Why We’re Here

3/30/2015Little League Baseball and SoftballCoaches’ PresentationSpring 2015Why We’re HereLittle League International:“to promote, develop, supervise, and voluntarily assist in all lawfulways, the interest of those who will participate in Little LeagueBaseball and Softball.”West Side Little League:“Through proper guidance and exemplary leadership, West Sideassists youth in developing the qualities of citizenship, discipline,teamwork and physical well-being. By espousing the virtues ofcharacter, courage and loyalty, our baseball and softball programsare designed to develop superior citizens rather than superiorathletes.”West Side Little League1

3/30/2015Little League HistoryLOOKING BACK: HOW IT ALL STARTED 1939: Founded by Williamsport, PAresident Carl Stotz started with 3 teams: 1953: The National Little LeagueTournament is televised on ABC withHoward Cosell handling the play-by-play. 1964: Little League is granted a Charterof Federal Incorporation by the U.S.Congress and signed by PresidentLyndon B. Johnson. This places Little League in thesame category as Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Boys Clubsof America and a select group of other agenciessimilarly chartered.West Side Little LeagueExecutive Board of DirectorsPresident – Dave HarveyV.P. Baseball – Robin CulpV.P. Softball – Scott YawV.P. Challenger – Andy ThompsonPlayer Agent – John SnyderTreasurer – Rob GrimSecretary – Chris CollinsonDefinition of ODRoles.htmWest Side Little League2

3/30/2015Local League Constitution Constitution: Reviewed & approved annuallyby the membership at a duly organized meetingas provided in Article XII of the ModelConstitutionConstitutionBy-Laws/LocalLeague Rules The Constitution spells out the duties andresponsibilities of the officers of the board,definition of membership, electionprocedures, meeting requirements such asquorum, etc. Legally-Binding DocumentLocal LeagueLocal League Rules Local League Rules: created each season by theBoard of Directors Must be in compliance with Little League Rules& Regulations They normally include the local board’sprocedures for Age Structure, Selection ofTournament Teams (All Stars), specific groundrules for various divisions, etc.West Side Little League3

3/30/2015Residence and School AttendancePlayer Eligibility Requirements Players who live or attendschool within the boundariesof the local Little League willbe eligible to playA player will be deemed to reside within the leagueboundaries if: His/her parents are living together and reside withinsuch league boundaries Either parent or court-appointed legal guardian residewithin such boundariesLittle League PA DistrictsWest Side Little League4

3/30/2015Baseball Programs WSLL ProvidesTee Ball DivisionFor girls and boys league ages 5-6Instructional Division (“Machine Pitch”)For girls and boys league ages 7 & 8; Played on a 60’ diamond with a 46’ pitching distanceKid Pitch DivisionFor girls and boys league age 9; Played on a 60’ diamond with a 46’ pitching distanceMinors Division (“American League”)For girls and boys league ages 10-12; Played on a 60’ diamond with a 46’ pitching distanceMajors Division (“National League”)For girls and boys league ages 11 – 12; Played on a 60’ diamond with a 46’ pitching distanceIntermediate Division (Inter-District Play)For girls and boys league ages 12 – 13; Played on a 70’ diamond with a 50’ pitching distanceJV DivisionFor girls and boys league ages 13 – 15; Played on a 90’ diamond with a 60’ pitching distanceBig League DivisionFor girls and boys league ages 16 – 18 (Played on a 90’ diamond with a 60’ pitching distanceBaseball Programs WSLL ProvidesThe Challenger DivisionA program for developmentally and physically challenged youth, helpingthem to enjoy the full benefits of Little League participation in an athleticenvironment structured to their abilities. More than the skills of baseballlearned through the experience, the value of the Little League ChallengerDivision is found in the proven therapeutic and socialization benefits ofparticipating in sports; the strengthening of participants’ self-esteem; theopportunities to mainstream into otherdivisions of play and the disciplines ofteamwork, sportsmanship and fair play,which are hallmarks of the Little Leagueprogram.West Side Little League5

3/30/2015Softball Programs WSLL ProvidesWest Side and East Side Little League have a combined charter for girls’softball. This means that any girl who lives or goes to school within theboundaries for either West Side LL or East Side LL are automatically part of thecombined program.Rookie DivisionFor players league ages 6-8; Played on a 60’ diamond with a 35’ pitching distanceMinors DivisionFor players league ages 9 & 10; Played on a 60’ diamond with a 35’ pitching distanceMajors DivisionFor players league ages 11 & 12; Played on a 60’ diamond with a 40’ pitching distanceJunior DivisionFor players league ages 13 – 15; Played on a 60’ diamond with a 43’ pitching distanceEducation & Training Coach Resource Center Baseball and Softball Videos and Articles Teaching the Skills Drills and PracticePlans Team Organizationwww.LittleLeagueCoach.org Involving ParentsWest Side Little League6

3/30/2015Coaches’ Behavior Treat our children and parents with respect Use Positive Reinforcement We are trying to build a lifetime love ofbaseball / softballMore information at the “Positive Coaching Alliance” website:http://www.positivecoach.orgDisciplining a Member League receives complaints INWRITING and reports to the Board. Board could decide to take no furtheraction or send WRITTEN notice to theaccused; when, where and why theyneed to appear (due process). Board could decide to draft a writtenwarning, temporarily suspendMembership privileges, or suspendor revoke Membership privileges forremainder of the year.West Side Little League7

