Coaches Corner

Mission Statement 

Willow Glen Little League believes in the power of youth baseball to teach life lessons that build stronger individuals and a stronger Willow Glen community. 

 

Role of the Manager and Coaches

A WGLL manager or coach is a role model for children who: 

  1. lives out the mission statement of building community and seeking life lessons in every interaction
  2. knows every athlete's story to build positive relationships
  3. establishes a supportive team culture where all are welcome
  4. organizes productive practices that embrace routines 
  5. demonstrates self-control and never shames a player
  6. celebrates effort and autonomy during games
  7. remembers to praise the opposing team for their efforts
  8. remembers that umpires are volunteers who will make mistakes
  9. communicates well to resolve conflicts with others
  10. remembers that we are all on the same team with a common goal of promoting competitive baseball that developing all players within a division

Adapted from: Little League's Diamond Leader Program 

 

Routines, Routines, Routines...

Players thrive with routines. Here is an excellent checklist from Project Play:

 

Specific Leaguewide WGLL Routines

All WGLL practices and games must embed the following routines:

  • Dynamic warm-up ("warm-up to throw, not throw to warm up")
  • Play catch with cones ("play catch with a purpose... take care of the baseball!")
  • Set clear routines for hitting/fielding stations and repeat often ()
  • Establish routines for gameday (eg dugout behavior)

Check out this terrific resource from Coach Jones and Coach Dyer! It was created and shared at the 2023 Upper Level Coaches Clinic.

Positive Coaching Alliance

The Positive Coaching Alliance is a terrific resource for managers and coaches! We especially recommend the PCA’s materials about being a ‘Double-Goal Coach,’ an approach that is in line with our mission statement:

Here are a few other of our favorites from the PCA:

Rules

Managers must familiarize themselves with their respective division guidelines:

Majors
AAA
AA
A

Other Roles

To provide a positive experience for our players, the manager needs to ensure that we have active contributors in the following roles:

  • Two Assistant Coaches: Chosen by the manager to help assist with games and practices
  • Team Parent: Assists the manager with coordinating all other volunteers such as:
    • Snack Shack (required for all!)
    • Practice Helpers (Optional): Invited by the manager to help with drills etc at practices
    • Field Prep: Help with field set-up and clean-up so the coaches can focus on the players (more below)
    • Scoreboard: Manage the scoreboard at either field (more below)
    • GameChanger: Assist with scorekeeping at AA and above (more below)
    • Umpires: Ensure a safe and fair experience for everyone
  • Supportive Crowds: Celebrating effort/growth of our players and supporting the coaches and umpires in their roles

Everyone must also uphold the mission of WGLL in every interaction.

Field Set-up and Clean-up 

Manager and coaches must take care of our facilities. We have been blessed by support by generous benefactors, and we need to take care of our resources.

In terms of games, the home team sets up the field and the visiting team cleans up the field after the game. If we are hosting LGLL or SJA, then the home team does both.

 

Set-up involves: 

  • Chalk the lines 
  • Put down the bases 
  • Turn on the scoreboard 

Clean-up involves:  

  • Dragging and watering the field 
  • Picking up trash and debris (including by the dugout stands) 
  • Putting away the bases (if last game of the day) 
  • Cover the mound and plate (if last game of the day)  

Your players must help you with this. We like to say, "we pack up the field before we pack up our bags." Do not let them start packing up or leaving until they have been dismissed by you!  

Parent volunteers are helpful too. Please train them to do the job properly.

The manager is ultimately responsible for making sure the field is properly cared for. Failure to do so could lead to loss of practice time on our fields.

Pitch Counts 

Until April 1, 50 pitches is the maximum. The focus early on should be on pitcher development, not winning. Remember that every team makes the playoffs.  

On April 1, we revert to the LL pitch count requirements (note: pitcher can go past the limit during an AB):  

  • Age 11-12 – 85 pitches per day 
  • Age 9-10 – 75 pitches per day 
  • Age 7-8 – 50 pitches per day 

And remember the required Little League rest requirements: 

  • If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed. 
  • If a player pitches 51-65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed. 
  • If a player pitches 36-50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed. 
  • If a player pitches 21-35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must be observed. 
  • If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required. 

For pitchers who are also catchers, please remember the following LL requirements: 

  • Pitchers who pitch 40 or less pitches (allowed to finish a batter at the threshold) maintain their eligibility to catch. 
  • Catchers who catch 4 or more innings are not eligible to pitch. 
  • Catchers who catch 3 innings then pitch 21 or more pitches are not allowed to return to catcher. 

 

You can review these LL rules here. 

 

Scoreboard for Majors Field 

The home team must provide a parent for the scorer's booth. That parent must run the scoreboard and, if possible, announce the hitters. Please make every effort to get the correct pronunciation. Kid-friendly music between innings is a nice touch too!

 

Scoreboard for Minors Field 

The home team must provide a parent who uses the SingleScore app to manage the scoreboard.

Providing Umpires (For Majors, AAA, AA, and A)

Please work with your team parent to ensure that you have parents for your assigned games. If you click on the respective link below, you'll see your name for the games you need to cover. 

  • Majors Field: Majors and AAA umps provided by Majors, AAA, and AA  (Link to be added shortly) 
  • Minors Field: AA game umps provided by A (Link to be added shortly) 

 

GameChanger (for Majors, AAA, AA) 
Similarly, please work with your team parent to ensure someone is on Gamechanger for every game. This is the only parent that is allowed to be next to the scorer's booth so they can hear the calls.

 

Uniforms 

Uniforms are provided for the manager and three assistant coaches. However, there can only be two assistant coaches in games at the AAA and Majors divisions (in accordance with Little League rules).  

 

Injuries 

Managers and coaches must follow all directives from our WGLL Safety Coordinator.  

Please keep the following in mind at all times: 

  • When in doubt, call 911.  
  • Always talk to the parent about possible injuries (Never assume the child will do so!) 
  • Text/call the WGLL Safety Officer to debrief any injuries, and that board member will help determine next steps.  

 

COVID Safety Protocols 
We will continue to follow county guidance. Rules may change as the season progresses. Please join us in enforcing any rules announced by the WGLL President.  

Most importantly, please emphasize the need to only come to practices or games when healthy - regardless of whether it is COVID-related.

WGLL Coach Justin

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