2020 Spring Season Managers and Coaches Meeting PRESENTED BY: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

2020 Spring Season Managers and Coaches Meeting PRESENTED BY: Brian Shaffer – Armstrong Athletics President Steve Gilliland – Armstrong Athletics Vice President Michael Reed – Armstrong Athletics Coaching Coordinator Brian Harclerode – Armstrong Athletics Safety Officer

“ I believe in you. ” Players, who know that you are always in their corner no matter what, will feel good about their continual effort and play, no matter the possible outcomes.

What is the goal of Armstrong Athletics Youth Baseball & Softball Programs? Armstrong Athletics exists to promote growth, maturity and community of local children and teens through athletic competition. As a Board of Directors it is our mission to provide a healthy environment for the youth of our communities. Our focus is to encourage participation, develop character and discipline, promote teamwork, and advocate citizenship and community pride. We will strive to provide quality instruction in the development of baseball/softball skills, sportsmanship, competitiveness and fair play. Armstrong Athletics is committed to enriching the lives of our youth and fostering a love of the game. • Provide QUALITY INSTRUCTION to prepare players for High School Baseball & Softball programs • Provide OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL PLAYERS in our communities • Provide a SAFE AND FUN ENVIRONMENT for Players, Coaches, Parents and Spectators to promote the game of Baseball and Softball

Code of Conduct and Policy for Addressing Umpires

Travel teams are killing Rec Leagues! The increasing popularity in elite youth travel teams have YOUTH REC SPORTS FACING A DECLINE. • Travel teams are becoming a “business.” According to WinterGreen Research the U.S. youth- • sports industry is now a $15.3 billion market. This includes the travel teams, specialized private coaching, and the organizations that run the travel teams. Kids with resources have the opportunity to play on “elite travel teams,” but families without • resources are GETTING LEFT BEHIND. Why we need Rec Leagues? Rec league is a place for good players and developing players to come together and realize • that THERE IS MORE IN THIS WORLD THAN WINNING EVERY BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL GAME . Rec league provides a FUN, SAFE ENVIRONMENT for kids to be kids, play with their friends • and enjoy a FUN GAME! Rec league helps kids develop physical skills, expands cognitive learning and MAKE NEW • FRIENDS!

Why do kids quit playing? 1. IT’S NO LONGER FUN! 2. They have lost ownership of the experience. (PARENTS EXPECTATIONS TO LARGE) 3. They don’t get playing time. ( A study by the Josephean Institute found that 90% of children would rather PLAY on a losing team then SIT THE BENCH on a winning team.) 4. Their afraid to make mistakes. 5. THEY FEEL DISRESPECTED! 6. Parents feel “Travel Ball” is more important than Rec League. How do we can keep kids in our program? Communicating better with our kids, asking them what they want out of the experience, and then • letting that experience belong to them. Treating them with the respect they deserve, and letting them fail in order to learn and develop. • Letting all kids have a safe environment to play and the opportunity to play. •

What makes a good Coach? 1. The very best coaches GET THEIR ATHLETES TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES. 2. The really effective coaches DO NOT USE EMBARRASSMENT & HUMILIATION AS “TEACHING TOOLS.” 3. Great coaches are GREAT LIFE TEACHERS. 4. The best coaches KEEP THE GAME IN PERSPECTIVE. 5. Great coaches DO NOT LET THEIR EGOS AND SELF-WORTH GET TIED UP IN THE OUTCOME. 6. Great coaches UNDERSTAND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN THEIR ATHLETES. 7. The best coaches COACH THE PERSON, NOT JUST THE ATHLETE. 8. The best coaches are FLEXIBLE. 9. The great coaches are GREAT COMMUNICATORS. 10.Good coaches TAKE THE TIME TO LISTEN TO AND EDUCATE THEIR ATHLETES’ PARENTS. 11.Good coaches “WALK THE TALK” WITH THEIR ATHLETES AND PARENTS. Who still remembers their youth sports Coaches?

12 Factors Other Than Ability That Impact Playing Time 1. Do you HUSTLE? 2. Do you SUPPORT your teammates? 3. Do you COMMUNICATE well with your teammates? 4. Do You Focus Only On YOURSELF 5. Do You Freak Out After Making MISTAKES 6. Do You LEARN From Your Mistakes? 7. Do You Keep a POSITIVE ATTITUDE? 8. Do You COMPLAIN About Your Role? 9. Do You Stay FOCUSED? 10.Do You FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS? 11.Do You Fulfill Your RESPONSIBILITIES? 12.Do Your ACTIONS Reflect the Situation? Ask these questions to your players and let parents know that these are your expectations!

