2010 Baseball Meeting Agenda

1. 2010 Baseball Meeting Agenda Nicole Bolter – U of M Research study Mark Zeise - Booster Club Requirement Steve Berg – Cookie Dough Fund raiser Doug Stanton- Optional and Required Equipment for baseball Captains parents- Special events, equipment etc. Paul St. Martin/Mark Buermann- Booster Budget balances Greg Kamleitner Louisville Bats Mark Zeise Coaches Introductions Eligibility absent policy Expectations Websites Spring Break Practice times Injuries and Molly mom Choe Deklever/ Jen Vokac Contact info Field day/ Concession stand Other important dates Jeff Zellmer Summer baseball Info 10-12- Legion/ Mantle/ Senior Babe/18U Jim Korsa Summer baseball 9th grade – 15AAA/ 15AA/ In-house Mark Buermann fund raising Breakout Time

2. 2010 LSHS Baseball All Sports Booster Club Fund Raising   The Booster Club expectation for Lakeville South players is that each player would contribute $100 as freshmen and $75 per year after that for a total contribution of $325 over 4 years. The primary goal of the Lakeville South High School Cougar baseball program is to provide a meaningful experience for all players in our program. We believe that a meaningful experience involves learning how to play all phases of the game, using quality equipment that is safe to use, and playing on fields that are well maintained. Purchasing instructional media, paying clinic fees and purchasing some pizzas are reasonable uses of booster club dollars. A new cost for this season is bus transportation home from games.The $1500-$1800 materials allocated from ISD 194 hardly covers the cost of the baseballs and practice balls for our 5 competitive levels. The booster club supplements the rest, including bus transportation home. We are looking for a specific area coach to help us this yearDeferring the CostFor freshmen the first $100 profit from the Poinsettia fundraiser is applied to the Booster Club donation. For upper classmen $75 is applied to the Booster Club. Profits above these amounts can be applied to a current or future spring trip or used to defer the cost of an equipment package. Cookie Dough FundraiserWe expect all players to sell 20 boxes of cookies. Freshmen can use the cookie dough fundraiser as an opportunity to defer some of their booster club fee with additional cookie sales. Freshmen that have not made a contribution to the booster club can meet the obligation by selling an additional 12 boxes. Any additional profits above this will be applied to their individual booster balance for 2011 to be used for future equipment packages (2011) or applied to a future spring trip. While these fundraisers do ask for additional commitments from players and families, we believe they help provide meaningful baseball opportunities and help build a high quality baseball program.Mark ZeiseHead Coach

3. Eligibility As a parent you signed the form. We expect both the athlete and the parent to live up to the MSHSL standards and the more stringent rules of LSHS. Point of emphasis on possession. Possession can be defined as on the person, in the bag, in the locker, in your car and at your house during a gathering. Get off the Social Networking Sites. • Be sure you have signed the Pledge form: • Games • Varsity and “B” Squad players travel together for away games. • JV and 9th grade teams play at the opposite site. • All players are expected to ride the bus to and from all games. (See form) • Roster • The coaching staff will be making decisions regarding where an athlete best fits into the program for maximum playing. Our main interest is where your son has the best chance play the most and where our teams can win the most. • Postseason and Tournament Rosters • Any player from the “B” Squad or JV is eligible for the Varsity Post Season • Roster. Performance during the regular season and team needs will be the basis for these selections. • Equipment • Players are required to have a pair of white pinstripe practice pants, a long sleeve shirt, a current hat, a belt, and socks. Catchers gear and some team bats are provided. Players should have their own helmets, gloves and shoes. If players want to use their own equipment (bats, catcher’s gear) it has to meet the standards set by the MSHSL with proper certification. BESR Stickers etc. Check your equipment, especially helmets.

5. BEING A 2010 COUGAR BASEBALL PLAYER Student of LSHS Pay required fees Complete MSHSL Forms Signed by athlete Signed by parent/guardian Be a gentleman in school • Treat teachers, coaches, umpires, respectfully • Use appropriate language and behavior • Attendance Policy: Be Responsible • Communication is the key. Un-excused absence - affects playing time. Excused absences possibly affect playing time. Exceptions can be made if coaches are notified well in advance. • Illness: Please notify your coach as early as possible so that they can make adjustments to their practice or game plans. Day of game illness, athlete must be in school all day to be eligible for participation. • Injuries: All players must first inform their coach of any injuries. All players must inform (athletic trainer) of any and all injuries. She will assist in making the proper referral. She can get you to an orthopedic specialist or chiropractor with sports medicine expertise. Usually she can make this work with your insurance. • Determine whether urgent care or an emergency room visit is needed. • Orthodontist/ Doctor Appointments: Let coaches know and get back to practice. Ortho appointments are good on home games because of 4p.m. game time. • School Work: Should not conflict with practice. Coaches need to be notified ahead of time if players will miss because of school work or school required attendance. • Drivers-Ed is not considered excused. • Academic Eligibility: Guidelines are clear. Must be passing and working toward graduation . Students on probation will be monitored every week (Fridays) in regards to their progress. Players on probation, in most cases, are allowed to practice but not play in games. Probation is for two weeks. If grades are failing the player is ineligible. Players that have to miss practice to get eligible are subject to playing time limitations. • Contact: Coach Zeise (varsity), Coach Schmidtke (JV), • Coach Golberg (B), or Coach Laurent (9A/B)

6. Expectations of LSHS Team Members • Make Education Your Top Priority at LSHS • Be Accountable - No Excuses • Dependability -- we expect your athlete to be at practice everyday • Responsibility -- if you know you won’t be at practice, let the coach know • Accountability--we expect teammates to hold each other accountable for all actions on and off the field. • Teamwork--everything a player does with their team has a (+) or (-) effect • Have High Expectations • Strive to excel • expect and accept nothing less • attitude affects your actions-be positive • Know the coaches goals: • BECOME A BETTER BASEBALL PLAYER • BECOME A BETTER TEAMMATE • BECOME A BETTER PERSON • Emphasize the following: •     EXECUTE WITH FUNDAMENTALS •     BE MENTALLY TOUGH •     COMPETE AGGRESSIVELY ("WITH A PURPOSE") • CHERISH THE OPPORTUNITY! • TO WEAR the LSHS SCHOOL JERSEY! • TO DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS - for a lifetime! • TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS - for a lifetime! • TO PLAY THE GREAT AMERICAN GAME OF BASEBALL!

