Quick Reference Email for Coaches
Volunteers -
We are ready to begin the 2026 Season! We've compiled all of the resources you will need into this single email, so you can save it and reference it as needed. We've also added a "Coaches Corner" card at the top of our Documents page on the website with all of the hyperlinks, in case you ever need them.
We ask that you immediately review the House or Interleague Rules for your division, which you will find in the Quick Links box below. These rules can't be modified at gametime, so be sure you are familiar with them and teaching your players. For those of you with games or practices at Moody Park or Fasolino Field, there are links to operating the fields there.
Please read this email thoroughly and save it for the season. This is your go-to reference for everything outside the rulebook — from tools and communication to field prep and game day logistics. If you have questions that aren’t answered here, email [email protected].
Thank you for a great season, and see you on the fields!
Paul, Dave, and Jake!
GameChanger and SportsConnect Support
Running a team at LTJBSA means working with two platforms — GameChanger for in-game scoring and communication, and LTJBSA.com (SportsConnect) as the source of truth for your schedule, roster, and team management. They work together, but knowing which to use when will save you a lot of headaches.
For a full walkthrough of both tools, visit the GameChanger & SportsConnect Best Practices Guide. The guide covers importing your team, syncing your schedule, linking parents, and the most common issues coaches run into at the start of the season.
Important: Never add events or practices in GameChanger. There is only a one-way sync from LTJBSA.com to GameChanger — anything added in GameChanger is invisible to the league and won’t block a field.
Coach Shirts, Game Balls, and Player Uniforms
The coach shirts will be in later this week! Dave will email you as soon as they arrive, and we will arrange a pick up time. Game balls are in, and we can provide them to you with your coaches shirt before your first game. If your first game is at Moody Park, you will need to stop by Central Park to pick them up.
Inevitably, a player will lose a hat. They can purchase a new one at cost from Snack Shack. Encourage players to write their name in the brim of their hat.
Game Day & Field Prep
Before the Game (Home Team)
- Remove base plugs, store under the dugout bench, and install bases.
- Line the field: Hughes and Colavita shed code is 1952. Village Park equipment is in the metal box behind the Leedom backstop. Liner setting is 2” only.
- If the infield has wet spots, lightly sprinkle Turface over the area. It absorbs 50× its weight within 10 minutes — a little goes a long way.
- Supply the game ball (RLLB1 for baseball, 8u Rawlings for softball).
- Share your lineup card (name + uniform number) with your opponent.
- Review rules with the umpire crew.
- Ask a parent to run the scoreboard.
During the Game
- Players must stay under the dugout roof at all times when not batting or fielding. No on-deck position — next batter up with helmet on, but no bat.
- Lightning or thunder clears the field immediately. Everyone stays under cover in the dugout — parents included. Each delay is 30 minutes; any subsequent lightning or thunder resets the clock.
- A regulation game is 4 or more innings with a winner (3½ if the home team is ahead).
After the Game (Visiting Team)
- Remove all bases and install base plugs. Store bases in the clubhouse before raking.
- Rake the field: Plastic rake first to pull infield mix off the grass. Metal rake next to move mix from areas of buildup to areas of loss. Walk the infield in a spiral, pulling the rake behind you. Rake baselines longways — not side to side. Leave a 2” buffer between the rake and the grass edge.
- Cover the pitching mound and home plate.
- Enter the score and pitch counts on LTJBSA.com the same day — home team enters the score first.
Scoreboards & Scorekeeping
- Power for all Central Park scoreboards runs through the circuit breaker in the Hughes clubhouse — flip it on before your game
- If a board won’t turn on, check the switch at the base of the scoreboard (Carroll, Grant, Hughes, and Colavita)
- Equipment locations: Colavita, Hughes, and Carroll → pressbox | Grant → Conference Room
- Operations manuals and Bluetooth instructions are in each pressbox and on ltjbsa.com
- Music is permitted between innings only — no walk-up music per player, no explicit lyrics. There is a ballpark-friendly playlist on ltjbsa.com. Lower mic volume to zero after each batter; lower phone/music volume during innings
Snack Shack Parent Help Nights
Each season, teams are required to provide volunteers to work in the Snack Shack for two dates. The volunteer can be a parent, sibling, relative, or friend. We will assign your team a 2.5-hour time slot, and it will be up to your families to divide that time amongst themselves to cover the whole. These are not food preparation roles — just helping with drinks and the pick-up window. Training is provided. Your team's Help Night will show up in GameChanger.
