Wilton Little League

2. Wilton Little League • Our objective: to implant in our players the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and respect for authority,so that they may be well adjusted, stronger and happier children and will grow to be good, decent, healthy and trustworthy citizens.

3. Wilton Little League • 60 Years of Little League baseball in Wilton • Little League International (Williamsport, PA) • East Region (Bristol, CT) • Connecticut District 1 (Lower Fairfield County) • An all-volunteer organization • Board of Directors • League Directors, Managers and Coaches • Boosters • Parents

4. Wilton Little League • 2013 was an incredible year for Wilton Little League • Nearly 1,000 player seasons across spring, summer and fall baseball and softball • District 1 Finalists in all five District 1 Championships: • 12s baseball District 1 Finalist • 11s baseball District 1 Champion • 10s baseball District 1 Champion • LL Softball District 1 Finalist • 10u Softball District 1 Finalist • What’s new for 2014 • Field renovation at YMCA • 50/70 program • Spring Travel baseball • Enhanced YMCA partnership • 60th anniversary celebration

5. Annual Calendar - Baseball • Wilton Little League runs year-round, with three on-field seasons and an off-season devoted to League planning and player development. • In each season our focus is: • Winter: • Player evaluations • Clinics • Board planning • Spring – our developmental season, focus on baseball fundamentals • Summer – our competitive season, focus on Little League tournaments • Fall – our recreational season

6. League Structure – Developmental Leagues (K, 1 & 2) • Kindergarten: T-ball • Introduction to Wilton Little League • Focus on Fun…and begin baseball fundamentals • Hitting, Throwing and Catching • First Grade: Coach Pitch • Continued development of fundamentals • Begin to hit a pitched ball • Second Grade: Machine Pitch • Continued development of fundamentals • Begin to develop strike zone awareness * “Little League Age” means age as of April 30th

7. League Structure – Kid Pitch (3rd – 7th / 12 y.o.) • AA (“Double A”) • 3rd and 4th grade (ages 8-10) • Introduction to pitching • Focus on core skill development • Hitting, Throwing, Pitching and Catching • Limited base-running • Playoffs and Championship • AAA (“Triple-A”) • 4th, 5th and 6th grade (ages 9-11) • Intermediate kid-pitch baseball • For players with a solid understanding of the game • Intermediate base-running • Playoffs and Championship • Majors • 5th, 6th and 7th grade (ages 11 & 12) • WLL’s highest level of spring baseball • For our most advanced and oldest players • Full “live” base-running • Playoffs and Championship * “Little League Age” means age as of April 30th

8. Annual Calendar - Softball • Wilton Little League runs year-round, with three on-field seasons and an off-season devoted to League planning and player development. • In each season our focus is: • Winter: • Player Evaluations • Clinics • Board planning • Spring – our developmental season, focus on softball fundamentals; competitive inter-town play for older leagues • Summer – extended competitive play for districts and beyond • Fall – our recreational season

9. League Structure – Softball age 5 through 14*Softball age uses calendar year calculation! Majors • Ages 11 and 12 • For our more advanced and older players • Play full Little League “book” rules • Playoffs and Championship • Majority of play is inter-town • Pitching from 40 feet • Uses 12 inch ball • Submits a district team • Juniors • Ages 13 and 14 • WLL’s highest level of spring softball • For our most advanced and oldest players • Play full Little League “book” rules • Freshman that play high school team are eligible once school season ends • Pitching from 43 feet • Uses 12 inch ball • Majority of play is inter-town • Submits a district team • T-ball • Ages 5 and 6 • Introduction to Wilton Little League • Focus on Fun…and begin softball fundamentals • Hitting, Throwing and Catching • advance away from Tee use as season progresses • AA (“Double A”) • Ages 7 and 8 • Introduction to pitching • Uses 10 inch ball • Focus on core skill development • Hitting, Throwing, Pitching and Catching • Limited base-running • Aim for 20% inter-town play • AAA (“Triple-A”) • Ages 9 - 10 • Kid pitch with boundaries • Intermediate base-running • Playoffs and Championship • Uses 11 inch ball • Pitching from 35 feet • Majority of play is inter-town • Submits a district team

10. Player Evaluation – Baseball & Softball • What we do, how we do it, and why… • Provide for the right pace of development of core baseball skills with proper league allocation • Enable a fair team selection process • End of spring-season evaluations prepared by each team manager • Beginning in 2nd grade (Machine Pitch) for Baseball • Beginning with AA for Softball • Core baseball skills (hitting for contact and power, pitching, fielding and running) • January evaluations within each age/grade peer group • Wilton High School Fieldhouse • All players 3rd grade and older for Baseball • Core baseball skills (hitting for contact and power, pitching, fielding and running) • Rigorous, data-driven and time-tested evaluation metrics and techniques • A sound process…NOT a crystal ball • Other • Data is maintained by Wilton Little League • Year-over-year analysis utilized to provide better guidance each season • Continuous process improvement

