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2025

T-Ball Coaches Meeting

April 22, 2025

Zoom

info@kwhlb.ca

Facebook: KW House League Baseball

Instagram: @KW_HouseLeague

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2025 Season Sponsor

Biggest sponsorship in the history of KWHLB!
Canadian Tire at the Sunrise Centre on Ottawa Street

Support with:

registration subsidies for families in need
upgrades to HL equipment (including additional pitching machine)

A special thanks to Holly Scott for her support in making this happen!

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Agenda

Introduction to KWHLB and Convenors
TeamSnap
Coach Responsibilities
Season Details
Tools and Resources
Umpires
Health and Safety
House League Rules
Next Steps

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About KW House League

Largest house league baseball program in Ontario

Collaboration between Kitchener Minor Baseball Association (KMBA) and Waterloo Minor Baseball Association (WMBA)

Operates as a program of KMBA and WMBA

Seperate registration and operating account
Governed by a committee but budgets and programming approved by both boards

2025 season: 1184 registered players across 98 teams

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Social Media

House League specific social media channels:

Facebook: KW House League Baseball
Instagram: @KW_HouseLeague

Create community/share information

Game changes, Weather updates, Fun pics to boost involvement

Send pics to: social@kwhlb.ca

Encourage families to send in or tag
Coaches send in team spirit content

Player of the game/pre-game cheers/etc.

Make sure parent approval before you send in a pic.

Social Media Giveaway - Opening Day

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Swag

kwbaseball.mwearapparel.ca

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2025 Season Volunteers

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2025 Convenors

Division	Convenor	Email
T-Ball (M/W)	Michelle Chapman	michelle.chapman@kwhlb.ca
T-Ball (T/Th)	Michelle Chapman	michelle.chapman@kwhlb.ca
8U	Jeff Avis	javis@kwhlb.ca
9U	Carli Frost	cfrost@kwhlb.ca
10U	Amy Strauss	astrauss@kwhlb.ca
11U	Joel Cumming	joel@kwhlb.ca
12U	Jordan Thompson	jthompson@kwhlb.ca
13U	Will Frost	wfrost@kwhlb.ca
15U	Jay Barber	jayheatherbarber@gmail.com
19U	Jordan Thompson	jthompson@kwhlb.ca

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2025 House League Committee

Role	Name
Staff	Lori Lewis (primary contact at info@kwhlb.ca) Kim Taylor
Committee Chairs	Tammy Cumming: Director, House League, WMBA Board of Directors William Frost: Director, House League, KMBA Board of Directors
Committee Members:	Jeff Avis: KWHLB Convenor, KMBA Board of Directors Joel Cumming: Technology Lead, HL Convenor Bill Falagitis: KWHLB Equipment Manager Carli Frost: HL Convenor, Social Media Brady Hall: WMBA President Dianne MacLachlan, Volunteer Rob MacLachlan: Volunteer Ken Schilling: KMBA Board of Directors, Equipment Manager James Stuart: KMBA President Amy Strauss: HL Convenor, WMBA Select Director Keith Thompson: Volunteer Jordan Thompson: HL Convenor

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274

Volunteer Coaches

2025

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Coaches: Expectations and Responsibilities

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Top 9 Coach Responsibilities

Positive and Fun: Creating a positive and fun playing and practicing environment for players and families.
Sportsmanship: Modelling good sportsmanship and conduct with players, families, other coaches and umpires.
Communication: Communicating with parents, players and the convenor.
Working as a coaching team: Head coach to assign responsibilities and set tone of coaching for assistant coaches. Assistant coaches to share skills and expertise.

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Top 9 Coach Responsibilities

KWHLB - Coaches Meeting

Preparing for games and practices: Preparing practice plans and pre-game warm ups. For games, preparing batting order and field placements for each game, as per fair-play rules outlined in handbook
Leadership at games and practices:

Providing effective and positive coaching to players
Treating umpires, coaches and players with respect, as per code of conduct rules

Caring for Equipment: Caring for team equipment and returning in good shape.

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Top 9 Coach Responsibilities

Reporting:

Scores and pitch counts to convenor.
Injuries to convenor
Reporting any infractions to the KWHLB Codes of Conduct to convenor including aggressive or bullying behaviour towards umpires, coaches, players, etc.

