Wellesley Little League - 3rd Grade League
Information and League Rules for Coaches
I. Code of Conduct
WLL has adopted a Code of Conduct applicable to all participants in our program. Please review it and understand that we expect our coaches to be leading examples of appropriate behavior for our players, families and other spectators. The WLL Board has informed all participants of the adoption of the code and will be encouraging everyone to understand it and utilize a Code of Conduct Incident Report Form at the WLL web site to report inappropriate behavior. We expect all coaches to not only abide by the Code, but to support its spirit and requirements. Any coach who does not abide by the Code of Conduct will be subject to discipline from the WLL Conduct Committee.
II. General Information
Philosophy – The 3rd Grade league is a developmental league and coaches are expected to emphasize having fun while teaching players fundamental baseball skills. Games should be competitive, but coaches should primarily utilize game situations to teach, by taking time out – during the game where necessary to help players learn good situational play and decision-making. At this age there can be dramatic differences in ability among the players. Coaches should emphasize to each player a goal of “getting better every week” and identify things for each player to work on that are appropriate for that player. Complement, praise and encourage each player for their personal accomplishments.Coaches should structure practice drills and games to insure that players are not standing around or spending too much time watching others, and receive ongoing coaching to reinforce proper techniques.
Pitching - A large part of the challenge in this league is to develop pitchers while keeping the game moving. You are encouraged to allow kids to pitch, but you should emphasize to each player that they will need to demonstrate the ability to throw strikes in practice before pitching in a game. This is only fair to the other players (on both teams), and to the player who would struggle on the mound. If you, as a coach, feel your team doesn‘t have sufficient pitching depth for kids to pitch the whole game, discuss this with the opposing coach before the game. We would rather have coaches share in the pitching during the game than have kids who cannot throw strikes make the game a slow, painful procession of walks.
Keep the Game Moving - Managers, coaches, players, and umpires should all develop habits that avoid unnecessary delays, especially before games and between innings. Umpires should be sure that games start on time and keep moving, but they shouldn’t have to nag.
oStart on time. The game time on the schedule is for the first pitch. All pre-game activity (warm-ups, batting practice, fielding practice, field preparation, setting lineups, etc.) should be completed at least five minutes before game time. Five minutes before game time, players should be on their benches, and the managers and umpires should meet at home plate to exchange lineups and review ground rules. As soon as their meeting ends, the home team takes the field.
oDon’t waste time between innings. Hustle in. Hustle out.
oAnnounce any defensive changes for the next half inning beforeyour last out.
oDon’t let catchers’ equipment delay the game. At the start of the game, the catcher should be ready to take the field with the rest of the home team as soon as the managers and umpires end their meeting. At the end of each half inning, the catcher should be ready to take the field immediately, unless he or she is on deck, at bat, or on the bases at the time (the catcher should not coach first or third base).
oAllow no more than 5-6 warm-up pitches for pitchers between innings.
oDon’t waste time between pitches. Batters should stay in the box. Pitchers should stay on the mound.
oDon’t have fielders chase stray game balls that aren’t in play.
Practices – Coaches should develop a practice plan in advance,and are encouraged to use a consistent structure for every practice. Running simultaneous stations that focus on particular skill development with small groups of players is encouraged. For example, one coach can practice throwing, another fielding (ground balls / pop-ups) and a third swing mechanics (hitting off the tee with tape balls, especially), and rotate the kids through each station quickly. You should also dedicate time to practice situations. Note that there is no field reservation system in place in Wellesley. Wellesley does not have enough fields for the number of teams interested in practicing. Therefore, we have developed a policy regarding the sharing of fields. First, scheduled games have a priority over all practices all the time. As for practices, if you arrive at a field and no one is using it, please feel free to use it. If you are practicing at a field and another team arrives to have a practice, you should be sharing the field. It is not “first come first served” with the later arriving team being out of luck. The appropriate solution is for the two coaches of each team to speak and share the field (including the infield) as close to equal as possible. This policy applies to each other and to all other baseball and softball teams in town.
Game Day – Opening day is Saturday, April xx. Game times should start promptly as scheduled each Saturday morning (with the exception of an occasion game at Reidy on Sundays). You should try to have your players at the field 30 minutes before to warm-up and, if the previous game is finished, have a quick batting and infield/outfield practice. Share the available time with the other team. The home team must rake the mound, batters boxes and around the bases after the game. Games that precede your time on the field must end prior to your start time and it is the responsibility of the preceding game coaches to make sure that happens.
Umpires – We should have umpires assigned to all 3rd grade games. Wellesley Little League plans to use our youngest umpires (probably 7th and 8th graders) to get some experience so that they will be better prepared for games for older kids in the NL and AL. The head coaches for each team should get together prior to the game with theumpire for the game to review the rules, including a review of the strike zone. Thestrike zone should be generous, as we want our batters to be swinging and not make it too difficult for our pitchers; always try to keep the game moving. (Allow 1 or 2 extra ball widths off the sides of the plate and from the shoulders to the knees.) You should explain the expanded strike zone to your players and the need to be aggressive hitters. Coaches should ensure that they respect the umpires and teach their players to respect the calls of the umpire. This is a developmental league for players and umpires; players must learn to abide by the umpire’s call and demonstrate good sportsmanship. Coaches must also not allow complaints from their staff, players or fans. The umpires have complete control over the ball field once they are handed the game balls - under the rules, that control extends to spectators, animals and the area surrounding the field (i.e., anything that could affect the safety and orderly flow of the game). Please communicate to the 3rd grade commissioner and umpire commissioner when an umpire does not show for a game - this is the only way to police the umpires and make sure we have a reliable group of young umpires. You should be getting a check from the league to cover the costs of umpires. Home team pays for the umpire. Keep track of your umpire expenses incurred during the year so you can settle-up any additional amount owed or money that needs to be returned.
