Scott Aldrich Community Services Project Manager, City of Tavares

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2 The City of Tavares Babe Ruth Program is committed to providing a positive youth sports experience for all participants and their families, coaches, officials and spectators. The program is designed with guiding principles not of exceptional athletic skill and winning games; but rather of Integrity, Teamwork, Discipline and Sportsmanship. All program members will provide and support sound leadership and respect to encourage and exemplify these principles for our youth and for our community. We are pleased that you and your family have decided to participate in our baseball and/or softball program! Enclosed in this Parent Packet, you will find detailed information on the program as well as ways to help make the most of this season. Please read all of the information in this packet, and share with any other adults that will have any role of your child s participation in this program. Thank you and have a great season! Scott Aldrich Community Services Project Manager, City of Tavares Carl Simple Athletic Coordinator, City of Tavares 2

3 QUICK FACTS Registration Deadline: Practice: Season Begins: Cost: Games: Refunds: Saturday, January 28th at 12:00pm at Tavares City Hall. Practice could be any day of the week. Coaches will provide this information and talk with you about their selected days. Opening Day will be on Saturday, March 4th at 10:00am. Ceremony for all ages, all divisions at Fred Stover Field. Games will be played at both Woodlea and Stover Fields. Registration fees are $75 per child for the season Various days, depending on age division. Please note that in certain age groups, there could be both weekend and out-oftown games. Once you are assigned a coach, they will provide this information. After February 6th No refunds! Player tryouts (skill assessments) are for the following: - ALL Participants (except 4-6 year olds) All players make a team! No child is refused! TRYOUTS: Baseball: Ages 4 6 Coach will contact each parent directly no tryouts Ages 7 & 8 Wednesday, February 1st 6:30pm Woodlea #1 Ages 9 & 10 Tuesday, January 31 st 6:30pm Stover #2 Ages 11 & 12 Wednesday, February 1st 6:30pm Stover #3 Ages Tuesday, January 31 st 6:30pm Stover #4 Softball: 8 & Under Tuesday, January 31 st 6:30pm Woodlea #2 10 & Under Tuesday, January 31 st 6:30pm Woodlea #3 12 & Under Wednesday, February 1st 6:30pm Woodlea #3 Senior Girls Wednesday, February 1st 6:30pm Stover #1 *4 6 yr. old division will not tryout. Your head coach will automatically call you to discuss the first team meeting. All other age groups should wear appropriate game clothes in order to complete a variety of skills. Baseballs/softballs and bats will be available, but players are encouraged to bring their own. Teams will be picked after tryouts. Your coach will notify you during that week, or during that weekend. If a coach has not contacted you by: Monday, February 6 th, please call Carl Simple: Parks & Recreation Department at

4 Helpful Hints... Your $75 registration fee covers the cost of the player s shirt, hat, insurance, and helps to cover the cost of umpires, game balls, equipment, field maintenance, charters, etc. You are responsible for providing pants/shorts, belt, and proper shoes for your child. The coaches will inform you of what color pants to buy during the first team meeting. Please wait until the after the meeting to purchase any apparel. The City of Tavares will supply equipment (i.e. bats, helmets, gloves) to the volunteer coaches, but you are welcome to purchase your own equipment for your child. RAINOUTS: If a game is cancelled, the Recreation Department notifies all the head coaches right away so they can contact you. In many instances, no determination can be made until game time, so we ask your patience and understanding until a decision can be made. The City of Tavares will attempt to make-up games that were rained out, but please note that sometimes schedules will not permit such make-up dates. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation. There may come a time when you disagree with your child s coach or the umpire for the game. If this does happen, please address the coach before or after practice or a game, and never in front of the children. If the issue cannot be resolved, you may proceed to contact the Recreation Department, but only after you have talked with the coach yourself. Coach, can I talk to you after the game? The purpose of the Babe Ruth program is to allow every child the opportunity to play the great game of baseball/softball. The requirement for your child to play in each game is 2 innings in the field and 1 at bat. If the coach, for some reason, does not meet this requirement, your child should start the next game. Keep in mind that your child must attend practices and display good sportsmanship to be included in game days. A copy of our City Rules and Regulations are included in this parent packet for your review. The Tavares Parks & Recreation Department is open Monday Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Please be aware that we may not be in the office during these times, so please call ahead to let us know you will be visiting. Our department phone numbers are: Carl Simple Athletic Coordinator (352) Scott Aldrich Community Services Project Manager (352)

