Calling all coaches!

All prospective Managers & Coaches, Planning is underway for 2014. As a first step, we need to identify and register the interest from all prospective managers and coaches. Little League requires that all managers and coaches are approved each year so this is only the first step but a very important part of the process. In the event we run out of available slots, some weight will be given to those who express interest early.

So please visit and complete the Interest Survey at: http://chlldc.org/managercoach-survey-for-2014/

 Thank you! If you have any questions, you can contact me @ plegere@gmail.com or comment below.

Off-Season Coaches Clinic

The Department of Parks & Recreation, in conjunction with Georgetown University, is sponsoring a free baseball/softball coaches’ clinic at Cardozo HS on Dec. 14. This is open to school, club and LL coaches. If you are interested in attending please feel free to register  which is done by sending an email to:CLICK HERE

For the full details, see the flyer: CLICK HERE and agenda: CLICK HERE

Arm Strength, Conditioning and Injury Prevention

There are many things to be concerned with when coaching young baseball players. Developing their skills and improving team behaviors are chief among them but keeping them safe and healthy should always come first. CHLL is very fortunate to have an experienced Safety Officer, Don Montuori, who has developed a comprehensive Safety plan and by all reports our fields have been relatively injury free.

Less obvious but perhaps even more dangerous are the long term issues associated with overuse injuries. We all need to be vigilant in regards to varying drills and activities so that nobody is taking too many swings or making too many long throws or pitches in a day, week, month or season. We need look no further than our hometown Nationals to see the impact of either faults in mechanics, weaknesses in conditioning or the combination of the two.

We should have strength and conditioning plans for all our teams and in particular for our pitchers and catchers. There are many different plans out there. Little League has one (see: LINK) and if you search back on this blog you will see examples of other progressive throwing plans. The importance is consistency and progression. This is something that needs to be done with regularity and done purposefully with a focus on proper mechanics being the first and foremost goal. The linked file here is the strengthening program we received from my son's travel team this year. It can be done with any exercise band product. The starred pages are done on one day and the circle pages on another day - (LINK).

Even with the best training program, you need to track the volume of pitching and be cognizant of overuse within an inning, within a game, during a week and over the course of a season. Do you know how many pitches your kids are throwing? Do they play on other teams? If so, are they pitching in games other than Little League? Determining how many pitches they should throw in Little League is pretty well regulated by the rules (See a good summary at: LINK). Our AAA and Majors Commissioners do a great job of tracking pitch counts and ensuring adherence to these rules. Following these rules should also be complemented with some common sense on pitches per inning and also augmented with an awareness of their non-Little League play.

Communication and Data are the keys.

Communicate with the parents and the kid and keep track of the data. I have 6 players on my team that play outside of Little League and I try to be aware of their schedules and do my best to be respectful of their arms. Luckily my little league team has been able to pitch 10 kids so far this season. This volume of pitchers has helped insure that no pitcher has thrown more than 50 pitches in a game and no pitcher has just now eclipsed 260 pitches for the season. This gives me great piece of mind when they go off to play Travel Ball on Sunday. In terms of gathering the data, GameChanger (LINK) is a life saver! I am very fortunate to have had parents/coaches that have tracked each and every pitch of every game on GameChanger – both LL and Travel – for the last 3 years. I know with certainty what nearly every kid is doing. 

Also – it is not just about pitchers! Track your Catchers as well! There are very appropriately rules about catching to prevent overuse.

• A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
• A player that plays catcher for 4 innings cannot pitch that day.

Some experienced coaches and trainers warn that while injuries will certainly be caused by overuse, the real warning signs are a drop off in velocity, efficiency and effectiveness. If the players pitch per inning stat is creeping up along with hits allowed and runs allowed, maybe it is a sign. If those numbers are staying even and there is a no drop off in effectiveness – play ball!

Key points in Summary:

• Develop proper mechanics as early as possible
• Warm up, stretch and condition before throwing.
• Pain is not normal in the elbow or shoulder. Never throw through pain.
• Don't pitch year-round. Take minimum of 2-3 months off during the year.
• Abide by pitch counts/innings pitched in every game.
• Seek a doctor or physical therapist if pain persists.

