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Youth Baseball Tournament Planning Checklist
This is the checklist travel coaches and Little League coaches use to prepare for a tournament weekend. It covers the pitching plan, lineup rotation, logistics, and game-day execution — from two weeks before the tournament through the championship game. Bookmark it. Print it. Use it every time.
2 Weeks Before the Tournament
Pitching Plan
- Confirm tournament schedule — how many games, over how many days, game times
- List every available pitcher on your staff
- Check each pitcher's recent workload — when did they last pitch, how many pitches, and how many rest days remain?
- Build your pitching allocation: who starts each game, target pitch count per game, relief order
- Map the allocation against rest day rules for your league — make sure nobody is assigned to a game where they'd be ineligible
- Identify your championship game arm(s) and work backward to protect their availability
- Build 2-3 contingency scenarios: what if your Game 1 starter gets pulled early? What if someone gets sick?
- Enter the full plan in Rizzler's tournament planner or on paper if you're old school
Lineup Rotation
- Review playing time data from the last 3-4 games
- Decide your lineup philosophy for this tournament — is pool play for development or wins?
- Plan your Game 1 batting order and fielding rotation
- If using Rizzler Pro, generate lineups with AI Batting Order and AI Fielding Positions
- Note any players with position restrictions (injury, fatigue, catcher workload)
Logistics
- Confirm tournament venue, field assignments, and parking
- Confirm game times and check-in requirements
- Review tournament-specific rules (pool play tiebreakers, time limits, run rules)
- Pack extra lineup cards if the tournament requires paper submissions
1 Week Before
Communication
- Send schedule to all players and parents (game times, field locations, arrival times)
- Confirm player availability — who's missing? Adjust pitching plan accordingly
- Set expectations: arrival time is 60 minutes before game one, 30 minutes before subsequent games
- Remind parents about hydration, snacks for between games, and staying off the coaches during games
Equipment
- Baseballs (game balls + warm-up balls)
- First aid kit, ice packs
- Sunscreen, bug spray
- Cooler with water and ice
- Chargers for phones/tablets (long days drain batteries)
- Rizzler iOS app installed and logged in on all coaches' phones
- Backup paper lineup cards and a pen (always)
Day Before Game 1
Final Prep
- Finalize Game 1 lineup in Rizzler — batting order, fielding rotation, pitching assignment
- Review the full tournament plan one more time
- Charge your phone completely
- Text your assistant coaches the plan and confirm who's doing what (who's counting pitches, who's coaching third base, etc.)
- Get a good night's sleep. You're going to need it.
Game Day — Before Each Game
30-60 Minutes Before First Pitch
- Arrive early. Set up the dugout.
- Open Rizzler — confirm the game plan is loaded
- Quick review with coaching staff: batting order, fielding rotation, pitching plan, key matchups
- Warm-ups: structured, efficient, same routine every game
- Plate meeting: bring your lineup card
Game Day — During Each Game
In-Game Execution
- One coach counting pitches on their phone — every pitch, no exceptions
- Monitor the pitch count vs. your target — watch the rest day projection
- When plans change (injury, blowout, tight game), make adjustments in Rizzler — the remaining innings update automatically
- Track at-bats and scoring if you have a coach available for it
Between Games
- Enter final pitch counts if you haven't already (actual, not estimates)
- Check updated pitcher availability for the next game in the tournament planner
- Adjust the next game's plan if needed — did you use a reliever you weren't planning on?
- Make sure players eat, drink water, and stay loose
- Review the next game plan with your staff
After the Tournament
Debrief
- Review pitch count data across the full tournament — any surprises?
- Review playing time distribution — did everyone get reasonable time?
- Note what worked and what didn't in the pitching plan
- Update player evaluations based on tournament performance — who stepped up under pressure?
- Thank your parents. They drove, they sat in the sun, they kept their mouths shut (mostly). Acknowledge it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I handle back-to-back games?
Plan your pitching so that Game 2's starter is someone who didn't pitch in Game 1. Have your Game 1 relievers identified before the tournament so you don't burn your Game 2 starter early. More on multi-game pitching →
What if we have a bye or a rain delay?
A bye is good news — it's extra rest. Adjust your pitcher availability grid. A rain delay may mean a compressed schedule later. Rizzler's planner lets you add, remove, or shift games at any time.
Should I save my best pitcher for the championship?
It depends on the format. If you need to win pool play to reach the bracket, pitching to win pool play matters. The common mistake is saving your ace for a championship game you never reach because you lost in pool play. Full pitching strategy →
Is this checklist available as a PDF?
This page is the checklist. Bookmark it on your phone or print it from your browser. It'll be here every tournament weekend.
Tournament prep starts here. Full pitching strategy → · How Rizzler's tool works → · Back to Tournament Planning Hub →
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