Teach them to hit. Run the bases, until you get the lead. Ask girls to come to extra practices. Smile.
Most drafts are rigged, somehow. Try not to sweat it.
Most drafts are rigged, somehow. Try not to sweat it.
New LL manager- Drafting
- Thread starter pondo
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I did not think that anyone could get through to me- I honestly didn't. But it didn't take more than reading a few posts for it to sink in.
Thank you all. I definitely thought I was a lot more stubborn than this.
Her first year- when she was 8u- i had no expectations & 'presto-magic' - by the end of the year, her little league coach (female) had turned her into one of the best pitchers in the minor league. She was hooked for life. That coach doesn't coach anymore, although my daughter would probably give anything if she would.
9u was a little rough for both of us (even though she made allstars as a 9year old), and i knew it was because of at least my perspective or expectations- if not also my daughter's from what I rubbed off onto her. I swore to myself that I had learned my lesson about crazy worry and pressure... And we had one of those picture-perfect GLORIOUS years again last year... but look at me now all over again.
I definitely should have learned 9u that it should definitely be all about fun. And that it should definitely be about developing all of the girls. Thank you for reminding me.
My problem is definitely that I am way too high strung for this- yes... the fairness... the winning...yadda yadda... it all drives me crazy!..... - You are right though- with my coach... they will most definitely learn & learn well. He is the most fun coach too. My daughter just loves him. Got it. Thanks. I'm good now. Deep breath. Much appreciated.
Thank you all. I definitely thought I was a lot more stubborn than this.
Her first year- when she was 8u- i had no expectations & 'presto-magic' - by the end of the year, her little league coach (female) had turned her into one of the best pitchers in the minor league. She was hooked for life. That coach doesn't coach anymore, although my daughter would probably give anything if she would.
9u was a little rough for both of us (even though she made allstars as a 9year old), and i knew it was because of at least my perspective or expectations- if not also my daughter's from what I rubbed off onto her. I swore to myself that I had learned my lesson about crazy worry and pressure... And we had one of those picture-perfect GLORIOUS years again last year... but look at me now all over again.
I definitely should have learned 9u that it should definitely be all about fun. And that it should definitely be about developing all of the girls. Thank you for reminding me.
My problem is definitely that I am way too high strung for this- yes... the fairness... the winning...yadda yadda... it all drives me crazy!..... - You are right though- with my coach... they will most definitely learn & learn well. He is the most fun coach too. My daughter just loves him. Got it. Thanks. I'm good now. Deep breath. Much appreciated.
We have one of the fairest drafts around IMHO. Coaches without pitcher daughters draw for draft order and the First two rounds are pitchers only drafting is a serpentine format. Coaches draw for draft order again for third round which is the position player draft also serpentine. The exception is the coach who had the first pitcher pick cannot have the first position player pick. If a player does not try out as a pitcher then she cannot pitch. This eliminates the hiding of pitchers, and if they are just unable to get to the draft they will get them to a separate tryout to show there skills. Coaches kids go through the tryout process and are slotted according to how they are ranked, which is agreed upon by the other coaches, commissioner and player agent. It's not worth screwing them and over ranking them because they will do the same to your kid.
This format works well and makes the teams pretty even. From here usually the best coach wins.
This format works well and makes the teams pretty even. From here usually the best coach wins.
It IS all about the fun.
A few people have wondered why DD #3 still plays rec league. SHE wonders it herself, sometimes.
DD3's PC has a son who plays LL baseball. In the fall, the boys and girls share fields (in the spring the girls play at the HS fields). There were a few times when her PC wandered over to watch her play. He said: "She's really having a lot of fun out there!"
And THAT is why I signed her up for rec league in the spring. I have no idea who her coach will be, or whether she'll get a good catcher. She'll have fun, and get some circle time.
As far as being too high strung -- some are like that. I know one guy who gets a folding chair and sits on a nearby hill when his DD is playing, esp. if she is pitching. That might not be possible if you are the manager.
Just remember, there will be a LOT of errors and bad swings, the draft will always be unfair, and the umpires will always make mistakes. In a couple of years, none of that will mean anything, but whatever fun your DD has, and whatever instruction she gets, will last forever.
obbay
Banned
Amen!
I'm sorry, your draft sounds much worse than ours. returning coach's DD is protected till the 4th round. Sisters are similar- take one and automatically get the other 3 or 4 picks later. Majors and Seniors players remain on the team till they age out. Our drafts are still full of politics and BS but the ground rules our local LL set up are pretty good.
My biggest problem was setting my expectations too high. Not realizing it but I would expect players to "get it" after a predetermined amount of time. I think I also started the season with an expectation of how we would be playing at the end of the season in time for the playoffs. As much as I enjoy the playoffs, it probably isn't a good idea. puts too much emphasis on winning when you are basically playing in a "fun" league which is a mixture of studs and unathletic kids who may have never played before.
The reason I mention this is that you and your coach can teach your players to be better ballplayers, but keep it fun and don't let the shenanigans ruin it for the team.
Good luck!
- Aug 9, 2013
- 230
- 0
Learn how to run the bases aggressively. Take chances. This is rec ball - in most scenarios it will take 4 things to go right to make an out. (Catch, throw, catch, tag)
Have fun with it!