Later this week, we will send you an email that you can forward to your parents. It will ask for a parent volunteer to coordinate the Help Night schedule amongst families, and then submit the names to our SignUpGenius.
Most leagues in our District require families to post $300+ per-player bonds that are only refunded after completing 5 or more 3+ hour shifts per player. We don't do that. Instead, we rely on the goodwill and community spirit of our families — which is what keeps costs low and our programs accessible to everyone.
Note: If a team's volunteers do not show up for their assigned shift, the team will lose a future practice and the Snack Shack may need to close on that day. We historically have had a near-perfect attendance record for parents stepping up to help, and have never had to invoke this penalty.
Cadet Umpires
Cadet umpires are young teenagers — often in their first season — who make it possible for us to cover all of our games at a reasonable cost. They work independently in Minors games and alongside adult umpires in Majors and AAA.
We ask every coach to extend them patience and grace. Teach your players how to handle adversity and a bad call. Ask your families to be kind and set the example yourself.
Debating or intimidating a cadet umpire before, during, or after a game is grounds for immediate suspension for both the coach and their player. This is a zero tolerance policy. All standard Little League rules regarding umpire respect apply to cadets — managers and parents cannot override a cadet decision. If you have a serious concern, contact the umpire coordinator after the game.
Anyone On A Field Must Be Background Checked
Parents will want to help you out during practice. While we love the help, Lawrence and Ewing Townships, as well as Little League International, will not allow an adult to be on a field with a child without proper training and background checking. If a parent wants to help you on the field, even just once, they must complete our background check process first. If you have any issues telling this to a parent, connect with Dave or Paul.
Anyone not background checked is not allowed inside a field fence - they must stay in the stands. This includes Tee Ball parents - drop off should occur at the field gate and parents may not stay in the dugouts.
Entering Scores and (Baseball) Pitch Counts
The home team must enter the game score before the visiting team can enter pitch counts. Here’s how:
- Sign into your SportsConnect account
- Go to Team Central → Team Directory → select your team’s calendar
- Find the specific game and click the Results button
- Click Edit Score
- Select each pitcher and enter their pitch count in the respective fields
- Click Save and Post to submit
Pitch counts and scores can be edited after posting. Find the game, click Edit Scores, click Unpost Scores, make your edits, then click Save.
Baseball Arm Care & Pitch Smart
Protecting young arms is a shared responsibility. All baseball divisions follow MLB Pitch Smart guidelines for daily pitch limits and required rest days between appearances. Familiarize yourself with the limits for your age group before the season begins.
A few universal rules that apply across all baseball divisions:
Rookies & Minors/Minors AA Speedup Rules
Our Rookies and Minors Divisions incorporate rules to keep the game moving, so we don't have kids bored in the field or dugout. Some key highlights -
Softball & Baseball Rookies
- 6 pitches max per at bat by the coach pitcher
- Players may not play the same fielding position more than 2 innings per game
- 5 runs per inning or (baseball) 8 batters max in an inning
- Lineups are continuous for the season and (baseball) alphabetical by first name
Minors Softball
- Coach-pitched until Mother's Day; 5 runs per inning
- Kid-pitched after Mother's Day (coach rescue); 3 runs per inning
Minors AA Baseball
- Coach-pitched until April 13. After April 13, kid pitches 20 pitches max in an inning
- Maximum 8 batters or 5 runs per inning, whichever comes first, still applies
If you have questions about these rules, don't hesitate to reach out to Dave, Paul, and Jake.
Player Development
Every division at LTJBSA has defined skill targets appropriate to age and experience level. Our goal at every level is player development first — not winning. Coaches are expected to give every player meaningful playing time and exposure to multiple positions across the season.
For a full overview of our philosophy and what we’re working toward at each level, visit the Player Development page.