MIRACLE LEAGUE COACHING OVERVIEW
COACHES MANUAL (Please Click HERE)
Coaches focus should be:
- Maintain a general understanding of each child’s issues, potential, and limitations, talk with parents about their child.
- be sure everyone on the field is aware of player issues,
- maintain a safe environment,
- build team-spirit,
- promote the excitement of a real game,
- be organized…batting order ready and keep the game moving,
- try to get players into normal defensive positions on the field,
- Utilize your Buddy Captain and provide moral support and guidance to Buddies.
Coaches should not worry about an organized effort to teach the game of baseball. But, watch for those times when on-field staff (coaches, buddies, other volunteers) can help with field positions, throwing techniques, etc. We need to look for these opportunities.
Coaches should expect, monitor and encourage Buddies to:
- protect the players in the field and in the dugout,
- help the players have a positive experience,
- if knowledgeable enough, try to provide players with more baseball details…i.e. fielding positions, throwing, catching…
MIRACLE LEAGUE COACHING ACTIVITIES
Pre-Season Activities:
- Attend the Coaches Meeting
- The Week Before First Game
- Contact each player’s parents
- Introduce Yourself and your Asst Coach.
- Ask if there are any player issues you need to know.
(Be sure not to give the impression that coaches or buddies are qualified health professionals that can be responsible for any child’s unique health issues.)
Make notes about issues for your use during games. If you still have questions about any player issue, talk to Patty or Tracey. Patty and Tracey will also have compiled player data for all players and their issues.
Pre-game activities:
- MUST BE at your game at least 30 minutes prior to game start.
- Talk to each buddy, after they are assigned a player, to ensure they know and understand that player’s issues and limitations (don’t assume they understand),
- Have a batting order ready and rotate it each game.
- Have some field position assignments ready for each player each inning.
- Ensure that you or your assistant coach(es) and Buddy Captain observe warm-up activities from a safety standpoint
- Be Vigilant at the Batting Nets in the Outfield
- Promote excitement and team-spirit. Have a quick team meeting before the game to get everybody involved.
Game activities:
- Be vigilant of safety on the field and in the dugout,
- Be organized, keep the game moving,
- Remind Buddies to keep announcer informed of name at bat and any special considerations
- Be enthusiastic and promote excitement/recognition,
- Give moral and physical support to overwhelmed or discouraged buddies.
- Must participate in the Chicken Dance
Post-game activities:
- Have a quick team-meeting or team cheer at the conclusion of the game.
- Give LOTS of compliments!
- Be available to any parent that feels they need to talk to you.
- Send the kids and parents home happy they were here today.
- THEN
- Clean Up Trash
- Sanitize and Organize the Equipment
After 1st Weekend of Games:
- Followup with Players/Parents
- How did the Game go?
- Anything that we, the ML Crew, can do to help the experience be better.
ONGOING Activities
- Check Website periodically to bring you up to date on schedules, meetings, activities and any changes
- Make Initial Communication to Team Parent and help communicate to entire Team in case of schedule changes, rainouts, etc.
- Participate in Team Party or End of Season Activity, if possible.
THANK YOU and HAVE FUN!!!!
