Where should I put these kids in the outfield?

Question

Hi, I'm a new little league coach who's just started out this year, and I'm wondering if you all have any insights regarding how to place outfielders in little league. Right now I have two kids, both right handed who can play either right or left field. Kid #1 is faster than kid #2, but kid #2 is a better fielder and has a really great arm. Any thoughts as to where I should place these kids? All advice is appreciated, and I'll be especially thankful for any insight from little league/baseball coaches.

Answer 1

Try starting the faster one in left and the better arm in right, but move them around find out where they are more comfortable. Try two innings with one alignment and then another two with a switched alignment

Answer 2

put kid#2 on RF  

Answer 3

Put kid#2 in RF. Right fielders usually have the longest throws to make and is a harder position to field than LF.  

Answer 4

how big is your field? what about kid 1 in CF? but i suggest that you put kid 2 in LF, because their are probably more righties in the league, and more balls will be pulled to LF. but really, you could put kid 1 in LF too, because he might prevent more doubles and triples. but a similar argument could be made for kid 2, because more ground singles with a runner on 2nd, or a flyball with a runner on 3rd with less than 2 outs. anyway, you could switch them around the first few games and see who plays better, and remember, it all depends on you league, hitters, and fields.  

Answer 5

I would play kid #2 in center field and kid #1 in left field. I am assuming these are young kids. Right field rarely get many balls. Center field you need someone that can catch and throw the ball consistently. A lot of balls go to center. It would be nice to have speed in center to chase the long balls down, I think it is more important to catch and throw. Kid #1 in left can chase balls down that make it thru the infield and balls that go into the gap.

Answer 6

so i just got out of little league 2 years ago. im just k**e person 2 i was a great fielder and a stronger arm. aside from being a pitcher i was put in right field since my counterpart in right was pretty fast getting to the ball but didnt have the power in his arm. And if u put person 2 in left you'll get a good chance of throwing more guys out at home like i did

Answer 7

I'm retired from coaching but I coached maybe 20 years of little league.

Uttercha ihas the right answer, that way neither of them will worry about who's better in your eye.

The real answer, though is to get them both to use proper technique and to have success (note I did not say "feel good").

good luck, coaches that ask questions usually do well.  

Answer 8

If you have a pitcher that throws hard then put kid #2 in right field.  If the pitcher doesn't throw as hard put kid #2 in left field.

Answer 9

Kid 1 LF & Kid 2 RF.  RF have better arms and can get guys out at the plate.

Answer 10

kid 1 in center, kid 2 in right

Answer 11

Kid 2 Should play right field. Right fielders need a strong arm, and the kid with the strongest arm should be on right. You might want to put kid 1 on Center since he is fast, but only do that if you dont already have a center fielder or if your current center fielder is not as fast.  

Answer 12

1 In left field

#2 in right field