What a good practice is NOT! Just banging fly balls and ground balls = BORING! Make things fun and your players will perform better and • respond better to instruction! Not running “stations” – EVEN THE PROS RUN STATIONS IN PRACTICE. • YELLING AT THE KIDS! – Kids DO NOT WANT their Coaches yelling at them, THEY WANT AND NEED • ENCOURAGEMENT! Not teaching “AGE APPROPRIATE” SKILLS, DRILLS AND PLAYS – some kids cannot understand complex drills or • plays, depending on their age and skill level. (Tee Ball vs. 16U) Practice is TOO LONG – research has shown effective practices are NO LONGER THAN 1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES (2 • HOURS FOR OLDER KIDS – 14U – 16U AND ABOVE). Not listening to the kids! ASK FOR THEIR INPUT AND ACCEPT CRITICISM. Use their input to improve your practice • plan. Intense/long speeches after practices – after practice is over, LET KIDS BE KIDS! Start the next practice with a • conversation on what went well and what needs improvement, but KEEP IT POSITIVE! Not allowing kids to learn different positions. From Tee Ball through 12U, kids should be ALLOWED TO TRY • DIFFERENT POSITIONS, at the older ages, positions are mostly set due to skill level.

What makes a good practice? • Utilize a practice plan. • Run Stations – Hitting, Fielding, Base Running, etc. • Positive reinforcement – praise what was done well, criticize in private! • Teach age-appropriate skills. • Listen to your players – find out what they like or don’t like. • Allow kids to learn different positions. • Be available to parents – talk to your parents before the season starts, be available after practices to speak with parents, if needed. • HAVE FUN! Try different games with your players designed to reinforce skills. • Stick to your practice time limit!

2020 Required Volunteer Clearances Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History: Must be completed EVERY YEAR! • All links to complete can be accessed via our • “Volunteer” page on our website. Clearance takes minutes to return results. • Certificate must be emailed to: • safetyofficer@armstrong-athletics.org

2020 Required Volunteer Clearances PA Child Abuse History Clearance: Valid for 60 MONTHS (5 YEARS) from • the date it was issued. All links to complete can be accessed • via our “Volunteer” page on our website. Certificate must be emailed to: • safetyofficer@armstrong-athletics.org

2020 Required Volunteer Clearances Little League and/or PONY Baseball Nationwide Criminal Background Check: Must be completed EVERY YEAR! • You will receive an email with a link to • complete the required information. Armstrong Athletics Safety Officer will • receive a notification on the results of the background check.

League Safety Binder Each concession stand will contain a League Safety • Binder. Each binder will contain the following information: • 2020 Safety Plan (ASAP Plan) • League Officials Contact List • Injury Report Form • Concussion Protocol (“Heads Up Clipboard Form and • Fact Sheet). Any questions should be referred to Armstrong Athletics • Safety Officer - Brian Harclerode Phone: (724) 640-5540 Email: safetyofficer@Armstrong-athletics.org

Manager’s Packet

2020 Season Policies and Procedures • Managers ARE NOT PERMITTED to hold ANY LEAGUE AFFILIATED PRACTICES at facilities not controlled by Armstrong Athletics! (this means your house, garage, etc.) • Our Little League Baseball and PONY Baseball Insurance covers players during accidents that occur ONLY ON OUR FACILITIES AND DURING OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED GAMES AND PRACTICES! • Any accidents that result in medical treatment, legal action, etc. from practices occurring NOT AT OUR FACILITIES OR FACILITIES LISTED IN OUR SAFETY PLAN are the responsibility of the Manager (individually, not covered by Armstrong Athletics). • If the Armstrong Athletics Board of Directors are notified of practices occurring outside of our facilities, THE MANAGER WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED AND BANNED FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON!

2020 Season Policies and Procedures • We encourage Managers to NOT schedule games on weekends, except for make-up games and/or daylight issues (14U & 16U field has no lights. (This encourages kids that participate in other travel teams or sports to stay in our programs.) • Code of Conduct WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED! • Board Members may show up and/or observe practices AT ANY TIME to ensure the integrity of our league. • If you do not have your clearances or are not registered as a “Volunteer” by the first practice, YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED ON THE FIELD! • Our league is exploring the use of “VERIFIED VOLUNTEER” badges or lanyards. • We are considering a new, formal procedure for choosing All-Star teams that includes feedback from ALL PLAYERS. This policy will be PUBLICLY AVAILABLE TO ALL PARENTS AND PLAYERS.