New coach

Tell your pitchers to throw strikes, change speeds and work quickly. If they can do that you will survive.

Have fun.

shakdaddy-
My advice: be prepared and organized, force your players to do the "little things" correctly, get your pitchers ready mentally and physically, and have fun.

Suggest you're as clear as you can be on your expectations of the players. Pre-season, hand 'em written guidelines for practice, pre-game warm-ups, post-game clean-ups, etc. etc. and overall behavior expectations. Helps to get the team all going in the right direction and eliminates the "I didn't know coach".

Quickly become a student of the game. Too many times, those of us who played the game think we have the knowledge to teach it - just because we played it.

I have learned far more about baseball (hitting mechanics, pitching mechanics, fielding mechanics, etc.) since I started coaching - and studying a great deal - than I learned while playing. Often the things that came easy to us when playing ball are the things we naturally tend to neglect when teaching others. It takes conscious thought and a thought out plan to avoid this.

Read, study, observe, learn. And go forth...

"Show me a guy who can't pitch inside and I'll show you a loser." Sandy Koufax

Good advice from the others. I would add, to always play the "best" athletes. Do not give in to parental pressures and favorites. I recommend that you read the following post from start to finish. Just my opinion and good luck!
Should it be the Best Player?

Knowledge is Power! Thank you Mavens and HSBBWEB!

Approach your practices with the same intensity that you would approach your games.

Good luck to you.

I would play the best ball players, not the best athletes.

Texan writes

"I have learned far more about baseball (hitting mechanics, pitching mechanics, fielding mechanics, etc.) since I started coaching - and studying a great deal - than I learned while playing. Often the things that came easy to us when playing ball are the things we naturally tend to neglect when teaching others. It takes conscious thought and a thought out plan to avoid this."

Texan...great way to put it. True in all sports. Developing an "eye" for what is really happens takes years. It taked time to learn the young player and what it takes to make changes that help. It is an art that takes practice but most rewarding ..Enjoy the challenge.

think ahead at least 3innings.