5 Helpful Hints... Team Pictures: On March 4th the league will offer team and individual pictures through Fred Rahming Photography (352) , Frphotography352.com. Your team will be assigned a time slot for their pictures during our opening day ceremonies, depending upon your game schedule. Parents are asked to please be on time and ready for your child s team picture due to the compressed schedule. Once all team pictures are taken, FR Photography will offer individual pictures for your child and/or friends. A variety of options will be available for purchase. Insurance: The Tavares Babe Ruth League offers individual insurance to all its registered participants during our official season through K&K Insurance. The coverage is able to act as the child s primary insurance and comes with a $100 deductible per accident. Claim forms are available at the Recreation Department and are to be filed as soon as possible after the injury occurs. For more information or to report an injury, please contact Carl Simple at or csimple@tavares.org. Team Sponsorships: The City of Tavares is proud to offer our local businesses the opportunity to sponsor one of our Babe Ruth teams. For a one-time donation of $325 to the city, your business name will be printed on the back of each team uniform for the duration of the season. Also, your business will be recognized at both our Opening Day Ceremony and our end-of-season Spring Fling Fun Day. For more information and availability, please see a city representative. All-Star Program: All-Star tournaments are a separate program following the regular season for both baseball and softball participants ages 7 and up. The names of potential all-star players are submitted by their coaches for consideration. The head coaches in each division then vote on the tournament players for their division based upon these nominations. Participation in the all-star program is voluntary, and requires an additional financial and time commitment. Parents/guardians of all-star players are expected to help pay for additional uniforms and may incur extra travel expenses, tournament fees and other associated costs. Depending upon how far a team advances in the tournament cycle, an all-star player could be playing ball for most of the summer. If you have vacation travel plans that would interfere with the all-star schedule or have other reasons for not wanting your child to be considered for the all-star program, please let your head coach or a city representative know before the end of the regular season. 5

6 Things You Should Know... The Babe Ruth League is a national organization that serves over 1 million players from ages 4-18 in Babe Ruth Baseball, Cal Ripken Baseball, and Babe Ruth Softball. It is played in more than 6 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Babe Ruth League, Inc. s approved accident insurance is PRIMARY COVERAGE not secondary for every child participating in its programs. These insurance programs cover leagues and teams for up to 12 months allowing local leagues to run programs year round. The Tavares Babe Ruth League is our local chapter, incorporated into the national organization. Our league is an annual dues-paying member, managed and directed by the City of Tavares Recreation Department. The City offers both baseball and softball programs in the spring and the fall for our community. Each season (two per year), the recreation office runs background checks, and certifies all volunteer coaches are both safe and qualified to coach in our league. During our spring program, we host both an Opening Day Ceremony, in which each team is recognized and honored, and a final Spring Fling Fun Day. During our Opening Day activities, complimentary games, face painting and other activities are spread throughout the day. Each team plays an official, inaugural game to kickoff the season. At our end-ofseason Spring Fling Fun Day, all teams are presented with a trophy and invited to participate in a number of fun, crazy games to close out the season. What to Expect... The Tavares Babe Ruth League offers baseball & softball programs in various age groups ranging from 4 year olds up to 15 year olds. Each age group is different in both the rules and the game schedules. You may find age-specific rules and other regulations on our league s website at: Team schedules should be completed and available through your head coach the second week of practice. Please be patient as schedules often times depend on working with other cities to develop interleague games. See below for some general guidelines on what to expect in each age group, or feel free to contact a Recreation Department team member with further questions: 4-6 year old (BASEBALL) All games are played on Mondays & Fridays at Woodlea Field with a 6:15pm game time. Kids will receive approximately 7 pitches from the coach. If they do not hit one of these pitches, they will utilize the batting tee. Each child plays the entire game and everyone goes through the batting line-up. Two full innings or a one-hour time limit constitutes a game. Scores and outs are not recorded, but coaches are encouraged to teach the fundamentals of the game as the season progresses. 7-8 year old (BASEBALL) All games are played on Tuesdays & Thursdays at Woodlea Field with a 6:15pm game time. All rules of baseball are followed in this age group. Coaches will utilize the Louisville Slugger Blue Flame Ultimate Pitching Machine to pitch to each player. 6

