LBA North Parent meeting

Glenn SayerLBA North Travel Director

Agenda

• 2009 changes• North Travel staff• Tryout process defined• Coach selection process • Coaching responsibilities• New LBA North Traveling Rules• Q&A

New stuff for 2009

• 15’s now under Traveling• 14/15A – Tryout • 8&9 House teams - ?• South Senior Youth• 18U

North Travel Staff

• 10's Bill Riach • 11's John Sowards• 12's Doug Gunderson• 13's Ann McMillon• 14's Ben Olson• 15's - 14/15A's Dan Prondzinski• Coach and Player Development - Scott Hare

First point of contact

Player End of Year Evaluation• Coaches shall conduct an end of year evaluation for all

players on their team. The end of year player evaluations shall be tracked. Prior year evaluations may be used in next year’s player selection process.

• The player end of year evaluation will include the following:• Attendance (Commitment)• Character / Coach ability• Baseball Intelligence • Competitiveness • Recommended off-season development

10, 11, 12, 13 Year Old Teams• Each team will consist of 12 players.

• Evaluation Scoring• Two groups of 18 will be created from the top 36 players from the

Evaluation scores.• These two groups will practice together for as long as possible. During this

process players can be moved between groups if the coaches feel it is best for the player. “AAA”, “AA”, and “A” teams will be selected from these two groups. The “AAA” team of 12 players will be selected from the top group. The remaining 6 players will then be assigned to the “AA” team. The “A” team of 12 players will be selected from the bottom group. The remaining 6 players will then be assigned to the “AA” team. These groups will be coached by a group of coaches for this age level. Some of these coaches will not have players within their group. Player selection will be done via a balloting process from the coaches within that group. Coaches with players in their group will be excused from voting on their child’s placement. North Travel Director will have final say on all player team placements.

• (With the possibility of more A teams depending on the talent level and may be a cooperative team with Lakeville South).

14, 15 Year Old Teams• Each team will consist of 12 to 14 players.

• Evaluation Scoring• Two groups of equal size will be created from the top 36 to 42 players

from the Evaluation scores.• These two groups will practice together for as long as possible. During this

process players can be moved between groups if the coaches feel it is best for the player. “AAA”, “AA”, and “A” teams will be selected from these two groups. The “AAA” team will be selected from the top group. The remaining players will then be assigned to the “AA” team. The “A” team players will be selected from the bottom group and split up equally between the two 14/15A Teams. The remaining players will then be assigned to the “AA” team. These groups will be coached by a group of coaches for this age level. Some of these coaches will not have players within their group. Player selection will be done via a balloting process from the coaches within that group. Coaches with players in their group will be excused from voting on their child’s placement. North Travel Director will have final say on all player team placements.

• (With the possibility of more A teams depending on the talent level and may be a cooperative team with Lakeville South).

The Numbers

• 10’s - 43• 11’s - 53• 12’s - 45• 13’s - 54• 14’s – 46• 14/15A’s - 7• 15’s - 31

Tryout example• 60 kids signup for tryouts• Scoring tryouts are held – top 36 kids selected for

traveling. Remaining 24 kids move to house.• 36 kids broken in two groups of 18 (upper and lower)• Both groups coached by mixed set of coaches• Kids can move between groups• Groups will be together as long as possible• Coaches will then determine final teams by ballet• Coaches will not vote on own kid• Final team selection are determined by Travel Dir

Tryouts Info• Arrive 15 minutes early– Check in and get number

• Pay to play• Tryout – Cards– Number– Dates & Times– Location– First station

• Stations• Hitting, Fielding, Pop-Fly, Glove to Glove, Down

and Back, Star Drill• Numbers – swings, grounder

Coach Selection• Coach goes with player• Primary selection criteria include past baseball coaching and

playing experience, personal coaching and human development philosophies, organizational skills, strong moral and ethical characteristics, coaching ability, ability to work with others, willingness to teach others, active in the Lakeville Baseball program, follows LBA policies/procedures, and the applicant's commitment to devote several hundred hours to the program during the season and off season.

• Pass Background check • Peer input• Coach evaluations• The North Travel Director will make all final coach

selections.

Coach Responsibilities• A Coaches is a teachers of baseball skills, a manager of the functions necessary to run a

team, and is responsible for the social, psychological, and physical development of all players in his/her care. He/she is accountable to the players and their families, the LBA North Traveling Director and the LBA Board.

• Coach Responsibilities include but not limited to:• Obey and enforce all rules outlined in this hand book• Treat all players in an equal and fair manner• Provide equal playing time for all players regardless of skill level as outlined in the

Playing Time section of this document.• Demonstrate good sportsmanship, self-control and proper behavior• Teach the players to have fun and enjoy competition. Help the players to develop a

healthy, competitive attitude toward winning and losing.• Assess individual players’ strengths and weaknesses and create a developmental plan

to help each player improve in the areas of concern• Conduct pre-season parents meeting. At this meeting, the coach should set the tone

and expectation for the season, distribute them schedule, roster, parent responsibilities code of behavior, etc.

• Report any problems with fields to their Age Level Coordinator• Recruit parent volunteers when needed• Track players playing time by position• Provide yearend player evaluations. One copy to they player and one copy to the LBA

North Travel Director

New North Travel rules

• Playing Time• Behavior• Respect the Game• Attendance• Bench – Must be a coach

Playing Time• Playing Time• Minimum playing time for 10-13 year olds will be 4 defensive innings per game on average. No player shall sit

more than two consecutive innings unless for disciplinary reasons. It is preferred that a player does not sit two consecutive innings. The starting lineup will provide an opportunity for every player to have a place in the batting order. Playing time should be the same for all players with the exception of time loss due to absence, injury, and disciplining.

