Coaches Expectations | Falmouth Maine Little League

Coach Expectations

Thank you for volunteering to coach in the Falmouth Little League! Your contribution is crucial to the success of our program, and we truly appreciate your dedication.

While coaching is a voluntary position, it carries significant responsibility. It is a privilege, not a right. The Board of Directors has outlined the following expectations, which we hope you will embrace and uphold throughout the season.

Coaches and Team Managers Responsibilities

As a coach or team manager, your primary role is to support the overall purpose of the league while managing your team and its players. The welfare of the league must always take precedence over the interests of your individual team.

You are responsible for communicating the practice and game schedules to your players. Practices must be scheduled through the league's VPs (Baseball, Softball, or T-Ball). Additionally, you must ensure that your team takes proper care of equipment, and playing fields. At the end of the season, equipment must be returned in good condition for use next year.

When questions or issues arise, address them promptly by discussing them with the appropriate people, such as other coaches, players, or your sport's VP.

VPs:

Baseball: Craig Bowden,

Softball: Emily Bienek,

T Ball: Jacob Furey

Email your VP

Training and Certification Requirements

Falmouth Little League, Little League International, and the Town of Falmouth mandate training and certifications for coaches who work with minors. We've streamlined this process for efficiency, but all coaches, assistant coaches, team managers, and other volunteers must complete training. This training covers youth coaching, sport-specific information, safety and first aid, and child abuse prevention and reporting. It takes a few hours to complete, but it is invaluable and essential for the privilege of coaching our youth. Falmouth Little League covers the cost of this online training, and you'll receive the necessary information via email once you are confirmed as a coach.

Additionally, background checks are required for all coaches and volunteers. Please submit the necessary documents at registration if you are volunteering to coach.

Beyond the online training and background checks, you may also be required to participate in assessments, attend sport-specific Coaches Workshops to discuss practice plans, team development, and skills, as well as participate in Skills and Drills sessions, all-sport practices, or other clinic-based training.

Commitment to Coaching

As a coach, you are expected to take an active interest in the game of baseball/softball. Enhance your knowledge by reading the Little League Rule Book, attending as many training sessions and workshops as possible, and watching online videos and tutorials.

Recognize that each of your players has unique abilities and potential. Encourage each player to give their best effort and take pride in their growth and development.

Ensure that the kids have fun! While winning games is important, it should not be the primary focus. Our goal is to provide opportunities for the kids, not to turn them into professional athletes.

Fostering Teamwork and Positivity

Your challenge is to get your players to work together as a cohesive unit. Recognize that the team is more than a collection of individuals; each player relies on the others. If your team gives up four runs in the first inning, it's the team's responsibility to come back and score five.

Never criticize a player publicly for poor play or making an error. Instead, have a positive, private discussion to provide constructive feedback, reduce any sense of personal failure, and promote improvement. Remember, kids respond better to encouragement than to negative remarks.

For example, if a player strikes out, praise their effort by saying they took some good swings or that they're improving. Encourage teammates to support one another, and do not tolerate any form of teasing or bullying among players.

Handling Personnel Issues and Maintaining Sportsmanship

When personnel issues arise, assess the situations quickly, calmly, and carefully. Clearly communicate to players what is expected of them and how they are performing. Offer guidance to help them improve.

Focusing solely on winning can humiliate players with less talent, while focusing only on feelings can deprive those who want to grow, learn, and excel. Strive to balance your desire to win with a genuine concern for the well-being of your players.

Maintain control over your emotions. Bursts of anger, aggression, and put-downs will not be tolerated. Any physical contact in these situations will result in immediate dismissal from your position. Displays of poor sportsmanship, disrespect for rules, officials, or opponents may lead to suspension or other disciplinary actions by the Board.

Teach your players to win and lose with class. It's likely that your feelings following a loss will linger longer than the kids' memories of the game. Keep things in perspective.

We hope this clarifies the expectations we have for you as a coach in the Falmouth Little League. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact any Board Member during the upcoming season. Thank you again for your dedication to our Falmouth Little Leaguers.

We are confident you’ll find this to be a rewarding experience!

Addressing Unruly Behavior

If you witness unruly behavior from anyone (another coach, an umpire, a parent, a spectator), your first responsibility is to calmly address the person and ask them to stop. If they do not comply, a coach, umpire, or authority figure (such as the league VP or league president if present) should request that they leave the premises. If the individual continues to resist, the police should be called, and the game should be paused until the person is removed.

Never escalate the situation in front of the children. Doing so may result in disciplinary action against you, including possible suspension or expulsion from future league activities.

Volunteer Coaches Agreement

All volunteer coaches and team managers are required to sign a Volunteer Coaches Agreement. This document outlines the specific expectations we have for every coach and provides guidelines for reporting and communication.