Coaches’ Corner

For posts that are new to American Legion Baseball, recruiting and creating teams remain the most significant hurdles. While established posts, such as Columbia’s Post 19, have built a strong foundation of players over decades, newer posts face difficulties in finding coaches who are already familiar with local baseball circles. 

Simply helping with logistics — such as arranging team insurance, uniforms, and registration — can significantly ease the process of forming teams. 

In 2012, Beasley began coaching for the very team he once played for. By 2014, he officially took over as head coach for Columbia Post 19’s senior division. His duties continued to grow as the team developed over the years, despite attempts to step away from coaching and raise his three sons—two of whom now play baseball too. 

“I was trying to ease my way out of coaching,” Beasley admitted, “but I kept getting sucked back into the program. I want to help as many people as I can get involved and keep this legacy going.” 

Columbia Post 19 has played Legion Baseball for 97 consecutive years, making it one of the most enduring programs in Tennessee. The team is often tied to families and alumni who ensure the tradition continues. 

“There’s a long legacy of having a team year-in and year-out. A lot of the kids who play for us, their parents or coaches played for Post 19,” Beasley shared. “It’s definitely different for an established team like ours than for a post trying to kickstart something new.” 

Starting new Legion teams within Tennessee presents difficulties, given the changing landscape of youth baseball. Beasley noted that recruiting is especially challenging because the program competes for players with high-cost travel programs, many of which prioritize profit over player development.

“Twenty years ago, when I played for Post 19, we’d have sixty to seventy kids show up to compete for eighteen roster spots,” Beasley recalled. “Now, though, fewer kids participate overall. If you’re not already connected within baseball circles and know other coaches or players, it’s really hard to get 15 to 20 kids to agree to play Legion ball since there are so many travel baseball options.” 

Beasley emphasized that finding contacts and partnerships is critical for starting teams. He listed Dyersburg as an example of a team already existing in the region, highlighting how Legion posts can successfully connect to existing teams to grow their programs. 

Beasley also highlighted innovative sponsorships as opportunities for growth: 

“A team won Legion’s World Series several years ago, co-sponsored by two posts,” he explained. “If teams and posts can set egos aside and combine resources, partnering with companies or multiple posts, they can sponsor competitive teams across places like Nashville and Memphis.” 

One major advantage Legion Baseball maintains over travel programs is its competitive structure, which focuses heavily on performance to progress. 

“In travel teams, you play four to five games in a weekend tournament, and everyone moves on regardless of wins or losses,” Beasley explained. “Legion, however, is different. You play pool games, advance from state tournaments to regionals, and only continue winning your season if you qualify at every level. The stakes in Legion tournaments matter more, and that’s what makes every win feel meaningful.” 

Legion Baseball remains rooted in community-first values, prioritizing players from local schools and limiting roster sizes to ensure opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds. Beasley elaborated on how this contrasts with travel leagues: 

“Some travel teams hold twenty-five-player rosters recruited across five states and twenty-five separate high schools. Legion’s enrollment rules ensure players connect to local teams based on geography.” 

Each Legion team maintains enrollment caps tied to local regions. For example, teams prioritize recruiting multiple players from individual schools to meet roster limits of 7,500 students across their district. By nature, players are incentivized to represent their community team rather than joining disconnected travel rosters assembled from across the nation. 

Beasley’s philosophy centers on balancing competitive growth with meaningful, personal player development: 

“You get these players for two months during summer ball—you can’t rebuild how they throw or swing in such limited time. So instead, focus on teaching lessons through success and failure. Don’t overcoach just to ‘fix’ technical mechanics; help players grow as people first.” 

“In the summer league, it’s critical to remember: they don’t have to play for you if they feel like you’re not invested in them. If they don’t feel seen as individuals, kids can just sit out and wait.” 

For Beasley, the best reward from coaching is the chance to build lifelong connections with players: 

“I still talk to quite a few of my players. Coaching isn’t just about success on the field. You also help guide them through bigger life milestones—whether it’s being a reference for their first jobs, law school applications, or watching them grow into parents themselves. It’s incredibly rewarding knowing that you’ve had a part in fostering their success.” 

Post 19 even hosts annual alumni games, allowing players from past seasons to return and reconnect with Beasley and their teammates. “Last year, we had several players back from the winning 2014 team. They even brought along their one-year-olds—it’s amazing seeing the next generation grow.” 

It’s a common misconception that Legion Baseball lacks competitiveness. Teams might vary in skill, but this is true across all sports. Talent levels in Legion Baseball are just as high as anywhere else; players don’t need to travel to major cities like Atlanta to find formidable competition.