Little League, Pony, and Select. Making it All Work Together.

“At one point my family with three kids was rostered on five teams combined and people thought we were crazy.  But we love the journey, the memories, and the life lessons.”        – Rachel,  WA

Playing a combination of Little League, Pony, and Select baseball and softball simultaneously.  Joyful chaos some may call it.  With the thrill of All-Star teams going to Districts, State, San Bernardino, and the televised LL World Series, who wouldn’t want to enjoy the opportunities and traditions of Little League and Pony before they’re too old to play?

But how can you make a busy double team schedule work especially when there are schedule conflicts, siblings playing, other priorities, and politics mucking up the works? Here are a few suggestions to help your family keep decisions and planning simple.

Take a deep breath, smile, and…

1.  Research the schedules for both your select team and your local Little League/Pony League including All-Stars, state tournaments, and beyond to determine schedule conflicts as early as possible. Big tournaments and national league play are usually posted months in advance.
2. Have open communication with your select coach early on about the desire to play Little League or Pony, and have a priority plan in place that everyone can stick to.  For example… Games trump practice, Select games trump LL games, Select practice trumps LL practice, etc.  Some select coaches are heavily involved in Little League or Pony, and shut their team down for the season so it helps to know what your select coach is planning.
3. Keep in mind where your youth athlete will get the highest quality reps when there is a direct schedule conflict.
4. Decide on your goals for Little League or Pony.  Is it making All-Stars (Remember that players have to play a minimum number of games to be eligible for All-Stars), getting your pitching time in, playing with local friends, etc?
5. Have a family meeting even if it’s a quick chat in the car or over dinner so that everyone understands their own commitments including school, work, chores, family, etc.
6. Be prepared for coaches to adjust playing time, line-ups, etc. based on the team’s needs and which players are available. It is imperative to keep open communication with coaches so they are able to plan accordingly and create a positive atmosphere of success for everyone.
7. Don’t let politics run your family’s sports life.  If there are concerns….           Remember this rule of thumb:  Wait at least 24 hours to discuss concerns with the coach at an arranged public meeting place away from team functions.  If the coach is a friend or a neighbor it is especially important to respect their role as a coach by not making it personal.  Your relationship with that person will be better for it.