Handbook

We strongly encourage you to read and become thoroughly familiar with the topics covered in this Handbook, so that you and your young ballplayers can get the most out of the rewarding experience of Cooperstown Youth Baseball.

The intent of this Parent Handbook is to inform parents of general information regarding Cooperstown Youth Baseball. The Cooperstown Youth Baseball Board reserves the right to change information included to improve safety, program quality and experience.

I. PURPOSE (back)

The Cooperstown Youth Baseball League has been formed to help the children of the community to become good and decent citizens by inspiring them to embrace the ideals of good sportsmanship, physical fitness, honesty, loyalty, courage, and respect for others, and to establish the fundamentals of teamwork and fair play by involving them in organized baseball and softball leagues, games and related events. The program is a training process by which children can learn and practice fundamental baseball skills at an early age, and receive maximum satisfaction from the experience.

By participating in the Cooperstown Youth Baseball program, the player will be better prepared physically, emotionally and mentally to face the problems and joys of growing up, including keeping fit, setting goals, assuming responsibility, playing cooperatively, handling conflicts, embracing new challenges and having fun.

Keep this in mind when you ask yourself - How is my child benefiting from playing the game of baseball or softball?

Baseball is about Personal Responsibility – only with practice and hard work do you become better. There are no shortcuts in baseball, just like there are no shortcuts in life. Baseball is about putting failure into perspective – and picking yourself up, practicing harder, and stepping back into the batter’s box and taking a another swing. Baseball is strong medicine against action videos and computer games that frazzle young kids’ minds and make our kids crave action all the time. Life is not fast paced action 24 hours a day. Baseball forces kids to slow down … to think… to concentrate… to anticipate… to plan ahead… to execute… and to follow through. Baseball is a lot fun and it’s also a vehicle to teach life lessons to our youngsters (Dale Petroskey 2002)

II. Little League International (back)

Cooperstown Youth Baseball, Inc. is a member of Little League International, an international, non-profit, tax-exempt organization. The Cooperstown organization is for players kindergarten through 12 years of age. The Corporation is non-commercial, nonsectarian and nonpartisan.

The rules governing the Little League International are most suitable to the needs of rural Cooperstown, as compared to other national or international baseball organizations. It provides the local league with the flexibility to have as its opposition teams from anywhere in the world, and provides all of its members with a protective accident and liability insurance umbrella.

III. LOCAL BOARD (back)

The Board and its members govern the local league. The Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of its meetings and the management of the league as it may deem proper, and that are not in conflict with the rules and regulations of Little League International. The Board Positions are below:

TITLE	CURRENT REPRESENTATIVE

President	David Borgstrom
Vice President	Tim Haney
Secretary	Mary Bonderoff
Treasure	Mark Davine
Special Events Coordinator	Jen Taylor
Fund Raising Coordinator	Noel Clinton
T-Ball/ Rookie League Commissioner	Kai Mebust
Minor League Commissioner	Mike Donnelly
Girls Softball Commissioner	Terry Bliss
Major League Commissioner	Bob Hall
Pony League Commissioner	David Pearlman
Field Maintenance Adviser *	Brad Feik

* Non Voting Members

Write in this year’s representatives

Board Members serve one-year terms. Nominations and board selections are conducted at the August and September meetings. Recruitment of board members is typically conducted during the summer season with advertisement placed in the local newspapers and flyers posted at the field. Anyone interested in serving as a board member should inform any current board member in writing by August 1. The board reviews all nominations in August and selection is completed in the fall.

IV. COACHES/MANAGERS (back)

All of our coaches are volunteers, and donate their time and energy for the love of the game and our children.

The Board will review existing coaches and their performance after each season. Coaches who have exhibited problems with sportsmanship and/or who have received many negative comments regarding their behavior may not be asked to return for the following season. The Board of Directors will make final decisions regarding the selection of coaches

Roles and responsibility of the Coach/Manger:

· Attend Tryouts to draft players

· Participate in coaches meetings throughout the season

· Contact Parents or players immediately following the draft in March/April.

· Communicate with parents the purpose and philosophy of the league, the coaches expectations and any other league related information (practices, game schedules, fund raising activities, coordinate volunteers for concessions, etc.)

· Assist with field maintenance before and after games. Also contact field maintenance advisor to learn good field maintenance care and expectations.

· Coordinate Uniform distribution and location, Opening Day activities, Fund Raisers, Concession Assignments, confirm umpires and may need to schedule, other miscellaneous duties to ensure smooth operation the league and the positive experience for the team.

V. UMPIRES (back)

Umpires are selected differently for each league:

· Major League Umpires are certified and assigned by a local Officiating Board. These umpires are paid.