7. Expectations of Of Coaches  • Model, teach and preach Sportsmanship Commitment and Character. • If it's not appropriate at home or in the classroom, it's not appropriate.  • Be a teacher! - take advantage of teachable moments & "life lessons." LSHS has 3 goals each season: • 1.      Each player becomes a better baseball player • 2.      Each player becomes a better teammate • 3.      Each player becomes a better person • Continually teach and practice the key things that give us a chance to win a game: 1. Execute Fundamentals 2.      Be Mentally Tough 3.      Compete aggressively ("with a purpose") • Our staff will do the following to benefit the player in a Positive manner • Take the blame Give the credit. • Create the best environment possible for players to have a program they take pride in, and develop player potential through hard work. • be slow to cut a kid for behavior issues. • We will not compromise expectations, but we will strive to be a positive influence in a student's life for as long as possible without it being detrimental to the team. • Keep the players' interest uppermost in mind. • Provide a safe environment; maintain control; be highly organized and prepared. • Develop a close a relationship with the player and make sure they know you care about them. • Have high expectations at all times: • Expect and accept nothing less than a player’s best. • Model the expectations - Lead by example.  • Challenge players to believe in themselves and be accountable • Focus is on the Team concept when coaching. • Coach to each player's style and strengths within team context - leverage their strengths and work on their weaknesses. • Work within a framework to build a team around the skills and weaknesses of the individuals.   

8. Expectations of Coaches continued • Provide effective and stimulating use of practice time: • Repeat that things that happen most often • Balance Fundamentals and Games situations. • Get better at something every day • Play our best at season's end. • Don’t expect the players to do it correctly if it has not been practiced. • Provide a Rewarding and fun and motivating experience: • Help players understand that rewarding experiences occur when you are willing to persevere through adversity and things that aren't necessarily fun. • Use “temporary setbacks” instead of "failure" and not satisfied instead of disappointed. • Focus on things a player can control, not on outcomes or results. • Communicate! • Be approachable/available at the appropriate time • Provide appropriate levels of feedback to players - don't under or over-coach in games that are better served for practice. • Be honest in letting each player should know their role.

9. Expectations of Of Parents • Review and understand the baseball program expectations for the players. • Reinforce and support the expectations with your son. • Practice the expectations for character, class, respect and sportsmanship at games. Know that these apply to Parents as well as Coaches and Players! • Talk to your son about his experience: Be positive; be supportive; encourage him; help him work through difficult times. • Make sure you know the difference between encouragement and coaching from the stands. Don’t coach your kid from the stands. • Don’t criticize other players or coaches from the stands. • Support the Team. • Represent Lakeville and LSHS in a positive way. • Parents are naturally more interested in their child than the overall team." I challenge Parents to prove that principle wrong. • Parents often want to take all the pain, heartache, and sadness out of our children's lives. Remember, these are the things that help them become a better person. • Part of the enjoyment of the game is second guessing. Baseball is like a chess match on grass. There is more than 1 right move in many situations. • Encourage your son to address issues and concerns with the coaches. Contact the coach if your son's conversations with the Coach do not resolve the issue or concern - Mark Zeise: 612-860-9369. • Player/Coach Meeting- at an appropriate time after practice or game • Coaches should not be approached immediately after games or practices • Set up a time to meet. • 24 Hr Rule

10. Chain of Resolve-The chain of resolve should be • Player-Coach • Player / Parent and Coach • Player / Parent and Coach / Head Coach • Player / Parent and Coach / Head Coach and Athletic Director • All discussions will be held in person or via telephone. No email ! • Volunteer your time to support the baseball program and provide a positive and enriching experience for the players. • Summary: Players play. Coaches coach. Umpires ump. Parents parent.

11. Baseball Websites LSHS Baseball Website http://lshsbaseball.org/ Can connect from the school website from activities LSBA Baseball website http://www.lakevillesouthbaseball.com/ For summer baseball players aged 16-18 LBA Baseball website http://www.lakevillebaseball.org/ For summer baseball players aged 15

12. Injuries • If it hurts, and not life threatening, it will still hurt tomorrow! • If you go to the emergency room, you will be out for 2 weeks, even if you are healed early. • See the trainer, Molly and get a referral to an Orthopedic Specialist the day after your injury.

13. Spring Break Schedule Juniors and seniors Required Time: Noon to 3:00 pm 9th grade and 10th grade is Optional Time: 3:00 pm

14. Important Dates • Tuesday March 23 4:00 pm Cookie orders due • Thursday April 1 9:30 p.m. Varsity @ Metrodome scrimmage • Saturday April 3 9:00 am/2pm Field Day – Assignments will be made per field/ Practice @ 3 • Friday April 9 2:37 pm Cookie Dough Delivery • Saturday April 10 Noon North St. Paul - All levels

15. Practice times Week 1 Early Varsity 2:45-4:30 Sophomores 4:00- 5:15 9th grade 4:45-6:00 Week 2 Late- Dependent on Weather and girls softball scrimmages. Times will be posted on the web site.