M A N U A L BASEBALL PROMOTER

Transcription

1 January, 2010 M A N U A L BASEBALL PROMOTER This manual is meant t be a dcument that can be f help fr the natinal federatins in their effrts t prmte baseball (and sftball) in develping areas. Depending n the specific situatin in an area/city elements f this manual can be used t supprt initiatives t start baseball (and sftball) there. This manual will be a dynamic dcument which can and will be cmpleted with additinal ideas and suggestins. This first versin has been written 2006 by Gerard Vaandrager (CEB Vice President) with supprt frm the Ryal Dutch Baseball and Sftball Federatin (Gijs Selderijk ). Gals Participants Expansin f Baseball in Eurpe: a) Increase the number f members/clubs in the small baseball cuntries; b) Increase the number f participating cuntries. The persns wh are respnsible fr prmtin f baseball and the start f new clubs in their cunty. Manual Baseball Prmter CEB

2 Prgram f the Curse Friday Arrival f the participants Intrductin, distribute the hand-uts and identify the gal f each participatr fr the clinic Part 1a Where t start Baseball in yur cuntry? Analyze the situatin in yur wn cuntry. What are the pprtunities and impssibilities? a) Intrductin: Pwer Pint Presentatin b) Task: There are criteria that can play a rle fr chsing an area r city t start. Use the eight pints mentined under I (see page 3). Part 1b - see Part 1a a) Intrductin: Explanatin hw t use the SWOT Analysis b) Task: Make a SWOT Analysis with the infrmatin yu have fund ut in the sessin befre. Mentin the Strength, Weakness, Opprtunities and Threats. See page 9. Part 2 - Make a plan. Implement the cnclusin f the SWOT Analysis int a plan. a) Intrductin: Pwer Pint Presentatin b) Task: Use the fur pints f interest mentined under paragraph II (make a plan) t wrk ut a plan. Saturday Part 3 - Methds t be used t prepare the first start a) Intrductin: Pwer Pint Presentatin b) Task: Use the fur pints f interest mentined under paragraph III (the first start) t wrk ut a plan. Part 4 - Field and equipment (see attachment) a) Presentatin Pwer Pint Presentatin See paragraph IV and V; baseball field and baseball equipment Manual Baseball Prmter CEB

3 Part 5 - Methds f games (see attachment) a) Intrductin: Pwer Pint Presentatin b) Task: Hw can yu play the game with yung kids r small grups? See paragraph VI; type and character f the game. Part 6a - Organizatinal structure f a starting baseball club a) Intrductin: Pwer Pint Presentatin b) Task: Get started! Hw is sprt rganized by the gvernment in yur cuntry? What is the gal f the club? Hw much mney d we need and wh are the spectatrs? Part 6b see part 6a a) Intrductin: Pwer Pint Presentatin b) Task: Wh leads the club and which functins (psitins) d we need as a bard member. Ht Stve and clsing Questins and Answers Manual Baseball Prmter CEB

