TIPS AND TRICKS

(1) Dugout - For the younger players, have labelled baskets in the dugout to organize their belongings.  For the younger players, a team parent is required in the dugout.  You can also make name tags to hang.  See the Word template below.

(2) First-Aid - Have your own first aid kit - that includes ice packs and tampons.  The tampons are for bloody noses.  There is an AED located next to the Snack Shack.

(3) Water - Always bring extra water for your players and coaches.

(4) Know Who is Who - Get to know your parents and guardians of your players. This way, if you ever see someone you don't recognize that is suspicious, you won't think twice about taking action.

(5) Communication - You're the voice of reason.  Be the liaison between the players, coaches and parents. Over-communicate! Try to send out information before the questions are asked!  Send multiple reminders.

(6) Line-Up Charts - super easy to make!  You can purchase something and make the players numbers, names and field positions.  There is also a section for the batting order. Here is an example image:

(7) Pictures - Take lots of them and share them with your team.  If you set up a team website, it will be easy to add them.  Please be sure to ask parents that they are OK with their child being in a picture.

(8) Team Website - it's up to you to set this up.  There are numerous free websites you can use (i.e. Teamsnap, Shutterfly, GameChanger).  This will make communicating details, game schedules, snack sign-up, etc. to your parents a lot easier.

(9) Writing Instruments - Keep a good number of pens and sharpies on hand for your coaches (re: team balls, scorebooks, etc.)

(10) Uniforms - Triple check all uniforms.  Write the player's name and/or number in their hat.  Or you can get the hats embroidered.  See details below.

(11) Ideas - Pinterest and Other team moms are your life-savers! No sense in re-inventing the wheel.

(12) Snacks - in the beginning of the season, ask if there are any players with allergies.  Then create a snack sign-up for the season; ask parents to bring in snacks and drinks for at least 1 game. You can be as creative and fun as you like!  Putting snacks in cute bags, adding a small trinket...all goes a LONG way with the kids!

(13) Coaches Gifts - it's up to you to organize this process.  Meaning, deciding on the gift(s), collecting funding for it, etc.

(14) End of Season Party - it's up to you to organize this process.  Talk to the parents about a preferred day, preferred place, etc.  Talk to your coach for any ideas they may have.

(15) Bats - For the younger players mostly, you really have to watch them with their bats.  They are not allowed to have their bat until they are walking to the plate for their turn.  Below is an image of an item as an example.  I add their names via velcro.  So the player knows where their bat should be located and I can switch them out each season.  I hang this item on the fence, near the home plate.

(16) Other Gifts - In addition to the coaches gifts, you may also want to consider giving the parents a little gift (i.e. a picture of their child playing baseball or an ornament with a picture of their player in it).  Last season, Shutterfly had a sale on their 8x8 books; so I made one for each child.  You could also consider getting your players gifts at the end of the season too.  I've done certificates with little bags of baseball cards, eye black and other fun baseball-themed items.

(17) Walk-Up Music - If you would like to play walk-up music for your batters, the app BallparkDJ is good.

(18) Helmets - You would be surprised how crazy the dugout can get.  To help ease the madness, organization is key.  This item can be helpful to minimize time for your players by making it easier to locate and access their helmet.  Here is an image of an item for example:

END OF SEASON PARTY IDEAS

(1) Ice-Cream Sundae Party

(2) Bowling

(3) Pizza Party

(4) Playground/Park

(5) Make your own tie-dye shirt party

(6) Make it fun with raffles, games, etc.

(7) Potluck

(8) Indoor sports facility

COACH GIFT IDEAS

(1) Key Chain

(2) Mini-baseball bat with team info

(3) Frame with kids' signatures on the mat

(4) Glass mug with team info


(5) Baseball Plate with team info




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TEMPLATES

(1) End of Season Certificate
baseball certificate template.doc

(2) Dugout Name Tags
dugout name tags template.docx


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EMBROIDERY INFO

(1) Company Name: Goin Nutz
(2) URL: https://www.facebook.com/GoinNutzMonograms/
(3) Owner Name: Amber Moore


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WALK-UP MUSIC IDEAS

(1) Metallica - Enter Sandman
(2) Fall Out Boy - My Songs Know What You Did
(3) Skillet - Hero
(4) Imagine Dragons - Thunder
(5) Imagine Dragons - Believer
(6) Gilde Flores - Legend
(7) DJ Khaled - All I Do Is Win
(8) Wiz Khalifa - We Dem Boys
(9) Drake - Hotline Bling
(10) Lecrae & Andy Mineo - Coming in Hot
(11) Eric Chruch - Break It Kind Of Guy
(12) J Balvin & Willy William - Mi Gente
(13) Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train
(14) DJ Marshmallo - Fly
(15) Eminem - Lose Yourself
(16) Queen - We Will Rock You
(17) Surfaces - Sunday Best
(18) The Troggs - Wild Thing
(19) Diplo - Welcome to the Party
(20) AC/DC - Thunderstruck
(21) AC/DC - TNT
(22) Notorious B.I.G. - Big Poppa
(23) Rick Ross - Hustlin
(24) Naughty By Nature - Hip Hop Hooray
(25) DJ Snake - Turn Down for What