Softball Managers Tips
I put together some tips, some words of advice and some of my softball managers wisdom. (what's left of it). This is to help give both the first time and the rookie softball managers some kind of idea, on what you need to know when putting a team together for the first time and keeping it together! So if YOU never managed a softball team before, and now you want to manage your own team! Please read on.
This can be very rewarding, it can be gratifying and other times no fun at all. You'll also find out it can be a 'Thankless' job. I know first hand. I did it for 21 years and for the most part a lot of very good years.
Below are some tips about running your own softball team. Things to learn, things to do and things to watch out for. Know your players!
Do NOT let anyone think they are doing you a favor by playing on your team. Always remember who's doing all the work to get the team together, and keep the team together. You the manager, sure you'll want to get respect for those efforts, but don't always count on it, if you do it right you will. It's your efforts and all the phone calls that makes a team possible, you shouldn't have to ever remind anyone of that, but sometimes certain players you have to, watch out here! If you are weak or not properly respected, some players can't even spell respect, your team will never amount to anything very successful. The one thing that most successful softball teams have is the guy at the top who is strong and sticks to his game plan. You still have to earn the respect of your players, this does not come over night, it takes time.
Be up front with your players! DO NOT make any promises you can't keep. This includes promises to players about their playing roles, this can be a hard one sometimes. Some players need to understand that you don't guarantee them anything in the way of their position on the team, or in the batting order, and that everything is based on how they perform. They have to go out and play their position and hit. As the manager, you make out the line-up, it's up to you to bat 10 or more, make sure you extra hitters can HIT, don't just bat a player to get him in the game, your out to win remember? Use a pitch hitter, or use a player as a pitch runner, then you can put them in on defense, that way at least your players understand your trying to get the players in the game, but do it at the right times. Breaking promises is a bad thing, and you don't want to start something ugly.
Come on, don't take yourself too seriously. Although times will come when your team frustrates you and disappoints you, hey it comes with job, it's not always going to be easy, and you as the manager must always keep it in your head why you're doing the job in the first place. If you start to take yourself too seriously, you might find yourself sitting alone on the bench away from the players. The players have to know your serious about what you're doing, even in our mens 40 & over league the players know we're out there to win, but they also have to know that they can still have some fun with you once in a while, and they do! Stay loose and laugh. Try not to let anyone see when something upsets you to the extent that you loose your cool in a bad way. At times you might need to stick up for your players in a game, know when that time comes, but do it right.
Pick your Players Right. There are a lot of things to avoid when selecting players and picking up new ones. Avoid those who CAN NOT commit to your entire schedule. This includes players whose wives, the players kids, (kids come first) jobs and other outside activities will make them another no show for the game. It becomes very hard for your team to succeed when more than one starters is missing. Avoid those who have a history of being a problem. Ask other players that might know them. Don't fool yourself into thinking you'll be able to succeed with these kind of players who can't listen to the manager. I've done this and it DOES NOT work, and that's the way we learn!
Do your paper-work first. Sometimes you just need to pass on a more talented player that you can not count on for one reason or another, and pick the person you know you'll be able to count on. It's better to start a game with all the fielders and not playing short handed. Don't break these rules when you're putting a team together.
If you're just getting a team together to play for fun, or maybe you're looking for something to do during the week. Now you're going to manage, play shortstop and leadoff, even if you're not a real good shortstop. You want to play your best friend at 3rd base and bat him clean up, even if he can't hit! Forget what you read here, it won't help. You'll be the team that other teams beat up on.
Will your team have a sponsor or will you need money from the players? Listen up managers! Get a sponsor so you don't have to hit the players up to pay the league fees! YOU will have better control over the players, as who plays or sits. All players are even at this point. If the players pay they got to play. Plus, you can pick up some real good players if they don't have to pay to play.
By following these few but important rules, should help you have a better idea on what you need to remember when putting a team together. Managers tips continues in the Managers Notes section below.
Hope you found something useful that will help you with your game. Yes, it's a game we (managers) play. Here's to a winning TEAM.
- More Tips for Softball Managers >> Managers Notes
The Basics - Batting Tips - Play Defense - Managers Tips - Practice Drills - Base Coaching - Lineup Ideas
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