As Little Leaguers® across the world are selected to run out on the diamond each summer to participate in the Little League® International Tournament, it’s important for the managers and coaches to understand their role and how they can make a positive impact on the experience for players, umpires, fans, and tournament volunteers.
Whether you’re putting on your tournament coach’s cap for the first time, or you have been on this journey before, here are five “need-to-knows” to make sure your players have a fun and safe on-field experience and walk away after the final out with lifelong memories.
Sportsmanship
One of the most important pillars of the Little League program, at all levels of play, is sportsmanship, and while good sportsmanship is often associated with taking a loss gracefully, it is important for winners to act with integrity and respect at the end of the game, too. So, how can you, as the manager or coach, teach your Little Leaguers the proper characteristics of sportsmanship at the peak of tournament season?
- Celebrate the activity or game, instead of the outcome. Explain the importance of playing with integrity and respect with every play, regardless of what the scoreboard says at the end.
- Be realistic about your feelings. It is okay to be excited after a win or frustrated after a loss. As the winning team, enjoy the moment but also recognize how the other team might be feeling after the game, and after a loss, show pride in your team’s effort and turn the on-field loss into a learning moment.
- Provide Examples. Encourage parents to talk with their kids if they witness positive or negative behavior, and help them decide which behaviors are acceptable and which ones are not.
In addition to the players on the field, it is also important to have a conversation with the parents and fans of your team. Remind them that their behavior in the stands, reaction to calls by umpires, or conversation with their players after a game are as important to the success of a game as the play on the field. As the coach and/or manager, it is your responsibility to be the role model for your team both on and off the field, and that includes making sure your fans and parents are providing a positive tournament atmosphere.
Using the Continuous Batting Order
In the Little League program, we believe that all youth athletes should have the opportunity to have a positive playing experience. While Mandatory Play has been a staple of our program, in 2023, Little League International simplified its Tournament Mandatory Play requirement to require all teams to utilize a Continuous Batting Order, except for Senior League tournaments.
Continuous Batting Order ensures all players on a tournament team have an opportunity to have a meaningful play experience, while balancing a more competitive environment, as well. As a reminder, the manager of the tournament team must fill the team’s batting order utilizing all players on the team, and progress through the batting order throughout the game. Any violation of the Continuous Batting Order is outlined in the “Batting Out of Order” section of the Rulebook.
Equipment Checks
Beginning in the 2025 season, umpires will no longer conduct pre-game equipment inspections. Instead, the manager of each team is now responsible for ensuring that all equipment is legal and proper for on-field play, according to Little League rules.
To help coaches and managers with this responsibility, here are a few tips as they inspect equipment:
Bats:
Baseball:
- Find the bat stamp. The bat must be a baseball bat that meets specifications outlined in Rule 1.10. Non-wood bats shall clearly bear the USA Baseball logo.
- In the Intermediate (50-70) Division and Junior League Division, non-wood bats must clearly display either the USA Bat Logo or the BBCOR silkscreen label or certification.
- In the Senior League Division, non-wood bats must display the BBCOR silkscreen label or certification.
- All BPF 1.15 bats are prohibited.
- Inspect for cracks and dents.
- Remove products to assist the batter. Batting gloves are permissible; however, products such as, but not limited to, choke-knobs, choke-up assists, thumb protectors, or hand straps are not permitted for play and must be removed.
- No pine tar or any other similar adhesive substance.
- Traditional batting donuts are not permissible in any division of play.
Softball:
- Find the bat stamp. The bat must be a softball bat that meets specifications outlined in Rule 1.10. Non-wood bats shall be printed with a BPF of 1.20.
- Inspect for cracks and dents.
- Remove products to assist the batter. Batting gloves are permissible; however, products such as, but not limited to, choke-knobs, choke-up assists, thumb protectors, or hand straps are not permitted for play and must be removed.
- No pine tar or any other similar adhesive substance.
- Traditional batting donuts are not permissible in any division of play.
Helmets:
- Find the stamp. Each helmet must bear the NOCSAE stamp clearly visible on the helmet.
- No cracks, typically found around the bill of the helmet where the bill meets the ear protector.
- Helmets cannot be repainted or contain tape.
Catchers Equipment:
- Find the stamp on the catcher’s helmet. The catcher’s helmet must clearly bear the NOCSAE stamp.
- Reminder, Skull Caps are not permitted.
- No cracks, and all hardware must be secure.
- All catchers must wear a mask with a “dangling” type throat protector attached properly to the mask.
- All male catchers must wear the metal, fiber, or plastic type cup.
- Catcher’s helmets cannot be repainted or contain tape.
For more information on equipment, please see Rule 1.00 in the Little League Rulebook or Rulebook App.
Tournament Chain of Command
With the tournament season well underway, it is important for Tournament Directors, League Presidents, and coaches to understand the proper chain of command that dictates the operations. Authority is vested solely in the Little League International Tournament Committee, and once a tournament starts, it must continue without interruption.
Unlike the regular season, there are no more waivers, resorting to local rules, or other variations, unless granted explicitly by the Tournament Committee, who will ensure each tournament is being run properly for thousands of leagues around the world. If protests or issues arise, and they cannot be resolved while a game is in progress, the game must be suspended by the Umpire-in-Chief and the problem referred to the Tournament Director. If it is still not resolved, the Region Director will be contacted. If still unresolved, it will be referred to the Tournament Committee.
To learn more about the chain of command during tournament season or the role of the Tournament Committee at Little League International, visit Little League University.
Be a Role Model
Little League believes in the power of teaching youth athletes life lessons both on and off the diamond. Whether you are handling a questionable call by an umpire, having a conversation with an upset parent, or huddling up for a post-game talk, it is in Little League’s fundamental beliefs that we strive to embody the five core values – community, fun, integrity, inclusion, and teamwork – in everything we do.
As a manager or coach, it is integral to lead by example while in the dugout or at a team dinner after the final out. Before running out onto the diamond with your team, think back to the important lessons you learned while taking the Little League Diamond Leader Training, because the experience your team has off the field can often be even more important than what happens on the field
Most importantly, have FUN this tournament season with your fellow coaches and players. This is an opportunity that many dream of each year, and you have worked hard all season long, volunteering for your local league. Now, it’s time for you and your team to represent your community, showcase the integrity and teamwork that you’ve worked hard to build, and most importantly, have fun both on and off the field.