 |
North Colonie Youth Baseball |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
NCYBA's Coaches Manual Mission Statement: The mission of the North Colonie Youth Baseball Association is to provide a wholesome atmosphere for the youth of the North Colonie area to participate in organized baseball. Furthermore, we intend to establish a structure that will result in a well thought out and consistent philosophy that spans the entire duration of the players experience with the organization. We will treat all participants fairly and equally, regardless of their abilities. We will strive to continue set the standard that other organizations will follow by placing the players, their families, and our facilities ahead of all other considerations. The Directors of North Colonie Youth Baseball are committed to remaining strong financially to provide the best equipment, activities, and facilities for our membership. The Coaches: This manual has been developed to provide guidance to coaches at all levels so that they can best understand the philosophy, initiatives, and limitations that exist within the overall framework of North Colonie Youth Baseball. Our intention is to introduce each fundamental or skill, usually to a small degree of the whole, at an early age and then to reinforce and expand the player's understanding of it, as their development progresses in the years to come. In order to apply a consistent, organization-wide approach to player learning and skill development, it is critical that our coaches are provided with the proper information and guidance to accomplish the task. This manual is not intended to be a "one size fits all" document. Clearly players will develop at different rates and it is important that we recognize those differences It is hoped that this manual, along with the yearly coaches clinics will provide the structure by which we can each more properly evaluate the skill levels of our players. The role that we as youth recreation coaches play is an important one. For the younger player, we often are the first adult that they will be learning from that is not a parent. We should take care to protect the trust that is inherent in this role. It is our hope that our approach providing the information and framework for you to work within, we can best serve the needs of our players, their families, and meet the objectives of our organization. The members and Board of Directors wish to acknowledge the efforts and guidance of Ed Dopp, Head Baseball Coach at Shaker High School and his staff. They has been strong influences on developing what is sure to be an ongoing and evolving process of coach and player development for North Colonie Youth Baseball. Rookie League (5 Year Olds) Philosophy & Objectives: The North Colonie Minor League division operates a T-Ball division for the purpose of introducing 5 year old boys and girls to the game of baseball. The focus of this level is to promote fun, enjoyment in an entirely non-competitive environment, with no scores being kept. While some basic skills are introduced, the intention is not to teach in great depths but rather to promote the fun aspects of baseball and to take great steps to insure that the child achieves success on a small scale, whereby skills can gradually be introduced and mastered in future years. Key Initiatives:
Minor Division (6 Year Olds) Philosophy & Objectives: The basic philosophy introduced at the 5 year old level remains unchanged; that is to promote an environment of fun and enjoyment first. It is our intention to introduce game skills and learning in a way that will be almost transparent to the player. This level continues to function in a completely non-competitive environment. No score or statistics of any kind are kept and coaches are again expected to play all players in all positions regardless of their individual skill levels. Our objective is to expand the player's understanding of game rules, basic position recognition and to introduce base running concepts throughout the season. By the second half of this season, the player is ready for a progression to something that moves closer to traditional baseball. The focus of this level is still intended to promote fun and enjoyment. We continue with an entirely non-competitive environment and we take are to insure that the child achieves success on a small scale. We also begin to help the player improve on the skills that have previously introduced on their way to mastering the previously acquired skills. For the first time "live" pitching is introduced to the player in the 2nd half of this season as the coaches pitch to their players. Key Initiatives:
Junior Division (7 & 8 Year Olds) Philosophy & Objectives: At the age of 7 years old, boys and girls participating in our Junior level of baseball, for the first time, will experience a competitive situation as score keeping is introduced. Also, substitutions are a new experience and fairness and equity in playing time must be insured by the coaches. Most players will now begin to develop a desire to play a specific position. However, all players should continue to play a variety of positions throughout the year. The emphasis is placed on teaching baseball skills as winning and losing is de-emphasized. Standings are not kept, but the concept of winning is an obvious outcome of succeeding at hitting and pitching and defensive opportunities. When short term successes conflict with the longer term player development gains, it is always our desire to always opt for the course that will likely result in the player's benefit future years. Coaches and managers for the first time need also to manage the behavior of not only the bench players, but also the spectators. We recognize that players master skills in varying time frames and that less talented players at this level are very sensitive and insecure about their performances. While base running restrictions that existed in earlier levels are now lifted, it is not the intention to allow wild base running that would never be attempted if (and when) the players abilities is great. It is the role of the managers and administrators of NCYBA to prepare players from all skill levels for the next level, and at no time should the desire to "win," supersede this philosophy. Pitching skills begin development here. Pitching may be the most highly skilled position in all of sports. Patience and continued encouragement is needed. Future pitching stars will struggle to find the strike zone in Juniors. Key Initiatives:
Intermediate Division (9 & 10 year olds) Philosophy & Objectives: The players involved in the Intermediate division are diverse both in terms of age. The overwhelming requirement is to prepare the players for Major level competition, while at the same time recognizing that many 9 year old players will need to be carefully managed against what at times can be very high level competition. Base running must be controlled by the defenses and runners will not be required to stop unless the defense so dictates. Pitching and catching skills need to be improved at this level. It is out roles to make realistic evaluations as to where a player is best able to achieve success, both at the Intermediate level as well as beyond, and work to improve position specific skill requirements. Fair and equitable playing time for all participants shall be achieved. While it is preferable that all players start the equal number of their team's games, we require that each player start a minimum of one-third of the team's scheduled games. Key Initiatives:
Major Division ( 11 & 12 year olds) Philosophy & Objectives: While the "Major" division in many ways is the culmination of the player's Cal Ripken or Little League career, we are careful not to lose sight of the fact that many years of baseball and a great deal of additional learning remains ahead of the major player. Our objectives at this level are to assist the players in refining and mastering the skills that have been presented thus far. Official adult umpires are a new experience for the major player, and the managers and coaches should take time to instruct the player on proper player-umpire relationships. Much of what the player will learn comes from the examples that the adults both on and off the fields set. An emphasis is placed on accomplishment and player positioning is determined by those players that are best able to be successful, however since many players have limited exposure to more than a single position, we should take every opportunity to allow players to experience new positions. We continue to encourage a fair and equitable apportionment of playing time; however playing time will be earned by the player's ability, attitude and effort and shall never be either increased or decreased solely as a result of age. Also, while developing a winning attitude becomes an important part of the more advanced player's baseball growth, we need to be reminded that the majority of players at this age, will not become high school varsity or college players. Therefore, the overwhelming objective is to foster an environment whereby players can achieve successes, however small, and to prepare each player for advancement to the next level of play. Key Initiatives:
Babe Ruth PREP Division (Age 13) Philosophy & Objectives: Our Prep division was designed to create an environment whereby players, age 13, can adjust to a larger, regulation size diamond, without older, more experienced players. At this time, the player is introduced to a variety of new rules and requirements. Players should be allowed to adjust at their own pace and in a protected environment but managers and coaches should set high standards of achievement. While it is impossible and in many ways not desirable to eliminate the competitiveness that the players have developed in recent years, we intend to down play its role. It is here that some very successful Little League players may have difficulties with the positions that they previously believed that they had mastered. Our objective is to help with this transition while insuring that the confidence that the player possessed in Little League is preserved. Player abilities are now easier to analyze, and those players that previously were thought to be among the best, may now be replaced by other players whose development was slower than the others. It is our roles to fairly analyze these skills and abilities free from previously preconceived notions. Key Initiatives:
Babe Ruth 14-15 Division Philosophy & Objectives: The typical player that continues to participate will have mastered most of the skills and mental requirements that have been introduced and reinforced over the past 8 or 9 years. Player positioning is determined by ability to perform the requirements of the position consistently and successfully. It must be realized however that many of the players will have limitations of ability. For them, we intend to take great care to protect the teenager's self esteem while allowing those players that are likely to proceed into, or continue with high school level baseball, to have the opportunity to participate at the highest level possible. It is ever important to remember that by and large, this is a recreational baseball program. Once again, playing time will be earned by the player through ability, positive attitude, good effort and sportsmanship. Playing time shall not be increased, nor will it be decreased because of the players age. For the more talented player, additional opportunities to participate in a competitive environment will be provided via organized district all star games. Key Initiatives:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||