Have fun with it!
I remember something from last spring that really drives home the difference between TB and rec league ---
I only saw a coach give a game ball to a player once, and that was in the first game of the season last spring. The coach talked to me afterwards, to explain why he gave the game ball to a new girl, instead of DD #3 (who was probably the best player on that team), and I agreed with him 100%, and thought he had done well.
A new girl is on the team, with some talent, but she had never played softball before. At first, she was awful, but that is to be expected. During the pre-season practices and scrimmages, she improved a lot, but still wasn't that good.
Finally, last inning of the first game of the season. Team protecting a small lead, runners on base, 2 outs. For some reason, the coach changed his lineup for the inning, and put the new girl at 2B.
Line drive right to the new girl. New girl puts her mitt out, and catches it. Game over, secured the win. The look on the new girl's face was priceless. A combination of "How did THAT happen?" and "WOW! I really DID IT!". Coach takes the girls aside, congratulates them on the win, gives the new girl a game ball. Of course, that encouraged her to get even better during the season.
IMO, it is moments like that which make rec ball special. If you can tolerate all the other **** that comes with it, you will be amply rewarded.
I only saw a coach give a game ball to a player once, and that was in the first game of the season last spring. The coach talked to me afterwards, to explain why he gave the game ball to a new girl, instead of DD #3 (who was probably the best player on that team), and I agreed with him 100%, and thought he had done well.
A new girl is on the team, with some talent, but she had never played softball before. At first, she was awful, but that is to be expected. During the pre-season practices and scrimmages, she improved a lot, but still wasn't that good.
Finally, last inning of the first game of the season. Team protecting a small lead, runners on base, 2 outs. For some reason, the coach changed his lineup for the inning, and put the new girl at 2B.
Line drive right to the new girl. New girl puts her mitt out, and catches it. Game over, secured the win. The look on the new girl's face was priceless. A combination of "How did THAT happen?" and "WOW! I really DID IT!". Coach takes the girls aside, congratulates them on the win, gives the new girl a game ball. Of course, that encouraged her to get even better during the season.
IMO, it is moments like that which make rec ball special. If you can tolerate all the other **** that comes with it, you will be amply rewarded.
- Aug 9, 2013
- 230
- 0
That happens in travel ball too. It is just not as prevalent. I do helmet stickers. I will always pick out one hustle play to reward each game.
i can sympathize, and also relate that it is more about seeing improvment in your team (as individuals and a team) than W/Ls. My league only had 4 teams this year in 9/10s, 2 in 11/12s, because it was known that the one coach and his "group" non were trying out for 10/12s. and since his first pick was a girl from the "family that wanted to be on his team", and she had three siblings playing (blended family, one was actually 11, but allowed to play down for convenience fo the family), this coach got three really good players (fourth was only 8 yrs old), and still only counted for 1 round of draft.
Next year, not going to be draft in our league. all players (including from lower division moving up) will be rated by their coaches, division and league officials will put together teams in buckets. If you really want a player that is in bucket assigned to another coach (whether for the player, for parent as assistant, whatever), then you have to trade. I am also going to highly suggest that if girls indicate they will not play up, then they should be ineligible for all stars. My older daughter played majors, both teams have 14, really tough on coaches and players. Minors 4 teams had 11 each. Moving up 8 10 yr olds to 11/12s would mean each division had three teams of 12 (ideal for softball in my mind), instead of minors with 4 teams of 11 (and scrambling to borrow players some nightS), and two teams of 14 (lots of girls sitting 2 innings per game.
Next year, not going to be draft in our league. all players (including from lower division moving up) will be rated by their coaches, division and league officials will put together teams in buckets. If you really want a player that is in bucket assigned to another coach (whether for the player, for parent as assistant, whatever), then you have to trade. I am also going to highly suggest that if girls indicate they will not play up, then they should be ineligible for all stars. My older daughter played majors, both teams have 14, really tough on coaches and players. Minors 4 teams had 11 each. Moving up 8 10 yr olds to 11/12s would mean each division had three teams of 12 (ideal for softball in my mind), instead of minors with 4 teams of 11 (and scrambling to borrow players some nightS), and two teams of 14 (lots of girls sitting 2 innings per game.
So Little League right...
A Player Agent can not be involved directly in running the division they want to coach - another person NOT associated with the division needs to be appointed. You are not allowed direct authority over a division where you intend to play an official role. The VP & Player Agent in this situation are not allowed to run the draft:
From LL:
"The player agent must not manage, coach or umpire in the division over which he/she has authority, unless the local league has received explicit written permission to allow this from Little League International."
I ran LL softball as VP for 3 years. I excused myself from any player decisions in any division my DD was involved in and had a trusted person assigned as the commissioner/player agent for that division.
A Player Agent can not be involved directly in running the division they want to coach - another person NOT associated with the division needs to be appointed. You are not allowed direct authority over a division where you intend to play an official role. The VP & Player Agent in this situation are not allowed to run the draft:
From LL:
"The player agent must not manage, coach or umpire in the division over which he/she has authority, unless the local league has received explicit written permission to allow this from Little League International."
I ran LL softball as VP for 3 years. I excused myself from any player decisions in any division my DD was involved in and had a trusted person assigned as the commissioner/player agent for that division.
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