2008

 

SAFETY PLAN

For

 

Board of Directors

Managers, Coaches

&

Umpires

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approved By: Grant County Youth Baseball         Date: 01/30/08

 

 

Table of Contents

Page Introduction…………………………………………………………………………    3   Responsibilities……………………………………………………………………..    4   Code of Conduct……………………………………………………………………    8            Operating Principles………………………………………………………...    8            Board Members……………………………………………………………..    9            Managers & Coaches………………………………………………………..    9            Players……………………………………………………………………….   10            Parents……………………………………………………………………….   11   Discipline Guidelines……………………………………………………………….   12   Safety Code………………………………………………………………………...    14             Accident Reporting…………………………………………………………   16             Field Addresses……………………………………………………………..   17             General Health……………………………………………………………...   18             Communicable Disease ……………………………………………………..  19   Volunteer Information ………………………………………………………………  21   Concession Information …………………………………………………………….  22   Board Members …………………………………………………………………….   27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little League International

In 1995, Little League Inc. introduced “A Safety Awareness Program” (ASAP) to create awareness, through education and information, of the participants of Little League and with the goal of re-emphasizing the primary importance of safety to local little leagues around the United States. In order to be an ASAP compliant league, a Little League approved Safety Plan that meets certain acceptance criteria must be filed with Williamsport at the start of each season.

 

Grant County Little League Safety Plan

The purpose of the Grant County Little League Safety Plan is to develop guidelines for increasing the safety of activities, equipment, instruction and facilities through education, compliance, and reporting. In support of this goal, Grant County Little League (GCLL) also commits itself to providing the necessary organizational structure and focus to develop, monitor, and enforce compliance with all aspects of the plan.

 

The Safety Plan includes the Code of Conduct and Safety Code adopted by the

Grant County Little League Board of Directors. These documents outline specific safety related policies and procedures of the League. All participants, volunteers, employees, spectators, and guests are bound by the guidelines set forth in these documents.

 

Grant County Little League Safety Officer

The League Safety Officer is an elected Member of the Grant County Little League Board of Directors. This individual acts as the Grant County Little League primary point of contact for the safety issues and is responsible to review, modify and communicate the League's Safety Plan each year. The plan is presented to the Board for approval and ratification in February or March prior to each upcoming season.

 

The League President and Safety Officer have primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with the Safety Plan. However, the entire Grant County Little League Board of Directors and elected league officers share in the responsibility to ensure awareness and compliance with the Safety Plan relative to their respective position or office.

 

 

 

Board Meetings

The Grant County Little League Board of Directors meet every three weeks. For the 2008 season. All adults are welcome and encouraged to attend the meetings or visit our website. A report from the League Safety Officer is included on the agenda for every board of directors meeting. Besides providing an opportunity for the Safety Officer to inform and update board members on the status of safety initiatives (whether these initiatives address the local, district, or headquarters level), the formal board meeting coverage of the Safety Plan ensures continued awareness and attention to the subject of safety within the GCLL.

 

 

Responsibilities

The President:

 

The President of the Grant County Little League is responsible for ensuring that the policies and regulations of the GCLL Safety Plan are carried out by the entire membership to the best of his abilities.

 

Little League Safety Officer:

 

The main responsibility of the Grant County Little League Safety Officer is to develop and implement the League’s safety program. The Safety Officer is the link between the Grant County Little League Board of Directors and its managers, coaches, umpires, team safety officers, players, spectators, and any other third parties on the complex in regards to safety matters, rules and regulations.

 

The Grant County Safety Officer’s responsibilities include:

 

· Coordinating with the individual Team Managers/Coaches and Officers in order to provide the safest environment possible for all.

 

· Assisting parents and individuals with insurance claims and will act as the liaison between the insurance company and the parents and/or individuals.

 

· Explaining insurance benefits to claimants and assisting them with filing the correct paperwork.

 

· Keeping a First Aid Log. This log will list the name of individual involved in accident, location of accident, date and time of accident, specific division  (major, minors, machine pitch and tee ball), and individual responsible for supervision at the time of the injury.

 

· Correlating and summarizing the data in the First-Aid Log to determine proper accident prevention in the future.

 

· Insuring that each team receives its Safety Manual and its First-Aid Kit at the beginning of the season.

 

· Re-stocking the first aid kits as needed.

 

· Communicating Little League’s “no tolerance with child abuse” to all coaches managers, umpires, volunteers, and parents/guardians.

 

· Checking fields with the Managers and listing areas needing attention.

 

· Scheduling a Safety Clinic for all managers, designated coaches, umpires, player agents and team safety officers during the pre-season.

 

· Creating and maintaining all signs at the ball fields, including No Parking signs,

No Smoking signs, No Pets Allowed, cautionary signs etc....