7 What to Expect (continued) year old (BASEBALL) All home games are played at Fred Stover Sports Complex, field #2 with a 6:30pm game time. Game nights could vary depending on the number of participants we have in the age group. This age group could interleague with other Babe Ruth organizations in Belleview, Leesburg, Minneola, Mt. Dora, and Umatilla. Some travel to these neighboring parks may be required year old (BASEBALL) All home games are played at Fred Stover Sports Complex, field #3 with a 6:30pm game time. Game nights could vary depending on the number of participants we have in the age group. This age group could interleague with other Babe Ruth organizations in Belleview, Leesburg, Minneola, Mt. Dora, and Umatilla. Some travel to these neighboring parks may be required year old (BASEBALL) All home games are played at Fred Stover Sports Complex, field #4 with a 6:30pm game time. Game nights could vary depending on the number of participants we have in the age group. This age group could interleague with other Babe Ruth organizations in Belleview, Leesburg, Minneola, Mt. Dora, and Umatilla. Some travel to these neighboring parks may be required. 8-under (SOFTBALL) All home games are played at Woodlea Field with a 6:30pm game time. Game nights could vary depending on the number of participants we have in the age group but are tentatively set for Mondays and Saturdays. This age group will interleague with other Babe Ruth organizations in Altamonte Springs, Leesburg, Mt. Dora, Sorrento, Umatilla, and Longwood. Some travel to these neighboring parks will be required. 10-under (SOFTBALL) All home games are played at Woodlea Field with a 6:30pm game time. Game nights could vary depending on the number of participants we have in the age group but are tentatively set for Thursday and Saturdays. This age group will interleague with other Babe Ruth organizations in Altamonte Springs, Leesburg, Mt. Dora, Sorrento, Umatilla, and Longwood. Some travel to these neighboring parks will be required. 12-under (SOFTBALL) All home games are played at Fred Stover Sports Complex, field #1 with a 6:30pm game time. Game nights could vary depending on the number of participants we have in the age group but are tentatively set for Thursdays and Saturdays. This age group will interleague with other Babe Ruth organizations in Altamonte Springs, Leesburg, Mt. Dora, Sorrento, Umatilla, and Longwood. Some travel to these neighboring parks will be required. Senior s 14-under & 16-under (SOFTBALL) All home games are played at Fred Stover Sports Complex, field #1 with a 6:30pm game time. Game nights could vary depending on the number of participants we have in the age group but are tentatively set for Tuesdays and Saturdays. This age group will interleague with other Babe Ruth organizations in Altamonte Springs, Leesburg, Mt. Dora, Sorrento, Umatilla, and Longwood. Some travel to these neighboring parks will be required. 7

