New U10 Coach

Hello all, I'm a new head coach for my daughters U10 team. Last year I was basically acting in an assistant coach role so I have some experience wandering the field. But well, I never played growing up so my rule knowledge and how to teach skills etc is definitely lacking. Reading here, youtube, taking local coaching clinics has been extremely helpful though.

Anyway, the start to our season due to weather has been rocky. We had our first game on Saturday, and the team wasn't even able to meet or have a practice before hand. Our fields have been closed due to rain and they are basically a swamp, dried up enough to play and now they are closed again. I feel bad for the girls as it's not fair to them to throw them out like that. They aren't the most naturally talented group and really could use one on one time.

Any advice on how to deal with this/turn games into practices? Since we've only had the one game, my current game plan is keep kids at each position for 2 innings. Gives them a chance to get a feel for it and me to provide some instruction. In general though my current plan is to get some camaraderie going. Simple things like getting them warming up together, coming on and off the field as a group, get some cheers going in the dug out and try and build that team atmosphere. I also want to try and get the girls to take a step towards the ball when it's hit even if it's not to them. My idea there is to keep them more involved on the field and keeping them engaged in where the ball is. It's going to take some time though as half don't know where each position is played. =)

Do not limit yourself to think that you have to have a field. Find a grassy area, tennis court or large empty room. Get some whiffle balls and nets. Teach overhand throw and hitting.
Have fun.

You should set your location to Canada.

Sounds like what you are trying is good. If you are having trouble getting together as Team really encourage the players to play catch at home.

Amy in AZ. said:

Do not limit yourself to think that you have to have a field. Find a grassy area, tennis court or large empty room. Get some whiffle balls and nets. Teach overhand throw and hitting.
Have fun.

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Good idea, I'll see if the club has any resources available to do that. I know we weren't able to get access to any other fields, we were trying to do that.

quincy said:

You should set your location to Canada.

Sounds like what you are trying is good. If you are having trouble getting together as Team really encourage the players to play catch at home.

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What gave it away? =)

for just catching and throwing, any area will do, basketball court, parking lot even (most elementary school parking lots are empty after 5 PM) can also do pop fly work anywhere. if it is a matter of permission from the town, do they regulate who can show up and use public parks? is it a matter of insurance, I used to host unofficial non team workouts at fields not on our organizations insured list, non mandatory, but some girls showed, and we got some good work in.

wiffles for hitting practice practically anywhere is great idea. hitting off tee into fence or nets is beneficial too. maybe make an optional night at a batting cage, if entire team chips in, tunnel rentals are normally not that bad. have them show up staggered, so not a lot of standing, and get them some BP.

get girls working on pitching ASAP. key, lack of decent pitching turns games into nightmares for both teams.

the only thing you really need an "infield" for is ground ball practice, and they will need lots of it, so try to find somewhere you can do this.

also, tell the girls to bug their parents to play catch. don't ask parents, get the girls to bug them. who can resist their cute lovable daughter.

and get some whiskey for after games

I'm also a first year 10U fastpitch coach who did not grow up playing baseball. Our season started in early March. We're in Seattle so I imagine we've had similar weather to you, which is to say horrible.

I'll offer a couple pieces of advice that worked for me and helped with my confidence as a coach:
- I asked another 10U coach in my league to let me join his practice. This was a great way to watch and learn. It picked up some new ideas, plus it made me feel better about the things i was doing right.
- I tracked down a private hitting instructor and private pitching instructor for my daughter. I had already scoured the internet to get a good understanding of the basics, but if anyone asked me why I taught things a certain way, I didn't want to respond, "Um, Youtube." Learning pitching and hitting mechanics from a pro was very helpful, and I passed along the info to my team.

Around here there are a couple elementary schools with decently large covered areas that we can hold a modified practice if the fields are in bad shape. The league supplied a hitting wand as well as a net that we can hit into. I also bought a Skilz Hit-a-way that we use even when it's nice and before games.

I didn't realize how valuable practices are until games started. I've found it's almost impossible to teach a new concept prior to a game. Now, even if it's raining, we'll either practice in the rain or find a covered area instead of canceling.

Good luck!

Another thing that has not been mentioned is older players need volunteer time for college, see if you can find someone to help sometimes.

I told DD, do this. Blank stair. Do this, blank stair.

16U told her, that makes sense thanks.

expeklaha said:

I'm also a first year 10U fastpitch coach who did not grow up playing baseball. Our season started in early March. We're in Seattle so I imagine we've had similar weather to you, which is to say horrible.

I'll offer a couple pieces of advice that worked for me and helped with my confidence as a coach:
- I asked another 10U coach in my league to let me join his practice. This was a great way to watch and learn. It picked up some new ideas, plus it made me feel better about the things i was doing right.
- I tracked down a private hitting instructor and private pitching instructor for my daughter. I had already scoured the internet to get a good understanding of the basics, but if anyone asked me why I taught things a certain way, I didn't want to respond, "Um, Youtube." Learning pitching and hitting mechanics from a pro was very helpful, and I passed along the info to my team.

Around here there are a couple elementary schools with decently large covered areas that we can hold a modified practice if the fields are in bad shape. The league supplied a hitting wand as well as a net that we can hit into. I also bought a Skilz Hit-a-way that we use even when it's nice and before games.

I didn't realize how valuable practices are until games started. I've found it's almost impossible to teach a new concept prior to a game. Now, even if it's raining, we'll either practice in the rain or find a covered area instead of canceling.

Good luck!

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Unfortunately, elementary schools with gyms cost a fair amount of money to rent apparantly around here when I asked about getting us into one. Anyway, weather appears to be turning around now. =) I like the idea of asking to attend anothers coaching session, I will see if I can do that.

At least for pitching, my daughter attended a pitching clinic that went through everything and so I at least understand the fundamentals of that fairly well. Trying to teach catching, batting, throwing, no so sure but they are all coming along. Searching for and trying to come up with fun hitting drills, running drills for next games practice.

VillageBC said:

Unfortunately, elementary schools with gyms cost a fair amount of money to rent apparantly around here when I asked about getting us into one. Anyway, weather appears to be turning around now. =) I like the idea of asking to attend anothers coaching session, I will see if I can do that.

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try going through AD or softball coach at the HS. Most (the good ones) will try and be supportive for local youth programs, as it can only benefit their programs down the road. I know the TB team DD2 plays for one town over gets free or greatly reduced cost use of middle school gym one night a week for about 3 months. If you do get access, make certain to follow all their rules, be respectful, clean up after yourselves, etc..

Well our season just wrapped up. I'm so incredibly proud of the girls during their final tournament. It turned into an awesome Cinderella story for them and an experience I will never forget. I'm admitting gushing with just how hard they worked to do what they did.

Thanks everyone for advice, tips, reading through this was extremely helpful.