· Girl’s Softball Umpires are certified and assigned by a local Officiating Board. These umpires are paid.

· Minor League Umpires are assigned by the coaches and are paid.

· T-ball League Umpires are not required – coaches will oversee game rules

VI. PLAYERS (back)

1. ELIGIBILITY

Participation in the Cooperstown Youth Baseball program is open to all children who are at least in kindergarten at the time of registration and under league age of 13 as of April 30. Softball eligibility is under 13 as of December 31 of the previous calendar year. The only other eligibility requirement is that the child be a resident of the Cooperstown Central School District.

2. REGISTRATION

Registration of children into the program takes place each year in January/February. Typically, registration periods are held on at least one Saturday morning, plus two-week nights, at the Cooperstown Elementary School or Clark Sports Center. Exact dates and times are listed in the Cooperstown school calendar and listed in the local papers. Individual notices are also given in advance to all Cooperstown students in grades K through 7, as well as to Brookwood School students. Notices are provided to school officials, who in turn handle the distribution.

Registration is offered ONLY in the manner described above. The only exception to these registration procedures would be to allow the EARLY registration of a child whose parents or guardians will be unavailable for regular registration due to extenuating circumstances. Late registrations will only be excepted in extenuating circumstances. Important league organizational matters, affected by the number and age of all registrants, commence immediately following registration. This includes activities such as arranging players into divisions, determining the number of teams, recruiting coaches, ordering equipment, and arranging for team sponsors. All children, who register, regardless of physical prowess and/or knowledge of the game, are accepted into the program. The Board reserves the right, however, to refuse a child whose lack of physical ability may present a danger to himself and/or to others at a given league level. If a child is being registered to play in the Cooperstown Youth Baseball League for the first time, the child’s age may or may not determine the actual level (Tee-Ball, Minors or Majors) of play. Occasionally, a child’s skill and ability level is below or above what is typical for the respective age of a league. If the parent or guardian is unsure which level is appropriate for their child, consultation with a league official is strongly suggested.

C. Draft Day

Players participating in Major, Minor and Girls Softball must attend tryouts. At tryouts, players are directed toward one of the three levels or leagues, generally on the basis of talent but also within the interest of player preference and safety. Player try-outs are used to help coaches select teams for each division.

Draft Day is usually held on a Saturday in March at the Middle/High School gymnasium.

1. Major League

A child who wants to play in the Major League MUST attend the Major League tryout if the child will be at least age 10 by April 30

2. Minor League

A child who wants to play in the minor League MUST attend the Minor League tryout if the child is at least age 8 by April 30.

3. Girls Softball League

A child who wants to play in the Girls Softball MUST attend the Girls Softball League tryout if the child is at least age 8 by December 31and age 12 before December 31.

4. Tee-Ball/Rookie League

There are no try-outs at the Tee-Ball League level. League officials place players on teams.

VII. PLAYER SELECTION (back)

A. Major League

The Major League teams are selected through a draft system on Draft Day. Coaches take turns selecting players until their rosters are full. Try-outs consist of throwing, catching, and batting exercises. The children who are not selected for a Major League team during the draft may be returned to Minor League draft, which follows the major league draft.

B. Minor League

The Minor League teams are also selected through a draft system at try-outs. Coaches take turns selecting players until their rosters are full. Tryouts consist of throwing, catching, and batting exercises. All children who are physically capable are selected for a Minor League team, and the draft is basically to balance the teams. In the event a child cannot physically play at the Minor League level and/or the child is less than age 8 by April 30, the child may be return to Tee-Ball.

C. Tee-Ball/Rookie League

Every child that falls within the age requirements for Tee-Ball will play. All players are evenly distributed between the Tee-Ball teams based upon their ages. Children may also be placed on a particular team by parental request, for reasons including placing siblings on the same team, and accommodating children and parents with transportation problems.

VIII. PLAYING TIME (back)

In the minor, a major and girls softball league, each participating child deserves a minimum amount of playing time in each game. The CYB Board requires each coach to manage their major team so that all players receive a minimum of two innings per game and at least one at bat. In minor leagues, all players are in the batting order and play a minimum of three innings in the field per game. Occasionally, batting regulations, weather or darkness can have an effect on minimum innings played.