8 City Rules and Regulations 1. The City of Tavares Recreation Department will be the governing body of the Tavares Babe Ruth League. The recreation staff will serve as both the President and Vice- President of the league. 2. All decisions on league operations including designation of coaches and assistant coaches will be subject to final approval by the Recreation staff. 3. All application forms (including background check forms) for coaches and umpires must be submitted to the Recreation Department. 4. There will be no use of excessive force or unsportsmanlike conduct (verbal or physical) displayed on or off the field during practices or games by any coach, parent or player. This will be strictly enforced by the city. Each coach must control his/her temperament and the temperament of the players and parents. Any infraction of this rule by any league participant will be grounds for automatic dismissal. 5. NO alcohol, drugs, or tobacco products of any type will be permitted at any practice, game or league function. 6. NO smoking is permitted at the ball fields. 7. Coaches and parents will be responsible for making sure his/her team is on time for all league functions, practices, games and other activities. 8. Coaches will be required to inform or distribute any notices to all members of their respective teams regarding practices, games and any other activities involving the league. This includes contacting players as soon as possible regarding cancellations. The use of players contact information is reserved only for the Tavares Babe Ruth League 2017 spring season. Any use of this information beyond our league is strictly prohibited. 9. Coaches will notify the Recreation Department of any players who are not participating or who have dropped from your team. 10. Any conflict between player/parent and coach that cannot be resolved should be relayed to the Recreation Department at Disciplinary problems between coach & player/parent will be handled after all options have been properly reviewed, including potential meetings with all parties involved. 11. The league will furnish all baseball and softball equipment. Coaches issued equipment will be held responsible for any loss or damages. All equipment, including keys, must be turned in promptly at the conclusion of the season. 8

9 Additional City Rules and Regulations 1. Equipment issued by the league will be used ONLY at scheduled league activities. Violation of this rule will be reason for dismissal from the program. 2. The league will not tolerate anyone abusing or destroying city property. 3. No coach can dismiss, add or switch players from his/her team to another. 4. The league requires any injury to be reported to the coach and parents immediately; please notify the Recreation Staff within 24 hours. Accident forms must be filled out and given to the Recreation Department. 5. Coaches or assistants are required to remain after practices and games to ensure that all players have left the complex or are with proper escorts. 6. Coaches are responsible for ensuring the facility is properly closed (i.e. lights turned off, rakes and pitching machine put away, etc.) and making sure equipment is returned to the proper location. 7. Coaches should check their files at least once a week for any updates or changes. 8. Coaches and assistants are requested to assist in the maintenance and clean-up of the grass infield (including light raking of base areas and pitching mound) after practices and games. 9. ALL coaches must be a minimum of 18 years old and properly certified through the Babe Ruth League/Ripken Baseball Coaching Certification Program. Only certified coaches, assistant coaches and currently registered Tavares Babe Ruth participants are allowed on the field at any time during the team s practices or games. 10. If a coach resigns abruptly during the season for reasons unrelated to family or personal emergencies, the coach will not be eligible to coach in the following season. 11. ALL coaches must pass a city background check before stepping onto the field at the team s first practice. 12. Any violation of the City League Rules & Regulations by any coach, player or parent could result in suspension after proper review by the Tavares Recreation Department. For age-specific rules, visit our website at Please remember that this game is for the kids not the adults. Thanks for your cooperation! 9

10 The Tavares Babe Ruth League Opening Day Ceremony will take place at Fred Stover Sports Complex on Saturday, March 4, 2017 beginning at 10:00am. All teams are asked to line up in their designated spots around field #3 in full uniform for the ceremony. During this time, city officials will recognize all teams, their sponsors and go over some important details regarding the season. We will have all sorts of vendors and complimentary games & attractions for the kids to enjoy, from a 70 rock wall to face painting. Parking will be located around the complex and in the Tavares Elementary School parking lot. The first games of the season will begin at both Fred Stover Sports Complex and Woodlea Sports Complex promptly at 12:00pm and continue throughout the day depending on how many teams are formed within your age division. We hope all of you enjoy this day to kick-off the season! BUY * SELL * TRADE * CONSIGN USED * NEW SPORTS EQUIPMENT US HWY. 441 PHONE: LEESBURG, FLORIDA FAX: INTEGRITY TEAMWORK DISCIPLINE SPORTSMANSHIP

