WSLL Annual General Meeting/ Parent Orientation

1. WSLL Annual General Meeting/Parent Orientation March 6, 2017

2. WSLL

3. Agenda • Welcome and Introduction • WSLL Overview • WSLL Programs • Current Goals • Points of Interest • Managers/Coaches • Recent Feedback • Budget • Election of 2017 Board • General Question and Answer Session • Board Meeting

4. General Responsibilities OBJECTIVE: The objective of the WSLL shall be to implant firmly in the children of the community the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and respectforauthority, so that they may be well adjusted, stronger and happier children and will grow to be good, decent, healthy and trustworthy citizens. Article II, WSLL Constitution. http://www.wsllbaseball.org/policy.cfm

5. Overview • Nonprofit Virginia Corp organized to play youth baseball • Chartered by LL since inception • Two leagues since 1991 • League Age • Size has ranged from 600-1200 players • Many D9 Fun Tournament Champs - recently 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015 – runner up in 2016 • VA 12 State Champions in 1984, 1986, 2003, 2005 • VA 11 State Champs in 2004 • VA 10/11 State Champs in 2007, 2012 • 2014 – District 9 Champions at all All-Star age levels

6. Overview – Fields • Home complex is Byron Avenue Park. • This is a year-round baseball facility. • Off-Site field at Burke School, a.k.a Fenway. • This is a year-round baseball facility. • Most games, except for T-ball and 5T, are played at Byron Avenue Park and Burke School. • Fairfax County provides other West Springfield area school fields for practice based on our registration numbers • WSES, WIMS, RVES, CFES, HVES, Sangster

7. Overview – Organization • We are part of District 9 (the I-95 District): • Alexandria Potomac (APLL) • Central Springfield (CSLL) • Dumfries, Triangle, Quantico (DTQLL) • Dale City (DCLL) • Fort Belvoir (FBLL) • Fort Hunt (FHLL) • South County (SCLL) • Woodbridge (WBLL) • Woodlawn (WLLL)

8. Overview – Board of Directors • 43 BOD members and 8 DVs, AKA “Gray Hats” • 17-member BOD Executive Committee includes: • President • Executive VP • Secretary • Treasurer • Player Agent (PA) • Assistant PA • Safety Director • Chief Umpire • VP, Admin Operations • VP, Baseball Ops • VP, Communications • VP, Fields & Facilities • VP, Parents Auxiliary • VP, Player Support • VP, Special Operations • VP, Technology • VP, Challenger Baseball • 2 Members At-Large We always welcome new members!

9. Overview – Other BOD Committees • Manager Selection • Tryout / Draft • Operations • Scheduling • Scorekeeper • Umpires • Rules • All Stars • Fun Tournament • Fall Baseball • Registration • Opening Day • Closing Day • Byron Fest • Equipment • Uniforms • Awards / Pics • Web • Yearbook • Publications • Field & Facilities • Challenger • Sponsors • Volunteer • Membership • County Liaison

10. The Board Is Not Enough (Volunteers) • Team Parents • Managers and Coaches • Practice Coaches • Banner Makers • Field Work • Scorekeepers • Umpires • Game Coordinators • Concession Stands • Tryout help

11. WSLL Programs

12. WSLL Points of Emphasis • Provide fun and enjoyable environment for the kids. • Teach the love of baseball, sportsmanship, and sense of community. • Provide an opportunity to join a community activity for parents. • Be excellent in our administration and outreach. • Earn great manager evaluations, return enrollment, high volunteer rate, and LOTS OF SMILES.

13. Programs • Seven levels of regular season and Fall play. • Fun, learning, safety and character emphasized at all levels • 5T and T-Ball – Emphasize training and development (no standings); “school/neighborhood” based. • A (Machine Pitch) – Emphasis is same as 5T/TBall, however there is an end of season tournament. • AA (Kid Pitch 1) – More competitive (draft) • AAA (Kid Pitch 2) – More competitive (draft). • Majors – Most competitive (draft). • 50/70 – Fall only (challenge for experienced players, prepare players for 60/90)

14. Programs • Spring baseball season • End of season tournament (lower levels have 2 levels of tournaments). • 1 Fun Tournament – Spring (D9 LL teams at 8-10 and 10-12 age-level tournament). ( @ WSLL 6 teams) • 3 All-Star programs (Spring): 9/10 (end at regional level), 10/11 (end at regional level), 11/12 (ends at Williamsport, PA). • Fall baseball season

15. Program – Equipping & Outfitting • White Pants (except at Majors), t-shirts, hats, and socks provided to keep. • All player equipment (excluding fielding glove and cleats), including helmets. • Trophies at every level—participation for 5T-A; regular season champs (first and second place) for AA-Majors, tourney champs and runners up for A-Majors.