Rule 3.03 Substitution and Re-Entry Rules for Phase II of the Majors season

For the regular season in all divisions, we have used a continuous batting order and free defensive substitution. For some managers and coaches going into Phase II of the Majors season or into LL post-season tournament play, the carefree substitution holiday is over.

For phase II of the Majors season there are two items that govern the roster changes;

Regulation IV(i) - Every rostered player present at the start of a game will participate in each game for a minimum of six (6) defensive outs and bat at least one (1) time. For the purposes of this rule,"six (6) defensive outs" is defined as: A player enters the field in one of nine defensive positions when his/her team is on defense and occupies such position while six outs are made;"bat at least one (1) time" is defined as: A player enters the batter's box with no count and completes that time at bat by being retired or by reaching base safely.
Penalty: The player(s) involved shall start the next game, play any previous requirement not completed for Section (i) and the requirements for this game before being removed.
The manager shall for the:
     A.  First Offense - receive a written warning.
     B.  Second Offense - a suspension for the next scheduled game.
     C.  Third Offense - suspension for the remainder of the season.
Note 1: If the violation is determined to have been intentional, a more severe penalty may be assessed by the board of directors. However, forfeiture of a game may not be invoked.
Note 2: There is no exception to this rule unless the game is shortened for any reason, at which time the local league may elect not to impose a penalty on the manager/coach. However, the penalty in this regulation regarding the player who did not meet mandatory play cannot be reduced or waived in a shortened game.

Rule 3.03 - A player in the starting lineup who has been removed for a substitute may re-enter the game once, in any position in the batting order, provided:

1. his or her substitute has completed on time at bat and;
2. has played defensively for a minimum of (6) consecutive outs;
3. pitchers once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers;..
4. only a player in the starting lineup may re-enter the game;
5. a starter, (S1) re-entering the game as a substitute for another starter  (S2) must then fulfill all conditions of a substitute (once at bat and six defensive outs) before starter (S2) can re-enter the game.
6. Defensive substitutions must be made while a team is on defense. Offensive substitutions must be made at the time the offensive player has her/his turn at bat or is on base.

Note 1: A substitute may not be removed from the game prior to completion of his/her mandatory play requirements.
Note 2: When two or more substitute players of the defensive team enter the game at the same time, the manager shall, immediately before they take their positions as fielders, designate to the umpire-in-chief such player's positions in the team's batting order and the umpire-in-chief shall notify the official scorer. The umpire-in-chief shall have the authority to designate the substitute's place in the batting order, if this information is not immediately provided.
Note 3: If during the game either team is unable to place nine (9) players on the field due to illness, injury, ejection, or inability to make a legal substitution  the opposing manager shall select a player previously used in the lineup to re-enter the game, but only if use of all eligible players has exhausted the roster. A player ejected from the game is not eligible for re-entry.

Adhering to these regulations and rules can be as simple as "pairing" or "connecting" two players in a position in the batting order and insuring the subs enter early enough to fulfill their mandatory play requirement (MPR). 

So what are the pitfalls? Where are the gotchas?

Rules 6.05 & 6.09 - Uncaught third strike

In the Majors division, an uncaught third strike(commonly but erroneously referred to as a dropped third strike)occurs when the catcher fails to cleanly catch a pitch for the third strike. Any pitch is considered uncaught if the ball touches the ground before being caught or is dropped after being caught. The distinction is important as a cleanly caught ball that has skipped in the dirt is an uncaught ball for purposes of this rule. The specific rules concerning the uncaught third strike are Rules 6.05(b) and 6.09(b).

On a dropped third strike with no runner on first base or in any situation with two outs, the batter immediately becomes a runner. The strike is called, but the umpire does not call the batter out. The umpire may or may not verbalize "no catch". The batter may attempt to reach first base and must be tagged or thrown out. With two outs and the bases loaded, the catcher who fails to catch the third strike may step on home plate for a force-out or make a throw to any other base for the force. 

If at the time of the strike three pitch, first base is occupied with fewer than two outs, the batter is out and cannot become a runner. This is to avoid having the defense deliberately drop a third strike pitch to set-up a double or even triple play.

Regardless of the outcome of an uncaught third strike, the pitcher is credited with a strikeout. Because of the dropped third strike rule, it is possible for a pitcher to record more than three strikeouts in an inning.

