Challenger Tips

Setting Goals for Challenger Players

By League Development Department

With preparations for the 2012 Little League season underway, now is the time to consider steps that can be taken to enhance your league’s Challenger Division for the upcoming season. One tool that is used frequently by some of the most successful Challenger programs is individual goal setting. The Challenger Division, more so than any other Division of the Little League program, features players with a wide range of skills and abilities. This makes it difficult to set a general goal for a team. For example, setting a goal for “every player on the team to be able to hit a pitch thrown by a coach” may not be realistic and may exclude some players on the team, for whom that goal is simply not attainable.

The use of individual goals not only gives players an objective to work toward during the season, but also helps keep players engaged during practices and games. Ideally, each player should have 2-3 goals to work towards during the season. Some examples of goals that may be set for players include:

• Hitting a ball pitched by a coach
• Fielding a batted ball without help from a buddy
• Learning to play catch
• Catching a fly ball
• Learning to throw the ball to first base
• Learning the names and locations of the various defensive positions on the field

Goals will vary by player and there are a wide range of possibilities when it comes to choosing goals. Once the goals are set, the player’s coach, buddy and parents should work during the season to help the player attain those goals, while maintaining a fun and positive environment. While there may be a wide range of abilities on the field, all players, buddies, coaches and parents can share the excitement that comes with a player attains a goal that they have been working toward all season.

For more information on how to start a Challenger Division in your community, email us at challenger@LittleLeague.org or visit us online at www.LittleLeaugeChallenger.org or www.Facebook.com/LittleLeagueChallenger