IX. SELECT TEAM (All-stars) (back)

Following the regular season, tryouts will occur to help select twelve – fourteen players from the Cooperstown major and minor teams to participate in local and regional games and tournaments. The two select teams will be determine by age. The younger team is comprised of players 10 and under and the other team will include players 12 and under. A player may be selected for either a 10 and under or 12 and under, regardless of which regular season league (major or minor) in which they participated. (Subsequently, a 10-year-old who played in the majors regular season is eligible to play with the 10 and under select team). A select team from the softball program will also be selected to participate in games and tournaments. The selection criteria for select teams is as follows:

1. During the regular season, the player should display skills and ability of playing at a higher level.

2. Regular attendance to regular season practices and games. In the event of injury, the player must have played in 50% of the teams regular season games and exhibition/scrimmage games.

3. Display good sportsmanship on and off the field

4. Players with positive attitudes towards coaches, team members, parents and spectators.

5. The player must be able to commit to the team from mid June through late July, with no more than one week of absence.

Selection Process:

1. Coaches and the commissioner meet two or three times a season to discuss potential select team candidates. Coaches and the commissioner scout the potential players from the different teams during the season to prepare the end of the season selection.

2. A combination of All-Star tryouts, and coaches and Commissioner evaluation will select the final roster. Where two or more players are equal in skill and ability, attitude and age may be considered in the selection process. The older player may be given priority consideration when compared to a younger player who may have another year of eligibility

3. Notification of select team players is announced following the regular season.

X. ROLE OF PARENT OR GUARDIAN (back)

Without the participation of parents, this youth organization could never be successful. There is always a job for anyone who is willing to accept the responsibility. The parent who ignores the chance to become involved cannot expect others to shoulder the burden. For those parents who wish to contribute, every effort will be made to assign a task, which reflects that individual’s capabilities and preferences. Parental involvement is contagious, and promotes an attitude of cooperation within the community.

Parents must realize for themselves and also need to emphasize with their child that a commitment to team is important and should not be taken lightly. Other people are relying on you as the parent and to help your child commit to be part of the team in all aspects. Practically speaking, it is the parents’ responsibility to insure that the player attends practices; has the proper clothing and equipment needed to play the game; arrives on time for practices and games; and has transportation home promptly following games. Cooperstown Youth Baseball needs the commitment from parents and children alike to provide the most positive experience for all.

As a parent, it is important to encourage good sportsmanship by demonstrating positive support for players, coaches and officials at every game and practice, and to ask your child to treat other players, coaches and officials with respect. Positive reinforcement from coaches and parents has proven to be the most effective approach to providing a good learning and enjoyable experience in youth sports. We must all try and remember that the game is for children and not for adults, and do our very best to make baseball fun for the players.

XI. VOLUNTEERS (back)

The success of any youth sport experience is directly related to adult participation. The more help, the better the experience for all involved. Please consider how you may contribute this season:

· Coaching

· Team Parent or Helper (help coach by making calls, arranging snacks, parent concession assignments are covered etc.)

· Umpiring

· Selling food and beverages in the concession stand

· Raking the field before and after the games

· Weed control along the fence lines, buildings and trees

· Assist coaches at practices

· Keep score and operate score board

· Keeping pitch counts

· Cut grass and water the infield

· Shrub pruning and weeding

· Trash collection during and following games and practices

· Equipment repair and maintenance

· Seasonal field preparation

· Telling a baseball story or joke

If you are interested in volunteering to help improve the baseball experience for our youngsters and their families, please contact any board member or team coach.

XII. LIABILITY INSURANCE (back)

Little League International’s insurance plans offer protection for the league, its players, sponsors, officers, directors, managers, coaches and trainers, and any volunteer worker or affiliated organization, while acting within the scope of their duties as such. This policy even includes participant liability as well as player vs. player protection.

Cars parking or driving by a ball field are at risk. Damage resulting from a hit or thrown ball is not the responsibility of the league or an individual.

XIII. SAFETY (back)

The Cooperstown Youth Baseball League wants to emphasize the fact that safety is an integral part of our sports program. We wish all parents and coaches to be aware that the following safety rules must be followed at all games and practices.

a. Proper sized helmets and players must wear fielding gloves.

b. Batting warm-up must take place in specified areas only.

c. Players should remain in dugouts or behind protective fencing when the game is in progress.

d. Players should not wear watches, rings, pins, jewelry or other metallic items.

e. No games or practices should be held when weather or field conditions are not safe.

f. Full catcher’s equipment must be worn in warming up pitchers. Pitchers warming up must wear a batting helmet. This applies between innings and in bullpen practice.

g. A protective cup is require for all male catchers and recommended for female catchers and players at all other fielding positions.

h. Players, Coaches and Batboys only allowed in the dugout.

i. Food in the dugouts during games is discouraged.

By following these rules, we hope to minimize any injuries that might occur to our most prized possessions, our children. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.