Managing 12 players
- Thread starter richard
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- Decide what you want to accomplish with this team. Seek advice in formulating that game plan and make sure that it is age-appropriate and serves your players and not just the coaches and parents.
- Announce that plan to the parents before you start, and how you hope to accomplish it.
- Stick with the plan unless it becomes obvious that the original plan was flawed and is causing problems.
- Continue to respect the opinions of parents and the players and remember that the coach is the leader, not the owner, of the team.
Perhaps the biggest decisions is how you plan to use the roster. Will you bat everyone? Will you bat only 9? Will players play one position primarily, or move about? Will you make roster additions mid-season? If so, under what circumstances? What's your policy on pickup players? Parents care about those things more than anything, IMO.
- Announce that plan to the parents before you start, and how you hope to accomplish it.
- Stick with the plan unless it becomes obvious that the original plan was flawed and is causing problems.
- Continue to respect the opinions of parents and the players and remember that the coach is the leader, not the owner, of the team.
Perhaps the biggest decisions is how you plan to use the roster. Will you bat everyone? Will you bat only 9? Will players play one position primarily, or move about? Will you make roster additions mid-season? If so, under what circumstances? What's your policy on pickup players? Parents care about those things more than anything, IMO.
At 10U, I bat everyone until the rules say that I cannot. With this, you get unlimited free substitutions. It's easy to get the girls in and out. Remember that getting them play time is paramount. The more time, the better they get. Fundamentals, fundamentals, and more fundamentals. Oh, try to mix in some fun time, too.
Good luck and have fun.
Good luck and have fun.
I can't speak for all teams but my DD is in a similar case at 10U B/C right now. A ball might be different story.
The coach batted all on Saturday and subbed in frequently like smddad noted.
On Sunday he batted 10 (with the EP) and subbed in the 2 bench players after starters got 1 PA and 2 innings in field.
At least for the last weekend that seemed to keep all the parents and players happy.
You mileage may vary.
The coach batted all on Saturday and subbed in frequently like smddad noted.
On Sunday he batted 10 (with the EP) and subbed in the 2 bench players after starters got 1 PA and 2 innings in field.
At least for the last weekend that seemed to keep all the parents and players happy.
You mileage may vary.
Agree with everyone, bat everyone on Saturday always. Stress the you are trying to develop players while trying to win but not at all costs. Sub out everyone on Saturday. Even your best players and see how they react to sitting a little. Some will pout, others will be team leaders an cheer on the rest.
Some might disagree, but encourage the parents to discuss concerns with you (after the 24 hour waiting period). When possible try and keep the team together on the road so parents get to know each other.
Some might disagree, but encourage the parents to discuss concerns with you (after the 24 hour waiting period). When possible try and keep the team together on the road so parents get to know each other.
If this is a new team, you need to find out where you are and where you need to go. Play a tournament ASAP. You might get pummeled, but it will open eyes and help you with planning a road map on how to get where you need to be. The girls need to see and learn these things, too, and other, more established teams will be quite willing to teach them. Let 'em do it.
That's not an agreement, fwiw. One says bat everyone. Another says bat everyone on Saturday. Jest sayin'.
- Aug 12, 2014
- 648
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I found it was easier to do a lot of th e juggling earlier in the game, such as putting a weaker player at 2b, sitting out the better players. That way we could get everyone playing time and still have our best team on the field in the late innings.
ConorMacleod
Practice Like You Play
- Jul 30, 2012
- 188
- 0
Pool Play:
-Even playing time in the field for all (could take several tourneys/games to accomplish this. I rotate girls 2 innings on bench and then 2 in field. Most of our games go 4 innings).
-Pool play is a great time to get your best players some rest/bench time so they are fresh for Sunday.
-Find everyone 2 main positions to play, if possible.
-Bat everyone equally. You can keep same order, but I start the next game with whoever ended the previous game in the on-deck circle. At least for fall ball. Spring time you might want to keep same order.
Bracket Play:
-Bat everyone. They are 9 & 10! A plastic trophy is no excuse to not bat a 9 year old. She isn't going to get better by not batting.
-Best defensive positions for everyone, and everyone plays at least half the game. Best players generally don't sit, unless you move into consolation games, but no player sits the entire game...ever.
-Even playing time in the field for all (could take several tourneys/games to accomplish this. I rotate girls 2 innings on bench and then 2 in field. Most of our games go 4 innings).
-Pool play is a great time to get your best players some rest/bench time so they are fresh for Sunday.
-Find everyone 2 main positions to play, if possible.
-Bat everyone equally. You can keep same order, but I start the next game with whoever ended the previous game in the on-deck circle. At least for fall ball. Spring time you might want to keep same order.
Bracket Play:
-Bat everyone. They are 9 & 10! A plastic trophy is no excuse to not bat a 9 year old. She isn't going to get better by not batting.
-Best defensive positions for everyone, and everyone plays at least half the game. Best players generally don't sit, unless you move into consolation games, but no player sits the entire game...ever.
ConorMacleod
Practice Like You Play
- Jul 30, 2012
- 188
- 0
BTW; I'm sure there are others that win many more games than I do. But, that's not how I judge success. I had very new players at 12u last year, so we took our lumps. And all 10 players (with some moving up to 14u) that I ended the season with signed up for another year of softball this season.