4 I. Where t start baseball? The fllwing criteria can play a rle fr chsing the area/city t start: 1. Use a map f yur cuntry and find ut hw the situatin is. Where baseball is being played and the distance t ther cities/areas (even crss brder). 2. The lcal presence f a persn that is r peple that are willing and capable t act as lcal rganisers f the new baseball initiative (administrative peple as well as instructinal peple like trainers and caches). 3. The cperatin f the lcal authrities (t facilitate the start f baseball in their city/area). 4. The number f (yung) peple living in the area/city. 5. The number f schls in that particular area/city. 6. The presence f ther sprts clubs that might be interested t include baseball in their activities (mni sprts clubs). 7. The lcal presence f multinatinal cmpanies r rganisatins (with rts in the USA, Japan, Suth Krea r Taiwan). These cmpanies/rganisatins might have expats living in that city/area that might be willing t assist with the start f baseball there. 8. The lcal presence f internatinal schls/universities with students wh might have been playing baseball in their native cuntry. II. Make a plan Depending n the lcal situatin in the specific area/city cntacts have t be made with the lcal authrities befre starting the initiative fr the lcal intrductin f baseball. 1. Make a chice, with the abve mentined pints f interest, which regin yu want t expand. 2. Find a lcal persn that is capable t act as the lcal rganisers. Find ut if sme frmer members mved t this area. Thse peple have (sme) experience with baseball and culd be f help fr starting a new club. 3. Find ut if the authrities agree with the initiative? Can the authrities allcate a playing field fr the exhibitin game and/r clinics and the eventually resulting baseball club? A gd relatinship with the lcal gvernment is a big advance. 4. Find ut if there are lcal subsidies r ther financial supprt available fr supprting the initiative? III. The first start 1. Try t invlve the lcal schls and the teachers Physical Educatin with the initiative. 2. Use a map f yur area and find ut hw the situatin is with sprts (where are what kind f sprts clubs). See with ther sprt clubs in yur neighbrhd (sccer, field hckey) if yu can wrk tgether. Maybe as a start yu can use their fields in the summer mnths. 3. Organise an exhibitin game between tw experienced teams. Sftball is a better sprt t use fr an exhibitin game than baseball (smaller field; lesser Manual Baseball Prmter CEB

5 prtectin needed fr the spectatrs; mre actin via hitting and base running). 4. Organise after the exhibitin game a meeting t infrm the candidate members abut the game and pssibilities. Use brchures and psters t attract the attentin f the peple (see 7). If pssible shw baseball mvies. And dn t frget t make a list f all the peple that shwed up with their addresses, and phne number. 5. Organise clinics fr lcal rganisers and teachers with sme experienced instructrs. 6. Try t use lcal news papers, lcal websites, and lcal radi and TV netwrks fr the prmtin f the initiative. Always be sure that yu give the right cntact and phne numbers, fr prspects. 7. Try t use brchures and leaflets frm the natinal federatin, Majr League Baseball and CEB (available n the CEB-website The CEB website als prvides cntent that can be used t develp press releases. IV. Baseball fields Baseball can be played in the start up phase f a lcal initiative n a nn-fficial baseball field. Just an rdinary grass field in a public park can d, as well as a ftball (sccer) field. Fr a new club there is a need f knwledge abut the playing field. The maintenance f the grass r the dirt, the way the bases will be fixed n the field, the cnstructin f a (temprary) back stp and maintenance f the equipment (glves, bats, helmets, legguards, bdy prtectrs). The CEB-website prvides a special mdule with all kinds f advices abut what has t be dne t arrange a mdified nn-permanent baseball field. V. Baseball equipment At the mment there are many cmpanies in Eurpe which sell baseball equipment. In the attachment yu can find a list and the average prices per item. All fficial equipment is expensive, therefre hereby sme suggestins hw t make and use hme-made equipment. Batting Tee A batting tee is used t teach hitting fr yung players r starters. The batting tee makes it easier t hit the ball. Yu can use a fficial batting tee r make ne frm different available materials: 1. put an irn rd in the grund and n tp f that an ld piece f vacuum cleaner hse 2. make yur wn batting-tee frm metal grund plate and rd 3. fill a bucket with sand and put a stick with hse in it 4. Use a pyln (thse red cnes t mark a rad) and stick a paper rd in it. Hw t make a paper rd : rll a newspaper and wrap tape arund it. Manual Baseball Prmter CEB

