How many of you have complete control over the Little League Program in the town that you coach in?

In my situation, I have been told I will have complete control. If I want to change affiliations I can, game nights I can, or put in By-laws I can...anything to improve our program.

What I'm looking for is some information on successful youth programs to benefit my High School program. In Texas we do not offer Jr. High baseball, so our Little League is our feeder program. What have you done to help your Youth Program become stronger and more beneficial to your HS program?

Get the older kids, 10 and up on gradually bigger diamonds and open the bases. I.E. let them play real baseball.

Turnin2, this is an awesome opportunity to develop players at a young age. We get so many players in our high school program that do not know basic fundamental skills they should have learned in Little League.

quote:

Originally posted by Nicholas25:
Turnin2, this is an awesome opportunity to develop players at a young age. We get so many players in our high school program that do not know basic fundamental skills they should have learned in Little League.

Who's fault is it that the players do not know basic fundamental skills? Is it the affiliation which they are being developed in or the coaches that coach the teams and the administration that let's it happen?

Little League, Pony, Babe Ruth, Legion, travel, etc., if the same people are coaching the teams, what would make them more knowledgeable?

It's all of the above. It's great that many youth league coaches have hearts for youth, but many of them do not know the game. You could provide a clinic and consistent construction for those youth league coaches who know they do not know the game, but desire to. The youth league coaches who don't know the game, but think they do are another story.

If you have enough players I strongly recommend using 9-10 year old age group and 11-12 year olds together. when we change to this instead of 9-12 year olds it made a big difference. 9-10 year olds get to pitch and catch, and play short rather than wast away in the out field. they also get allot more playing time.
I recommend Cal Ripken over little league also. The rules are closer to real baseball and they have tournament teams at all age groups, 9year old team, 10 yr team, 11yr team, 12 year old team vs little league only has 9-10 team and 11-12 team. this gets your players allot more playing experience.