Hi Gang:
I thought it might be nice to publish our team adventures on a blog, as we venture through our YAO Rookie League season. For the newcomers, I'll tell you a bit about me. This will be my 5th year involved with YAO, which is an amazing youth development league for baseball. Great things are happening with this organization and I think you will find that the commitment from the top down is great! I am also involved with the local softball association, and from that standpoint we hope to get the YSL (Youth Softball League) back up and running, directly following the baseball season!
Back to baseball. As I said earlier, this is my 4th season at YAO, 4th as a head coach. In my first year, I was extremely lucky to have a great squad, who actually won the championship!!!! Last year we had a great team that won a lot of close games and although we won the regular season title, we came up short in the playoffs. We had an extremely large squad last year and while we will have a slightly smaller squad this year I don't believe we will have any problems with depth and ability. I would like at this time to welcome back to the D-backs Sherwin, Aidan, Tristan and Taylor... all players in their second year as a D-back!!! Their continued development will be a pleasure to watch.
For my new team members, and parents, I should go on record now and forewarn all of you. I have a unique coaching style. I'll leave it at that for now. Also helping me will be Mr. McKittrick and Mr. McPhail for whom I hope you will give equal respect. I value their assistance, and their word is gold with me. I will support them 1000% and hope you do as well. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me.
I have a pretty simple philosophy when it comes to baseball. I think it's my job as a coach to get kids at this age to love the game and have fun. Throwing, catching, hitting and running are all secondary. Yes, these are important parts of the game, but I think it's more important that kids develop a love for the game first. Victories are measured not in wins, but in smiles. Don't get me wrong. We will work hard, play hard, and maintain focus on what we're doing. We will win together and lose together, and along the way we will make quite a few amazing plays!
That, for the most part is the easy stuff. Now for my... rules.
1) Practices. I can't force you to come to practice, nor can I force you to be on time for practices or games. Practices will be Wednesday evenings beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the rookie league field. Please try and make it. The only way your child will improve is if they practice, and I don't know how many will practice at home. Practice makes perfect. If the coaches are taking their time to be available for practice, please make every effort to be there.
2) Games. As with practices, my only demand here is that we be on time. I ask that ALL players be 30 minutes early for a game, so that they can warm up, and I can set the lineup. If you show up 2 minutes before the game, your child can not prepare properly. If you are running late, or for whatever reason can NOT make a game, please call me ASAP (737-2811).
3) A MAJOR rule change this season. The history of the way we play is going to change. In previous seasons we have always played 3 innings and every player bats in every inning. That will not happen from here on as we move to a six inning game with a 3-up / 3-down rule. Once 3 outs have been achieved the teams will change over. This will bring us in line with Little League as we look to prepare our kids for the NEXT level. This may mean that not every player will get equal chances at bat, but should make the competition for at bats a lot more competitive. If you want to get more chances with the bat, all aspects of your game must improve.
Another key component to this will be punctuality. If you turn up late to a game, you will be added to the bottom of the batting order, and as such will NOT get the amount of at bats that the top end will.
If you are having problems making practices or games, and your child still wants to play, please let me know and we will try and coordinate transport if needed.
4) General stuff. FULL uniforms must be worn in every game. All uniforms, including hats should be labelled once received. I don't know how many times we have kids show up with incomplete uniforms. Your child should have his or her own glove as well. If they have a bat, it must be a legal little league bat, not softball or any variation. Bats are aluminum, not wooden. Also, please make sure that proper shoes are worn. No flip-flops, sandals or the like (this means practice too!)
5) Safety. We will always preach SAFETY FIRST. A fun environment is a safe environment. A child that gets hurt most often gets hurt because they were unaware or did not take the proper instructions.
6) Coaching. Please leave it to the coaches. If you are on the other side of the fence, please stay there. Do not ask the child to do something during the game or practice. If you need to give them a kleenex or a bottle of water, wait until the inning is over. Please do not coach them in any way. This leads to confusion and the last thing anyone needs is a player who is trying to do too much. At this level, it's more important that they focus on the game at hand, not Nana who is holding a camera and wants junior to smile for the "birdie". Kids want nothing more than to please you, and believe me... they will.
7) Game stuff. Lineups will be set and positions will be earned. At this point I have a good idea as to who, from my returning players and those I have seen play before, can do what. For the rest, I ask you to be patient, practice hard and play hard. Your turn will come. For the most part my policy is that we play our strongest players in the strongest positions (infield). There is NOTHING etched in stone!!! What may be our BEST lineup in week one, may change EVERY week after that if players are improving!!! If we get to a point in a game where we can "experiment", we will.
7) Snacks. MY MOST IMPORTANT RULE! A snack rota will be given. Each parent will be asked to supply snacks for the WHOLE TEAM - 1 week of the season. Please make a note of the week and DO NOT FORGET! Our kids deserve a snack after a hard game, and it gives us a quiet moment to reflect after the game.
I know it seems like a lot to digest right now, but most of it is pretty important stuff. If you have any questions or comments, please ask! The only stupid question is the one you don't ask!
Thanx for listening. I hope you will find that this blog will be a source of good fun and information over the next few months. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me via email - pray@transact.bm or by phone 737-2811 at your leisure.
Coach Phil
Another key component to this will be punctuality. If you turn up late to a game, you will be added to the bottom of the batting order, and as such will NOT get the amount of at bats that the top end will.
If you are having problems making practices or games, and your child still wants to play, please let me know and we will try and coordinate transport if needed.
4) General stuff. FULL uniforms must be worn in every game. All uniforms, including hats should be labelled once received. I don't know how many times we have kids show up with incomplete uniforms. Your child should have his or her own glove as well. If they have a bat, it must be a legal little league bat, not softball or any variation. Bats are aluminum, not wooden. Also, please make sure that proper shoes are worn. No flip-flops, sandals or the like (this means practice too!)
5) Safety. We will always preach SAFETY FIRST. A fun environment is a safe environment. A child that gets hurt most often gets hurt because they were unaware or did not take the proper instructions.
6) Coaching. Please leave it to the coaches. If you are on the other side of the fence, please stay there. Do not ask the child to do something during the game or practice. If you need to give them a kleenex or a bottle of water, wait until the inning is over. Please do not coach them in any way. This leads to confusion and the last thing anyone needs is a player who is trying to do too much. At this level, it's more important that they focus on the game at hand, not Nana who is holding a camera and wants junior to smile for the "birdie". Kids want nothing more than to please you, and believe me... they will.
7) Game stuff. Lineups will be set and positions will be earned. At this point I have a good idea as to who, from my returning players and those I have seen play before, can do what. For the rest, I ask you to be patient, practice hard and play hard. Your turn will come. For the most part my policy is that we play our strongest players in the strongest positions (infield). There is NOTHING etched in stone!!! What may be our BEST lineup in week one, may change EVERY week after that if players are improving!!! If we get to a point in a game where we can "experiment", we will.
7) Snacks. MY MOST IMPORTANT RULE! A snack rota will be given. Each parent will be asked to supply snacks for the WHOLE TEAM - 1 week of the season. Please make a note of the week and DO NOT FORGET! Our kids deserve a snack after a hard game, and it gives us a quiet moment to reflect after the game.
I know it seems like a lot to digest right now, but most of it is pretty important stuff. If you have any questions or comments, please ask! The only stupid question is the one you don't ask!
Thanx for listening. I hope you will find that this blog will be a source of good fun and information over the next few months. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me via email - pray@transact.bm or by phone 737-2811 at your leisure.
Coach Phil
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