Question 1

Where do I start as a new user?

Accepted Answer

Start by creating your first team: go to Teams → Create Team. Add your team details, roster, and league rules. Once your team is set up, you can create games on your schedule and generate lineups. Visit our Getting Started guide at /getting-started for a complete walkthrough.

Question 2

What should I set up first?

Accepted Answer

Set up in this order: 1) Create your team with basic info (name, sport, age group). 2) Add all your players with their position preferences. 3) Configure your league rules (innings, field positions, special rules). 4) Create your first game on the schedule. 5) Generate a lineup for that game.

Question 3

How do I navigate between my teams, games, and lineups?

Accepted Answer

Use the main navigation menu: Teams shows all your teams. Click a team to see its Roster, League Rules, and Schedule tabs. From Schedule, click any game to view or edit its lineup. The Lineup Generator and Practice Planner are also in the main menu.

Question 4

What is the difference between free and premium?

Accepted Answer

Free users can use the lineup generator without saving. Premium ($8/month) unlocks: save unlimited teams and lineups, practice planner with 240+ drills, season stats tracking, PDF exports, and priority support. All educational content (drills, handbook, calculators) is free for everyone.

Question 5

Where can I find help if I get stuck?

Accepted Answer

Check our [Getting Started guide](/getting-started) for step-by-step instructions. Browse the [Coaching Handbook](/coaching-handbook) for baseball/softball knowledge. For technical issues, email support@dugoutedge.com - we typically respond within 24 hours.

Question 6

How do I create a new team?

Accepted Answer

Go to Teams in the menu → click Create Team. Enter your team name, select the sport (Baseball/Softball), age group, and level. Add your players in the roster section, then configure your league rules. Click Create Team to save.

Question 7

How do I add or edit players on my roster?

Accepted Answer

On your team page, click "Edit Team Settings" (gear icon, top right). Scroll to the Roster section. For each player, enter: name (required), jersey number, gender, and position preferences (check all positions they can play). Click Save Team when done.

Question 8

What are position preferences and why do they matter?

Accepted Answer

Position preferences tell the lineup generator which positions each player CAN play. Check multiple positions for more flexibility. For example, if a player can play 1B, 2B, and OF, check all three. The algorithm will rotate them through these positions while keeping the lineup fair.

Question 9

How do I mark a player as absent for a game?

Accepted Answer

In the Lineup Generator, uncheck the player in the roster list before generating. They will be excluded from that game's lineup. You can also edit the lineup after generation and remove players manually.

Question 10

Where do I see my team's stats across the season?

Accepted Answer

On your team page, click the Roster tab. You'll see Game Stats (position history, innings played, batting order positions) and Practice Stats (attendance, drill participation). Toggle between past games and all games using the scope filter.

Question 11

How do I delete a team?

Accepted Answer

On your team page, click Edit Team Settings, scroll to the bottom, and look for the red "Delete Team" button. This permanently removes the team, all players, games, and lineups. This cannot be undone.

Question 12

Can I coach multiple teams?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Premium users can create unlimited teams. Each team has its own roster, league rules, schedule, and saved lineups. Switch between teams from the Teams page.

Question 13

How do I generate a lineup for a game?

Accepted Answer

Go to Lineup Generator in the menu. Select your team, enter the game details (opponent, date, time), review which players are attending (uncheck absent players), then click Generate Lineup. The algorithm creates a fair batting order and position assignments for each inning.

Question 14

How does the fairness algorithm work?

Accepted Answer

The algorithm distributes playing time evenly within each game. It rotates players through different positions (respecting their preferences), balances batting order positions, and minimizes bench time. No player sits significantly more than others.

Question 15

Can I edit the lineup after generating?

Accepted Answer

Yes! After generation, you can manually swap players between positions, reorder the batting lineup, and adjust any inning. Changes save automatically. Use drag-and-drop or click to swap positions.

Question 16

How do I view the lineup - Table View vs Field View?

