When it gets late in the youth / little league baseball season, and everyone (parents included) are getting a little tired,what are some ways for the coach to motivate the team members?

3 quick tips

1) Keep simple stats on your 1st 3 games(while they're still "gearing up"). At mid season start complimenting them individually for bringing up their average, RBIs, cutting down on strike-outs etc. Motivate them to get better!

2)Pizza party or ice cream for a "best effort" game - win or lose!

3) If they are coming out flat after a rough loss, challenge them for just 1 or 2 more hits this week than last...and let the kids help motivate themselves.

It's all for fun, but winning and being recognized for getting better are great motivators

Take them to pizza after a game but tell them ahead of time and make them earn it.

pride, they might not understand it at a young age, but teaching them that can help them for the rest of their lives

Get the parents involved in everyone that is in the team as in, get them to know all the players, not just their kid. And when any kid comes up to bat, have the parents cheer his name! Not all kids have their parents show up to all games so this gets the kids motivated to succeed when they come up to bat and none of their family is there to watch him or her.

If they win take them 2 hooters