 

· Acting immediately in resolving unsafe or hazardous conditions once a situation has been brought to his/her attention.

 

· Making spot checks at practices and games to make sure all managers have their first-aid kits and safety manuals.

 

· Identifying injury trends by collecting information on known or suspected injuries.

 

· Making sure that safety is a monthly Board Meeting topic, allowing members to share concerns and opinions on safety related issues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grant County Little League Board Members:

The GCLL Board Members will adhere to and carry out the policies as set forth in this safety manual.

 

 

Managers and Coaches:

The Manager is a person appointed by the President of GCLL to be responsible for the team’s actions on the field, and to represent the team in communications with the umpire and the opposing team.

 

· The Manager shall always be responsible for the team’s conduct, observance of the official rules and deference to the umpires.

 

· The Manager is also responsible for the safety of his players. He/She is also ultimately responsible for the actions of designated coaches.

 

· If a Manager leaves the field that Manager shall designate a Coach as a substitute and such Substitute Manager shall have the duties, rights and responsibilities of the Manager.

 

Managers Must:

· Take possession of this safety manual and the first-aid kit supplied by GCLL.

 

· Make sure that telephone access is available at all activities including practices.

It is suggested that a cellular phone always be on hand for emergencies.

 

· Attend a mandatory training session on safety and first aid given by GCLL.

 

· Teach players the fundamentals of the game while advocating safety.

o Catching fly balls

o Sliding correctly

o Proper fielding of ground balls

o Simple pitching motion for balance

 

· Notify parents that if a child is injured or ill, he/she can not return to practice unless they have a note from their doctor. This medical release protects GCLL as well as the child. There are no exceptions to this rule.

 

· Encourage players to bring water bottles to practices and games. Also, suggest to parents that they bring sunscreen for themselves and their child.

 

 

 

 

During Games Managers will:

 

 · Make sure that players carry all gloves and other equipment off the field and to

the dugout when their team is up at bat. No equipment shall be left lying on the

field, either in fair or foul territory.

 

· Keep players alert, and maintain discipline at all times.

 

· Maintain an organized team and field. Keep players and substitutes sitting on the team’s bench or in the dugout unless participating in the game or preparing to enter the game.

 

· Make that all catchers are wearing the proper equipment.

 

· Encourage everyone to think “Safety First”.

 

· Observe the “no on-deck” rule for batters and keep players behind the screens

at all times. No player should handle a bat in the dugouts at any time.

 

· Keep players off the fences.

 

· Encourage players to drink fluids often so they do not dehydrate.

 

· Never allow children to play if they are ill or injured.

 

· Always attend to children that become injured in a game. The Manager must notify parents if their child has been injured no matter how small or insignificant the injury is. There are no exceptions to this rule. This protects the manager, Little League Baseball Incorporated and GCLL.

 

· Discuss any safety problems that occurred before, during or after the game with

the GCLL Safety Officer. If there was an injury, make sure an accident report was

filled out and given to the GCLL Safety Officer.

 

Make sure all batters helmets have a face mask securely in place.

 

Code of Conduct

The Grant County Little League Code of Conduct has been adopted by the Board of Directors. This Code is enforced by the, the League President, the League's Vice Presidents, League Safety Officer, League Managers, and Umpires. All league officers, participants, members, parents and volunteers are required to abide by this code. Based on input and feedback, the League Safety Officer will suggest revisions or modifications to this Code of Conduct from year to year.

 

 

 

Grant County Little League

Operating Principles

 

This is intended to be an outline of the principles and rules that govern the conduct of all managers and coaches, players, parents, spectators and umpires during sponsored activities.

This program is designed to teach sportsmanship, improve athletic skills and provide wholesome and enjoyable entertainment for the youth involved. To achieve these goals requires that players and adults, both as coaches and as spectators, adhere to certain rules of conduct.

 

Coaches, Umpires, Players and parents should remember the following principles:

 

1.      The Game at this level belongs to the Kids!  Not the adults.

2.      Children need positive examples. Negative criticism can damage young egos and discourage athletes.

3.      Make athletic participation for the athlete a positive experience.

4.      Attempt to relieve the pressure of competition, rather than increase it.

5.      Always show respect to all coaches, umpires and players.

6.      All coaches are volunteers giving personal time to provide a recreational activity for the athletes. Coaching is a valuable community service and should be encouraged and not criticized.

7.      Applaud good plays made by your team and of members of the opposing team. Do not criticize bad plays by either team or any player.

8.      Umpires try to officiate to the best of their ability. They will make mistakes. Do not question the umpire’s judgment, and never question the umpire’s honesty. The umpire is a symbol of fair play, integrity and sportsmanship for athletes.

9.      Accept the results of the game. Encourage athletes to be gracious in victory and proud of their conduct and effort in defeat.