3/30/2015West Side Little LeagueSafetyASAP ProgramRequirements for ASAP Plan Have an active Safety Officer Check coaches with a National backgroundcheck Provide first-aid training Require field inspections before season Complete annual Facility Survey Use concession stand procedures Regularly inspect and replace equipment asneeded Have prompt accident reporting Require first-aid kits at events Enforce all Little League RulesWest Side Little League8

3/30/2015ASAP Program First AidCoaches & ParentsSupervising ChildrenSafety & EquipmentConcession StandLightningSafety rules you may not be aware ofWhat to do in the event of an incidentPitchingASAP ProgramFirst Aid A First Aid Training session will bescheduled for some point later inthe Spring All teams should have at least 1representative attend All coaches are required to attend this first aidsession once every three yearsWest Side Little League9

3/30/2015ASAP ProgramFirst Aid All Managers will be provided with stockedfirst aid kits Please share! First Aid materialscan be replenished Have your parents fill out aMedical Release oads/2013/12/WSLLmedical-release-form.pdfASAP ProgramWSLL Fields Waltz Field (Home to WSLL) – 50 Waterwillow Rd, West Chester, PA19380 East Bradford Park (Kenmara) Fields – 835 Kenmara Dr, West Chester,PA 19380 Copeland School Field – 666 Copeland School Rd, West Chester, PA19380 Peirce Middle School Field – 1314 Burke Rd, West Chester, PA 19380 West Goshen Community Park - Fern Hill Road and N. Five PointsRoads, West Chester, PA 19380 Boot Road Park Field – 110 W Boot Rd, West Chester, PA 19380 Stetson Middle School Fields – 1060 Wilmington Pike, West Chester,PA 19382West Side Little League10

3/30/2015ASAP ProgramEmergency Phone #sDIAL 911 IN THE EVENT OF ANY EMERGENCY Whiteland Township Police (610) 363- 0200 (Waltz, Peirce, Boot Rd. Fields)East Bradford Police 610-696-2700 (Kenmara, Copeland School Fields)West Goshen Police (610) 696-7400 (West Goshen Fields)Westtown East Goshen Township Police (610) 692-9600 (Stetson)West Chester Pierce Middle School Field – 1314 Burke Rd, West Chester, PA19380West Goshen Community Park West Chester, PA 19380Boot Road Park Field – 110 W Boot Rd, West Chester, PA 19380Stetson Middle School Fields – 1060 Wilmington Pike, West Chester, PA 19382Rustin High School Fields – 1100 S Shiloh Rd, West Chester, PA 19382ASAP ProgramCoaches and Parents No unauthorized adult is permitted in thedugout with the players (3 coaches allowed) All West Side Coaches will be issued Badges –please wear them Meet with your parents before theseason and reinforce behaviorexpectation (theirs’ as well as theirkids’!)West Side Little League11

3/30/2015ASAP ProgramCoaches and ParentsUmpiresRespect toward the West Side Umpires by ourplayers, coaches, and parents is demanded(not just expected)– Reinforce to players not everything will gotheir way in baseball (or life!)– Coaches must lead the way in proper behaviortowards our UmpiresASAP ProgramCoaches and ParentsWest Goshen FieldManagers must ensure players that mustuse rest rooms are accompanied to thefacility by that player’s parent or anauthorized coachWest Side Little League12

3/30/2015ASAP ProgramRules for Supervising ChildrenTwo Person Rule - managers and coaches shall avoid, to the maximum extentpossible, being in a situation with players where they are the only adult.Open Door Policy – Managers shall make it clear to parents that they arewelcome to observe all team activities, within reason. However, parents andfamily members shall not be permitted on to fields/dugouts for safetyreasons, unless assisting with activities at the manager’s specific request.At all levels of game play if there are no other adult volunteers present theadult volunteer responsible for the team (manager or coach) must remain inthe dugout or bench area at all times.Drop-off/Pick-up Procedures - Managers should advise parents to drop theirplayers off as close to the reporting time; Managers and coaches shall remainat the field or facility at the end of practice until the last player has beenpicked up.ASAP ProgramRules for Supervising ChildrenChild Abuse - Under current PA, any person who has reason to suspect that achild has been abused or neglected may report the suspected abuse. [West SideCoaches] have a moral obligation to protect players who have been entrusted tous by their families. This includes situations where an adult volunteer hasreasonable cause to suspect that a player may have been subject to child abuse asoutlined in this section.Therefore, all West Side adult volunteers who so suspect that a player has beenthe subject of abuse shall report that incident immediately. Reporting should beto the Chester County Department of Human Services Child Hotline at 1-800- 9320313, to a local police department or through 9-1-1. The proper authorities willinvestigate the allegations. At the same time he or she contacts authorities, theadult volunteer who has reasonable suspicion that abuse has occurred shouldcontact the West Side President or Safety West Side Little League13

3/30/2015ASAP ProgramSafety and Equipment All League-issued equipment is inspectedannually Boys are expected to wear protective cups All “Kid Pitch” baseball players must wear a maskon their batting helmet – no exceptions All catcher’s helmets must have a dangle throatprotector Masks are provided for softball pitchers (althoughnot mandatory)ASAP ProgramSafety and EquipmentBats Must be on approved list or meet s pubs/2014licensedbatlist.pdf Must be BPF 1.15 rated For Baseball Majors division and under - mustbe 2 ¼” barrel diameter If dented – get rid of itWest Side Little League14