ackling a Coaches Biggest Challenge – Playing Time
by Sean Hall
I often hear a parent with one of the better players say this is Club Ball, the “Best Players” should play all the time! Then a year later, the same player makes a higher team, and is one of the bottom players, and now the same parent wants even playing time. The truth, in my opinion, is somewhere in the middle. The best coaches are able to find ways to develop all of their players and still compete to win games. I by no means think teams should play everyone evenly but instead compete for roles. No player owns a particular position it’s the TEAMS position.
The following are few ways to help coaches try to avoid the extremes. This is making a large assumption that all players are showing up to practices with good attitudes and great teammates that are coachable.
1. Make Everyone Feel Important
If you take a player through tryouts you should be able to find some skill she can help the team with. If you aren’t playing a player at all, you either are a bad judge of talent, or you’re not good at developing players. In my opinion, with the mental health issues this is a coaches most important job.
2. The Player that Feels Valued Performs
This starts with honesty and communication. Explain your playing time thoughts, and let the players know where they stand. Let them know what they need to show you to improve their role. Keep track of stats to make sure you’re aware of how they are performing. Build players up by complimenting them on what they do well and help them improve in areas they need to improve.
3. What Rules are you using?
Are you playing 9 with the DP/Flex Option? Are you batting your roster? USSSA rules or something in between? Whatever the rules, know how you can use it to get players in the game. If I have 10 or 11 in a pool game, I will often bat my roster. Chances are my leadoff might lose an at bat but I feel I gain just as much with having all players part of the game. In bracket play, I am usually going to bat 9 DP/Flex. If you’re batting your roster make sure to put your fast runners in front of your pitchers and catchers.
4. Courtesy Runners & Pinch Runners
Everyone loves having a Speedy Gonzalez or two on the bench. A fast runner could go in and courtesy run for the pitcher in innings 1, 3 and 5 and then could go in and pinch run for any other player in the 6th inning and would still have another re-entry for that same player. However, once they go in as a pinch runner they can no longer courtesy run.
5. Maximize the DP/Flex Rule
The DP/Flex Rule can be more than just hitting for a weaker hitter. If your flex is faster than any of your starters, choose your slowest starter, and list them as a DP even if they are playing a position (3B). Then you can tell the ump that your DP is going in to play defense for your 3B. Now you can run at least once for your 3B. You could do it a second time but then your 3B would be out. There are many other ways to use this rule as an advantage.
6. Offense/Defensive Substitutions
Using offense/defense substitutions is like adding another DP Flex by maximizing the re-entry rule. Betty Bigbat hits for Candy Canthitalick in the 3rd inning. Betty gets a double. Knowing Candy is faster and better on defense than Betty we will re-enter Candy. In the 6th inning we are down by three runs and Candy is up. We are going to re-enter Betty. Betty hits a grand slam and now we are up one heading into the 7th. Since we are ahead we will send Candy back in since she is better on defense. Now Betty is out of the game.
7. Who to Sub for in a Blowout
When you are up big and are confident you will cruise to a win don’t sub out your 10th, 11th and 12th players for your 7th, 8th and 9th players. Instead maybe sub for your 1st, 3rd and 5th players and the next time you’re in this scenario sub out your 2nd, 4th and 6th player. This helps balance playing time and also keeps your best players fresh.
8. Options to Platoon early in Year.
I don’t worry about who my starters are until the last 1/3 of the season. If it’s clear, then I might rely on a specific 9-10 players. If it’s not clear I will continue to “platoon” until someone takes the spot. When platooning early in the year try to avoid 50/50 subs. This would be like Kelly goes in every game for Tanya in the 4th inning. Instead try to do 2/3 subs. Game 1 Tanya plays 1B, Jill plays RF and Kelly sits. Game 2 Tanya plays 1B, Kelly plays RF and Jill sits. Then game 3 Kelly plays 1B, Jill plays RF and Tanya sits.
9. Teach ALL Players to Sit on the Bench
My best players play most of the time like everyone. But I try to have them sit when we get way ahead. This helps avoid injuries but also teaches them how to sit on the bench. These same players may end up on the bench in college. One of my great players sat a few innings in Colorado and literally ran and got about 5 foul balls. She encouraged her teammates. I was just as proud of her as when she hits game winning home-runs.
10. Be Secure Enough to Be Proven Wrong
Most coaches have pre-conceived notions as to who might play where, and how much. However, the best coaches will work with all players to help them improve. I have given players opportunities and then realized my preconceived notions weren’t 100% correct. This helps put the best team on the field.
I still have a ways to go and keep learning every team I coach. But if you use these methods I think you can continue to develop players and also win more games. Best of Luck this year!