In Tee Ball, AA and AAA, the dropped third strike does not apply and the batter is out on any called or swinging third strike regardless of whether it is caught by the catcher.

Prayers for the LL kids of Boston

In August 2002, shortly before my 39th birthday, my son Chance was born. Knowing I needed to get in shape to keep up with this child,  I decided I would run my first marathon that coming Spring and would run my second, the Marine Corps Marathon soon after his first birthday in the Fall of 2003. 

My goal was simple - Qualify for Boston.

I failed to do so in those two attempts but therein lies a blessing in that I became involved in what became an annual family tradition - raising money for cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. I became a member of the 2004 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team and even better, my brother John joined me. For each of the next 5 years, 2004 through 2008 we made the journey to Boston after a winter filled with training and fundraising. I made lifelong friends along the way and connected with old friends I had long ago lost touch with. My relationship with my brother, always strong,  was cemented over the many miles of running and through the shared goal of raising money for a cause we grew to love. 

For each of those 5 marathons, Melissa and Chance waited for me somewhere near the finish and on at least one year waited right in the area where the blasts occurred. The toll of 10 marathons has necessitated that my fundraising is now done on a bike in the annual 192 mile Pan-Mass Challenge but my brother still runs. He ran his 9th straight Boston Marathon yesterday. He had finished more than an hour before the blasts and I was quite sure he was safe but the time until he contacted my mother to report he was okay was something I don't ever want to experience again.

I am overwhelmed reading the stories of those killed particularly that of an 8-year old boy. He played in the Savin Hill Little League for the Rangers which was Chance's first tee ball team. Like all our CHLL children he was no doubt looking forward to the Little League season and like any young boy he was happy to be off school on a beautiful spring day. 

Last night I ended our teams practice by telling the boys, as I always do, to go thank your parents for bringing you here and tonight to be extra sincere and grateful when you do.

Rule 6.07 - Batting out of turn

First - thank you to our volunteer umpires that took to the field this week. I guarantee you that they handled all situations that arose as good or better than any of the paid umpires we have used in the past. An occurrence of batting out of turn came up in a AAA game yesterday and those in attendance made the best decision they could and all involved accepted the decision and the outcome and for that they are all to be commended. 

This is one of the most discussed and re-discussed rules in all of baseball, particularly youth baseball because the perception is that coaches can "game" the system to their benefit. This is true but most occurrences are honest mistakes and this is the foundation of the rules and the enforcement.

To understand the principle of rule 6.07 - batting out of turn - I find it best to skip to the end notes which state, "The umpire shall not direct the attention of any person to the presence in the batter’s box of an improper batter.  This rule is designed to require constant vigilance by the players and managers of both teams"

There are two fundamentals to keep in mind: When a player bats out of turn, the proper batter is the player called out.  If an improper batter bats and reaches base or is out and no appeal is made before a pitch to the next batter, or before any play or attempted play, that improper batter is considered to have batted in proper turn and establishes the order that is to follow.

The scenarios are way too numerous to cover. Suffice to say there are full blogs and websites dedicated to Batting out of turn or BOOT scenarios.

First, it is a call on which the umpire enforces only based on a defensive appeal. If no appeal is made before a pitch is thrown to the next batter or a play or an attempted play is made after the illegal batter was put out or became a runner, then the illegal batter is "legalized" and the order flows from there. 

Therefore, if an occurrence of BOOT is discovered by the defense after several batters have completed at-bats in proper sequence, they have missed their opportunity to appeal and the game continues.

Only one out can be called on a proper defensive appeal of BOOT. Defense can elect not to appeal and accept the outcome of BOOT such as a double-play.  However, if the outcome of a BOOT is a strike out, and if the defense appeals, the proper batter (batter who was skipped) is called out and the batter who just struck out returns to the plate to take the proper turn at-bat.

If a runner steals during a BOOT occurrence, the advance is legal. However, if the runners advance on a batted ball during a BOOT, they must return to the base occupied prior to the batted ball.

The offending team can only correct the situation by sending the correct batter up to take over for the at-bat for the batter who is batting out of turn, and he takes over without penalty with the count as it stands.

Examples from various sources...

