How Leading a Raid is like Coaching Little League

This past weekend I was helping out with my son’s Little League game.  He’s at the age where coaches stand out on the field with the kids while they play and try to coax them into doing the right thing.

As I’m standing there, I noticed how similar this was to raid leading.

In Little League, there are between 9-11 kids standing there who really don’t know what to do. Ideally, they will react on their own when the ball is hit.  In reality, they will stand there confused until you give them directions.	In a raid, there are 10 or 25 players who should know what to do. Ideally, they will react on their own when fire/slime/bad shows up under their feet.  In reality, they will stand there until you give them directions.
In Little League, the coach has to see the event, scan the playing field, and immediately call out the suggested response. Unfortunately, the kids most likely are not listening.	In a raid, the raid leader has to see the event, scan the situation, and immediately call out the suggested reaction. Unfortunately, the players are most likely tunnel-visioning their dps abilities and are not listening.
In Little League, you can’t just call out a general set of instructions and expect them to be followed. For example, you can’t say, “If the ball goes to left side, then the play is to second. Instead, you have to call out the player by name and give him specific, personalized instructions.  When the ball is hit to Timmy, you need to say “Timmy! Turn and throw to second!	In a raid you can’t just call out a general set of instructions and expect them to be followed. For example, you can’t say, “When Festergut gives out spores, someone needs to run out to the ranged group.” Instead, you have to call out the player by name and give him specific, personalized instructions.  When Dkrulez gets a spore you need to say “Dkrulez! Run to the left side ranged group NOW!
In Little League, as sad as it is there is always that one kid that the coaches hope doesn’t get the ball. We try to explain things to him, but he just hasn’t developed the instincts yet.  Inevitably, when the ball goes to him, no matter when we call out, he picks it up and holds it, confused, until the play is over.	In raids, as sad as it is there is always that one player that the raid leader hopes doesn’t get put into an important situation. We try to explain the fight to him, but he can’t seem to figure out his part.  Inevitably, when he gets a spore/slime/void zone/bad he just stands there either unaware or waiting for someone to tell him exactly what to do, until he dies.

What I really need is for all the kids on the little league team to have a heads-up display of a baseball version of DBM. Whenever the ball is hit the display would show them where to throw it and what bases they should cover.

Then again, we already have that in WoW and it still doesn’t help.