COACHES RESPONSIBILITIES

A Little League baseball coach is a dedicated mentor who guides and instructs young players in the fundamentals of the game. They provide encouragement, teach sportsmanship, and foster a positive learning environment. A successful coach not only imparts technical skills but also instills values such as teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. They play a crucial role in shaping the overall experience for young athletes, promoting both skill development and personal growth on and off the field.

Expectations for the season, including but not limited to the following:

Provide a safe and fun environment.
Place the emotional and physical well being of my players ahead of a personal desire to win.
Abide by all Pitching rules established by CRNAA in alignment with Little League.
Do the best to provide a safe playing situation as well as equal playing time for all players.
Organize practices that are fun and challenging
Lead by example in demonstrating fair play and sportsmanship.
Communicate respectfully to parents, athletes, officials, commissioners and directors.
Keep games/practices free from put-downs, trash talk and profanity.
Motivate with praise and provide positive reinforcement.

Attend Winter assessments for all in-house players (typically in March)
Attend Spring Coaches meetings as well as league draft, for those that qualify.
Distribute uniforms, picture day and Slugfest fundraising information
Coordinate team for any/all Opening day events as well as Slugfest (annual league fundraiser)
Communicate all game/practice schedules to the team using CRNAA Team Central tools.
Field Prep & Clean-up: Lining fields, raking, dugout trash removal, replacement of field tarps.

Abide by all Pitching rules established by CRNAA in alignment with Little League.
Read and understand the rules of each division of play and ask questions when any information is unclear.
Provide a sports environment free of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol and report to CRNAA any such activities that could prove harmful to players.

All Coaches/Managers must be background checked.
Travel Manager will publish game and practice schedules - coordinating with CRNAA Travel Comish for STBL (Suburban Travel Baseball League) schedule & umpires.
In-house schedules will be managed by CRNAA Player agent

Coaching Resources

CRNAA Parent Handbook
CRNAA LEAGUE Boundaries
Little League Diamond Leader Program- The Little League Diamond Leader Training Program focuses on ensuring children have a positive, well-rounded experience on and off the field. - Required Training for Coaches and Managers.
Quickball - we are adding this to our t-ball program in 2024
IN-House Tool - Track player positions & line-ups with this useful sheet - Get it here
RULES - in-house play

Using Sports Connect and GameChanger

Sports Connect Tutorials

Team Page Overview: https://stacksports.my.site.com/helpcenter/s/article/Team-Page-Overview?b=0011T00002RaROcQAN
Team Personnel Pitch Count Report: https://stacksports.my.site.com/helpcenter/s/article/SportConnectSupportClubProduct115000898871TeamPersonnelPitchCountReport?b=0011T00002RaROcQAN
Inputting Scores by Team Personnel: https://stacksports.my.site.com/helpcenter/s/article/SportConnectSupportClubProduct228186467InputtingScoresbyTeamPersonnel?b=0011T00002RaROcQAN
Creating Team Events as Volunteer - Practices: https://stacksports.my.site.com/helpcenter/s/article/SportConnectSupportClubProduct229726508CreatingTeamEventsasVolunteerPractices?b=0011T00002RaROcQAN
Creating Team Events as Volunteer - Other (ex; pizza party) https://stacksports.my.site.com/helpcenter/s/article/SportConnectSupportClubProduct229400967CreatingTeamEventsasVolunteerOtherPizzaParty?b=0011T00002RaROcQAN

Using Your Team Page - You can communicate with your team, set practices, save files, and more from your Team Page. Remember, you must be logged in to the Sport Connect website before you can access your page. Managers and coaches can access their Team Pages in two ways:
1) Click on TEAM CENTRAL > TEAM DIRECTORY > TEAM NAME > TEAM HOME
or
2) Click MY ACCOUNT > VOLUNTEER > VISIT TEAM PAGE
You can also access your page and communicate with your team via the Game Changer mobile app, which you can download here.

For a full list of functionality available on the team page, please see this article.

GameChanger App - is an app for your phone that integrates with Sports Connect.

Importing Your Team from Sports Connect to GameChanger
Before importing your team, you must download the GameChanger app from the Apple App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).
Additionally, make sure that:
You are using the same email address for GameChanger that you use for Sports Connect
Your team's roster is live on the Sports Connect website.
You are an allocated volunteer for your team on the Sports Connect site.
How to import your Sports Connect Team

1. Sign in to GameChanger with the same email address you use with Sports Connect
2. Tap Create Team or the "+" sign to create a new team
3. Choose the option to Import Sports Connect
4. If you haven't already confirmed your email address, click Open Email App which will direct you to your email. Select Confirm Email Address, and you'll be redirected back to the GameChanger app.
5. Select the team(s) to import. Make sure the team(s) you want to import have a check next to them, and then tap import in the upper corner of the screen. You will see the status of teams importing at the bottom of the screen.

This feature will import player/schedule information into the mobile app. Schedule and Roster updates made after the team import will automatically sync within the mobile app.
Note: You can only import your team from Sports Connect to GameChanger one time.