• Minimum playing time for 14 and 15 year olds will be 4 innings defensively on average. No player shall sit more than four consecutive innings unless for disciplinary reasons.

• Game lineups will be provided to the player’s 24 hours before game time. • Playing time should be the same for all players with the exception of time loss due to absence, injury, and

disciplining.

• Plate appearances:• Batting orders are at the discretion of the coaches. • 10-13 age groups will have all players bat with the exception of injury, and disciplining. • 14-15 age groups must abide by league and tournament rules when creating batting orders. The general rule for

this age group is 9 batting with DH allowed.

• Rotation of players:• A general rule of thumb is: Age 10 - 11 year old players will rotate players in 3-4 positions throughout the year. Age

12 - 15 will start focusing on 2-3 positions.

• * Some game situations (e.g., 10 run rule) may prevent this from happening in a specific game. Note: If a player is in the lineup as a designated hitter (DH), he/she may not receive any defensive playing time for that game.

Behavior• The highest standards of sportsmanship will be expected from the players, parents, coaches,

umpires, and spectators.

• Conduct that will not be tolerated includes verbal abuse, tantrum-like acts, profanity, physical aggression on or off the field, and acts intended to cheat the spirit of the rules or to intimidate the umpires. Umpires may use their discretion whether to issue a warning or to immediately eject the violator (coach, player, or spectator) from the game. The umpires and/or coaches are responsible for reporting all incidents to the North Travel Director and the Age Level Coordinator. Subsequent violations may result in suspension from play and/or attendance. If a parent or player has a problem with the performance of an umpire, he/she should direct his/her concerns to the team's coach. The coach represents the Lakeville North Traveling Baseball Program and should be the only person communicating with the umpires.

• One of the objectives of the program is to teach respect for the officials and the proper procedure for dealing with any problems with the umpires. Unless playing in the field, at bat, on base, on deck, or coaching, all players shall remain on the bench. It is mandatory that each batter, on deck player, runner, player in a coach's box, or person on the field wear a batting helmet that meets NOCSAE standards.

• Players will treat their coaches, parents, teammates, the umpires, and the opposition with respect. After each game, the participants will line up and shake hands. Spectators are restricted to the areas that are "out of play" and away from the benches.

Behavior - Guide Lines• Guide Lines: (These are per playing year occurrences)• Throwing/abuse of equipment

– First occurrence – sit one inning– Second occurrence – sit rest of game– Third or more occurrence – sit rest of game & one game suspension

• Arguing Umpire– First occurrence – verbal warning– Second occurrence – sit one inning– Third or more occurrence – sit rest of game & one game suspension

• Inappropriate Language– First occurrence – sit one inning– Second occurrence – sit rest of game– Third or more occurrence – sit rest of game & one game suspension

• Ejection – MBL rules– First ejection will result in one additional game suspension. (player must still

attend the suspended game – not on bench)– Second ejection will result in the child being removed from the team.

Respect the Game• Players are responsible for their actions on and

off of the field. This is true during practices, team activities, and games as you are representing Lakeville North Traveling Baseball. With the commitment to the LN Travel program we expect all players to respect the game of baseball with the guild lines listed below. Players that don’t show proper respect will result in a reduction of playing time.

Respect the Game - Guide LinesGuide Lines: (One extra inning of bench time will be assessed per occurrence)

• Hustle– Players are expected to run on and off of the field of play between innings. The field of play is defined by the

white foul lines. – Running to first on hit balls. Any player not running out a play to first.

• Uniform– Hats will be worn facing forward. – Shirts must be tucked in at all times.

• Umpires– No arguing balls and strikes will be allowed. – Play calls will not be argued/contested.

• Other player and Coaches– Respect will be shown for all opposing and own team players at all times.– Respect will be shown for all opposing Coaches and your Coaches at all times.

• Practice– Practice time is the most important time for players to hustle and listen.

• Players not hustling between activities.• Players goofing off or not listening while a coach is talking to the group or an individual player.

• Games– Supporting fellow teammates should be conducted at all times.

• While in the dugout all players should be paying attention to the game and cheering on fellow players.– Player readiness.

• All players should be ready to bat when it is their turn.• All players should be ready to take the field.

– Non baseball activities shall not be conducted in the dugouts or on the field during a game. • Example would be talking or texting on a cell phone.

Attendance• Every player's presence is important and is

expected. Unless otherwise exempted by the coach, all players are expected to attend all practices, league games, and tournament games. Excused absences will be granted for school, family and religious events; however, it is expected that the coach will be notified in advance of such events. Unexcused absences will result in a reduction of playing time.

Attendance - Guide lines• One unexcused absence will result in a one game suspension

(player must still attend the suspended game)• Second unexcused absence will result in a one game suspension

(player must still attend the suspended game). Meeting between player, parents, coach, Age Level Coordinator will be conducted to discuss issue and define a resolution.

• Third unexcused absence can result in player being removed from the team if a resolution cannot be found. Three game suspension (player must still attend the suspended games). Meeting between player, parents, coach, Age Level Coordinator, North Travel Director, and LBA Commissioner will be conducted to discuss issue and resolution.

• Fourth unexcused absence will result in the child being removed from the team.

All Star Team selection

• All Star Team selections will be made by a majority vote of the team players. This includes selection to MBL August Classic.

?Questions?