Healdsburg Little League

2013 Family Handbook

Table of Contents

Welcome to Healdsburg Little League (HLL) ...... 3 HLL Calendar of Events ...... 4 Parents Code of Conduct ...... 4 Parent Requirements? ...... 7 Communicating With Your ...... 8 Player Uniforms & Equipment ...... 8 Snack Shack ...... 8 Spring Assessments ...... 8 Training ...... 9 Opening Day ...... 9 Tournament of Champions ...... 9 All Stars ...... 9 Role of Team Parents ...... 9 Helpful Hints for Team Parents: ...... 10 Positive Coaching Alliance: ...... 10 Fairplay: ...... 10 Fall Ball:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………10 Discipline Policy & Guidelines………………………………………………………………………………………………………………13

Welcome to the Healdsburg Little League (HLL)

Dear HLL Parents,

Welcome to the Healdsburg Little League 2013 season! This year marks the HLL’s 22st year as a community organization dedicated to teaching and inspiring our children to the highest level of skill and sportsmanship.

As a 100 percent volunteer organization, the strength of our League resides in our parent community. Without your help, support and volunteer hours we could not manage to successfully support and provide an amazing baseball experience for hundreds of children in the Healdsburg community each season. This year we are pleased to report record registration numbers, with more than 200 children playing ball in, Farm, Minors, Majors, Juniors and seniors divisions.

Given the significance of your role as a supporting parent, the HLL Board of Directors developed a Parent Handbook to provide all participating families with pertinent information on what to expect this season in terms of your volunteer commitment. We also encourage all parents to visit the HLL website http://www.healdsburgbaseball.com/ and read the information under the Parents tab for additional resources.

Thank you very much for supporting your child through Healdsburg Little League. We look forward to a fantastic Spring baseball season. If you have any questions regarding the HLL Parent Handbook and/or Parent Expectation Program, please contact HLL CO-President Cindy Beth.

See you on the field!

HLL Calendar of Events A full list of all practices and games can be found on the HLL web site at http://www.healdsburgbaseball.com Key event dates to add to your family’s calendar for the 2013 Spring season:

Jan 31 – Thursday Wednesday 6:00 – 7:00 at HHS

Parent Information Meeting

Feb 2

Assessment Scrimmages

AA – 9:00 – 10:30 at HES

AAA – 11:00 – 12:30 at HES

Juniors – 1:00 – 2:30 at HHS

Intermediate (50/70) – 3:00 – 4:30 at HHS

Player Draft/Team Assignment

Week of February 10

Practices Start

Week of Feb 15

Umpire Training

Mar 9 & 10 – Saturday/Sunday at Monroe Elementary, Santa Rosa

Opening Day

Mar 16 – Saturday

Pasta Dinner Fundraiser

April 12 – Friday 6:00 – 9:00 pm

End of Season Tournament of Champions

May 28-June 8

All Star Tournament Dates

June 15 – July 15

Parents Code of Conduct The HLL supports the Parents Code of Conduct established by the National Little League organization http://www.littleleague.org/Little_League_Online.htm

The essential elements of character building and ethics in are embodied in the concept of sportsmanship and six core principles:

 Trustworthiness  Fairness  Respect  Caring  Responsibility  Good Citizenship

The highest potential of sports is achieved when competition reflects these "six pillars of character."

I therefore agree:

1 ) I will not force my child to participate in sports.

2) I will remember that children participate to have fun and that the game is for youth, not adults.

3) I will inform the coach of any physical disability or ailment that may affect the safety of my child or the safety of others.

4) I will learn the rules of the game and the policies of the League.

5) I (and my guests) will be a positive role model for my child and encourage sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy, and by demonstrating positive support for all players, coaches, and spectators at every game, practice or other sporting event.

6) I (and my guests) will not engage in any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct with any , coach, player or parent such as booing and taunting; refusing to shake hands; or using profane language and gestures.

7) I will not encourage any behaviors or practices that would endanger the health and well being of the athletes.

8) I will teach my child to play by the rules and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence.

9) I will demand that my child treat other players, coaches, officials and spectators with respect regardless of race, creed, color, sex or ability.

10) I will teach my child that doing one’s best is more important than winning, so that my child will never feel defeated by the outcome of a game or his/her performance. 11) I will praise my child for competing fairly and trying hard, and make my child feel like a winner every time.

12) I will never ridicule or yell at my child or other participants for making a mistake or losing a competition.

