WORLAND YOUTH BASEBALL

1. WORLAND YOUTH BASEBALL COACHES, PARENTS, & UMPIRE MEETING 2014

2. Philosophy & Goals • We are an instructional league, with an emphasis on teaching baseball fundamentals, good sportsmanship and teamwork.  We encourage all players to do their best, improve their skills, and be good teammates.  We seek coaches who will help players develop a positive attitude about the game, their teammates and opponents, coaches and umpires.  We invite parents to be a part of the Worland Baseball community by coaching, sponsoring a team, or just helping out at practices or games.  Worland Baseball is a wonderful opportunity to "give back" to your community while enjoying time with your child. 

3. Philosophy & Goals (cont.) • Ensuring every child is afforded the opportunity to play. • Provide a safe, fun, competitive, educational, and affordable baseball experience for the youth in our community • Fostering a sense of community. • Promoting self-esteem and self-confidence through the excellent avenue of youth sports. • Ensuring players, coaches, umpires, and volunteers adhere to the values of Respect & Integrity. • We understand that one can get caught up in the competition aspect of the sport. But, the first law of sports participation is that it is supposed to be a fun and rewarding learning experience. We want our children to get the most from their Baseball.

4. 2014 Babe Ruth Charter • For the 2014 season Worland Youth Baseball will be chartering with Babe Ruth League Incfor all league teams. This will encapsulate our 12 and under baseball program into the Call Ripken Baseball Division, and all 13 and up leagues into Babe Ruth Baseball.

5. Charter Requirements • Background Checks • All leagues will be required to conduct background checks on all managers and coaches, as well as any other persons and volunteers, who provide regular service to the league and/or have repetitive access to, or contact with, players or teams, and • The local league will be required to conduct a nationwide search that contains the applicable government sex offender registry data. A check conducted only in one state will not meet the minimum requirements of these regulations. • Coaching Certification • All Majors/Minors Post Season Tournament Coaches as well as all Babe Ruth Coaches must get their coaching certificate from http://www.baberuthcoaching.org/ • Local League coaches are not required to be certified, but participation in the certification process is encouraged. • Chartering Fee’s & Insurance • Insurance & Chartering through Babe Ruth League Inc. • 2014 Charter is approved, Accident & Liability Insurance Has been purchased

6. Cal Ripken Baseball – Ages 4-12 • Keeping baseball fun—especially in the early stages of youth baseball—is a primary concern of Babe Ruth League’s Cal Ripken Division, which is comprised of the following levels: • Tee-Ball: Ballplayers ages 4-6 learn hitting and fielding fundamentals in a supportive team environment. Young athletes hit the ball from batting tee which is height-adjusted for a level swing, batting in order through the line-up for the entire game. • Rookie/Coach Pitch: Designed primarily for ballplayers ages 7-8, this division makes use of a pitching machine or coaches to allow for more hittable balls at the plate and more action in the field. • Minor: Recommended for ballplayers ages 9-10. Players build and refine their fundamental skills while beginning to understand game strategy and teamwork. In most regions, participants first experience post-season tournament competition in this level. • Majors: Currently the most popular level offered, this division is recommended for ballplayers ages 11-12. Features 46’ pitching distance and 60’ base paths.

7. Ages 4-12 – Common Rules • All coaches will conduct themselves as role models and use positive coaching techniques. • All players will be in the dugouts. No friends or family in dugouts except scorekeeper and/or team mom. • If there is a play at home plate the runner must slide, or the runner will be called out. (no collisions) This only applies if the catcher is in the process of making a play. If the catcher is blocking home plate and there is no play being made the runner will be called safe. This is a judgment call to be made by the umpire. • Home and visitor teams will be designated on the schedule. Home team will be in the 1st base dugout. • Team Responsibilities: • HOME keeping the official score book in the stands behind home plate. Official score book can be obtained from the concession stand. • Each team is responsible for cleaning their dugout after their game. • All division rules can be downloaded at http://www.worlandbaseball.org in the document center.

8. Tee Ball – Key Rules • All players present for the game shall bat in order, whether playing defensively or not. • An inning is over when 5 runs have scored or three outs are made, whichever occurs first. • Play ends when the lead runner is stopped. Only one base allowed on an overthrow out of bounds. • Three complete misses of the ball while batting constitutes a strikeout. Coaches please teach this at practice. There will be NO DO OVERS during the game! NO EXCEPTIONS! • Each player present must play a minimum of two innings defensively. • Sliding only allowed feet first. • Batting helmets must be used at bat and as base runners. The pitcher will also wear a helmet with a protective face guard. • Umpiring will be a joint effort by coaches.

9. Rookie/Coach Pitch – Key Rules • We will be playing official baseball rules unless noted. • Coaches will pitch from the rubber to their batters a total of 6 pitches. If the 6th pitch is fouled out of play the batter is out. • There is no infield fly rule. • The ball is dead when the defense stops the lead runner. • No stealing or leading off permitted • Sliding only allowed feet first. • Umpiring will be a joint effort by coaches and volunteers.