Evaluations and Feedback:

Feedback on umpires on Umpire Kudos and Feedback Form
Feedback on diamonds conditions
Player evaluations near end of season
Coaches and parent feedback survey near end of season

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Season Details

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Regular Season

2 games per week

Rain-outs may be scheduled any day of the week depending on diamond availability.

Practices

1 practice time per week (optional) and/or practice 30-45 minutes before each game. Practices can be scheduled through your convenor.

Championship Tournament Weekend (June 21st-23rd)

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Division Details and Game Nights

Division	Games and Practices	Division	Games and Practices
T-Ball	20 teams (2 divisions: Mon/Wed; Tues/Thurs)	12U	8 teams Games: Monday, Wednesday
8U	16 teams Games: Monday, Wednesday	13U	8 teams Games: Tuesday, Thursday
9U	12 teams Games: Tuesday, Thursday	15U	10 teams Games: Monday, Wednesday
10U	10 teams Games: Monday, Wednesday	19U	6 teams Games: Sunday, Monday or Wednesday (6pm or 8:30pm)
11U	8 teams Games: Tuesday, Thursday		Weeknight games/practices are all at 6:15pm (exception in 19U, Cedarbrae 6:30pm) Optional weekend practices for all divisions.

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2025 Season Schedule

Dates	Details
By end of month	Send introductory email to your team/parents. Sample email can be found here.
Sunday, April 27	Equipment Pick-Up - 26 Elm Street in Kitchener 9:00am-9:20am T-Ball
May 10th (morning)	Opening Day Last day to provide vulnerable sector police checks (waiting on 15) Pick up uniforms Meet players, team Used and new equipment purchases Schedule will be emailed soon

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2025 Season Schedule

Dates (2025)	Details
Week of May 12th or 19th	Start of Season will depend on weather.
June 20-22	T-Ball Championship Tournament
End of June	Parent/Coach Evaluation Surveys Return Equipment

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Uniforms

Coaches

White pants (provided) or shorts (ideally), Black pants and shorts (alternative)
No open-toed shoes
Jersey and KWHLB hat required (provided)

Players

White pants (provided)
Running shoes or cleats (non-metal)
Jersey (provided), hat (provided) and jock/jill required
Helmets required. Chin straps or jaw guard required for 13U and under.

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Coaching Tools and Resources

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TeamSnap Main Functions:

Player information
Communication:

Coaches should use for all email communication with the team
KWHLB will communicate all info and game changes through the app
Within team chat and communication

Player attendance: Parents should use to keep you informed.
Schedules and Game Scores are in the app

Head coaches and assistants are Managers in TeamSnap

allows you to to add events - batting cages, team bbq’s etc

Other resources at: kwhlb.ca/resources including:

handbook, videos, injury forms, etc.

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Download the app!

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Umpires

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Equipment (T-Ball)

Replacement equipment

Contact convenor for:

Replacement first-aid supplies
To replace damaged equipment
To get spare bats, if not enough provided by players on the team.

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Equipment will include:

game balls
practice balls
first aid kit
score book
tees’ for t-ball
bases

Care:

If equipment is wet, let dry-out open overnight.

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Umpires

New this season: green arm bands
There is zero tolerance for verbal or physical abuse or unsportsmanlike behaviour to umpires.
It is imperative that coaches, players and parents show respect towards the umpires
Remember that Umpires are young and treat them as you would want your child treated as an umpire.
Coaches are responsible for the actions of their players and fans
There is to be no intentional physical contact to an Umpire. Immediate expulsion from league.
Umpire Kudos and Feedback Form for positive and constructive feedback on the umpires.
Please report any concerns to your convenor.

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Health and Safety

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Health and Safety

Injury Reporting and Support

Injury reporting form on website to be submitted within 24 hours to convenor.
Ensure to designate a coach to health and safety matters.
Forms at kwhlba.ca/resources

Concussions

Please review concussion protocols.
Acknowledgement of Rowan’s Law acknowledged at registration.

Insurance

Insurance available for players through program, if needed.

