Softball Managers Tips
I've added a few more notes on
other parts of managing. First off, if it's early in the year and your
league is a few months away from starting. Then it must be time for
phone calls and practice!
This is for the managers that can get the team out to practice BEFORE the league starts. It's up to you to get the field. So get there early and make sure you get a field for practice! Make the other teams wait, not your team. My #1 rule was... Keep the practice closed after warm ups. ONLY the team players! I would let some non team players warm up with the Sluggers. But when it came to the TEAM practice. ONLY the players. I wanted my guys to be ready, not the other teams players! Plus it takes TEAM practice time away. If your short players. Practice with what you have. Some times the Sluggers better practices was when only part of the team showed up. You can have a good work out with the right 6-7 players. Getting the whole team there is a BIG plus and will take time.
Get the infield ready for the players. What, are you kidding me? No. Back in the 90's and even at the start of the 40 & Over league in 2000. With help from Gerry, we would get to the fields early and get the one we wanted. Then we would drag the infield, rake the infield and put the bases out. If there was a water hose around, we would water the infield for'em. Now we're ready to practice. Take care of your players managers, get them ready to play ball. It can take a few practices to get all the players interested. Start early. Practice as much as you can. Then you'll be ready for the league! The Sluggers had a record of 24 & 5 in 29 season openers! You got a job ahead of you. Do it right. Good Luck Managers.
Most teams need extra players, you got to have them to stay on top. I remember seeing teams with only 10 players, then it's easy who plays but. What about players going on vacations? What happens when a player gets hurt or to sick to play? What if a player just ups and quit the team. Now you're playing short handed.
We all know everyone can't start on defense! Now the tough work comes into play. Who to sit, who to start, who to take out, (hint.. know your players). If you pull a player from the game or don't start a certain player, chances are someone WILL NOT like it. That's ok they shouldn't like it. But at the same time they need to understand you are the manager. You're doing it for a good reason and not just doing it to do it. I use to make my moves when the game says I can, by that I mean the games in hand, either you're winning big or your team is getting beat. Then you can move players in and out and everyone gets to play. Some games some players will not play and have to sit. Talk to them after the game, or even as the game goes on. If their team players they'll understand, but if they get all ticked off at you, and make a big deal about it, here comes trouble. Then maybe it's time to start looking for more players. Remember it's a team game. The better the bench players. The better the TEAM will be. Get TEAM players.
Which dugout do you like? First base or the third base side. There's a reason I ask this. When I managed the team, I had to fill out the lineup card, comes with the job. I also coach 3rd base during the game. I wanted the Sluggers to be in the other dugout. Here's my reason. The players on the bench try to be coaches when plays are coming into 3rd base. The guys start yelling slide or go home, not good. If you're the coach, you want the base runners to hear you not the players in the dugout. Some players just can't help it no matter how many times you ask them to keep it down. Be loud and use your hands!
A good 3rd base coach can and will get his team runs during games! Plus, if you pay attention, you might be able to pick something up in the dugout. Players can say things that the other team shouldn't hear. I've found out about players not being on the roster. You might be able to use that during the game! You're the manager, you do what you need to get that W. Give your team an edge! Have I ever used that in a game? Of course! I'm was the manager and we live for that stuff. Know the rules and use them! Don't lose a game because the other team cheated.
As the manager of your team, sometimes you have to play other roles! You have to been a mother hen to your players. You got to watch out for them, call them at times and make sure they'll show up at practice and at game time. Sometimes just to talk to make sure things are ok on and off the field.
You have to play doctor and make sure the players are not playing with injuries or playing hurt. One can get away with playing hurt sometimes, but not an injury! Plus how does that help the team?
It's all in their head. Some players worry to much about where they bat in the line up. Hey coach, I can't bat in the #3 spot, I'm better batting clean up or 5th and so on. Now you got to play the part of the head doctor, or having a PH.D. in Psychology would help!
Sometimes you got to make 'em mad to start playing or hitting better. But be careful with that one! If the defense isn't there, use him as a extra hitter in a game. Sometimes it's a good idea to have the players watch the game from the dugout for a different view of the game. They might not like it, but that's ok. Got a hitter not hitting? Try dropping them down in the line-up for a game or two, that's a wake up call. Take some pressure off and at the same time, you can reward another hitter for batting well by moving him up in the line-up. You win one, and lose one.
Here's one to remember for the first time manager. If this will be your first time playing in a league and really don't know how good your team is going to be. It's a good idea to pick the right division, if you can.
Parks and Rec leagues usually have different levels of play, (A,B,C or C-1, C-2, C-3) Nothing wrong with starting low boys. Because if you win, they'll move your team up soon enough. Then depending on how good you did or didn't, you'll see where to improve the team. Playing in a C-3 league or lower is a lot different that playing in C-1 or C-2. There's no need to go out and get your butts kick week in and week out, and end up winning only a couple of games. You need to build the team and at the same time, give the team a chance to win. That's your job.
The Basics - Batting Tips - Play Defense - Managers Tips - Practice Drills - Base Coaching - Lineup Ideas
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