Suppose the batting order is: Abel, Baker, Charles, Daniel, Edward, Frank, George, Hooker, Irwin.

Example: A proper batter fails to bat and is called out

Abel bats and is put out. Charles then bats out of turn. Charles makes a safe hit, reaching first base. Before any pitch is thrown to the next batter, a member of the defensive team asks the umpire to make a ruling. 

RULING: The proper batter after Abel was Baker, not Charles. Baker is called out for failing to bat in his turn, and Charles is removed from base and comes to bat again, because he is now the proper batter.

Example: An improper batter is legalized

Abel bats and is put out. Charles then bats out of turn. Charles makes a safe hit, reaching first base. Baker then comes to bat. A strike is pitched to Baker. A member of the defensive team then asks the umpire to make a ruling regarding the improper batting order. RULING: The first pitch to Baker made Charles's turn legal. The proper batter after Charles is Daniel, not Baker. Without penalty, Daniel comes to bat (replacing Baker) and assumes that one-strike count.

Example: An improper batter causes an out after a previous improper batter was legalized

Abel bats and is put out. Edward then bats out of turn. Edward reaches first base, and Charles then comes to bat and reaches base. The infraction is discovered by the defensive manager before a pitch is thrown to any subsequent batter, and it is reported to the umpire at that time. 

RULING: Edward did bat out of turn, but the first pitch to Charles legalized Edward's plate appearance. Therefore, the proper batter after Edward is Frank, so Charles is removed from the bases, Edward is returned to first base, Frank is called out for failing to bat in his proper turn, and George is now the proper batter.


If you have read this far...thank you. There is no chance you fully understand BOOT as a result of this post but I hope you get some of the basic most common scenarios that arise. If you have questions or other scenarios, post a comment and the discussion will continue.....I promise!

Rule 1.06 Disengageable Bases & Rule 7.15 - Double First Base

Coaches,

Please note that Disengageable Double First bases and disengageable 2nd and 3rd bases have been installed at several of our fields. There are specific rules regarding the use of those bases. Disengageable bases are designed to reduce the risk of injury when sliding into the bases.

Rule 1.06 ...Leagues are required to insure that first, second, and third bases will disengage their anchor.

If a base dislodges, the runner must return to the location of the bag, or the dislodged base. The bases we are using have a base that is the same size as the disengageable top. The runner should be encouraged to use that base in the event the top becomes disengaged. 

Rule 7.15 - Double First Base  - Regulation Permitting Use of Double First Base in all levels of Little League; Double first base may be used ...on the initial play at first base, runner must touch colored portion of base in foul territory while fielder must touch white portion in fair territory; ...runner uses white portion for standing on base or tagging up.

Some basic scenarios that WILL arise...

• A batted ball that hits the white portion of the base is fair. A batted ball that hits the colored portion of the base is a foul ball.

• On the first play at 1st base defense MUST use the white portion and Batter-Runner(BR) must used the colored portion. If the defense appeals and the umpire rules the BR touched only the white portion on the initial play - BR is called out.

• On balls where there is no play or balls hit to the outfield, BR may use EITHER portion of the base. Should the BR reach and go past first base, he/she may only return to the white portion.

• In Majors, when the batter becomes a runner on a dropped third strike, the defense and the BR may use EITHER the white or colored portion of the base.

Questions and previously undiscussed scenarios will come up...be patient.

Good luck this weekend!

-Paul

How I spent my Spring Break...

This past week I was very fortunate to take part in a week long baseball camp in the Dominican Republic Province of San Pedro de Macoris in the town of Consuelo. The camp was organized by Coach John McCarthy of Home Run Baseball Camp and was attended by about a dozen kids from DC. The majority of the playing time was at fields managed by the ImpactaKids Foundation which was founded by former Nationals and Indians Manager, Manny Acta. 

The field conditions were far less than ideal and the poverty in the surrounding area was overwhelming. That being said the Dominican kids were amazing. They were friendly, eager to learn, coach-able (despite the language barrier),  and very disciplined. 

