What is the perfect team size?

Regarding the issue of team size, twelve is the minimum legal team (Little League of America (LLA) rules). I lost a player, dropped to eleven and thought about leaving it there, but the next game I was down to nine players. Even with 12 players, we've had two teams in our league who couldn't field nine at game time. If the manager insists that Johnny be there for every game and practice, the manager is an out-of-control jerk trying to relive his second childhood through the kids. If the manager doesn't play Johnny six innings, the manager is an out-of-control .... you get the picture. The parents can't figure out the trade-off between team size and playing time. My son was on a 16 member winterball team last fall, and that was a riot. Mom's were all over the coaches about playing time. Again, they had no math skills at all, let alone consideration for the other kids.

Twelve players are necessary to guarantee you'll have nine for every game, especially with the current trend of kids playing three sports, being involved with Boy Scouts, karate, theater .. you name it. You'll always have absent players.

Concerning other issues that were brought up by Steve and Jeff, if you’re playing Little League of America (LLA) rules, there are a couple of things wrong with the statements in their posts.

Regarding:
1) VP’s “sit one game out” rule: Every player must play a minimum of two innings at one AB.

2) Free substitution: LLA rules are anything but “free”. In addition to rule 1 above, when a “starter” leaves, he/she must remain out for at least two innings, and the sub must remain in for two innings.

3) 6 players for six innings, and the other six play three innings: That’s the way most teams play, primarily because they don’t fully understand the LLA substitution rules. A “starter” can become a “substitution”, as long as he fulfills the requirements of a substitute, i.e. two innings in and one at bat. I usually have at least three players going four innings each, using this method to split two positions among three players (one starts and goes four, one starts and goes two, and finishes the final two of the first starter, and a third sub’s for the second starter for four innings.

4) Bat the roster: Again, with the LLA requirements you have to bat the roster. Every player must get at least one AB, and with three innings, most usually get at least two. I line up my top four to six hitters and play them full time (depending on how tough the opponent is, I have fewer full time players, and more four-inning players). Fortunately, five of the six are also my top defensive players.

The substitution rules apply in Majors and our competitive Minor league teams (i.e. AAA level). Our non-competitive league (T-Ball, “Farm” or “Pitching Machine”, and AA – 7 to 11 yrs old) ignore the rules and practice free substitution.

Giving all players adequate playing time is the toughest part of the job. Neither parents or players appreciate the mental gymnastics the manager goes through to meet the LLA rules, play a competitive team, and give every kid a fair chance to play ball. I explained it to the parents of my AAA team in the pre-season meeting, but it went over their head. I have disgruntled parents claiming I “favor my own”, yet I have two kids on the team, and one plays six innings and the other plays three. I have a couple of grown men in the stands who have taken to jeering every miscue by my son (starting catcher) and a seven year old phenomenon we have at SS (and pitching), just because they’re son’s of the coaches.

The manager just can’t win. When I draft players, I look as much at the parents as I do the player’s ability. If you get a couple of problem cases (either player attitude or parental attitude), the season will be miserable for everyone.