2013 Tournament Team (All Star) Guide Redmond West Little League

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1 1 Introduction Hello, families! We have begun accepting Statements of Player Commitment from those players who wish to be considered for selection to a RWLL Tournament Team (a.k.a. All Stars). As the Player Agent for Majors/Minors Baseball, I wanted to take the opportunity to explain how the process works and answer some frequently asked questions, both for the benefit of families new to our league and as a refresher to the more seasoned veterans. Background Until 2011, the managers of the applicable divisions were 100% responsible for selecting the players of RWLL Tournament Teams. The players themselves had very little input as to who was selected. There were complaints of back-room deals, favoritism, politics, maneuvering, and a lack of democracy in not letting the players have much say. When we looked at the successes and challenges found in neighboring leagues All Star team formation processes, we found that other leagues with systems similar to ours routinely faced similar complaints about lack of transparency. A change was in order. So in 2011, the RWLL Board decided to change our Tournament Team formation rules to give managers and players each approximately equal weight in deciding who makes the teams, with managers effectively having tiebreaker authority to round out rosters from among those players that were top vote-getters from at least one of the balloting groups (either the managers or the players). This is how it works: Teams There are three tournament teams to form 12U, 11U, and 10U. The 12U team is comprised primarily of 12 year olds playing Majors. The 11U team is comprised primarily of 11 year olds playing Majors; 11s in Coast are also eligible. The 10U team is comprised primarily of 10 year olds playing Coast or Majors.

2 2 Player Voting Majors players of any age are eligible to vote a 12U ballot, and on that ballot each player is entitled to vote for up to 12 players that he considers to be the top players of that age. Majors players of any age are eligible to vote a 11U ballot, and on that ballot each player is entitled to vote for up to 12 players that he considers to be the top players of that age. Coast players of any age, and 10 year olds playing Majors, are eligible to vote a 10U ballot, and on that ballot each player is entitled to vote for up to 12 players that he considers to be the top players of that age. From the ballots collected, the Player Votes are tabulated, and a Players Top 11 list is determined, consisting of the top 11 vote-getters. Manager Voting Majors managers are entitled to vote a 12U and 11U ballot. On each of those ballots, the manager must vote for exactly 12 players. Coast managers are entitled to vote a 10U ballot. On that ballot, the manager must vote for exactly 12 players. From the ballots collected, the Manager Votes are tabulated, and a Managers Top 11 list is determined, consisting of the top 11 vote-getters. Team Size The Majors managers determine the team roster size of the 12U and 11U tournament teams, at least 12 and possibly 13. The Coast managers determine the roster size of the 10U team, also generally 12 or 13. Final Player Selection The Players Top 11 list and the Managers Top 11 list are compared. Vote-getters who appear on both the Players Top 11 and the Managers Top 11 are automatically selected to the tournament team of the applicable age. To fill out the remainder of the roster of the applicable tournament team, the appropriate-division managers will vote individual players onto the team from among the limited pool of players who appeared on either the Players Top 11 or the Managers Top 11.

3 3 Illustration: Let s assume, first, that for the 12U team, the Majors managers determine that the roster size will be 12 players. Based on the Player Voting, the Players Top 11 list is: 1. Bugs Bunny, 18 votes 2. Daffy Duck, 16 votes 3. Tom Cat, 15 votes 4. Jerry Mouse, 12 votes 5. Road Runner, 12 votes 6. Yosemite Sam, 11 votes 7. Wile E. Coyote, 10 votes 8. Tweety Bird, 10 votes 9. Sylvester Cat, 9 votes 10. Foghorn Leghorn, 8 votes 11. Elmer Fudd, 8 votes Tasmanian Devil, 7 votes Michigan J. Frog, 6 votes Butch Dog, 5 votes Marvin Martian, 4 votes Based on Manager Voting, the Managers Top 11 list is: 1. Daffy Duck, 6 votes 2. Bugs Bunny, 5 votes 3. Tom Cat, 5 votes 4. Jerry Mouse, 5 votes 5. Elmer Fudd, 5 votes 6. Marvin Martian, 4 votes 7. Michigan J. Frog, 4 votes 8. Tweety Bird, 4 votes 9. Sylvester Cat, 4 votes 10. Foghorn Leghorn, 4 votes 11. Tasmanian Devil, 4 votes Yosemite Sam, 3 votes Wile E. Coyote, 3 votes Road Runner, 3 votes Butch Dog, 2 votes Comparing the Players Top 11 and Managers Top 11, the following players appear on both lists and are automatically selected to the 12U team:

