If you’re a high school or youth coach, the word off-season may sound like an oxymoron. Between clinics, fall ball, and conditioning programs, many coaches barely have time to catch their breath before a new spring season starts.

No matter how active you are during the fall and winter, it’s important to make sure both you and your team are prepared for the upcoming season. Use this checklist to stay on track.

1. Review & Reflect Examine yourself and your team. How can you improve? Are you simply concentrating on game fundamentals, or do you take the time to build good character in your players?

2. Plan for Tryouts: Many travel teams and some high schools carry only 12 to 15 players on their roster. If 30 kids try out, you’ll need to establish specific criteria of the type of players you want on your team.

3. Order Equipment: Many teams require their players to buy their own gear. Saunders encourages coaches to offer guidance on the best deals when they’re in a position to do so.

4. Keep a Journal: We recommend all coaches keep a journal during the season to review details, memories and situations you might need to refer to in the future.

5. Update Team Materials: It’s a good idea to go over practice schedules, team rules, contact information, and other documents, and update as needed.

6. Take a Break: Just as players need down time to play another sport or allow their bodies and minds to rejuvenate, coaches should also recharge their batteries.

This resource is provided by Gamechanger, a mobile app and website that provides scorekeeping, stats, Live GameStreams, and recap stories to thousands of baseball, softball and basketball teams and their fans.

To view the full list, download the PDF below.