“TOUCHING ALL THE BASES”
A PARENT’S HANDBOOK FOR THE
COOPERSTOWN YOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUE

 FOREWARD

 It has often been said that playing a baseball game is like playing the game of life.  Whether you realize it or not, your children’s participation in learning the game of baseball will help them learn many of the same principles, lessons and skills required to lead a rewarding and satisfying life.  Therefore, your role as a parent or family member is much more than acting as a chauffeur to get your ball players to and from practices and games.  Together with your ballplayers, their managers and coaches, the umpires, team sponsors and the league board members, you help form a working partnership called the Cooperstown Youth Baseball League.

 “Touching all the Bases” is a handbook dedicated to you as parents of young baseball and softball players, whether they are first-time tee-ball players or seasoned major leaguers. The objective of this Handbook is to provide you with an easy to understand guide to the ‘nuts and bolts” of how the Cooperstown Youth Baseball League partnership works.  Section I, perhaps the most important section of the Handbook, deals with the purpose and philosophy of the Cooperstown Youth Baseball League.  Sections II – V address issues relating to the league’s association with Little League International, the duties and membership of the local board, as well as information about coaches, managers and umpires.   Section VI deals with the players, and provides details concerning eligibility, registration and try-out requirements for major, minor, softball, rookie and tee-ball leagues.  This is followed by information about player selection for major, , softball, rookie minor and tee-ball leagues in Section VII.  The most critical aspect of this Handbook for you is Section VIII, which addresses the role of parents in terms of their participation, responsibilities and attitudes toward good sportsmanship.  Finally, Sections IX and X deal with issues relating to insurance and safety.

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