting. I never thought of the email address thing as it was never an issue when I played, but now that we are way into the email era I deff will let everyone know our email addresses. Oh and we have one little girl on our team and she is also the only lefty. Does anyone know where she might be able to find a mit for a lefty that isnt $80?

 

[Duckyiam71]

Something else to keep in mind to is, if parents need to attend sportsmanship classes. They do around here and the children are not allowed to play if the parents do have it. As far as left handers go, try Walmart and Target they have a few also try Sports Authority, Dicks, Academy whatever sports stores. Good luck and have fun! BTW we play on military installations and are somewhat spoiled. They give us everything like you said.

 

[dawson5]

There is a thread in the budget section about looking for a left handed glove. Plenty of suggestions.

As for the practice on the field. Can you go someplace else? Part of our practice schedule includes practice times at the field and one of four diamonds at two different grade schools. We've also had some coaches find places that weren't on the schedule to practice like a hidden neighborhood park that had a field, the practice field for the high school and a field behind a church. It was nice, no one showing up and watching your practice or distracting the kids.

 

[LWatson]

Well, the field thing is temporary as they are expanding our park to include a bigger concession, another field, a football/soccer field, and other things. It really has come a long way since it opened. My Dad and my (now) Great uncle in law along w/ about 30 other people got the league up and going almost 15years ago (I was on the first girls Senior League Softball team), and its amazing how far its come and how much is changing. It was weird to come back to it after 7years of being away (with the military) and see how much it changed. I deff felt the need to give back to a place that was like a 2nd home to me every summer. Sorry I'm getting girly now...LOL...its just amazing to see it grow from 2 fields to like 6/7 now (i lost count).

I'm trying to get in touch w/ someone from the league because we just looked through the bag we were given and we have No balls and no chest protector for the kids. Its coach pitch/t-ball so, they have to have the chest protector, and we have to have balls for practice tonight. Looks like if we cant reach someone we will have to go buy at least balls for now.

Thanks everyone for your help. I'm deff feeling a tad better now.