Colorado Outlawz Baseball Mission & Vision Statements Mission Statement: The Colorado Outlawz Baseball is founded upon the belief that youth baseball players can have their skills properly developed within a competitive environment. Too often, youth baseball systems sacrifice the long-term development of a player in favor of producing immediate, temporary success. The Colorado Outlawz Baseball is different. By emphasizing age appropriate technique, purposeful practice and in-game feedback, the Outlawz are committed to each player's improvement toward their future goals within the game. Vision Statement: The Colorado Outlawz Baseball will strive to build a unique athletic environment that: 1. Presents programs which shape the character of each player; 2. Positively and significantly impacts players, coaches, parents, families, officials, leagues, tournaments and communities; 3. Establishes and sustains a physical venue to develop and demonstrate the principles of character, leadership, service and excellence, both in baseball and life. COLORADO OUTLAWZ BASEBALL CLUB Commitment to Colorado Outlawz Baseball Philosophy I understand that as a youth baseball team, we will be involved in competition, athletic training, team-building events and a character & leadership development program. I further understand and agree with the goals of the Colorado Outlawz Baseball which are: 1. To provide quality baseball instruction in the following areas: ▪ Proper warm-up and cool-down procedures, including stretching, icing, and rest. ▪ Proper throwing & catching fundamentals. ▪ Proper infielding & outfielding fundamentals, including the development of instinct, reaction, accuracy and arm strength. ▪ Proper hitting fundamentals, striving for increased bat speed, control and power. ▪ Proper base running technique, skill and strategies. ▪ Proper fundamentals of the catcher’s position. ▪ Proper fundamentals of the various defensive positions. ▪ Proper pitching fundamentals, focusing on mechanics, speed, control, pick-offs, strategy, the mental & ▪ emotional aspects, and fielding the position. ▪ Proper techniques for executing other parts of the game (e.g. run downs, cut-offs & relays, bunt defenses, various offensive & defensive plays, backing up throws, common game situations, etc.). 2. To workout, train, practice and compete with the proper attitudes, approaching the game with heart, desire, dedication, drive, motivation, intensity and enjoyment. 3. To facilitate an environment conducive to hard work and maximum effort, in the context of fun, seeking to develop good habits and a solid work ethic. 4. To provide a positive “team” experience, emphasizing the importance of unity, encouragement and teamwork. 5. To prepare players for high school and college baseball programs. 6. To COLORADOprepare the players for life both OUTLAWZ on & off the field by: BASEBALL CLUB ▪ Emphasizing character & leadership development. ▪ Using game experiences to teach life principles. ▪ Teaching athletes how to be positive role models. ▪ Helping the athletes along their journey to adulthood. 7. To facilitate an environment where the families learn and grow with the athletes. 8. To provide opportunities for the athletes and coaches to reach out to the community. 2 In order for our team to fulfill the Colorado Outlawz Baseball’s goals, I hereby commit myself to: A. Maintaining a teachable spirit and flexible attitude…to be a listener and learner. B. Willingly submit to the leadership entrusted with the responsibility of managing, coaching, instructing and developing this team, by following the policies and goals stated in the Colorado Outlawz Baseball Code of Character and Conduct. C. Paying the entire amount of my share of required team expenses, as they become necessary. D. Making my life available for growth through whatever demands and opportunities this team may bring. I am committed to growing in my baseball abilities, personal character and skills for living. Further Clarification of the Colorado Outlawz Baseball Club Philosophy: The Colorado Outlawz Baseball Club is a Competitive, Developmental Baseball Program There is no dichotomy here. The competitive and developmental objectives both drive the overall decision-making process. In other words, we are always striving to be competitive (“playing to win”), while simultaneously seeking to develop the players athletically, mentally, emotionally and relationally. It is important to remember is that both the goal of player development and the Colorado Outlawz definition of “being competitive” drive the playing line-up decision-making process. According to the Colorado Outlawz Baseball Club, “Being Competitive” (which also means “Playing to Win”) is defined as follows: To the best of your ability, always