Middle School Team Rules / Playbook?

Folks,

It looks increasingly likely that I will be coaching a 7th grade club team this spring. I'll know for sure in a couple of weeks, but I'm trying to get ready because once it's a go then there won't be prep time.

Do any of you have a set of team rules/expectations that you'd be willing to share with me. My daughter's travel team has a set but I don't think they mesh particularly well with a school team. Also, and please forgive that my only coaching experience is with football, do softball coaches have a "playbook" that they use? Is this something I should consider creating?

Thanks!

Is the team affiliated with the school, or is it just for 7th grade girls (ie is it only girls from one school, or certain school district)? makes a big difference

The team is not affiliated with the school. It will be made up of players from a single district and will play exactly the same schedule as if it were a school team.

In short, the school district cannot afford to provide a middle school softball team so this club team functions as the feeder for the JV and Varsity program.

Hope that makes sense.

I would get in contact with the High School manager and see how they run the their program. Try to take some ideas from them. The girls will be used to that once they reach High School

reagansdaddy said:

Folks,

It looks increasingly likely that I will be coaching a 7th grade club team this spring. I'll know for sure in a couple of weeks, but I'm trying to get ready because once it's a go then there won't be prep time.

Do any of you have a set of team rules/expectations that you'd be willing to share with me. My daughter's travel team has a set but I don't think they mesh particularly well with a school team. Also, and please forgive that my only coaching experience is with football, do softball coaches have a "playbook" that they use? Is this something I should consider creating?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Given this statement my first priority would be getting a REALLY good assistant that has coached softball before. Like you said you have to hit the ground running and their is not a lot of time.

I'm sure there are lots of good tools out there to help you learn how to organize a practice for softball but having this be your first softball coaching experience might be tough...then again what is the goal FUN or serious intense playing to prep for big time HS program? Also completely agree with [MENTION=13941]finalcloud[/MENTION] if you are feeding HS see what coach is looking for.

makes perfect sense, just important to know, as if it is offically affiliated with school or school district, it puts some restrictions on what you can/cannot say/do.

M $.02, since it is a club team, you can run it any way you want that is in accordance with your sanctioning body/sponsoring organization. since it is designed to be feeder program, might want to emphasize development rather than winning, but that is JMHO. I believe all levels should stress development over W/L until HS (with exception of all stars, playoffs, etc.). will anyone remember in 15 years your W/L record for the season. But a girls development (as player and person) is a lifetime thing.

I am pretty sure DD's MS had 1 rule above all others, be on time. HC needed to explain what on time meant to a couple parents.

I would say DD's MS team was run like a TB Team playing pool play.

Everyone played somewhere every game, but not equally or in the position they might have liked. Everyone did not bat every game, ect.

You really do not have them for too long of time. DD's coaches had tryouts then assigned positions, not a lot of moving around on the field or batting order.

That goes to your playbook question, is we did not. Players had a fixed position and learned what was expected of them in practice.

Coach James is a MS coach, I think 7th grade.

I do not know if you have the schools behind you, like the ADs. They can be your best friend or worse enemy if you have a relationship with them. Pick best friend if you can.

(Since you are sort of a school team I would put in place an attendance and grade policy)

I agree with lot of the above (especially talk to HS coach(es) of program you will be feeding), but I would not fix positions at this age, at least not in practice. that age girls are still developing, too early to pigeonhole them. stud SS this year may be totally distracted by boys next, player who cannot reach from 3B to 1B this year may have rocket arm in two years. Try to develop all of them in practice, and if possible, given them experience at different positions in games.

the only thing like a "playbook" would be your signs, so you can communicate effectively with the girls during games.

DD is a utility player and I like moving players around, the Issue in this specific case is the amount of time the OP will have with the players. Probably about 6 weeks.

a lot of our school sports the teams (maybe not every player though) practice every day right after school (no transportzation issues for parents). lots o' practice time. softball starts practicing in late march / early april (weather permitting, live in mid atlantic), games I think in May.