11 NOT ONLY GREAT FOOD. ALSO TRY OUR Apps for your Android Smartphone, Coupons, Club, Facebook Promotions and Exclusive Offers PROUD TO SUPPORT THE TAVARES BABE RUTH LEAGUE 301 E. Burleigh Blvd. Tavares, FL (352) FAMILY - FUN - FOOD U.S. Highway 441, Eustis, Florida (352) for additional information Come join the excitement, great service and food! PROUD TO SUPPORT TAVARES BABE RUTH! The Sportsmanship Code of Babe Ruth League, Inc. Develop a strong, clean, healthy body, mind and soul. Develop a strong urge for sportsman-like conduct. Develop understanding of and respect for the RULES. Develop courage in defeat, tolerance and modesty in victory. Develop control over emotions and speech. Develop spirit of cooperation and team play. Develop into real, true CITIZENS. 11

12 PARENTS PAGE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF SPORTS FOR PARENTS: 1. Thou shall be sure that your child know that win or lose, scared or heroic, you love him/ her, appreciate their efforts, and that you are not disappointed in him/her. 2. Thou shall try your best to be completely honest about your child s athletic capability, his/ her competitive attitude, his/her sportsmanship, and his/her actual skill level. 3. Thou shall be helpful but don t coach him/her on the way to the field or on the way back home. 4. Thou shall teach your child to enjoy competition for competition s sake, remembering that there are lessons to be learned in winning as well as losing. 5. Harken O Parents: Try not to relive your athletic life through your child or try to create an athletic career to replace the one that you never had. 6. Thou shall not compete with the coach remember, in many cases, the coach becomes a hero to the athletes.a person who can do no wrong. 7. Thou shall not compare the skill, courage or attitudes of your child with that of other members of the team. 8. Thou shall get to know the coach so that you can be sure that his/her philosophy, attitudes, ethics, and knowledge are such that you are happy to expose to your child. 9. Always remember that children tend to exaggerate, both when praised and when criticized. Temper your reactions when they bring home tales of woe, or tales of heroics. 10.Thou shall make a point of understanding courage and the fact that it is relative. Some of us climb mountains but fear flight some of us will want to fight but turn to jelly if a spider crawls nearby. A child must learn: courage is not absence of fear, but rather doing something in spite of fear. HONORING THE GAME: Honoring the Game gets to the ROOTS of positive play, where ROOTS stands for: RULES: We don t bend the rules to win OPPONENTS: A worthy opponent is a gift that forces us to play to our highest potential OFFICIALS: We treat officials with respect even when we disagree TEAMMATES: We never do anything that would embarrass our team on or off the field SELF: We live up to our own standards regardless of what others do Here s how you can help: 1. Let your child know that you want him/her to Honor the Game. Discuss the meaning of each element of ROOTS with your athletes 2. Be a good role model. Honor the Game when you attend games. Cheer both teams when good plays are made. If, in your opinion, an officiating mistake is made, be silent! Use this as an opportunity to think about how difficult it is to officiate a game perfectly 3. Encourage other parents to Honor the Game 4. Encourage your child to play hard, play fair and have fun 12

