Langley Baseball Association

Parent Guide

2026

Introduction

Welcome to Langley Baseball! This Parent’s Guide is designed to help families understand how our program works and how you can support your child throughout the season. Whether your player is new to the game or returning for another year, Langley Baseball is committed to creating a positive, safe, and fun environment where players can develop their skills, build confidence, and learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship. This guide provides helpful information about league structure, expectations for players and parents, communication with coaches, game day basics, and ways to get involved. We’re excited to have your family as part of the Langley Baseball community and look forward to a great season together.

Conduct

Player Conduct

All players are expected to demonstrate respect for teammates, opponents, coaches, officials, and league facilities at all times. This includes following the rules of the game, actively participating in games and practices, using appropriate language, showing good sportsmanship in both victory and defeat, and making a genuine effort to support their team.

Player and coach safety is a top priority, and coaches have the authority to remove a player from a position, drill, practice, or game when safety concerns arise. This may include situations where a player is not paying attention, engaging in physical altercations, bullying, or displaying behavior that puts themselves or others at risk.

When a player’s behavior does not meet these expectations, coaches are encouraged to address the issue privately with the player, promptly and constructively, using age-appropriate instruction and guidance on expectations. Corrective actions may include verbal reminders, modified participation activities, temporary removal from play or practice activities to allow for reflection, or communication with parents/guardians when necessary.

Parent Conduct

Parents and guardians play a vital role in creating a positive and supportive environment for all participants. They are expected to demonstrate respect for players, coaches, officials, and other spectators at all times, and to model good sportsmanship in both victory and defeat. This includes using appropriate language, refraining from coaching from the sidelines, and supporting the efforts of all players, not just their own child. Parents and guardians are also expected to respect coaching decisions and the authority of game officials and to promote constructive communication, parents and guardians are asked to observe a 24-hour waiting period after games or practices before approaching a coach with concerns. Coaches may address any behavior that is disruptive, intimidating, or detracts from the safety or enjoyment of participants.

Conflicts and/or Disagreements

It is expected that any disagreements between coaches and/or parents/guardians are handled off the field, privately, and through league leadership. Coaches are expected to apply the 24-Hour Rule before detailed discussions. If disagreements cannot be solved through initial discussions, both parties should engage the Division Coordinator. Escalation to the VP of Relations should be used after all other efforts have been exhausted.

Volunteer Commitment

Langley Baseball is a volunteer-driven organization, and each family is required to complete one volunteer shift per season to help support league operations. There are many ways to get involved, including coaching, serving as a team parent, participating on the board, helping prepare the fields before the season, working in the concession (Blastball, TBall, 7s, and 8s divisions only), or assisting with spring evaluations.

Please note that regular game and practice duties do not count toward the volunteer requirement.

Volunteer opportunities will be shared throughout the season, so please keep an eye on your email for sign-up information. Families who do not complete their volunteer requirement by the end of the season will have their volunteer deposit cashed and will not be able to register for the following season until the amount has been paid. Your support helps keep Langley Baseball running smoothly and ensures a great experience for all players.

Parent Duties

As a 100% volunteer run organization, Langley Baseball relies on parents to support throughout the season. Game and practice duties are required to be completed by all families (except coach families) and do not count towards your required volunteer commitment.

Team Parents will schedule game and practice duties ensuring tasks are rotated fairly. Please ensure you arrive on time for your assignment and coordinate with other parents if you are unable to complete your assignment(s) to ensure games run smoothly.

Blastball and TBall Duties

• Setting up the bases and putting bases away into the sea can on Engh (white one by the parking lot)
• Helping in the batting line up to make sure it goes smoothly and players are not swinging bats
• Helping in the field (if asked by coaches)
• Team may also choose to create a rotating snack schedule for after each game

7s and 8s Duties

Practices

• Raking the field before and/or after each practice
• Setting up bases and putting them away
• Setting up the slinger and putting it away

Home Games

• Preparing the field before the game (chalking the baselines, batters’ box and pitching circle)
• Set up and adjust slinger to throw strikes (sometimes this is done by a coach)
• Set up the outfield fencing (Engh field only - fence and instructions are stored in the white sea can)
• Scorekeeping (8s only)

Away Games

• Clean up the field (infield raked and dragged, if last game of the day bases need to be put away into the bin)
• Clean up the outfield fencing (Engh field only - fence and instructions are stored in the white sea can)
• Scorekeeping (8s only)

