WSLL Annual General Meeting/
Parent Orientation
March 6, 2017
WSLL
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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
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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
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. Article II,
WSLL Constitution.
• http://www.wsllbaseball.org/policy.cfm
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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,
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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
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Overview – Fields
• Home complex is Byron Avenue Park.
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- 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
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Overview – Organization
• We are part of District 9 (the I-95 District):
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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)
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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!
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Overview – Other BOD Committees
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Equipment
Uniforms
Awards / Pics
Web
Yearbook
Publications
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Manager
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Selection
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Tryout / Draft •
Operations
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Scheduling
Scorekeeper
Umpires
Rules
All Stars
Fun Tournament
Fall Baseball
Registration
Opening Day
Closing Day
Byron Fest
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Field & Facilities
Challenger
Sponsors
Volunteer
Membership
County Liaison
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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
WSLL PROGRAMS
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WSLL Points of Emphasis
• Provide fun and enjoyable environment for the kids.
• Teach the love of baseball, sportsmanship, and sense of
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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.
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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
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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)
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Programs
• Spring baseball season
• End of season tournament (lower levels have 2 levels of
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tournaments).
1 Fun Tournament – Spring (D9 LL teams at 8-10 and 1012 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
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Program – Equipping & Outfitting
• White Pants (except at Majors), t-shirts, hats, and socks
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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.
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Current Goals
• Training
- Tee Ball (5T and T-Ball)
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Little League University
Practice Plans, How-to Guide
- 2A
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Training Camps
Throwing and Catching
Hitting Drills
- 3A
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Pitching and Hitting
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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
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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
Managers/Coaches
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Managers Selection
• Application Form.
• Selection Committee screening for Majors managers
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(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.
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Coach Training and Supervision
• Orientation (administrative, leadership, expectations,
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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).
Evaluations (All Levels) – Spring 2015
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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
Parent Surveys
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4.27
4.08
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4.22
4.1
4.24
4.29
4.4
4.155
3.64
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Rating Scale
5 - Very satisfied
4 - Satisfied
3 - Average
2 - Dissatisfied
1 - Very dissatisfied
Besides the numeric ratings,
we also get a lot of comments
and suggestions that help us
improve!
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Polling Feedback (Spring Survey)
• Scheduling
• Volunteer Fees
• Concession Stand
• Umpires
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- 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)
If you believe the scheduling
policy should be changed,
how would you change it?
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If you believe the snack bar program should be
changed, how would you change it?
we would've spent money if they took plastic.
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.
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
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.
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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.
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Budget
• Annual Budget:
• Where It Goes:
$221,735
- Direct Costs (per player)
- Uniforms/trophies; County fees; Yearbook; Insurance and Charter
registration
- Other Costs:
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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
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Capital improvement; Reserves.
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Budget
• Revenue Sources
-Registration
-Concession Stand
-Sponsors
-Fan wear
-Forfeited volunteer fee
-All star fees & stipends
-Interest
WSLL Byron Ave – Main Road
Ebbets
Field
If you are not parking Player Dropoff AREAS
at Yankee Ahead or when
EXITING ONLY !
Wrigley
Field
No Player
Drop-off
upon
Entering
WSLL Byron Ave – Main Parking
(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
(2) Now you’re here – park STRAIGHTIN for all rows NOT angled
(1) Left Turn Only to Enter at
REAR of Parking Area
Yankee
Field
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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
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- 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.
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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?
- Election –
Board of Director Members
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Ron Zabko
• Scott Mills
Mike Williams
• Walter Green
Jon Anderson
• Erik Foss
Steve Sopko
• Micah MacDonald
John O’Grady Walsh •Rob Harris
Mike Warbel
• Rob Pelletier
Shawn James
• Dave Frazier
Ralph Yates
• Mike Hickman
Craig Stein
• Heather Crocetto
John Monaco
• Sebeena Hickman
Eddie Garretson
• David Perdue
Pat Quinn
• Howard Arp
• Shannon Matheny
• Mark Guido
• Al Beyer
• Steve Gillingham •
• Bill Dane
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• John Ogden
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• Jim Spratt
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• Mick Batson
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•Chris Dockins
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• Eric Hardman
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• 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
QUESTIONS?
Thank You for Coming
See you at the fields!
PLAY BALL!!
BOD Meeting