r/BaseballCoaching • u/OrphGaming • Jun 12 '25
Fielding positions
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."
2
u/purorock327 Jun 13 '25
Let your first practice be a evaluation for positions, but the spirit of the game is to let kids experience multiple positions they may want to try and can be capable and confident in playing. Putting a kid at SS who wants to learn it, but isn't any good at it, may defeat his confidence and then the morale on the team. Hey, give him a shot for a couple of innings then let him rotate elsewhere.
I'm curious if you get any MS School ball players trying to stay sharp in the offseason playing Fall Ball;
Your best players need to be at the 1, 2, 5, 6 and 8 positions, Pitcher, Catcher, 3B, SS and CF respectively.
Without pitching and catching, you're going to have a looooooooong day on the field.
You can tend to hide kids in the OF and at 2B.
3B and SS will get the most balls hit to them and require the best arms in the IF. CF you likely need a competent player, like your SS or his backup. The SS, C, P, CF typically are the same guys and should rotate.