13 CODES OF CONDUCT The City of Tavares Recreation Department endeavors to promote programs, events and activities, within the Community Services Division, which foster, promote, and emphasize a positive, safe and rewarding environment for the youth of our community. In support of this initiative, the Recreation Department has adopted a policy on Codes of Conduct for all those attending, or participating in, City of Tavares Recreation programs or using their facilities. This policy sets minimum standards and expectations for the conduct of everyone. Everyone includes, but is not limited to, participants, coaches, all officials, administrators, spectators, attendees, parents, teachers, guardians, etc. Policy on Codes of Conduct When using facilities for, or participating in, youth programs and activities, managed or allowed by the City of Tavares, everyone is responsible for: Conducting themselves in a proper and socially acceptable manner Exhibiting behavior that supports the health, safety and well-being of others Providing a tobacco, alcohol, and drug free environment Refraining from the use of profanity or offensive language and ethnic slurs Abiding by all laws, rules, regulations and ordinances whether city, state or local Abstaining from any type of conduct intended to humiliate or intimidate others Expectations of Spectators Cheering in a positive fashion, for both sides, is highly encouraged. Cheer for a good effort as much as a good performance. Always behave in a responsible manner and exercise selfdiscipline. Make only positive comments about children yours or others. Always show respect for all involved in the game including coaches, players, opponents, opposing fans and officials. Our programs are recreational leagues with fun as the primary emphasis. All coaches are volunteers, and we should all appreciate their efforts and support them thus setting a good example for the children. Failure to Comply The implementation, distribution, monitoring and enforcement of the city s Codes of Conduct as outlined above is the responsibility of the Tavares Recreation Department, its officials and volunteer representatives. ANYONE who does not behave appropriately (as described above) will be asked to leave, according to the following steps: 1. An official/umpire, coach, or a Tavares Recreation Department representative will identify the violator(s) and make note of the situation. A verbal warning may be given as an attempt to correct the situation. 2. If the situation continues, the officials/umpires, coaches and/or a Tavares Recreation Department representative will collaborate on the situation. 3. If the decision is made for the violator(s) to leave the premises, play will not resume until he/she has left the facility. 4. If he/she refuses to leave the premises, his/her team will forfeit and the game will be over. 5. Further action, up to and including suspension from attending program functions and games, could occur for the violator(s). 13

14 May 13, 2017 at the Fred Stover Sports Complex from 10am - 1pm Leave your gloves & bats home, but do not forget your SWIM SUITS Come out and enjoy our end of season fun. * Wiffle Ball * Flag Football Hot Dogs / Chips * Music * Face Painter * Photo Booth Huge Bounce House & Water Slide Contact your head coach or City of Tavares Recreation Office Come run the bases with me The Tavares Babe Ruth League will see about taking part again in RAYS DAY at the Tampa Bay Rays baseball game, TBD at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Kids will get to dress in their team uniforms and be honored in a parade around the field just before game time. Everyone will also get to run the bases with Raymond after the ballgame and enjoy the many festivities of the day with the Tampa Bay Rays! Tickets are only $15 each and available through the City of Tavares Recreation Department by contacting Carl Simple at (352) GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE PLAYERS IN THE TAVARES BABE RUTH LEAGUE! U.S. Hwy 441 Eustis, FL (352)

15 Spring 2017 Tavares Babe Ruth League Monthly Schedule DATE EVENT LOCATION TIME JANUARY January 17 Coaches Meeting TRA Room 6:30pm (food provided by Gators Dockside) January 17 Spring Registration Opens Recreation Office 8:00am January 21 Registration (Saturday) Tavares City Hall 9am 12pm January 28 Registration (Saturday) Tavares City Hall 9am 12pm FEBRUARY January 30 Coaches Meeting Tavares Civic Center 6:30pm Team Selections (4 6) * Tavares Civic Center after meeting *Coaches only - no players January Yr. Old Tryouts Fred Stover Field #2 6:30pm Yr. Old Tryouts Fred Stover Field #4 6:30pm 8U Girls Softball Tryouts Woodlea Field #2 6:30pm 10U Girls Softball Tryouts Woodlea Field #3 6:30pm February Yr. Old Tryouts Woodlea Field #1 6:30pm Yr. Old Tryouts Fred Stover Field #3 6:30pm 12U Girls Softball Tryouts Woodlea Field #3 6:30pm Senior Girls Softball Tryout Fred Stover Field #1 6:30pm February 3 Rain-Out Date for Tryouts MARCH March 4 Opening Day Ceremony Fred Stover Field #3 10:00am Team / Individual Pictures Fred Stover Field Throughout day Games Begin All Fields 12:00pm March Spring Break (No Games) APRIL TBD RAY S DAY *MLB GAME St. Petersburg TBD April 19 All-Star Team Selections Civic Center 6:30pm MAY May 13 Spring Fling Fun Day Fred Stover Fields 10:00am May 15 Coaches Wrap-Up Meeting Civic Center 6:30pm 15

16 Land & See