4 4 1. Bugs Bunny 2. Daffy Duck 3. Tom Cat 4. Jerry Mouse 5. Elmer Fudd 6. Sylvester Cat 7. Foghorn Leghorn 8. Tweety Bird That s eight (8) players. Because the 12U team roster size is 12, there are four (4) slots needing to be filled (the Remaining Slots ). The pool of eligible players to be selected (with the reason they are eligible) to fill the Remaining Slots is as follows: Road Runner (Players Top 11) Yosemite Sam (Players Top 11) Marvin Martian (Managers Top 11) Tasmanian Devil (Managers Top 11) Wile E. Coyote (Players Top 11) Michigan J. Frog (Managers Top 11) Beginning with Remaining Slot #1, the Majors managers vote from among the six players listed in the eligible pool to fill the slot. The process is repeated for Remaining Slots #2, #3, and #4, until the roster is filled. Tournament Team Manager Selection A Tournament Team Committee consisting of the President, the Vice President of Majors/Minors Baseball, the Player Agent, the Chief Umpire, and two at large Board members, will select each tournament team manager from among 2013 rostered RWLL managers and coaches who have submitted an application. All persons who managed or coached a Redmond West Majors/Minors team will have the opportunity to apply to manage a tournament team. The Tournament Team Committee reviews applications and conducts an interview of each candidate, and considers all relevant qualifications and experience in selecting the tournament team manager.

5 5 Frequently Asked Questions 1. How do I apply for All Stars? Complete and submit the online Statement of Player Commitment with your parents on or before May 24, My kid is one of the best 9 year olds in AAA. Can he play All Stars? AAA players are not eligible to vote for tournament teams, and are not eligible to be selected to a tournament team. AAA teams participate in the Redmond City Tournament, which we consider an excellent introduction to competitive tournament play for 10s, 9s, and 8s currently playing AAA. 3. What if my player is 11 and is eligible for two tournament teams? If a player is eligible for and selected to more than one tournament team per the process described above (e.g., an 11 year old Majors player selected to both the 12U and 11U team), the managers will confer and decide which tournament team the player will be assigned to. 4. Some guys on my team played for the Steel Lions select team in the winter and spring, and one of them told me I was probably not going to make All Stars because I didn t play for the Steel Lions. Is he right? Participation in any non-little League affiliated team, whether a select team, a tournament team, or by any other name, does not guarantee or give any priority to that player over other Little League players in the tournament team selection process. There is no pre-selection of All-Stars, period. Any representations to the contrary by players, parents, or coaches are false and should be reported to the Player Agent or the VP of Majors/Minors Baseball. 5. When are teams announced? The 10U team will be announced on at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, The 11U and 12U teams will be announced on at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

6 6 6. If my player is selected for All Stars, will there be some kind of tournament he has to play in before the District 9 Tournament? Yes. All players who submit Statement of Player Commitment should be prepared to practice and/or play in a preparatory tournament on the very first weekend after the announcement of the team roster is made. For the 10U team, the first day of tournament team practice, and/or possible tournament play, will be Saturday, June 8, For the 11U and 12U teams, the first day of tournament team practice, and/or possible tournament play, will be Saturday, June We have a prior commitment every Tuesday evening and always go on a trip the third week of June. Can our son still participate in All Stars? The Statement of Player Commitment requires participants to make tournament team play (every practice and game) their highest priority during the entire practice and tournament period following the team roster announcements. If unusual or extraordinary circumstances require a player to ask permission to miss a practice, it will be up to the player and the tournament team manager to work out an arrangement. Players who violate their Statement of Player Commitment will be removed from the tournament team and replaced with another eligible player. 8. What about costs? Do we have to pay to play? The tournament team is sponsored by RWLL. The sponsorship includes team equipment, team uniforms, and Little League tournament fees. Parents and players are responsible for any and all additional expenses incurred by the team, which may include additional uniform elements, training, team party, trophies, etc. Cost is not to be a preventive factor in participation. Therefore, in qualifying cases, financial assistance is available. 9. Does every kid get equal playing time on an All Star team? Little League tournament playing time requirements are minimal. Playing time is decided by the team manager. The only minimum playing time requirements are as follows: For teams with a 12-player roster: Each player must play 6 consecutive defensive outs, and get 1 At Bat. For teams with a 13- or 14-player roster: Each player must get 1 At Bat.

7 7 10. Is there some documentation I will have to provide regarding my player s age and residence? Yes. If selected to the All-Star Tournament Team, each player must provide Little League officials with acceptable proof of age and three different types of documents proving that the player lives within the boundaries of within three days of notification of placement on the team roster. If you have other questions about this information or the tournament team formation process, please contact me. Sincerely, David Bowman Player Agent, Majors/Minors Baseball