From Little League's Greatest Challenge by Dr. Authur Esslinger:
Because baseball means so much in the lives of American youth, they idolize those who are their managers. The influence of these leaders upon these impressionable youngsters is very great - so great in fact that no community can afford to have anything short of the finest type of leadership. Through the medium of baseball, the manager can reach the children and profoundly affect their future behavior.
Recognizing the importance of the team manager in the lives of each Little League player and his/her
family, the SSLL Board of Directors seeks to provide the highest level of skill, integrity, and leadership
in the candidates it selects. To encourage the positive qualities found in today's managers and to foster
their continued growth, the Board has described the following characteristics for each manager or coach
to strive for in fulfilling his/her responsibilities.
The team manager is able to communicate effectively with the players. The manager enjoys
working with young people while acting as a positive role model. The manager maintains control of the team
through appropriate use of discipline.
While the manager works hard for the team to win, he/she never does so to the detriment of
any player. The manager is able to maintain a proper sense of perspective about practices and games.
The manager is mindful that the players learn not just from victory, but from striving toward goals
and learning from mistakes. The manager sees sportsmanship as the final objective.
The manager sets for the team a vision in which each player can share. He/she sets goals for the
players according to their individual abilities and works equally with all players. The manager
encourages growth by giving each player a fair opportunity to participate in both games and practices
by emphasizing each player's positive contributions.
The manager knows the game of baseball/softball, or is willing to learn, and is able to convey
both knowledge and enthusiasm to the players.
The manager is receptive to the ideas of others. He/she is a good listener to players, coaches, and parents and
is willing to consider the constructive comments of others.