JUNIOR BASEBALL IN

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | 20 MAY 2015

Creating the Pathway to Growth, Development and Integration Incorporated A.B.N | 78 603 120 057 Level 2, Sports House 375 Albert Rd, Albert Park VIC 3206 (PO Box 57, South VIC 3205) Phone| 03 9645 8000 Fax| 03 9645 8200 Email| [email protected] Web| www.baseballvictoria.com.au

Written by | Ashley Blair | Pathways & Competitions Manager Contents

Introduction 4

Limitations of the Current Structure 5

Vision, Goals & Initiatives 6

Charter Model Structure 7

Competitions Pathway 11

Charter Development Program 13

Competitions Dates 15 Introduction

This paper provides a summary of the structure, benefits and opportunities associated with updating the way we deliver Junior Baseball in Victoria

The emphasis is adding value to our charters, clubs and participants and alignment with ’s Pathway.

Baseball Victoria is committed to increasing participation, long-term athlete development, achieving strong results at National Championships and having a strong representation of players in National squads, college & professional ranks.

The four key factors in making these changes are:

o Alignment with Little League International and the National curriculum for player development

o Ensuring the pathway is set up to gain, train, and retains players, coaches and officials

o An environment of success

o Improve the way we deliver Junior Baseball in Victoria Limitations of the Current Structure o No clearly defined entry-level program o Lack of quality junior coaches and umpires o Too much travel o No clearly defined pathway for players, coaches or umpires o Lack of alignment with the National curriculum. Visions, Goals & Initiatives

Vision: Baseball Victoria will provide every Victoria with the opportunity to participate in baseball

Goals: Baseball Victoria’s primary goals are (1) Gain, (2) Train, and (3) Retain

These following three initiatives will assists Baseball Victoria meet its vision and goals:

1. Charter Model Structure 2. Restructuring the Competition Pathway 3. Charter Development Program 1. Charter Model Structure

Diagram 1 | Charter Structure

BASEBALL VICTORIA STAFF

CHARTER CHARTER CHARTER DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE COACH OFFICER

COACHES CLUBS CLUBS / SCHOOLS Charter Operation - Establishing Self-sufficient Charters

This structure allows Baseball Victoria to deliver the sport under a localised structure as well as provide resources to assist in growing and developing participants within a charter region.

Each charter will be in charge of the following within their charter: 1. Overseeing and coordinating the Charter Development Program and Charter All-stat teams 2. Competition management for all charter games (LL Minor, LL Major, Junior League) including rule clarification/rulings 3. Sponsorship and fundraising activities to raise funds for the charter (selling charter merchandise) 4. Promoting the sport within the charter

The Benefits of this model are: o Competitions and development programs are localised under this model o Ensure Tee-Ball is a successful entry level program with the charter o Promote a vibrant competition

Critical to the success and sustainability of the program is to ensure the necessary resource structures are in place. The proposed resourcing structure below provides a summary of the structure required under this model. Charter Committee

This committee will be made up of members from within the charter. This committee is formed for the sole purpose to organise and oversee the charter competitions, charter representative teams and the promotion and development of the sport within the charter.

Charter Development Officer

The Charter Development Officer (CDO) role is to support participation and development programs, and assist in developing strong sustainable clubs and charters.

More specifically the CDO will be responsible for the following: o furthering links with local schools within the charter as well as conducting clinics o Assist in the coordination/ administration of the charter competition o assist with the administration of the charter academy program The CDO will work directly with Baseball Victoria’s Participation Manager and Competition coordinator.

