Coaching Responsibilities
Expectations:
· Coaches will be responsible for making sure that their team has at least 6 volunteers (coaches, practice helpers, anyone in the dugout MUST be background checked) that complete and pass the background check. This is a District 19 rule for 2024
· Coaches will be asked to respond to emails from the league in a timely manner and provide any requested information within any requested timelines
· Coaches should plan to hold at least one 1.5-2 hour practice per week (tee ball and rookie should plan for 1 hour practices)
· Coaches should utilize the resources provided on the BLL website to help them with rules and other needed information (Umpire Interaction Policy, BLL Local Rules, Regular Season Pitching Rules, and Lines of Communication to name a few). In addition, BLL has a Board Member that will serve as the Coaching Coordinator that will help coaches with practice plans, drills and with setting up any additional clinics that coaches can attend.
· BLL is not in a position to provide practice equipment for teams at this time. When utilizing the Jumbo Evans, teams are allowed to use batting cages, nets, and tees as desired provided they take care of the equipment properly
· BLL will provide each team a full set of catcher’s gear when the Coach provides a $100 check for a deposit. Batting helmets will be provided upon request. If BLL-issued equipment is returned no later than the end of the season and in good working order the check will be returned or destroyed. BLL will keep the deposit if equipment is not returned or is damaged upon return.
· All additional equipment (practice balls, throw down bases, etc.) will need to be provided by the coaches.
Preseason:
· Coaches are expected to attend all player evaluation sessions that apply or could potentially apply to their division (tee ball and rookie divisions will not have evaluations). Dates are listed on the BLL website
· Coaches should plan to attend their division draft and be familiar with the draft rules and procedures. These rules and procedures are listed on the BLL website
· Coaches will be asked to procure a team sponsorship of at least $500 to help the league with expenses required for capital improvements and general costs needed to run the league. Typically, someone on your team will have a sponsor that they can help with. The benefits of each level of sponsorship are listed on the BLL website
· Sponsors must be turned in approximately two weeks following the announcement of the rosters in order to make sure the sponsor name makes it onto the uniforms and appropriate signage can be secured. This is a quick turnaround so thinking ahead would be beneficial.
· Teams will be assigned one practice slot at Jumbo Evans during the preseason timeframe. Once games begin, teams will be required to practice offsite, as all fields will be full of games. Teams are advised/encouraged to secure an off-site location as early as possible. Several locations are available in the community, however you will be competing with all BLL teams and some do require a minor cost. Some options for practice locations are:
o Bulverde City Park
o Bullis Park
o Several area churches have backstops
o Several area neighborhoods have backstops
o DBAT Boerne will allow rentals
o The area elementary schools typically have backstops
o Jumbo Evans typically will have open time slots on Sundays during the season but must be reserved in advance and will be done on a weekly basis. These will be first come first serve.
In-Season:
· Teams will have in-game responsibilities for each game related to field set up/clean up and scorekeeping. These duties are listed in the BLL local rules and are mandatory.
o Scorekeepers/pitch counters will be provided a tutorial video to help with questions
o At each game, each coach is responsible to have a team volunteer (not a coach on the field) keep either an Official Scorebook (for Home Team) or Pitch Count (for Visitor Team). Umpires will likely request this person to be identified at the plate meeting.
o Coaches should have a batting order/roster (with player # and first and last names) ready to provide to Scorebook keeper (and umpire if requested) at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled game start time.
In-Game Tips:
· Plan ahead- Coaches should already know if they are home or away and what those pre/post-game responsibilities are including pregame set up and post-game clean up. If you do not know, the rules are posted under the coaches tab on the website and have been updated. It would be a very good idea to direct parents to those as well to avoid potential conflicts due to the lack of understanding and for ALL coaches to go back over them.
· Designate in-game assignments before you get to the park. If people know they are keeping the score book, setting up the field, keeping pitch count etc. ahead of time it will save you from scrambling at the last minute
· If you don't know what the field set up should look like ask for help from the Board Member on Duty (BMOD)
· Write your lineups out the night before and determine your defensive rotations ahead of time
· Once the game starts make sure you know who needs to be dressed out as catcher for the next inning as soon as possible. Dressing the catcher quickly and utilizing the courtesy runner should get you at least 1 additional inning worth of time each game.
· Make sure you tell parents when and where to be prior to the game, don't assume everyone can read the schedules
· Get confirmation that players will be at the game at least 24 hours ahead of time
· In the divisions where it is applicable please make the scores/pitch counts get turned in on time
· If you have an issue with how the other team is coaching their players have a conversation in private with the other team instead of causing a scene
· Only background checked adults can be on the field at any time
· Understand how many adults are allowed in the dugout for your particular division. We can't have 5-6 people in a dugout. Tee Ball, Rookie, Machine and Coach Pitch get 4 coaches in-game and all kid pitch divisions can have 3. No non-players can be in the dugouts. There should be BLL Board Members checking on this, please do not make us remove someone as most people will take it better from their head coach.
· Understand that there will be missed calls.
Miscellaneous:
Several Divisions will utilize one-man umpire crews or inexperienced umpires. This is done to help grow the youth umpiring pool making it easier to get games covered. Coaches are expected to exercise a calm and reasonable demeanor when on the field. In the event that an incident occurs during a game that a coach feels is being handled incorrectly, the coach should request a time out and ask the umpire to contact the Board Member on Duty (BMOD) to help settle the situation.
Coaches should consider completing the umpire evaluation form located on the BLL website to help with training and continuing education for the league’s umpires. BLL encourages both positive and negative feedback to be submitted on these forms.
Judgement calls made by umpires are not grounds for a protest, for example balls, strikes, fair or foul and safe or out calls.
Failure to abide by the pitch count restrictions by a coach can result in a one-game suspension for the head coach on the first instance and escalate from that point. BLL provides a Pitch Count tracker on the league website. Coaches should be clear on the Regular Season Pitching Rules found in the LL rulebook and the BLL website.
Coaches will be required to submit scores (all divisions above Tee Ball) and pitch counts (as applicable) within 24 hours of the completion of their game.