10. Minors – Key Rules • We will be playing official baseball rules unless noted. • No lead offs until the ball has reached home plate. Please see the Cal Ripken Minors 60 ft baseball division, special base running rule. • Catchers are required to wear a protective cup at all times, no exceptions. • No pitcher shall pitch in more than six innings in any one calendar week. (Monday- Sunday). A pitcher may pitch no more than 60 pitches in any 2 day period • Umpires will call the start time at the beginning of the game and it will be recorded in the official scorebook. The umpire must also sign the official scorebook at games end. • Games are 6 innings unless there is a tie, a 7th inning will be played if time allows. A new inning will not start after 1 hour 45 minutes of play. A game is considered regulation, after 3 ½ (if home team is ahead) or 4 innings of play if time or weather restricted, or ten run rule kicks in.

11. Majors – Key Rules • We will be playing official baseball rules unless noted. • Leading Off Is Permitted. • Catchers are required to wear a protective cup at all times, no exceptions. • No pitcher shall pitch in more than six innings in any one calendar week. (Monday- Sunday). A pitcher may pitch no more than 60 pitches in any 2 day period • Umpires will call the start time at the beginning of the game and it will be recorded in the official scorebook. The umpire must also sign the official scorebook at games end. • Games are 6 innings unless there is a tie, a 7th inning will be played if time allows. A new inning will not start after 1 hour 45 minutes of play. A game is considered regulation, after 3 ½ (if home team is ahead) or 4 innings of play if time or weather restricted, or ten run rule kicks in.

12. Babe Ruth Baseball 13-18 • 13-15 Year Old Prep League: Founded in 1951, Babe Ruth Baseball League was created for ballplayers ages 13-15 who wished to continue their baseball playing experience beyond the age of 12. In this division, teams are eligible to enter tournament competition and move along the tournament trail, culminating in a World Series • 16-18 Year Old Prep League: The primary objective of the 16-18 Division is to provide a community level program which eventually gives players the chance to compete to reach the 16-18 Year-Old World Series. • Senior Babe Ruth & Legion Baseball Opportunities.

13. 2014 Coaches Information • Background Checks: As stated earlier back ground checks must be conducted on all managers and coaches for the 2014 season as per our charter requirements. • Coaching Certification • All Majors/Minors Post Season Tournament Coaches as well as all Babe Ruth Coaches must get their coaching certificate from http://www.baberuthcoaching.org/ • Local League coaches are not required to be certified, but participation in the certification process is encouraged. • Baseball Skills & Drills • Each age group should be focusing on a particular set of skills, these skills are pretty self evident based on the age of children you’ll be working with. • For coaches that have little or no baseball experience, or just want some interesting ideas for practice we have a set of Instructional DVD’s that we can provide to you that you can use for your own information, or view them with your team.

14. 2014 Umpire Information • All Umpires are expected to conduct themselves as role models. • All umpires for Cal Ripken Minors/Majors & Babe Ruth League play must be certified to umpire. • Certification information can be obtained at worlandbaseball.org in the Document Center • Umpires must be 15 years of age or older. • All umpires are expected to look like umpires, light or dark blue/navy polo shirt & khakis. • The Home Team will always be in the 1st base side dugout • You should familiarize yourself with our local baseball program rules. These rules can be obtained in the Division Binder at the concession stand. • All Babe Ruth League games will compensate at the rate of $40 dollars a game • All Cal Ripken League Games will compensate at the rate of $15 a game or $25 a night if umpiring more than one game.

15. 2014 Upcoming Key Dates • APR 7 – MAY 1 Monday through Thursday 6-7PM Spring Warmup Practices at Newell Sargent Park All Ages Welcome. • APR 19th 10AM to 1PM MLB Pitch, Hit, & Run More To Follow On Next Slide & In Person Signups. • APR 30th Last Day Of Signups, Special Exemptions May Be Made. • May 1st 5:30PM T-Ball & Coach Pitch Equipment Pickup • May 2nd 5:30 PM Minors/Majors Equipment Pickup. • May 5th First Week Of Practices 12 & Under (Fields Will Be Scheduled) • May 15th – 22nd Uniform Handouts • May 29th & 30th Opening Day • Check worlandbaseball.org Events & Game Times for schedules as they will likely be posted there before a hard copy is sent out to parents.

16. MLB Pitch, Hit, & Run • When: April 19th 10AM to 1PM • Where: Newell Sargent Park “Oscar Troseth Field” • Who Can Participate: Boys & Girls Ages 7 to 14 • Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run (PHR) is a FREE, exciting skills event for boys and girls where participants have the opportunity to compete in four levels of competition including Team Championship events at all 30 Major League ballparks and the National Finals at the MLB All-Star Game. • The Pitch: Try to throw strikes like Major League pitchers by taking a shot at hitting the MLB Strike Zone. • The Hit: Swing away from home plate! Just like big leaguers, you'll be judged on distance and accuracy. • The Run: Start at second and head for home to test your speed at running the bases.

17. Questions? • Remember to check out worlandbaseball.org • Board President: Terry Bankert • EMAIL: president@worlandbaseball.org • PHONE: 307-431-9011 • Vice President: Mary Leyva • Secretary/Treasurer Deb Larkins • We are always looking for volunteers to be members of the board, and help facilitate the baseball season if you would like to participate please let us know.