Any adult who coaches a baseball team made up of children aged 13 and under is known as a Little League coach. The Little League coach will be in charge of not only teaching the players the fundamentals of baseball, but also of organizing rosters, uniforms, team funds, awards ceremonies, fundraisers, parent communication, and a variety of other tasks required to make a team successful.
In general, a Little League coach should have at least a basic understanding of baseball. Coaches who are successful have frequently played baseball and are familiar with the game’s rules. A Little League coach will teach players the fundamentals of fielding and hitting, as well as assess their strengths and weaknesses. While being an expert on the game is not required, it does help to have a thorough understanding of how it is played. Some teams compete for a spot in the Little League World Series, a national competition for young athletes, while others are more instructional and less competitive.
More importantly, a Little League coach must lead example and serve as a positive role model for his players both on and off the field. With the same respect that he expects his players to show, the coach must interact with parents, umpires, other coaches, and teams. Because young players are impressionable, it’s critical for any Little League coach to model the qualities he wants to see in his players.
Little League coaches will be in charge of coordinating team meetings as one of their responsibilities off the field. All players, as well as their parents or guardians, will attend a team meeting, where the coach will lay out team rules for both the players and the parents. In addition, the coach is responsible for maintaining a roster with contact information as well as managing any funds and donations. A Little League coach must be organized and friendly, as well as be able to manage a lot of information and maintain a lot of relationships, due to these administrative responsibilities. He is both a diplomat and a coach.
While high school and other upper-level coaches may be compensated for their efforts, Little League coaches are rarely compensated. Although almost all of the positions are volunteer, some teams may pay a small stipend, particularly if the job requires travel. Furthermore, because of the age group that Little League coaches work with, it is not uncommon to see multiple coaches per team to help manage the high-energy players.