KWHLB - Coaches Meeting

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House League Rules

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Developmental Baseball

Everyone is here to learn - Coaches, Players, Parents, and Umpires
Goal is to develop players skill and their love of baseball
Focus on basics, reward effort, and help build confidence
Be on the field helping your team
Fun first - win second

WMBA: “Waterloo Minor Baseball is proud to provide the opportunity to it’s players to grow in not only their baseball abilities but life skills as well. We focus on teaching baseball and instilling sound fundamentals, as well as teaching behavioral aspects.”

KMBA: “Create a barrier-free baseball opportunity for youth in the City of Kitchener, facilitated by our dedicated volunteers, that focuses on both character and skill development along with community engagement, through recreational and competitive play.”

Go easy on everyone as we are all here to learn.

Measure your success in smiles and how many kids you see out next year

Baseball is hard and needs lots of practice. For kids who are a bit behind or may be struggling but show a desire to learn and develop - talk to parents and encourage them to play with their kids. If unable share there are local clinics and facilities for extra help.

Ensure kids know what play they should be thinking about making, when you are fielding be out with your kids helping them position themselves. Even help the other team when you see moments to do so.
Ensure everyone is having fun - winning should really come second - there is a very wide variance of skill.
Encourage your stronger players to be leaders on your team and to help the players who may need it. Recognizing them and providing them with a purpose will decrease the likelihood of them getting bored/frustrated.
Use your coaching staff, distribute roles and responsibilities, recognize that you all have different strengths and weaknesses and that some players may connect more with one of you than others. Use that to your advantage!

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Important Rules - See handbook!

5 innings or 1h 45 min time limit (coaches can mutually decide 1h 30 min before the game if they wish)
8 players bat per inning, regardless of outs
last batter - out can be made at any base in front of the last batter to end the inning
12 players defending (i.e. whole team)
equal playing time at every position and every spot in the batting order
draw a safety line at home plate to avoid collisions
catcher and pitcher wear their batting helmet
pitcher/outfielders must throw ball to make an out, not run or roll the ball
encourage a throw on every play, no advancing on overthrows
no stealing or leadoffs
“playing line” halfway between the plate and pitchers rubber - ball is dead if not hit past this line (home coach should draw this line)

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Final Reminders and Next Steps

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Final Reminders & Next Steps

Read the Handbook and resources at kwhlb.ca/resources, including concussion procedures.
Follow us on social media!
Download/Log into TeamSnap to see schedule, roster, explore functionality
Make sure you are available for Opening Day (May 10th in the morning)
Get your police checks into Lori at info@kwhlb.ca.
Sort out roles and responsibilities for your coaching team.
Sort out what help you want from parents (scorekeeping, etc.).
Pick up your equipment and book batting cages!
Send email to your parents once the teams are formed but before May 10th.
Connect with your convenor with any questions.

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Thank you!

Facebook: KW House League Baseball

Instagram: @KW_HouseLeague

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Important Rules (8U/9U)

Distance from basepath
Throwing into infield
4 Outfielders
Player Rotations
Last Batter
Overthrows and outfield hits

Players must be 15 feet back from the basepath in the outfield. You can keep your players in the outfield engaged by teaching them how to cover their teammates who are playing the infield.
Outfielders must make throw into the infield for a play to count
Fair Play lineup generator can be found on the coaches resource page on website. Catcher 3 innings max (encourage kids to play catcher in the traditional sense, including safety, but it is not required at this stage. If they want to stand off to the side of the plate in their gear, that is fine)
Last Batter - read from handbook
When a batted ball is hit to the outfield the runners may advance to the next base, at their own risk, until the ball is controlled by an outfielder. **if you have parent helpers as base coaches, please make sure they understand this rule as well. Ensure you, the other coaches, and the umpires are all on the same page before each game**
There is NO advancing on overthrows (tournaments/championship day included). We want to encourage kids to try and make plays defensively, not be punished for a missed throw/catch.

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Practices (8U/9U)

8U will start with 3 practices
Practice Plans and coaching resources will be provided
Additional Pylons and Foam Softball will be provided to all teams at opening day
Encourage coaches to try and host as many practices as possible

KWHLB - Coaches Meeting