13) I will emphasize skill development and practices and how they benefit my child over winning. I will also deemphasize games and competition in the lower age groups.

14) I will promote the emotional and physical wellbeing of the athletes ahead of any personal desire I may have for my child to win.

15) I will respect the officials and their authority during games and never question, discuss or confront coaches at the game field, and will take time to speak with coaches at an agreed upon time and place.

16) I will demand a sports environment for my child that is free from drugs, tobacco and alcohol and I will refrain from their use at all sports events.

17) I will refrain from coaching my child or other players during games and practices, unless I am one of the official coaches of the team.

Parent Commitment Requirements

Parents with a child in the HLL can expect a significant investment of time during the Spring season.

While parent presence is not mandatory for all practices and games, you can expect that your child will at least be required to attend two, 1.5 hour weekly practice session with his/her team and two, 2.0 hour games each week in Minors, Majors, Juniors & Seniors.

Farm are limited to one, 1.0 hour practice per week and 2 games per week.

All levels will participate in multi/division clinic sessions.

Your regular presence at games when possible is also highly encouraged. All children want to see their parents in the stands and your presence is visible support and encouragement for your child’s performance.

In addition to practices and games, for parents with children in Farm, Minors , Majors, Jr and Sr, Snack Shack duties for a minimum of two games during the season is required whenever your child’s team plays. (Please see the Snack Shack section of the handbook for full details on what is expected)

During the season there are also additional HLL events that we highly encourage all families to actively participate in and support where possible. These include the Opening Day ceremonies, HLL night at the ball park, Pasta Dinner Annual Fundraiser and Tournament of Champions. Full details on each of these events are available in the Calendar of Events section of this handbook.

Parents can volunteer their time to support their child in the League in various ways, which include but are not limited to:

 Signing up to bring team snacks for games  Volunteering Opening Day ceremonies  Working at the Snack Shack  Helping the team coach on the field during practices  Helping with equipment and cleanup before and after each game  Soliciting donations for the annual fundraiser  Helping your team parent  Becoming a HLL team or field sponsor  Becoming a volunteer (training provided)

There are numerous ways to get involved, so signup and offer your assistance in any way you can. We guarantee you that one of best ways to have the most fulfilling experience with your child is to become an active member of HLL – you will also make some of the dearest friends with the other parents on your teams.

Communicating With Your Coach The National Little League Baseball website provides parents with some useful tools for helping you and your child best communicate with your coach. http://www.littleleague.org/parents/parentsguide/communicatingwithcoach.htm We ask that each parent please respect, support and cooperate with your child’s team coach. Our coaches are parents as well, and put in an incredible amount of personal time in addition to their full- time jobs to help ensure all teams have the best experience possible. If at any time during the season you are not able to effectively communicate with your coach or if there is an issue that requires attention, we ask that you contact your division HLL Player Agent. A full listing of agents for each division is listed on the HLL website http://healdsburgbaseball.com

Player Uniforms & Equipment All players will receive a team jersey, belt and hat for use during the season. Parents are required to keep the belts and jerseys clean and in good condition with the requirement that all jerseys/belts be returned to the HLL on the last game of the TOC. All baseball bats, batting helmets and catcher gear are provided by the League for each team. Players are required to have their own baseball glove. Players are also permitted to use their own Little League approved bats or batting helmets if they prefer. A list of approve bats can be found on LittleLeague.org. www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/2012RuleChanges.pdf

Snack Shack Each team will supply (1) parent for Concessions or Merchandise sales per game. Parent volunteers are to arrive 30 minutes prior to game time. This job is fun and easy. Parent will be working the window and collecting money. There will always be someone in the shack to manage it, so no one will be alone wondering what to do. It is very important to have a parent volunteer to keep the shack running. If you cannot make your scheduled time please make arrangements with another parent.

Spring Assessments Mandatory player evaluations are required for Minors, Majors and Junior Leagues. Assessments are conducted at Healdsburg High School and are run by the HLL Board. Each league is assigned a designated time slot between the hours of 4:00 p.m. through 7:00 p.m. Healdsburg High School.