Accepted Answer

Table View shows a grid with innings as columns and batting positions as rows - great for printing. Field View shows a diamond with players positioned visually for each inning - great for tablets in the dugout. Use the inning arrows to navigate. Both show the same data.

Question 17

How do I export or print my lineup?

Accepted Answer

Click the Export PDF button to download a printable lineup card. You can also use the Share button to copy a link or send via email. The PDF includes batting order, position assignments by inning, and a field diagram.

Question 18

What does the Competitive Priority slider do?

Accepted Answer

This slider balances fairness vs. strategy. Lower values (1-3) prioritize equal playing time for all players. Higher values (7-10) weight player skill and position preferences more heavily. For recreational leagues, keep it low. For competitive leagues, adjust higher.

Question 19

Why is a player getting the same position multiple times?

Accepted Answer

This happens when: 1) Few players have that position in their preferences, or 2) Position rotation is disabled in league rules. To fix: add more position preferences for players, or enable "Rotate Positions" in your league rules.

Question 20

How do I handle a player arriving late or leaving early?

Accepted Answer

Generate the lineup with all players included. Then manually edit the lineup: for late arrivals, put them on bench for early innings. For early departures, put them on bench for later innings. The printed lineup will reflect your edits.

Question 21

How do I keep specific players in certain positions when I shuffle?

Accepted Answer

Use the lock icon. Hover (or tap) any cell in the lineup table to reveal a small lock icon in the top-right corner; tap it to pin that player at that position. The cell tints navy and the icon turns solid. When you tap Shuffle Positions, every cell EXCEPT your locked ones re-shuffles. Perfect for keeping your ace on the mound for inning 1 while the engine fills in everything else. Tap the lock again to unlock. See the walkthrough at [Lock players to their positions](/updates/lock-positions).

Question 22

I made a mistake editing my lineup. How do I undo?

Accepted Answer

The lineup editor has Undo and Redo buttons at the top right of the table. They track every change (position swaps, lock toggles, shuffles, drag-reorders, and Clear All Positions) so any single mistake is one click away from being reversed. You can also use Cmd+Z (Mac) or Ctrl+Z (Windows) for undo, and Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Z for redo. History is kept for the last 50 actions. See the walkthrough at [Undo and redo any lineup change](/updates/undo-redo).

Question 23

How do I create a practice plan?

Accepted Answer

Go to Practice Planner in the menu. Select your team, set the date and duration (60, 90, or 120 min), choose your focus areas (hitting, fielding, etc.), then build your timeline by adding activity blocks. Search for drills from our library of 240+ options.

Question 24

How do I add drills to my practice?

Accepted Answer

In the Practice Planner, click "Add Block" to create a time slot (e.g., Warmup, Hitting, Infield). Then search for drills by name or category. Click a drill to add it. Each drill shows equipment needed, setup instructions, and coaching points.

Question 25

Can I assign players to different stations?

Accepted Answer

Yes! For station-based practices, add multiple stations within a block. Assign players to each station and set rotation times. The practice plan will show which players go where and when they rotate.

Question 26

How do I save and reuse practice plans?

Accepted Answer

Click Save Practice Plan when done. Name your plan and optionally save it as a template. Templates can be reused for future practices - just load the template and adjust the date. Great for repeating weekly practice structures.

Question 27

Where can I find drills by category?

Accepted Answer

Go to Drills in the menu to browse our full library. Filter by category (Warmup, Hitting, Infield, Outfield, Pitching, Catching, Baserunning, Team Defense), sport (Baseball/Softball), and age group. Each drill has video, instructions, and coaching tips.

Question 28

How do I print my practice plan?

Accepted Answer

Click Export PDF to download a printable practice plan. It includes your timeline, drill descriptions, equipment checklist, and player station assignments. Bring it to the field on your phone or print it out.

Question 29

Can I track which players attended practice?

Accepted Answer

Yes! When creating a practice plan for a saved team, you can mark player attendance. After the practice, these stats appear on your team page under Practice Stats - showing each player's practice count and time by drill category.