6 Bases Instead f fficial bases use makeshift bases frm carpet r linleum. Als ld tires can be used as bases. Bats T practise yur swing yu dn t need a real bat. Yu can use a brmstick, ld hckey stick, tennis racket r even a stick frm the tree. Glves Make a wden glve ; this is a gd tl fr fielding the ball with sft hands. This wden glve is made f triplex with elastic band t put yur hand in; yu can als use an ld table tennis bat. Yu can als use sft balls and catch bare handed. Balls Use balls ut f mre cmmn sprts, like sft tennis balls r hard field hckey balls. Hitting (use instead f real baseballs): - tennis balls - make yur wn balls frm newspaper pellets with tape wrapped arund it - make yur wn sck balls made ut f used scks, pellet and stitched - crks f wine bttles - caps f bttles - shuttles Shes Baseball shes are excellent t use n real baseball fields. On all grass surface in it better t use sccer shes r ther shes with grip. Often yu dn t have enugh glves fr all yur team members; rganise yur practice in such a way that nt everybdy needs a glve; e.g. half the team is fielding and the thers are hitting, base running r ther practise were yu dn t need a glve. A lt f times yu dn t need a glve t practise the first skills fr fielding. Every time yu meet ther (freign) teams ask them fr used equipment. In mst cases the ther team is willing t give yu sme because they remember the time they started and didn t have much equipment either. Especially if yu attend a (freign) turnament ask every team fr just ne ball r just ne.. Anther idea is t cntact freign cmpanies in yur city/area (cmpanies frm the USA, Canada, Japan, Krea, Netherlands and Italy) if they wuld like t supprt yur starting baseball club with a dnatin f equipment. VI. Type and character f the game Baseball is a game f playing tag with free spts (base), which starts with bringing the ball in play (by hitting a ball). Baseball is ging abut the pssibility fr a defensive player t make an ffensive player ut. On the ther hand the ffensive player tries t stay in the game as lng as pssible. There must be a balance, by which there exist a pressure area fr the player fr being in r ut. During the game time, temp and directin are imprtant factrs with staying in the game r trying t Manual Baseball Prmter CEB

7 make an ut. Smart teams and players are cnstantly lking fr slutins in game situatins. The players must learn t act quicker and learn t anticipate. When we think abut adapted play style, because f level r number f players, we have t use as much as pssible the ingredients f baseball: Game f playing tag Free spts Bringing the ball in play Balance between in and ut Time, temp and directin When yu wrk with smaller grups yu can adapt the field. In stead f using a fur crner with crners f 90 degrees yu can use crners f 60 degrees. Yu can make a fur -, a three r just a tw bases field. This makes the field smaller and playable fr teams f fur till six players. Yu can thrw the ball t start the game, yu can hit f a batting-tee, a tssed ball, a ball pitched by the cach r a ball pitched by a player. VII. Organisatinal structure f a starting baseball club Hereby sme suggestins hw t start an fficial baseball club. We used sme parts f the Club manual Dutch Baseball and Sftball Federatin and tried t be as accurate as pssible. Incrpratin f the club The situatin per cuntry is different. Fr instance in Hlland is a law that says that clubs must have s called Articles f Assciatin (statutes). It is als imprtant t g t the Chamber f Cmmerce and register the club fficially. This is necessary t avid persnal liability fr bard members f the club. But again, this situatin is different per cuntry. It is imprtant t check the situatin in yur cuntry befre fficially starting a club. Get started Organize a meeting with the (ptential) club members and find ut: What will be the name f the club? What is the gal f the club? What bligatins have the club members and what is their (financial) cntributin? Wh leads the club and which functins (psitins) d we need as a bard member. Hw and with which frequency is the general members meeting rganised? When yu have dne all this and yu ve gt enugh peple t start a club yu can decide t g n. Then fllw the legal prcedures and yu can start fficially. Manual Baseball Prmter CEB