16. Current Goals • Training • Tee Ball (5T and T-Ball) • Little League University • Practice Plans, How-to Guide • 2A • Training Camps • Throwing and Catching • Hitting Drills • 3A • Pitching and Hitting

17. Current Goals • Tech Refresh • New software solution • Scheduling • Registration • Upgrade Fields • New sod on infields and wings • New Scoreboards • Realignment • Build up 3-Rivers • New Uniforms

18. Points of Interest • Fields. • Byron has fenced batting cage available between Yankee and Ebbets and at Wrigley. This gives WSLL 3 batting cages at Byron as well as one at Fenway. • Scoreboard for Ebbets field – working with Park Authority • Registration. • All 3 weekends of registration were consistent this year. Assuming late registration trends hold, we are looking at similar numbers compared to last season. • Rules. • Boundary Change (School location) in 2014 • Age changes Implemented by LL • Bat regulations have been modified. Please see the Little League website at www.littleleague.org for details. • Pitching limits extended to AA and very strict (revised in 2012). • Playing rules vary by division • As of 2008: All 12s in majors, but may opt out. • League Age 9 Rule • We continue to attempt to place children at the level they will do best. • Split League

19. Managers/Coaches

20. Managers Selection • Application Form. • Selection Committee screening for Majors managers (at least 7 members). • Review past evaluations. • Conduct interviews • At minor leagues, League Directors interview and select candidates. • Volunteer Form / Background check. • Appointment by President. • Approval by Board.

21. Coach Training and Supervision • Orientation (administrative, leadership, expectations, review of evaluation form and results). • PCA (Positive Coaching Alliance) • Technical and practice organization training • ( i.e. high schools, local professionals). • League director follow up for each level (rules, hot topics, techniques). • Mid season meeting. • 5:1 - 8:1 Manager to League Director ratio, backed up by VP, Baseball Operations • Strict game misconduct rules and penalties. • Parent evaluations (managers receive summaries).

22. Game knowledge 4.41 Is an effective teacher 4.30 Relates well to children 4.47 Treats all players fairly 4.51 Relates well with coaches and umpires 4.61 Displays and encourages good sportsmanship 4.44 Motivates and seeks to develop all players 4.36 Makes the game fun 4.41 Administrative ability 4.35 Practice organization 4.47 Communication with parents 4.48 Overall made our season enjoyable 4.54 Overall Average 4.52 Evaluations (All Levels) – Spring 2015

23. Parent Surveys Rating Scale5 - Very satisfied 4 - Satisfied3 - Average2 - Dissatisfied1 - Very dissatisfied Besides the numeric ratings, we also get a lot of comments and suggestions that help us improve!

24. Polling Feedback (Spring Survey) • Scheduling • Volunteer Fees • Concession Stand • Umpires • Appreciation of youth umpires. • Want improved coverage. (Particularly at lower levels) • Communications • Misc. – uniforms (sizes) • Team Formation • Want specific managers • Stacking teams (draft for AA since 2010)

25. If you believe the scheduling policy should be changed, how would you change it? We would prefer to have set practice times during the season rather than the sporadic scheduling that is difficult to plan other activities around. The standard scheduling that was followed for the first half of the season for both practices and games was very good. I would only change the availability of pitching machines and batting cages for practices for the A-ball teams. There was no reasonable availability for our level prior to the season starting. The scheduling for all of the rain-out games was performed exceptionally well. It was both prompt and well communicated and was very much appreciated. If you believe the snack bar program should be changed, how would you change it? we would've spent money if they took plastic. Maybe we could add something to the menu off the grill on weekends I could help to come up with some options. If you believe the fields program should be changed, how would you change it? The field quality is pretty low, especially for practice fields. Fields need to be overhauled. Maybe a new pitching machine for single A

26. If you believe our methods for team formation should be changed, how would you change it? Neighborhood teams are nice, but you have to do something about parity. Some teams are just loaded with bigger, older-looking, more experienced kids, while others with smaller beginner players. Make sure every team has some older kids to reduce the 15-0 scores, because we all know that even in A level, the kids and parents are counting the runs. I greatly like that as a younger player the children are on teams with classmates and friends. This helps create a happy, fun learning and team environment. We have a great group. I don't fully understand how one moves from A to AA (with tryouts). I don't know that at age 7-8 tryouts are needed for AA, my child benefits from having friends on his team and as I'm not sure how tryouts work I'd hate to see someone left out of something they like to do at such a young age. Not sure draft should start at the AA level. I like the camaraderie formed by kids who play together from year to year. Also, if teams are changing up every year, it hampers the teams' ability to gel and learn each others patterns.