Minors and Majors Game Duties

Field Prep (Home team - 1-2 parents)

• Arrive at the field a minimum of 1 hour before the game
• Ensure the field has been raked
• Put the bases out
• Put the slinger out (if applicable)
• Line the 1st and 3rd baselines on the field and the batters box

Field Clean Up (away team - 1-2 parents)

• Rake the field
• Put bases and equipment away

**If there’s rain in the forecast, ensure tarps are placed on the fields if you are the last game of the day**

Scorekeeper (Home and Away teams - 1 parent)

• Arrive at the field a minimum of 30 minutes prior to game time
• Get the lineup card and scorebook from the head coach and/or team parent
• All score sheets must have:

• Date of game
• First and last names of players and jersey numbers

• Please ensure games are scored correctly as each player must have the required number of games in the official scorebooks in order to compete in postseason play
• Extra scorebooks are available in the umpire room and/or from the division coordinator
• Return scorebook to the head coach and/or team parent at the end of the game

Pitch Counter (Home and Away teams - 1 parent)

• Collect the pitch count sheet from your team binder (kept with the head coach or team parent)
• Ensure pitcher’s first and last name, jersey number, and league age are recorded
• Ensure pitches are counted correctly so that games are not forfeited and players remain eligible to play
• Send a picture of the completed pitch count sheet to the head coach at the end of the game
• Return the pitch count sheets to the appropriate binder and team tab in the umpire room

Scoreboard (Home teams - 1 parent)

• Grab the scoreboard device from the umpire room
• Ensure the switch for the field is on (beside the door on the right hand side inside the umpire room)
• Ensure pitch counts, score, and innings are accurate on the scoreboard
• Plug in the device back in the umpire room once the game is over

Concession (Cooke/Jaalaid Games - Away team - 1-2 parents)

Parents of other divisions may sign up for volunteer concession shifts as part of their volunteer duties. It is up to the Away team to provide 1-2 parents each game to assist with the open and close of the concession, support the volunteer(s) if applicable, and run the concession if there’s no volunteer(s) assigned.

• All concession information is available in a binder in the concession
• Arrive one hour prior to the start of the game (earlier if possible) prior to game, allowing for set up and restocking
• Children under the age of 16 are not allowed in the concession
• At least two (2) people are required to run the concession at all times
• Please leave the concession clean for the next team
• Allow approximately 15-20 minutes after each game for team players to purchase items from the concession
• Make sure the concession is locked after your game (if no other team is scheduled to follow you)
• Umpires receive a 50% discount on food only.

**If you are playing a team that is not from Langley Baseball the host team is responsible for Home AND Away duties

Tournaments

Langley Baseball hosts a variety of tournaments and events over the spring season where parent involvement and support is needed:

• Jamboree

• Held in June each year for our Blastball, TBall, 7s, and 8s divisions

• Mother’s Day Tournament

• Minors division tournament held over Mother’s Day weekend

• Pink Bat Tournament

• JR division tournament

• May Long Weekend Tournament

• Major A tournament held over May long weekend

The coordinators of those divisions will be reaching out with sign-ups and to do lists closer to the date. Team parents will ensure that parents are aware of these tournaments and volunteer expectations.

Rainouts

Weather can sometimes affect our schedule, and rainouts will be communicated directly by your team’s Head Coach or Team Parent as soon as a decision is made. The league will make every effort to provide teams with updates as early as possible, but weather and field conditions can change quickly. To help our volunteers manage these situations efficiently, we kindly ask families to refrain from emailing the league for rainout updates, as team coaches and team parents will share all necessary information with their players.

Umpire Respect

Langley Baseball is proud to support the development of many young umpires who are learning the game and building their confidence on the field. Many of the umpires working games in our younger divisions are kids who are still gaining experience, just like the players. We ask all parents and spectators to treat umpires with respect and patience, remembering that learning happens through experience.

Langley Baseball maintains zero tolerance for abuse toward umpires, and all families are expected to model positive sportsmanship from the sidelines.

Team Photos

Photo Day will take place in April and each team’s timeslot will be communicated by the Head Coach or Team Parent.

Please ensure you are on time and arrive at least 15 minutes early. Players are expected to be in their full uniform.

More information will be shared by your team parent.