8 Structure and tasks f the club: The Bard (psitin and respnsibilities) President: Chair the bard meetings. Respnsible fr the yearly (club) prgram. Mnitring the wrk f bard- and cmmissin members. External cntacts (Federatin, Lcal, Gvernment, Press) Respnsible fr the general members meeting (at least nce a year). Secretary: Takes care f the club crrespndence and instructs the game secretary. Takes care f the members list and the administratin in the directin f the Federatin. Takes care f the cmmunicatin within the club as well as within the Bard and with ther cmmissiners. Makes the agenda fr the Bard meeting and the general members meeting and prduces the reprt. Treasurer: Takes care f all the financial matters f the club. Is mandated (tgether with the President) t fficially represent the club in cncluding cntracts (t buy equipment, t rent a field, t cnclude a supplier cntract with a brewery etc). Organizes the receipt f the members cntributin, dnatins, spnsr mney and ther incme. Makes the yearly budget. If the club expands and there are mre specific tasks yu can add mre bard members r cmmittees. Fr example: Smebdy wh takes care f the technical prgram: rganizing teams, caches, games and practice prgram. Takes care f all the administratin. If the club has a lt f members yu can split the tasks in several disciplines (yuth, senirs, recreatin, tp sprt). Besides that this persn can rganize all kind f activities besides playing baseball; scial events in winter time, special activities fr children, etc. Smebdy wh takes care f running a clubhuse. It s pssible t earn mney fr the club by selling drinks and candy (d nt underestimate this). Fr sme clubs it s their annual budget. A clubhuse brings als a scial structure in the club and team building. Smebdy wh takes care f Public Relatins. Cntacts with newspapers, lcal radi/tv statin etc. Yu can make big publicity by cvering the games in the newspaper r lcal televisin. Smebdy wh takes care f finding ways t earn mney fr the club. - Lking fr club spnsrs. - Organizing special events that earn mney (fun runs, ltteries etc.). - Lking fr advertisers (adds in the club paper, fence signs). - Finding cmpanies that will dnate the balls fr a game. Manual Baseball Prmter CEB

9 SWOT Analysis A SWOT analysis is an exercise yur federatin can g thrugh t identify and understand what strengths, weaknesses, pprtunities and threats exist in a regin. Often federatins are nt aware f the value f this exercise. Once this prcess has been cmpleted yur federatin shuld then identify ways in which yur federatin needs t respnd t what has been identified. Strengths and weaknesses are internal. Opprtunities and threats relate t external factrs. Carrying ut this analysis will ften be illuminating - bth in terms f pinting ut what needs t be dne, and in putting prblems int perspective. T carry ut a SWOT Analysis, write dwn answers t the fllwing questins: Manual Baseball Prmter CEB

10 Strengths When yu lk at the Strengths, cncentrate n the regin itself. Examples f Strengths include: Grwn area fr baseball Lcal crdinatr Grup f vlunteers Supprt by lcal gvernment Supprt by lcal businesses Supprt by lcal rganizatins Schl prgram (Strng) financial base Pssibility fr a club huse Sprt culture Sprt structure... Weaknesses Weaknesses ften appear as the direct ppsite f the Strengths: Examples f Weaknesses include: Lack f interest in baseball N lcal crdinatr Few vlunteers N supprt by lcal gvernment N supprt by lcal businesses N supprt by lcal rganizatins N schl prgram Weak financial base N pssibility fr a club huse N Sprt culture Pr Sprt structure... Fr example yur federatin s strengths can be prmted t ptential members and spnsrs. Opprtunities Opprtunities refer t pssibilities f new grwth because f changes in the external envirnment. Examples f Opprtunities include:... Prmtin f sprt by gvernment Ppulatin f ptential members Grants by lcal, state r federal authrities t encurage sprt Seasnal interest in particular sprts, baseball in summer basketball in winter Internatinal interest in sprts Internatinal cmpanies with rts in a cuntry where they play baseball Is yur federatin wasting pprtunities that will help yu grw, be mre effective and successful? What things can yu d t take advantage f these ptential pprtunities? Dn t try t fix them all at nce. Priritise and wrk thrugh the nes that are having the biggest impact n yur federatin. Threats Threats are ften similar t the pprtunities. Examples f Threats include: Gvernment cncentrate n ther areas then sprts The regin has seasnal interest in ther sprts which is in direct cmpetitin with baseball Other interests, including hbby grups, televisin, vide games, schl activities, part time wrk fr teenagers and s n Time related issues fr example; cmpetitin fr vlunteers time, lnger wrking hurs, bth parents wrking - children unable t attend, limited available free time fr bth children and parents. Other rganisatins with better facilities. Lack f knwledge and interest in baseball. Manual Baseball Prmter CEB