Upon arrival, each player is required to sign in to obtain a player identification number. Assessments drills include hitting, pitching, catching, fielding and base running. While each player is reviewed and graded, the purpose of the scoring is to ensure that all teams are comprised of a balanced set of players (i.e., an equal set of beginner, intermediate and advanced players) to enable fair game play. In the Minor Divisions, all players who register for spring season will be assigned to a team, regardless of level of experience. As the Majors teams have a limited number of roster slots available, some Minor League players may be evaluated as being better served to play another season in the Minors Similar decisions will be made for players within Farm division and Minors. All returning players will be placed by skill level. Training The HLL Board has organized into additional training sessions during the season in addition to team practices and games in order to help each player continue to improve their overall game play. These sessions may include hitting, pitching, catching and fielding clinics held by professional trainers retained by the HLL. There is no additional cost for multi team cooperative practices or clinics when they are conducted in conjunction with your child’s team.

Opening Day To officially kickoff the Spring season, an Opening Day and ceremony takes place in late March early April. All team players are required to attend in full uniform.

There will be Opening Day ceremonies and games during the day.

Tournament of Champions Each year HLL hold a double elimination tournament of Champions and are given a end of season HLL t- shirt at the end of the tournament each team is recognized and each player given a TOC pin.

All Stars Upon the conclusion of the regular Little League season, an All Star team is named for the Minors, Majors, Jr and Sr Little League divisions. These teams represent Healdsburg Little League at area level tournament play that runs from June 15 through roughly July 15. All Stars is recognition of the best players in the league as voted on by their peers, managers, and other league representatives. The All Star team is rewarded with special HLL t-shirts and notices in the PressDemocrat. Different league levels are subject to selection processes as defined in the HLL bylaws.

All Stars are expected to fulfill the obligations associated with this honor, which include attending all mandated practices and tournament games.

Much more content will be posted at the beginning of the Spring season. This content will outline the selection process for each level, provide guidelines, and express the details of the commitment players and their families are expected to make to All Stars.

Role of Team Parents Team Parents play a critical volunteer role in supporting the HLL and the team to which their player is assigned. The Team Parent plays an important role in organizing the families for a successful season and given the depth of responsibilities, may opt to share the duty with another parent.

Areas of responsibility include:

 Preparing and distributing a team roster and contact information to parents.  Preparing and distributing a snack schedule by the first game. Every family is required to participate by providing a snack and a drink for all players on the team on a rotating basis. Each family can expect to provide team snacks/drinks at least twice during the season. Snacks/drinks are only provided after games and not required for every team practice.  Preparing the Snack Shack parent schedule. The home teams for any game played on the Majors or Minors field are required to open, staff, and cleanup and close the snack shack both weekday and weekend games. Each team parent should expect to work the snack shack at least twice during the season plus possible additional times during the .  Dissemination of any HLL event information to team parents such as the Pasta feed Annual Fundraiser and collection of team donations.  Assist the Team Manager is finding parents to keep score and pitch counts during the season (only applies to Minors, Majors and Juniors)  Organize parents to ensure that dugout, sidelines and bleachers are clean and liter free for the next game.  Coordination of the End of Season Team Party and thank you gifts for team manager & coaches.  Organized team scorekeepers

Helpful Hints for Team Parents:

Scheduling Parents for Snack Shack Duty Review the game schedule and assign parents to snack shack duty, then let them know their day. If they cannot make their scheduled time they should arrange with another parent.

After Game Snack (optional) After games snacks can be provided by the snack shack. Teams get a special rate of $2.00 per person per game. Snack includes hotdog, drink and chips. If possible, collect snack order and monies at the beginning of the season and keep an envelope with the money. As team parent, place the order prior to each game. If you have any funds left over at the end of the season roll to the end of season party or trophies.

Trophies : Trophies can be ordered at North Coast Engravers near Safeway 433-7542. Remember to order at least 2 weeks ahead. Typically expect $10 per child. Ideas from past include, bobble heads, regular trophy, or a metal. Collect money ahead of time.

End of Season Party: Divine Pizza is always a good option, make sure to reserve early. This is usually about $5 - $7 per person. Collect money in advance. This is only a suggestion; please feel free to arrange your end of season party anywhere that suits you. This is when trophies are handed out. End of season parties can be difficult to plan as summer is starting and families are heading out for vacation.

Fair Play

Healdsburg Little League has adopted a Fair Play philosophy that emphasizes there are two considerations more important than winning: that kids play Little League to participate and to enjoy the game.

This notion of Fair Play is a universally understood concept, which underpins all the house leagues of Healdsburg Little League. Without fairness, the game is devoid of any meaning or purpose. Worse still, it can be a detrimental experience for its participants.