27. Is there anything else you would change about WSLL (for example, rules, volunteer policy, events, training, manager selection, league governance and administration)? If you have any other comments or would like to identify yourself, please enter that information here. Managers and coaches should not have to do additional volunteer hours to waive the fee. Comment: Managers should not have to earn back their volunteer fee. The amount of time and effort put in by managers and coaches should be considered enough to fulfill the obligation. Can there be some sort of single A pitching machine tutorial? It's better by the end of the season, but some of us aren't familiar with putting the machine together/taking it apart, and some guidance on fine-tuning it could make games run smoother in the long run. We shifted into WSLL from CSLL and love how this league is run. You should all be very proud. Kudos to the 1-A LDs, particularly Mike Warbel, for being patient with new managers and answering our questions. We have been very pleased with the WSLL organization. You have risen to the challenge this year with all the weather related rescheduling.

28. Budget • Annual Budget: $221,735 • Where It Goes: • Direct Costs (per player) • Uniforms/trophies; County fees; Yearbook; Insurance and Charter registration • Other Costs: • Baseballs; baseball equipment; training ; umpires; umpire gear , rule books; costs of goods sold (snack bar, memorabilia, fan wear). • Field building, field equipment, repair work, maintenance; field maintenance contract; web site/online registration; event costs (e.g. tryouts, registrations); awards; web support; all-star /fun tournament costs. • Indirect—Discretionary • Capital improvement; Reserves.

29. Budget • Revenue Sources • Registration • Concession Stand • Sponsors • Fan wear • Forfeited volunteer fee • All star fees & stipends • Interest

30. Ebbets Field Concession Stand BOD Reserved Parking Only If you are not parking - Player Dropoff AREAS at Yankee Ahead or when EXITING ONLY ! Facilities Shed WSLL Byron Ave – Main Road No Player Drop-off upon Entering OK Scorers box Wrigley Field

31. (4) Left Turns Only to EXIT Parking Area This is being Implemented by Fairfax County Park Authority to support safety and Maximum capacity (3) Left Turns Only for Additional Row Parking No Parking along walkway (2) Now you’re here – park STRAIGHT-IN for all rows NOT angled WSLL Byron Ave – Main Parking Yankee Field (1) Left Turn Only to Enter at REAR of Parking Area

32. What We Expect From Parents • See “Conditions of Registration” handout. • Set example through demonstrating sportsmanship for ALL players, coaches, and umpires before/during/after games. • Volunteer for league and team positions. • Support the manager • Volunteer for team positions / practice coach • Come to the field if any doubt about rain out. • Identify issues early. • Do not approach manager after game about problems. • Ask to talk to League Director if a problem. • Pick up trash after game. • Root for all kids and thank the game umpire. • Support our sponsors.

33. FAQs • Why can’t my friend’s child play in our league? • When are uniforms coming out / teams formed? • Why didn’t my child make Majors/AAA? • Why isn’t my child playing more? [pitching, infield, etc.] • How can I earn my volunteer fee? • How can I help?

34. - Election –Board of Director Members • Ron Zabko • Mike Williams • Jon Anderson • Steve Sopko • John O’Grady Walsh • Mike Warbel • Shawn James • Ralph Yates • Craig Stein • John Monaco • Eddie Garretson • Pat Quinn • Scott Mills • Walter Green • Erik Foss • Micah MacDonald • Rob Harris • Rob Pelletier • Dave Frazier • Mike Hickman • Heather Crocetto • Sebeena Hickman • David Perdue • Howard Arp • Shannon Matheny • Mark Guido • Al Beyer • Steve Gillingham • Bill Dane • John Ogden • Jim Spratt • Mick Batson • Chris Dockins • Eric Hardman • Matt Waggoner • Franchesca Cole • Mark Evans • David Lowry • Ken Nehilla • Harrison Newman • Matthew Reisman • Steve Senatore • Kurt Gerlach • Tim Brewer • Dom Cimino • Scott Dias • Paul Downey • Dave Finan • Dean Giordano • Charles Winingham • Mike Zerbo

35. QUESTIONS? Thank You for ComingSee you at the fields! PLAY BALL!!

36. BOD Meeting