Playing With the Big Boys
Fall leagues can also be a great transition period for players moving up to the 60/90 field ( 60'6" pitching and 90' bases) if they played their last game on the small field. If you experienced players around the 13-year-old age that move from the small field right to the big field, you'll agree that 45 minute innings are not uncommon in the first few games of the season.
The fall league is a great venue to introduce players to the big field. In fact having a few games on, say, a 55/70 field will only help players as well as managers with the transition.
Recreation or Competition?
The biggest issue leagues will find is that most coaches and many players want the league to be competitive. This is perfectly normal with the way human nature works with sports.
If we are talking about a Little League and the league has long term goals, these goals should be written out for the fall league. I think it is in the best interest of the league to run fall leagues like NFL exhibition football as a way for players to try new positions and coaches to get to know players. Players and coaches that want the more competitive Fall league will be able to find them.
But is there anything really wrong with a league that has a more recreational tone to it rather than highly competitive? Let's leave the main thrust of the real competition for the spring and summer. And wouldn't a fall league be a great opportunity to have managers umpire the games their team is not in? This would get them to see the game from a different point of view. If not the managers, how about using the fall league as a training for new umpires? There are more than just a few benefits that can come out of a fall baseball league.
The Role of Fall Baseball
The main point is some kids prefer playing baseball to soccer or football in the fall. If there is enough interest, it's a shame to keep those fields empty during the months of September and October and, when timed correctly, a youth baseball fall league can be run right up to league tryouts for the next spring season. Fall baseball can be very beneficial but coaches and parents must monitor a fair set of guidelines that will help the players and league improve.
Find a baseball camp or baseball league to take your game to the next level.Marty Schupak has coached youth baseball for 21 years and is the video creator of "The 59 Minute Baseball Practice", "Winning Baseball Strategies", "Hitting Drills & Techniques", "Pitching Drills & Techniques", "Baserunning & Bunting Drills" and author of the popular book, "Youth Baseball Drills". He is president of the Youth Sports Club, a group dedicated to making sports practices and games more enjoyable for kids.
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