11. League & Team Allocation – BaseballGrade, Age, Experience and Social Considerations Kid Pitch | Developmental * “Little League Age” means age as of April 30th

12. Team Selection, Baseball & Softball • Developmental Leagues – Teams assembled by League • Baseball: T-Ball, Coach Pitch and Machine Pitch • Softball: T-Ball and AA • Social considerations are primary focus • Parents often request teammates based on friendship, carpool convenience, practice days, etc. • WLL honors all reasonable requests to the extent possible • Kid-pitch Leagues – Teams drafted by the Managers • Baseball: AA, AAA & Majors • Softball: AAA, Majors & Juniors • Managers are provided a ranked, sorted list of players on draft night • Draft sheets are returned to WLL at end of draft, maintained by WLL • Managers are given freedom to assemble teams as they see fit • Prioritization of skills on team (pitching vs. fielding vs. hitting) • Drafting coaching assistants • Social considerations • Goal is a balanced, competitive league • Fair draft process – all managers provided same information • Not always the same thing as balanced teams…sound process, not a crystal ball

13. Upcoming Calendar • Softball • Teams complete, Managers notifying players • Baseball Kid Pitch League drafts • Monday, March 17th - Wednesday, March 19th • Manager & Coaches Clinic and Safety Meeting • Saturday, March 29th • 10:00 am Clinic • 11:00 am Safety Meeting • Opening Day • Developmental Leagues – Sunday April 6th • Miller-Driscoll Carnival Fri 4/4 – Sat 4/5 • Baseball • AA – Monday, March 31 • AAA & Majors – Tuesday, April 1 • Softball – April 5 • 60th Anniversary of Wilton Little League • Wednesday, April 9th • Full slate of AAA & Majors Baseball games at the YMCA fields 5:30 – 9:00

14. Upcoming Calendar • Little League Day • Saturday, May 17th at the YMCA • An outdoor celebration of baseball in Wilton • Food, music, prizes, raffles…and baseball • Picture Day • Saturday, May 10th • Playoffs • Pool Round: Saturday May 31st – Sunday June 8th • Semi-Finals: AA Monday June 9th; AAA & Majors Tuesday June 10th • Championship and Consolation games: AA Thursday June 11th; AAA & Majors Friday June 13th • Softball TBD • Summer Tournaments • Player Voting Saturday June 7th • District Teams announced Sunday June 15th • Summer Friendship Tournament team selection June 16th – 25th

15. Fields • Comstock Community Center (180 School Road) • T-ball and/or Coach Pitch baseball • Miller Field (Miller-Driscoll School, 336 Belden Hill Road) • T-ball baseball • Driscoll Field(Miller-Driscoll School) • Coach Pitch baseball • Lion’s Field (725 Danbury Road) • Machine Pitch baseball • Middlebrook 1 and 2 (Middlebrook School, 25 School Road) • All softball • Middlebrook 3 (Middlebrook School, 25 School Road) • Double-A baseball • Clem Young Field (aka “AAA”; Wilton YMCA, 404 Danbury Road) • AAA baseball • Kid-pitch playoff semifinals and championship • Bill Terry Field (aka “Majors”; Wilton YMCA) • Majors baseball • Kid-pitch playoff semifinals and championship

16. Parent Resources • Manager & Coaches • Volunteers • Set the direction for the team • League Director • Work with the managers and coaches on scheduling, umpires, etc. • First point of contact for any manager or coach concerns • Player Agent and Board of Directors • Player Agent – any parent question or concern • Board – available • Wilton Little League Website • Team Schedules • Sponsor highlights • Board contact information

17. Board of Directors – Wilton Little League • Softball Committee Members and roles • CJ Belanger – VP softball, District 1 rep • John D’Elisa– Player Agent • Jeff Imrie& Chris Stengrim – Player development • April Strazza– Secretary, Coach Development • Bob Belanger & Chris Kelly– Purchasing & Equipment • Patrick Cropper– Softball umpire coordination • Bob Wallace – WBSA liaison • Board members and roles • Robert Louzan - President • CJ Belanger – VP softball, VP Baseball (interim) • David Johnson – Player Agent • Kerry McMahon – Treasurer • Kevin Tietjen – Secretary • David Liston – Information Officer • Eric English – Safety Officer • Mario Ferrante – Tournaments Coordinator • Tim Clark – Evaluations Coordinator • Jim Jarvie – Sponsorship Coordinator • Michael Cyr – Field Maintenance • Glenn Walsh – Purchasing & Equipment • Tim Roberts – Player Development • Jamie O’Neill – Boosters Coordinator