Wesac Rules and Coaching tips - Coach Pitch

1. Have Fun!!
This is a recreational league. Some kids will know more about the game than others, but no one will know everything. Be a positive role model for the kids and their parents.

2. Teach Baseball Skills
When batting, get the kids to make contact with the ball out in front (towards the pitcher) of their body instead of waiting until the ball is directly in the middle of their body. When throwing, get the kids to step towards where they want the ball to go and point their glove towards the target. Work on picking up ground balls and throwing to first or get a force out if possible. Don't worry about anything more advanced that that. A few good habits started here last a lifetime. If certain players are ready for more, please take the time to help them improve their skills.

3. Everybody Plays
The defense is pitcher, catcher, 5 infielders (one right on second base) and the rest in the outfield, at least 10 steps behind the infielders. Only put players who can defend themselves at first and pitcher, but try to work everyone to that skill level during the season. Each player should play the outfield the same number of times as every other player. The child who only shows up once every three games may have some catching up to do on outfielder time (use your judgment and make allowances for legitimate excuses like school activities, birthday parties and family events). Make up the defensive positions in advance in order to keep the game moving. Write down who plays what, as kids and parents will complain about lack of time at choice positions.

4. Everybody Bats
An inning is once through the order. If there are seven or fewer players, and inning is nine batters (yes, if eight show up an inning is eight batters). If a team records three outs the inning is over unless it is the last inning. For the last inning keep the team at bat for the number of batters described above. Bat the team in uniform number order (or any order, it's up to you), but sometimes go backwards or start in the middle so that the same children don't always bat last.

5. Everybody Hits the Ball
After five (count them, 5!) pitches the batter MUST hit from a batting T or by having the coach deliver a soft toss from the side. There are two exceptions to the five pitch rule. If the fifth pitch is hit foul, the batter gets another swing. If the fifth pitch is a "bad" pitch, the coach can deliver another pitch. A pitch qualifies as "bad" if one of three things happens: The pitch hits the batter, the pitch hits the backstop on the fly, or the pitch hits the ground in front of the plate. Every other pitch, no matter how unhittable, is a "good" pitch. These two exceptions can be repeated until the player gets a "good" pitch that is not hit foul. Self esteem is very important for our kids. A player missing coach pitched ball can become very demoralized. Please be sure that you don't make hitting from the batting T a stigma of some sort. Explain that it is just a WESAC rule intended to make the game go faster with more innings played.

6. Everybody Runs (but not all the time).
Any runner who was left on base (except for first base) at the end of an inning may return to that base at the start of the next inning (unless the last batter also made the third out). There is only one extra base on overthrows at first (batter advances at his/her own risk), even if the first base player retrieves the ball and throws it into left field in the attempt to get the batter at second. The play is over and runners go to the nearest base when the pitcher controls the ball in their normal fielding position.

7. This isn't baseball yet.
No infield fly rule, no lead offs, no bunting, no advancing after a fly out. A batted ball caught in the air can be turned into a double (or triple or quadruple) play if the runners don't get back to their bases.

8. Games
Check the schedule for starting times. The first fifteen minutes of each game is for practicing throwing and catching (no batting practice on the field. You may practice batting in some other safe area). Talk to the other coach and do some joint drills. Games are generally four innings, but feel free to play five if time permits (total time is about 75 minutes). If a game is only three innings by the time 75 minutes are up, chances are the five pitch rule is not being observed or defensive assignments are not made in advance. A fast paced game is far more enjoyable for the kids (and the spectator/parents)

9. Tips
Have the on deck batter hit soft toss behind the backstop into the backstop. This keeps the kids ready to play. The quicker you get to the on deck area, the more swings you get before you have to bat. On defense, have the positions determined in advance to avoid kids begging for their favorite spots. Have the positions in advance also keeps the game moving and lets you get more innings in.