The Healdsburg Little League Fair Play philosophy is also one of respect for others, and respect for the game. It is an agreement, between all of those involved in Healdsburg Little League (players, coaches and parents) on the values and lessons that we want the Little League experience to teach our children, and ourselves.

The Healdsburg Little League Fair Play philosophy starts with the simple rule that in every game, in all divisions, regardless of skill level, every player must play equal time in the infield and in the outfield.

Playing fair also has to do with respect and making choices. As we interact with each other in a game, or as spectators, we must regularly consider and define what we think is right and what is not. As our children interact with each other in games and practices, their ability to make good choices about fair play issues matures along with their ability to think and learn about what makes for a rewarding and fulfilling life in society. At all times everyone involved is expected to respect the opposition, the officials and the rules of the game. Bending the rules and foul play are unsporting and ruin the enjoyment for all involved. This type of behavior by players, coaches or spectators will not be tolerated.

All participants in the game are expected to maintain their dignity whether they are winning or losing. Coaches and parents are expected to lead by example. If you are winning, don’t run up the score. Manage the game so that both you and your opponents can maintain their dignity.

The final and probably most important aspect of the League’s Fair Play philosophy is that everyone remains calm at all times no matter what happens. Players, coaches and are human and errors are going to occur. If everyone stays calm the game is much more enjoyable for all involved. Most important in this respect is that of players and umpires will not be tolerated. Remember after all, it is just a game played by young people, officiated by volunteers and that every team makes the playoffs.

Everyone has a Role

Everyone has a role to play in fostering a fair play and fun environment for our children. Play your part – play fair.

Coaches should:

Emphasize the guidelines of fair play to all players Make sure all players know the rules Keep their emotions in check Accept all calls by the umpires Try not to influence the umpires Speak out against violence, poor behavior and cheating.

Players should:

Understand the rules before starting the game Play fair and within the rules Respect umpires by not challenging their calls Keep their emotions in check Respect their opponents

Parents and supporters should:

Respect the umpires and their decisions Keep their emotions in check Encourage the players to play fair Support their team in a positive manner

PCA

Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) is a national nonprofit organization committed to providing all youth and high school athletes a positive, character-building youth sports experience.

Fall Ball

HLL currently partners with Santa Rosa American Little League for Fall Ball opportunities. Healdsburg Minor, Major and Junior teams are formed. All teams practice in Healdsburg with HLL Mangers and Coaches, but the game schedule is administered by SRALL and games are played in Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. Parents are required to volunteer in the SRALL and Sebastopol Snack Shack and Umpire. No volunteers, no game.

Healdsburg Little League

Discipline Policy & Guidelines

Children participating in Healdsburg Little League (HLL) are expected to conduct themselves in a manner reflective of good sportsmanship. Players who engage in unsportsmanlike conduct and behavior detrimental to the program such as foul or obscene language, indecent gestures, physical altercations of any kind, , umpire abuse, arguing with or of opposing players or interfere with the safety and positive experience of others will be addressed according to the guidelines set forth by the league. WE HONOR THE GAME HERE!

In keeping with the philosophy of the Positive Coaching Alliance, all disciplinary action will follow the ELM Tree of Mastery (Effort, Learning and bouncing back from Mistakes). All actions shall be viewed as an opportunity to teach and reinforce positive behavior, while always maintaining a safe and positive environment.

Disciplinary Action* –

 Minor Event: Team manager will meet with the player and parent(s) to discuss the problem behavior and what is acceptable behavior. The manager will document the meeting by preparing and distributing HLL’s Player Discipline Form (copy attached).

 Repeated or More Severe Event: Same as above with the division Player Agent included in the discussion and corrective measure(s) taken. The Player Agent at his/her discretion may report the event(s) to HLL’s Disciplinary Committee.

 Dangerous, Severe, or Continued Repeated Events: Same as above with the Player Agent reporting the event to the Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee will meet and recommend disciplinary action that may include benching the player for a game or series of games, or removal of the player from the league roster for the remainder of the season and/or exclusion from HLL Internal TOC and/or LL, Inc., Tournament play. Note: At the official start of a game, the umpire presides over the game and he/she may remove a player from the game independent of our policy. The umpire will provide a written report of such action to the division player agent who in turn will inform the discipline committee.

*Determination of the severity of a misconduct event rests with the player’s manager.

Notice: The Code of Conduct signed at the beginning of the season established HLL’s expectations up front.