Doug's Top Ten Coaching Tips

I have had the blessing of playing in 7 championship games and winning 1. I offer some coaching advice from these experiences.

Doug's Top Ten Tips for Tournament Play

1.) Focus - Focus - Focus. Tournament play demands very focused ball play for each player at their respective positions.

2.) Manage well. Each position should be complimented by the best player you have for that position. Just putting people anywhere adhoc will not get you far in bracket play.

3.) Cut - Cut - Cut. If your team has not yet mastered the art of the cutoff man, learn quickly BEFORE July 27th. As a rule, the SS serves as cutoff for any ball hit into left. 2B covers 2B. Reversely, the 2B serves as cutoff for any ball hit to right. SS covers 2B. The cutoff man needs to be in motion! They should position themselves roughly half way between the balls pickup by the outfielder and their position. Keep in mind their BACK is turned away from the infield THUS player covering 2B should be actively aware of base runners location(s) and loudly calling to the cutoff man 2-2-2 (throw the ball to 2B) 3-3-3 (throw the ball to 3B) etc. In the event a less experienced player is at 2B, make an adjustment as to how to handle this CRITICAL one-two punch. It is not enough for the cutoff man to get the ball UNLESS they already know where they are going to throw the ball!

4.) Pitch well! Pitchers take note, master the art of ball movement. Aim deap, aim short, aim for the rim. Note the batters stance. Are they crowding the plate? Pitch inside! Does the batter like to stand deep and then scoot up, keep them off balance. Short pitches generally cause pop ups or line dives. Deep pitches generally cause fly balls. Work that knowledge to your advantage. Do you want to try and get the batter to hit into a double play? DO not pitch deep!

5.) Short Fielder. With the 10th man rule, this extra outfielder is often overlooked, mis-positioned and becomes a 'toss in'. I have personally seen the short fielder (when properly manned and positioned) DECIMATE an opponents 'short game', which is the ability to spray the ball between the outfielders and infielders. Ideally, the short center fielder is positioned behind second base at around 30-40 ft. For a right handed batter, shade left. For a right handed batter, shade right. They need to be alert and watch for the batters stance. If a righty is up and all of a sudden while the pitch is in the air they are changing their stance to try and hit the ball to right, the short fielder should ALREADY be in motion towards right! IF they are already standing as if to spray right, be careful of the bluff. Have the SS help out and keep tabs on the short fielders positioning to make sure.

6.) Double Play mastery. I have seen this kill more rally's than I care to count. The art is mastered typically when the SS and 2B have a synergy, an almost knowing what the other is going to do to assist towards the goal of a DP. A ball hit deep into the SS position should be fired to the bag. The SS throws to the BASE and NOT the fielder. It is the 2B's job to reach the base and catch the ball with a foot on the bag and quickly throw to 1st. The art of knowing when not to toss to the bag but to take a step or 2 and tag the bag yourself and fire to first, is just that, an aquired art.

7.) Cork it baby! There is nothing more frustrating than to watch a player(s) or a whole team have a melt down by having their emotions get the best of them. Present this to your players;

Q: Which is the better option?
1.) Allow myself to get angry, or upset or bothered by a bad call, bad play, bad base running, failure to get on base.
2.) Keep focused cause it aint over till its over baby!
A: If you said 1, go home and come back next year!

8.) Who's got home? Who's backing up who? If your players KNOW this before the next pitch, you'll have a HUGE advantage.

9.) Got glove? I am shocked at the number of players using ball gloves that are shot and actually unsafe for ball play.

10.) Batting success. I've seen too many players in bracket play or other high octane games swing at BAD first pitches. If you see this happening, ORDER most or all players to lay off the first pitch. Of course your super-stars usually can be given the green light to swing away. You've got 4 innings of 1 and 1 count to get a feel for the pitcher and bat smart! Over anxious batters usually lead to an out.

I hope some of this helps and get ready! It's gonna be fun!