10. Parental behavior greatly influences children. The attitude shown by parents at the games toward their child, other children, opposing team members, coaches, and umpires influences the child’s values and behavior in sports and in life. Criticism and disrespect for umpires and opponents undermines the purpose of sport and brings into the games stresses beyond those of competition. All parents and coaches comments should be kept positive at all times.

11. Alcohol consumption or possession on the premises of Grant County Little League facilities is strictly forbidden at all times. Alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited from all GCLL functions and the adjacent parking lots. Use of alcoholic beverages prior to practices or games is strictly prohibited. Should there be indications of alcohol use, (i.e. breath, instability, obnoxious behavior, etc.), the person will be ejected from the premises.

 

        Approved By: Grant County Little League Board                       10/08/06

 

Board Members

1. Board members are subject to all rules pertaining to parents and coaches.

 

The program will not tolerate any behavior or conduct by a Board member that:  (a) dishonors program, (b) results in physical or mental abuse or (c) is morally indefensible.

 

Approved By: Grant County Little League Board                        10/08/06

 

Managers/Coaches

Code of Conduct

 

By accepting a position on a team as manager/coach, a manager/coach agrees to the following rules and disciplinary procedures:

Grant County Little League Code of Conduct and Discipline Guidelines (cont’d)

 

1. Managers/coaches must be in attendance and have their team on the field a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the scheduled game time.

2. Managers/coaches must be aware of all local rules governing the game or field of play.

 

3. Managers/coaches must have a copy of the rules of the sport and must read the rules before the season begins. Each coach should have a copy of the rules handy at each game. Knowledge of and playing within the rules is an integral part of the game and part of coaching in any sports program. Coaches must be aware of the difference between a judgment call and rule interpretations. An umpire’s call is just that and is not to be disputed by a manager or coach. An umpire should never change a judgment call.

4. Managers/coaches must discuss questions of rule interpretations in a mature, calm and reasonable manner at all times.

5. Managers/coaches shall not use loud or abuse language in front of athletes, parents or umpires.

6. Managers/coaches shall not use profanity at any time.

7. Managers/coaches shall not criticize their players or opposing players in a manner that embarrasses or discredits the athlete.

8. Managers/coaches shall exercise discipline over and be responsible for the conduct of every player on the team. However, the GCLL Board must approve any player or manager/coach suspensions. The GCLL Board’s decision is final.

9. Managers/coaches are responsible for the conduct of parents and fans of team members and shall cooperate with the umpire in dealing with any loud, abusive or otherwise disruptive parent or spectator.

10. Managers/coaches shall show good sportsmanship during the game.

11. Managers/coaches shall remain on the field at all times during games and practices except for game related purposes or emergency situations.

12. Managers/coaches shall be gracious in victory and graceful in defeat.

13. Managers/coaches shall neither gloat in victory nor sulk defeat.

 

Approved By: Grant County Little League Board               10/08/06

 

Players

Code of Conduct

 

 

1.      Players shall adhere to all Little League rules and regulations and follow the direction of their coaches and umpires during the game and/or practices.

2.      Players shall not use loud, abusive or profane language.

3.      Players shall not criticize their team members, opposing team members, coaches or umpires.

4.      Players shall be responsible for their uniforms and any equipment provided.

5.      Players shall wear their uniforms in the appropriate manner at all times.

6.      Players shall not argue with the umpire’s call.

7.      Players shall show good sportsmanship during the game.

8.      Players shall be gracious in victory and graceful in defeat. Players shall not gloat in victory nor sulk in defeat.

9.      Players shall report to the field a minimum of 30 minutes prior to their scheduled game time.

 

 

          Approved By: Grant County Little League Board                     10/08/06

 

 

Parents

Code of Conduct

 

1.      Parents shall remain in the designated spectator areas at all times during games.

2.      Parents may come onto the field of play or into the players’ area only when invited by the coach. Once a parent has agreed to help a coach, the parent is subject to all rules governing coaches.

3.      A parent shall never use loud, abusive or profane language while attending an event.

4.      A parent shall not question the call of an umpire or the actions of a coach during the game and may be asked to leave the premises if such action occurs.

5.      Parents shall not have alcohol at any time on the field of play or during the game.

6.      Parents shall show good sportsmanship during the game.

7.      Parents shall be gracious in victory and graceful in defeat. Parents shall not gloat in victory nor sulk in defeat.

8.      Parents should volunteer time to assist manager whenever possible or requested. (i.e. Snack bar, etc.)

9.      Parents must inform the Manager/Coach of a player’s absence at least 2 hours before the scheduled game time.

10. parents are responsible for the dropping off and picking up of players within a reasonable time frame. Parents are also responsible for any player’s conduct in their parent’s absence.

 

            Approved By: Grant County Little League Board                         10/08/06