Charter Development Coaches

The Charter Development Coach (CDC) role is to ensure the National and State “curriculum” is being delivered in their charter

More specifically the CDO will be responsible for the following: o Will oversee the charter academy program o Will be responsible for coach development and assessment o Will oversee the delivery of private coaching within the charters The CDC will work directly with the Baseball Victoria High Performance Manager

BOARD SUMMARY | BASEBALL VICTORIA | P R O P O S A L | M A R C H 2 0 1 5 Diagram 2 | Charter Model

CHARTERS

ENTRY LEVEL PROGRAM CHARTER DEVELOPMENT COMPETITIONS PROGRAM

LITTLE LEAGUE CHARTER ACADEMY LITTLE LEAGUE TEE BALL PROGRAM MINOR

LITTLE LEAGUE COACH DEVELOPMENT MAJOR

UMPIRE DEVELOPMENT JUNIOR LEAGUE

SCORER DEVELOPMENT SENIOR LEAGUE

GAIN TRAIN RETAIN 2. Competitions Pathway

Entry Level First step out of Games played Games played Old U16 Program Tee-Ball or for weekly between weekly between Competition No changes players new to other clubs other clubs to this age Program can be Games will be U18s group at this conducted by the sport within their within their played on stage. individual clubs Games played charter charter Sundays or as a charter weekly between Games played Games played Mornings. other clubs on a Sunday on a Sunday BA are For players aged reviewing 4 – 7 years within their Morning Morning We are hoping this and may

charter For players aged For players aged SENIOR SENIOR LEAGUE JUNIOR JUNIOR LEAGUE that we will be Modified rules 9 – 12 years 12 - 14 years introduce able to structure Big League in For players aged the competition 2016/2017

8 – 12 years similar to LITTLE LEAGUE MINOR LITTLE LEAGUE LITTLE LEAGUE MAJORLITTLE LEAGUE previous years.

LITTLE TEEBALL LEAGUE BA to make a ruling on this.

FOUNDATION LEVELS LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 TRANSITION

BASEBALL AUSTRALIA PATHWAY

P A G E 0 8

3. Charter Development Program

Competition-based development program

This program will be a high level competition. It will be a competition-based academy program that picks the best players from both the Little League and Junior League age groups, in order to provide high quality competition games for those players as well as an academy training program. The structure of this program will be: o 24 players selected within each charter for each age group o 9 weeks of academy training o Two teams of 12 selected to play games (10) against other charters on a Saturday morning o $420 per player (includes training, games and uniform) Updating the way we conduct our competition and adding an academy program that includes a competition provides us with the opportunity to better develop our players within the sport. This program underpins both the state program and the Aces academy. Coach Development

The Charter Development Coach will be responsible for ensuring all coaches are being educated within the charter. This can be done via seminars, conducting the coaching accreditation courses for the charter and engaging volunteer coaches within the charter academy squad for development purposes. Umpire Development

This program will also assist with umpire recruitment and development. The academy competition will involve approximately 6 games per week to which Baseball Victoria will appoint 2 umpires per game. U16 & U18 Sunday morning baseball players, and baseballers whom are looking for an alternative to playing, will be targeted & incentivised to umpire these games.

Diagram 3 | Integrated Model

CHARTER ALL-STARS

CHARTER DEVELOPMENT COACH PROGRAM UMPIRE RECRUITMENT DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

CLUB CHARTER TEAMS

P A G E 1 2 | BASEBALL VICTORIA | P R O P O S A L | J A N 2 0 1 5 Competitions Dates

The Charter competition will begin in Mid-October and will run until the end of February.

The Charter Development Program will be conducted in two stages – The first stage will be for all Junior League participant only and the second stage will be for Little League Major participants only. Both stages will be conducted leading into the State Championship for that division.

Junior League Charter Competition 11 October - 28 February Charter Development Program October - December State Championships Late January 2016

Little League: Charter Competition: 11 October - 28 February Charter Development Program December - March State Championships Early April 2016 Baseball Victoria Incorporated A.B.N | 78 603 120 057 Level 2, Sports House 375 Albert Rd, Albert Park VIC 3206 (PO Box 57, South Melbourne VIC 3205) Phone| 03 9645 8000 Fax| 03 9645 8200 Email| [email protected] Web| www.baseballvictoria.com.au