Even at their young ages, they have a profound respect for the game. They were attentive and respectful to the umpires and coaches, Dominican and American. At all times they ran on and off the field and always were ready to bat when their time came. They valued their time on the field and valued the opportunity to improve themselves - every day! This despite most often eating only one meal per day and living in extremely poor conditions. 
On each of the last two days, we traveled further out of town and played on the batey of the Village of Chicarrone. The batey, a baseball diamond cleared between Sugar Cane fields, has hosted games for over 40 years. According to our host, Luis Noel, a resident of Chicarrone, one of 9 kids and a former minor-league pitcher with the Orioles, we were only the second non-Dominicans to play there. 

The field conditions were even more spartan and the living conditions of the kids even more dire but their smiles never waned. They were the most graceful athletes and gracious hosts.  To watch their very talented pitchers moderate their speed without even being told to do so by a coach based on the age and size of our batters was so impressive. At the end of the game, a clear Dominican victory, the Dominican boys surrounded our youngest player, a 6 year old boy from NW named Francis who had hit a "home run" during the game, and cheerfully carried him off the field on their shoulders while cheering MVP!

For the boys of the Dominican Republic, baseball has become their way out of poverty and it is also a welcome diversion from the challenges of their daily life. 

If we can teach our Little League kids to have half as much fun while respecting each other and the game half as much, we will have been be very successful.

Good luck this weekend!

Warm-Ups

In my opinion, warm-ups are the most important part of practice. Warm-Ups set the tone for the whole session, either establishing a routine and decorum or setting you up for chaos and dysfunction.

With slight variations in order to keep them on their toes, Warm-ups should be the most consistent part of practice which within a couple weeks players should be able to lead on their own.

RULE #1 - Don't throw to warm-up, Warm-Up to Throw.

We are all guilty of throwing out a bucket of balls and telling the kids to play catch. In actuality they should be warming up by jogging and doing dynamic stretches like;

• Butt Kicks
• High Knees
• Shuffle-Shuffle
• Shuffle-Turn-Run
• Karaoke

The Baseball Rox Site has a great set of videos @: BASEBALL ROX

Next Static Stretches like;
Pinch the Shoulder - Take the right arm across the chest and grab it, concentrating on stretching the rotators. Another great stretch similar to this one is to take the arm behind the back, pull the elbow down, and try to stretch as far down as you can. Then switch to the left side and do the same thing.
 
Pretzel stretch – Sit down and put your right leg over your left. Now hook your right foot under your left leg and pull your body the opposite way, to the left, while looking behind you. You’ll get a great twist, which will help you to stretch out your back. Be sure to do the pretzel stretch on both sides.
Groin stretch – Pull your feet up under you, and pull your feet together. Grab your ankles and push down on the inner thigh in order to really stretch out the groin.

Arm Circles - Arms straight out to the side at shoulder height with a slight bend at the elbows.  Palms of the hands facing down for 16  forward circles at 9 different checkpoints: 16 small circles, 16 quarter circles, 16 half circles, 16 three quarter circles, 16 full circles, 16 three quarter, 16 half, 16 quarter, and 16 small.  Keep the circles symmetrical: as high as you are low and reach backward as far as you are forward.  Eventually add one baseball in each hand for weight when ready, then two in each hand when ready, and at some point.

Start throwing with form throwing drills, if possible with taped balls. Tape Balls provide clear guidance on grip and immediate visual feedback on spin/rotation. There are commercially available products that include (2)colored balls, striped balls, etc but nothing works any better than electrical tape across the seams.
Begin with a discussion on grip -  teach them to hold the baseball in a 4 seam grip. The “correct” way to hold a ball to throw in the infield is a 4 seam fastball.  This can lead to greater velocity, and less unwanted movement. We don’t want to be throwing curves to our first base. Get the kids to hold a ball and show you the 4 seam grip. Some of their hands might be too small to handle the ball with 2 fingers, so that third finger is not a problem at this point.

Examples of throwing form drills, include:

• Out-Front/Wrist flip drill/sideways-knee drill/sideways on feet
• Thumbs down-palms away
• Glove side action
• Regular Toss > Long Toss

See this previous blog post for guidance: CLICK HERE

Here is a great 10 minute video of a solid throwing progression program: CLICK HERE 

If you are organized and efficient - this entire process should take no more than 15-20 minutes. The kids will be warmed up and will have reinforced a lot of fundamentals.