IMPORTANT: PLEASE MAKE ALL SCHEDULING CHANGES THROUGH THE WEBSITE AND NOT THE APP. Any updates made to your schedule or roster through the site will automatically update to the GameChanger app. However, events that are listed as "Rescheduled" or "Postponed" on Sports Connect will not appear in GameChanger.

GameChanger APP integration: Visual guide to GameChanger Integration info: Here
Reporting Scores -The home team manager is responsible to update the game's final score.
To input your team's score:

1. Navigate to your team page and click the Calendar tab.
2. On the calendar page, click on Results.
3. Enter the run totals and click Enter.

Reporting Pitch Counts
After each game, both managers are responsible for each of their team's pitch counts.
Both teams should exchange their pitchers' full names and accurate game pitch counts. The home team is responsible for collecting and submitting the score of the game along with both team's pitch counts.
This information should be added to the site (see above).

PITCHING & ARM Health

Little League follows Little League rules for pitch counts. These limits are intended to promote arm health by preventing overuse. These rules are not to be skirted as it is irresponsible of coaches to do so and it can also create an unfair competitive situation.

- ALL PITCH COUNTS are to be logged under Team / Results - for all in-house and travel games under CRNAA.
Pitches thrown for travel or club teams count towards these limits. It is a coach's responsibility to understand if players have pitched for any other teams. Coaches should not simply take a player's word for it. If you have players that pitch for you and play on other teams, be sure to establish good communication with their parents and share the pitch count rules with them.

There is both a maximum daily pitch limit, which is dependent on age, and a required rest period dependent on the number of pitches thrown. The Little League rules explain many scenarios, but the key takeaways are below.

Maximum Pitch Limit

Ages 11-12: 85 pitches

Ages 9-10: 75 pitches

Ages 7-8: 50 pitches

If a player reaches their pitching limit in the middle of an at-bat, they are typically allowed to finish that at-bat before being substituted out. This ensures a fair and smooth transition for both teams and avoids interrupting the flow of the game.

Required Rest

66+ pitches thrown: 4 full days of rest

51-65 pitches thrown: 3 full days of rest

36-50 pitches thrown: 2 full days of rest

21-35 pitches thrown: 1 full day of rest

1-20 pitches thrown: No rest required

Regardless of pitches thrown, no player may pitch on three consecutive days.

If a player crosses one of these thresholds in the final at bat they pitch, their final recorded pitch count reverts to the crossed threshold. For example, if a pitcher enters an at bat having thrown 34 pitches and retires the batter on 5 pitches, their recorded pitch count is 35 pitches, requiring 1 full day of rest.

Pitching and Catching in the Same Game

Catchers can use their arms even more than pitchers, particularly at older ages when position specialization sets in. There are some rules governing a catcher's ability to pitch in the same day.

Any player that catches 4 or more innings in a game is ineligible to pitch on that day.

Any player that catches 3 innings, then throws 21 or more pitches on the same day may not return to catcher that day.

Equipment Details

2023/24 Equipment Manager: Casey McDonnell
Equipment distribution & collection will be sent out via email by the Equipment Manager prior to the start of the season.

Players at all levels of CRNAA must have their own: Bat, Helmet, Glove and Cleats.

In-house Baseball Program
The League provides:
Baseballs for the team
Catcher’s gear/glove to each manager for every level of in-house play.
Team Jerseys & Hats

Families provide:
Bat, Helmet, Glove and Cleats.
Pants & socks - all players where WHITE baseball pants - long or knicker are acceptable.

Travel Team Program
All CRNAA approved uniforms will be sold at the beginning of each season (hat, jersey, pants). Each Manager will communicate the gear required and uniform combinations that the team will be using in a given season.

BATS - USA stamped approved bats
- ALL In-house and STBL play.
- Bats must be USA Baseball approved and can be any length or weight.
- Bats must not be more than 2-5/8" in diameter.
- Wood bats are approved by Little League for all levels of play.

USA Baseball is not the same as USSSA. USSSA is not approved for play within CRNAA nor STBL.
USSSA (aka Triple S) bats are allowed in many tournaments, your coaches will inform players of these "allowed" tournaments.

Tee-ball Division any tee-ball bat is acceptable.
Note: Please make sure to check your bat for "approved balls" to ensure you do not damage a tee-ball certified bat, with hard baseballs.

Seniors Divisions ages 13+
Bat standards will be provided by Managers, depending on the league USA, BBCOR or Wood can and will be used.

*If you purchase a new bat and are not sure it is approved for play, we suggest you leave the wrapping on the bat and do not use it until you have a coach, commissioner, or umpire confirm it is approved for play.

Helmets & Protective Gear
All players are required to have their own helmet. Although jaw guards are not mandatory, we do recommend them.
Additional padding; such as arm guards, ankle guards, slide mitts are not required at any level of play
Catcher's gear is provided for in-house teams.

- All catchers owning their own gear will be responsible for their equipment and meeting the standards for any given level of play or tournament.

Travel teams do not provide catchers gear.
** Metal cleats are not permitted.