Question 30

Where do I set up my league rules?

Accepted Answer

On your team page, click "Edit Team Settings" (gear icon, top right). Scroll to the League Rules section. Set innings, field positions, batting rules, co-ed requirements, and pitcher limits. These rules automatically apply to all lineups you generate.

Question 31

What field position options are available?

Accepted Answer

Choose from presets: Standard 9 (P, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF, CF, RF), Standard 10 (adds LCF or RCF), or Coach Pitch (no pitcher). You can also toggle individual positions on/off for custom configurations like 4-outfielder setups.

Question 32

How do I set up co-ed league rules?

Accepted Answer

In Edit Team Settings → League Rules, enable "Co-Ed League". Then set: 1) Minimum Female Players required on the field each inning. 2) Gender Batting Order Rule to alternate genders in the lineup. The algorithm will enforce these automatically.

Question 33

What does "All Players Bat" mean?

Accepted Answer

When ON (default), every player on your roster is in the batting order. When OFF, you set a specific batting order size (e.g., 9 batters) - only those players bat, even if more are on the roster. Most youth leagues use "all players bat."

Question 34

How do pitcher rules work?

Accepted Answer

Two settings: 1) "Pitcher Cannot Return" - if a pitcher leaves the mound, they cannot pitch again that game. 2) "Max Innings Pitched" - limits how many innings one player can pitch (e.g., 2 innings max). Both are enforced by the lineup generator.

Question 35

What does "Rotate Positions" do?

Accepted Answer

When enabled, the algorithm avoids putting the same player at the same position in consecutive innings. This ensures kids experience different positions throughout the game. Pitcher and catcher are exempt from rotation.

Question 36

Can I override rules for a specific game?

Accepted Answer

In the Lineup Generator, you can override innings and field positions for a single game without changing your team defaults. For major rule changes, consider creating a separate team with different settings.

Question 37

How much does premium cost?

Accepted Answer

Premium is $8/month or $60/year (save 37%). Both include a 7-day free trial. Cancel anytime. Premium unlocks: unlimited saved teams and lineups, practice planner, season stats, PDF exports, and priority support.

Question 38

How do I upgrade to premium?

Accepted Answer

Click your profile icon (top right) → Subscription. Select Monthly or Yearly, enter payment info, and start your 7-day free trial. You won't be charged until the trial ends.

Question 39

How do I cancel my subscription?

Accepted Answer

Go to your Profile → Subscription → Manage Subscription. Click "Cancel Subscription." You'll keep premium access until the end of your billing period. Your data is never deleted - you can resubscribe anytime.

Question 40

How do I change my password?

Accepted Answer

Go to Profile → Account Settings. Click "Change Password" and enter your current password, then your new password. If you signed up with Google, you'll need to set a password first or continue using Google sign-in.

Question 41

I forgot my password - how do I reset it?

Accepted Answer

On the Sign In page, click "Forgot Password?" Enter your email and we'll send a reset link. Click the link in the email to set a new password. Check your spam folder if you don't see the email.

Question 42

How do I update my email or profile info?

Accepted Answer

Go to Profile → Account Settings. You can update your display name and email. Note: changing your email may require re-verification.

Question 43

How do I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Go to Profile → Subscription → scroll to "Danger Zone" → Delete Account. This permanently removes all your data including teams, players, games, and lineups. This cannot be undone. Consider exporting your data first.

Question 44

Who do I contact for help?

Accepted Answer

Email support@dugoutedge.com or use the Contact Support form in your account. We typically respond within 24 hours. Premium users get priority support.

Question 45

Do you offer league or organization pricing?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We offer discounts for leagues and organizations with multiple coaches. Email support@dugoutedge.com with your league name and estimated number of coaches for a custom quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I start as a new user?

What should I set up first?

How do I navigate between my teams, games, and lineups?

What is the difference between free and premium?

Where can I find help if I get stuck?

Still need help?