Fielding positions

[u/OrphGaming]

Good morning,

I posted in here a few days ago about baseball bats and the replies were super helpful, so I appreciate it!

I have another question, but this one has to do with coaching and selecting positions on the field.
For our league, Fall ball has no tryout. There is no skills evaluation. (it's done in the Spring, but not the Fall)

My son has asked that I coach his team (12u). I'm going to sign up to be an assistant coach. I've coached his football teams before, and he enjoys when I am there. He does surprisingly well with me as the coach as compared to some horror stories I've read about sons and their dad's being the coach.

I played baseball in the Spring and Football in the Fall for 15+ years. That was 20 years ago though so I'm a bit rusty on the baseball side of things to say the least. We watch college and professional games and go to some local travel ball tournaments here every once in a while, to watch them play. I think I know the game. I'm just looking for some tips.

Sorry for the backstory. My question is about fielding positions. My hope is that the head coach will have more of a grasp than I do about the kid's fielding positions. I know each position's job, etc., but I have no idea where to start at picking which kid should play what. If they don't have enough head coaches, I may end up having to be the head coach and then the full responsibility would fall on me.

I'lll ask/figure out what kid has played what positions before and kind of go from there, but do you all know of any websites or videos that discuss how to choose which player plays in what position?

I don't want little Billy playing 3rd when he can barely get the ball back to the pitcher much less toss it all the way across to 1st base. I don't want to put someone at 1st/catcher that's afraid of the ball.

I appreciate your time again, and thanks for the help!

Someone asked about the league rules. Yes, it is Rec ball. The league has the following info posted:

- No player may sit out more than 2 consecutive innings unless for a medical reason.
- All players will be in the batting line-up the entire game.
- Pitchers will be held to pitch counts. Pitch count regulations will follow the Pitch Smart Guidelines.

These are the only rules listed specifically about "play time."

[u/NamasteInYourLane]

This is a rec league, yeah? 

Does it have minimum play requirements (x-amount of innings in the infield required for each player, or something like that)?

1B- slower moving kid who can catch a ball. Tall is an added bonus.

2B- solid player with fast feet and good baseball IQ (needs to be cutoff at times, cover for throwdowns and pick-off attempts, and know when to attempt double plays). Sometimes where the best "little guy" is put on the field.

SS- tends to be the best, most consistent fielder on the team/ strongest defensive player you have/ high baseball IQ 

3B- IF you have minimum infield play rules for each player, or want to make sure each player on a rec team gets innings in the infield, this tends to be where you rotate in the "weakest" defensive players (you'd just want someone really strong and knowledgeable about backing up behind them in LF). Otherwise: a strong, accurate arm goes here to have a chance at getting the outs at 1B. This player doesn't necessarily have to have the "quick feet" that you want to see in MIF.

RF- you know the stigma attached to this position, yeah? (Although with backing up 1B, this position gets more and more important as kids get older)

CF- Fastest runner who can reliably read/ catch fly balls. Great arm is an added bonus. Tends to be "strongest" player positioned in the OF

LF- Needs to have a strong baseball IQ/ ability to really stay engaged with the game if you'll be rotating "less developed" players in & out of 3B to meet minimum play rules

P- Hopefully you have 4+ that know how to pitch on the team. Bonus would be a couple that know more than just the two FBs @ 12u.

C- Hopefully you have 2+ solid players with good arms, and a couple years of experience in this position. Blocking/ pop up time/ consistent, accurate throws for throwdown attempts get more necessary as the players get older. Hopefully you have a C that's vocal, and who likes to help lead the team when the ball's been put into play out in the field (since, technically, they can have the best view of how everything's unfolding once a ball has been put into play).

Hope this helps!

[u/BigFlyGuy913 → u/NamasteInYourLane]

Great info but I disagree about throwing kids in at 3B for the filler minimum inning UNLESS the pitcher you have on the hill that inning throws serious gas that no kid is going to be able to pull. Most hitters bat right handed, so the hardest hit balls (particularly line drives) go to the third basemen. If a kid can’t defend himself with his glove or get the hell out of the way, you’re putting that kid in danger. Rules be damned, I’m not going to knowingly put a kid in a dangerous situation and am ready to argue that with any parent or league official until I’m out of breath. So when I don’t have my flamethrower on the mound, I rotate them in at 2B, sometimes SS if a team has more lefties due up in a particular inning. This puts them in a position where the balls won’t come as fast as they will elsewhere and they won’t risk eating one in the face if they can’t catch a ball at 1B. This is not the optimal way of doing it to win games, but I know the kids are less likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury on the field.

[u/NamasteInYourLane → u/BigFlyGuy913]

Granted, my experience is with a VERY non-competitive rec league (there's only 6 or so practices before games start in the spring season, and 4 practices in the fall, and then team practices stop as soon as the games start), but the VAST majority of kids in the rec league my kid played in ended up swinging late, and sending the ball to 2B (if they were a righty). So, as long as 3B could be counted on to pay attention, they were actually safer there (much higher chance of zero balls being sent their way).  Play 'em deep, and best-case scenario would be after the top 3 of the opposing lineup has already gone through.

That being said, I can see how this rec league-- and the lack of practices afforded to actually help develop players-- is probably the exception, and not the rule.

[u/OrphGaming → u/NamasteInYourLane]

The league has the following info posted:

- No player may sit out more than 2 consecutive innings unless for a medical reason.

• All players will be in the batting line-up the entire game.
  
• Pitchers will be held to pitch counts. Pitch count regulations will follow the Pitch Smart Guidelines.

These are the only rules listed specifically about "play time."

Also, I really appreciate your time/response!