Boomers Managers Guide

Overview

The Manager of the baseball team is very important to the smooth running of the team. Good communication ensures everyone is there on game day, and are aware of when the game or training is rained out.  The manager also allocates jobs to the team’s parents so that the coach can focus on the players as much as possible. The manager can also take charge of the team’s kit to make sure it is stocked for training and games.

Season Set-Up Duties

Once the club has allocated players to a team, the manager can take over the communication to continue to set up their team.

Setting the team up for the season includes:

        Umpires

Check for qualified parents, or parents willing to take the Game Management course offered by the league.  Where possible the club will hire junior umpires from the older age groups to umpire home games however it is mandatory that ALL teams have a parent who is capable of umpiring should a junior not be available.

        Scorers

Ideally rustle up 2 or 3 scorers to rotate through the season.  It can be learned on the job but the league also has scorer’s courses at the start of the season.  Lots of parents really like scoring and do it season after season!

Canteen Coordinator

Some years, each team will be asked to provide a Canteen Coordinator.  This role solicits home game volunteers to fill your team’s allocated spots in the canteen rosters, then makes sure they are there on the day.

As with most clubs, all parents will be expected to run the canteen during home games via a team roster (generally 2 parents per shift from each team). The club will draw up the roster based on the times each team is playing at the ground and will issue it in advance of the weekly games.  They will also need to ensure the rostered parents are aware of their shifts and turn up on time (if for some reason they do not attend you will need to organise a replacement). Exemptions from the roster are coaches, managers, game day umpires and game day scorer.

        The Kit

Each team is assigned a kit bag already loaded with gear – bats, balls, helmets, catcher’s gear, a tee, scorer’s book, pencil case, and new game balls for home games.  Due to recent council changes to our storage facilities at the ground NO kits can be stored in the shed between training and games.

        Set up Emails (NB some set up will already be done by Boomers Registrar)

• Introduce yourself to the parents.
• Send parents the full team list so they can contact each other.
• Announce who the scorers and umpire will be (the coach may also do their own communication).
• Let them know what gear the children need for the season and where to get it. Refer to club website under About/Fees for additional requirements, these are generally items such as grey baseball pants, and soccer/baseball boots, a glove, and a protector. Caps and shirts are purchased through the club (see Uniform Shop link on website for current cost).  All other gear is optional.
• Having consulted with the coach and club, advise the weekly training time, and set the expectation that parent help is appreciated at training.

Set Up Team Email Contacts

• You can choose to setup team contact either via your own email distribution and or SMS contact list or you can choose one of the website applications such as Google Groups or TeamStuff (https://teamstuff.com/).
• TeamStuff is a useful online team management program (also has a smartphone application) that you can use to establish team groups via a website which allows you to send emails or SMS’s, setup events with game details which allows players (or parent) to accept or decline the event so you can easily see who is or is not going to be attending the game etc.

The Draw

Tell the parents how you will communicate the game times ie, you will post events via Teamer each week or will send an email with details. Give everyone a link to the draw so they can check themselves as often as they wish. Many parents want to keep up to date with changes to keep their family diary in order and some don’t ever look and rely on your weekly email. It’s very important to tell them to never print the draw for the season as it does change, so advise them your email is the final word. Some changes can be negotiated between individual teams prior to games so may never get updated into the official draw.

Manager’s Folder

The club will provide you with a folder containing the rules for your age group along with Match Result Sheets. Have this at every game as it is consulted regularly.  

You should also put a team contact list in the folder and re-print new Result Sheets when required (they are on the club’s website and RHBL website).

Weekly Duties

• Check draw link on the RHBL during the week prior to the game
• Send parents the key information during the week prior, Tuesday or Wednesday is good. Estimate travel time, provide a map (links to maps of all grounds can be located on the RHBL website) or just the ground address.
• Ask who can’t make the game so you know ahead of time and can advise the coach who may want to juggle positions
• Make sure you have a Scorer (all games) and pitch counter for live ball teams and Umpire (home games) confirmed. The club will assign a Junior Umpire to your game or advise you if one is not available as you will then need to organise a parent.