Inclement Weather – Coaches are responsible for the well being of their players, and may cancel a game if, in their discretion, the conditions are unsafe or too unpleasant (bear in mind that it isalready a short season and difficult to make-up games.) Set-up a system to contact all players’ families (broadcast email via the WLL web site may be the easiest), and make sure everyone knows what to expect, in advance, if you anticipate the need to cancel a game, make sure that you and the coach for the opposing team have each other’s contact information and coordinate well in advance so that you can avoid communication problems. If the coaches do not agree, the home team coach decides. Ifanyone spots lightning, play should be suspended and players should be advised to wait 20 minutes in cars (not under trees) before play resumes. If games are cancelled in advance, the home team needs to contact and inform the umpire.
Pancake Festival – The annual Pancake Festival is the WLL’s single most important fundraiser and the support of the players and their families is very important. The date of this year’s Festival is May xx. Coaches are encouraged to find a coordinator for their team to manage the distribution and collection of tickets and funds.
Picture Day – Each head coach will receive a package with order forms and information for distribution to the players’ families. Picture day will be on May x. A detailed schedule for the pictures will be sent to the coaches. Try and have your team there at least 10 minutes early so they’re ready to go. By watching the prior team you’ll get an idea of the drill and it will enable you to get in and get it done quicker.
III. Game Rules
1. All players on a team should play approximately the same number of innings during each game, with equal time spent between the infield and outfield. A player may play a maximum of three innings at any single field position, except pitcher (2 consecutive innings in a game) and catcher (no limit).
2. A player can pitch at most 2 innings in one game. A player that stops pitching may not pitch again in the same game. All players should pitch from the pitching rubber, LL distance of 46 feet; however, if a player is struggling, the player may be allowed to move in 2 – 3 feet, in his /her coach’s discretion. Do not allow a player to pitch too close to the batter, because of the risk from batted balls.
3. A pitcher who hits three batters in a two inning period must be replaced with another pitcher.
4. All players must bat in order, regardless of who is playing in the field.
5. Batters must use wooden bats.
6. Bunting is not allowed.
7. Base runners are not allowed to advance on passed balls or wild pitches. Stealing is not allowed.
8. A base runner may not leave their base until the ball is hit. Play is dead when the ball is in the hand of a player on or near the mound.
9. Balks, infield flies, and dropped third strikes will not be called.
10. Base runners are allowed only one base on an overthrow into foul territory. There is no limit on an overthrow in fair territory. Tagging up is allowed.
11. Any base runner attempting to slide head first into a base must be called out, unless they are trying to get back to a base they over-ran or over-slid.
12. Slide or Avoid Rule - Base runners must avoid contact on tag plays. Little League rules state that any runner is out when he does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag. A boy barreling over a catcher to dislodge the ball in Little League should be immediately ejected by the umpire. On plays at home plate, both the catcher and base runner have the responsibility to avoid contact, other than that necessary for the catcher to apply a tag. A catcher may not block home plate without the ball in hand; if they do the runner must be called safe.
13. A team maximum of five runs may be scored per inning, except the last inning played. Use good judgment in the last inning.
14. No inning may start after 1:00PM for Saturday morning games.
15. Once a batter has stepped into the batters box, they shall remain for their entire at bat.
16. The umpire’s call must always be respected by players, coaches and spectators. If an umpire is in doubt about a call, he should confer with both coaches before making the call. Remember that common sense and fairness should always prevail.
17. Let us all remember that these kids are nine year old. Teaching the correct way of throwing, fielding, hitting and base running is what matters at this level, not the score at the end of the day.
18. Home team must rake the picture’s mound, batter’s boxes and infield after the game, filling in holes as much as possible. You should instruct your parents that this is a responsibility of the team, and not just the head coach.
IV. Safety Rules
1. Make sure you have a working cell phone and adequate first aid kit at your practices and games.
2. Catchers are require to wear cups.
3. Inspect the field before practices and games to remove any dangerous items (large rocks, glass, etc.), and make sure bases, home plate and the pitcher’s rubber are not dangerous.
4. Teach kids playing first base not to position their foot on top of the base when fielding a throw and trying to make an out, in order to avoid having their ankles stepped-on by a base runner.
5. Teach players to tag runners below the shoulder.
6. Make sure spectators, especially siblings, are kept a safe distance from the field of play and away from the bench area, which should be reserved for players, coaches and parents who are fulfilling a bench coach role. Players on the batting team should remain on the bench (or in the immediate area) until they are batting. There is no on deck circle or swinging bats except in the batter’s box.
7. Please be sure to remind all players and parents to be careful chasing stray and foul balls at fields that are close to streets, so that they mind traffic and avoid running into the street.
8. WLL policy is for there to be at least 2 adults at each practice and game. Every person working with the kids must have submitted a CORI form. Please be sure to adhere to this policy.
9. All home teams are required to do a small amount of maintenance after all games. This includes a quick raking of the field, cleaning dugouts (at Reidy sweeping out both dugouts) and cleaning up of all trash. Rakes and brooms are in all sheds at all fields. We also asked that all equipment be put back in sheds and sheds locked after use. As a reminder, the codes for the locks on the sheds are 2004. If we keep fields maintained on a regular basis, the overall condition of the playing surfaces will be dramatically improved.
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