trying to approach your workouts, training, practices and competition with the same consistent proper attitudes of: ▪ Striving to get the most out of your athletic ability (your maximum athletic potential) ▪ Desire, heart & passion ▪ Drive & motivation ▪ Dedication & commitment ▪ Intensity & focus ▪ Teachable attitude & willingness to learn ▪ Respect and submission to authority ▪ Hard work, maximum effort & hustle ▪ Enjoyment & fun ▪ Encouragement, unity, & teamwork o There is no “I” in Team o The “team”, “body”, “organization” is more important than the individual o Athletes have a better chance of reaching their full potential when teammates are both positively pushing, coaching and supporting each other ▪ Forgiveness of poor play when a player or the team is “Being Competitive” or “Playing to Win” The Colorado Outlawz Baseball Club definition of “being competitive” is established to: ▪ Keep up the team morale ▪COLORADOProvide the team and players OUTLAWZ with respect around theBASEBALL league CLUB ▪ Help the coaching staff determine the best way to develop each player ▪ Encourage players individually and as a team By the nature of this definition of “being competitive”, the responsibility now falls upon the players to develop and maintain their competitive mentality. Coaches are in place to administer, instruct, direct, execute game strategy and hold players accountable to compete in the expected manner. Coaches also are responsible to provide honest, objective input to help the player reach his goals, as well as help each player define their goals. 3 The Player Development Objective of the Colorado Outlawz Baseball… The Colorado Outlawz Baseball Club endeavors to develop and expose all of our players throughout the entire season. It is impossible to have “equal” playing time, but coaches will strive to provide the entire team of players with opportunities to grow, develop and improve. Then, the entire team will grow, develop and improve as a group. Playing Time Considerations With the exception of injuries and excused absences, playing time will be dependent upon a player’s reasonable satisfaction of the above “being competitive” definition and coaching strategies to allow the team to experience success in each game. If a player fails to meet the definition of “being competitive”, then his playing time will be affected – until he changes and improves his attitude and effort. This change or improvement could be the next day, or the same day when there are multiple game opportunities, or the next week. It’s up to the player himself. He decides if he is going to “be competitive”. With the Colorado Outlawz Baseball Club’s Philosophy at work, the results could include: ▪ Individual athletic skill improvement ▪ Positive & healthy team unity and chemistry ▪ Potentially, a high winning percentage ▪ Character, leadership & life skills development ▪ A successful and enjoyable season Additional Team Philosophy Factors that Affect Line-up Decisions: 1. Demonstration of off-season development 2. Effort at practice 3. Pre-game effort 4. Playing the right people, at the right position, at the right time (talent & experience) 5. Using key opportunities to develop players (pitching opportunities, experience in a given position to give us depth, etc.) 6. Timely insertion/relief of players to rest others. (You can't do this unless you do the point above) 7. No player is guaranteed playing time 8. There is unlikely to be arbitrary insertion of players simply to equalize playing time. Coaches will strive for “comparable” playing time (quality playing time against quality opponents) where possible within strategic game management. COLORADO OUTLAWZ BASEBALL CLUB 4 Colorado Outlawz Baseball Club Organizational Characteristics: 1. Matt Blando is the President of the Colorado Outlawz Baseball Club. Head coaches and Assistant coaches are appointed at the discretion of The Colorado Outlawz Board of Directors and function in a supportive capacity. For any reason or team need, additional or replacement coaches may be appointed from time to time by The Outlawz Baseball Club Board of Directors. For any reason or team need, additional or replacement players may also be appointed from time to time by The Colorado Outlawz Board of Directors. Coaches or players may be removed from the Colorado Outlawz Baseball Club organization at the discretion of The Colorado Outlawz Board of Directors 2. Team resources (trade name, website, equipment, etc.) are held in ownership by The Colorado Outlawz Board of Directors. Transfer of team resources may not occur without their express consent. 3. All team resources which are sponsored, purchased or donated to the Colorado Outlawz Baseball Club are held in ownership by The Colorado Outlawz Board of Directors.