Rain

If rain is forecast or it has been raining through the week it is a good idea to check to confirm the ground is open (home or away). You can locate ground information via individual council websites. It is also a good idea to check the RHBL website for the opposition team manager’s name and contact details the night before to be ready for an early morning advice.

Home Game Rain Out

Check the Inner West council website to see if the ground has been closed (this is generally updated around 3pm each day Monday to Friday). If the council have not closed the ground the club may still decide to close it for Saturday morning games if they deem it dangerous for the children to play or to maintain the good state of the ground.  In this event you will be notified by the club as early as possible however sometimes early notification is not possible until just before game time.

For home game rainouts, you need to tell the other team’s manager the ground is closed as well as advise the team that the game is cancelled.

(If an away game rainout, the other manager will contact you and you advise your team. )

Put your team parent contacts into your mobile as SMS is important for last minute rainouts for games and training.

Advise your team the game is always ON unless they hear otherwise (so you are not getting a lot of calls when you are waiting for confirmation yourself).

Game Day Duties

If you are the first team playing for the day on the home ground, you need to get some parents to help with the set up the diamond.  Most parents are very happy to help but many just don’t know what is needed, and they appreciate it when they are asked to do a specific task.

Set up includes:

• Measuring between home plate and the bases and pitching mound to ensure they are in proper position for your age group.
• Setting up the shade marquees for each team and the scorer if on Diamond 2.
• Set up scorer’s table if Diamond 2. Place the book and pencil case on it ready for the scorers.
• Draw up a team line-up in batting order with the coach, and give to the scorers.  The scorers also need to know who is pitching and catching.
• Do a copy of the line-up for yourself to hang onto during the game.  This is very important as you will be prompting kids that their turn at bat is coming up next continually.
• For the younger ones, it helps to write each child’s position in the batting order on the back of their hand in Texta. This helps them stay in order and check with each other who is next up.
• Get the kit and pull out the game gear – bats, helmets, the tee (if needed) and balls for warm up.
• Get two new game balls from the kit as the umpire will ask for them before the game.
• Keep your phone handy to take calls and text from lost latecomers, and be ready to ring no-shows to check their ETA, especially when they are early in the line-up as you may have to put later arrivals lower down the batting order.

During the game:

• It’s a good idea to keep track of the number of outs and runs during the game.  Kids and parents often ask the score and better they ask you than interrupt the scorers who really need to be paying attention to every pitch. Plus it is good to help you follow the game.
• The first three players in the line-up need to have their helmets on and be ready to go up to the plate.  As each turn finishes, make sure the next player has their helmet on, etc.
• The manager can also help the catcher get their gear on quickly, or ask any parent to help with this job.
• When your team is up to bat, assign someone to run and quickly pick up the bat dropped by the player who has just hit the ball or walked.  Also assign someone to bring out the tee after 4 balls (if applicable).

End of the Game

• Get the players to help pack up the kit ensuring all equipment is placed back in it. Make sure the players have cleaned out the dugout of their gear and their rubbish.
• If there are no games following you (and parents) will need to pack up the diamond by taking out the bases, pulling down the shade covers (Diamond 2) and dressing the field (raking dirt areas level).

Results for Home Games & Away Games

Ask the scorers to fill out the results sheet for all home games, and provide an example of a filled out sheet. Scorers need to obtain both coaches’ and the umpire’s signatures at the end of the game. The sheets need to get back to Boomers Score Recorder by scan/email by Saturday 6pm Gameday@boomersbaseball.org

*Please ensure the result sheet is fully completed in PEN

The easiest method would be to take a clear photo of the sheet and email it that way.

For away games, just email the final score for the record – no score sheet required.

Doing all of the above makes for a happy team, happy coach and a great game day for all!

Have Fun and Gooooo Boomers!

Handy Links

Wests Boomers Baseball Club - http://www.westsboomers.com

Ryde Hornsby Baseball League (RHBL) - http://www.rhbl.com.au

Game Draws - http://www.rhbl.com.au/hawks-juniors/draws

Leichhardt Council Wet Weather - http://www.leichhardt.nsw.gov.au/Recreation/Sporting-Ground-Status/Sporting-Ground-Status.  This is still the URL as at September 2016.