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 Rainy Day Info
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If it is raining please call our "Rainy Day Hotline" at: (925) 943-0115
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Evaluation Day
Q. Why?
A. Evaluations provide valuable information regarding player skills. This information serves as th basis for team selection.
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Experience
| LMYA is a recreational league. Players do not need to have experience to participate.
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Team Selection
Q. How are the teams selected?
A.
Every year there seems to be teams that win all of their games and
teams that don't win any. It is usually the parents of the latter group
that ask, "how are LMYA teams selected?".
Admittedly,
it is one of the most difficult challenges we face each season and the
methods we select are not rocket science. However, the goals we try to
achieve are the following:
- Promote
the selection of players in a fashion that will result in a
well-balanced league with all teams able to compete effectively. A
positive recreational experience for all is better achieved with evenly
matched competition.
- In
Teeball and Softbaseball players are selected in a non-draft situation.
Teams are formed by school so that players are grouped with their
classmates.
- In
Softball players may be selected in by a draft or assigned by the
league and Commissioner, which encourages the participation of
interested youth with all levels of ability, and does not expose lesser
skilled youths to embarrassment.
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Equipment
Q. Is there any equipment provided?
A.
LMYA provides game equipment (bats, balls, catcher's gear, etc. ) and
uniforms for the players. Each child must have his/her own glove. In the
younger age groups, in particular, a small flexible glove that fits the
players hand is much more useful than a "pro" model. Rubber-cleated
turf shoes, either soccer or baseballl shoes are recommended.
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Winning/Losing
Q. If
there is such an effort to have parity among the teams, then why is it
that some teams always win and some teams always lose?
A. There
is a variety of reasons as to why that happens. The ideal season would
be where each team wins 50% of their games. However, that rarely
happens. Whenever you have competition and play a game where you keep
score, one team is going to win and one is going to lose. Look at
professional sports, they have the top players and still some teams
always win and some always lose. It's the nature of sports. Try to judge
your child season not by whether the teams win or lose, but by the
skills they have gained.
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Coaches
Q. What happens if you don't have enough coaches?
A.
Because we want to keep the teams at a reasonable size so the players
have the optimum playing time, if we don't have enough coaches at the
time of the draft, we will draft what we call a "Phantom Team" or a team
without a coach. The Phantom team will be assigned a practice time and
it will be up to the parents of that team to coach the team for the
season.
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Difference Between Teeball & Softbaseball
Q. What is the difference between Teeball & Softbaseball?
A.
Both Teeball and Softbaseball are instructional leagues that use
modified rules to teach the fundamentals of the sport in an atmosphere
that minimizes the competitive nature of the game.
TEEBALL is
intended for Kindergartners It is played with a safety ball. Players
bat from a tee. All players bat and play the field each inning. Coaches
are on the field during games to give instruction to the players. Score
is not kept.
1st Grade Softbaseball is
intended for 1st graders It is played with a safety ball. Players bat
from a tee to start the season and progress to a coach pitch format. All
players bat and play the field each inning. Coaches are on the field
during games to give instruction to the players. Score is not kept.
2nd/3rd Grade Baseball or 2nd/3rd Grade Softball is
designed for 2nd and 3rd graders. It also played with a safety ball,
but coaches pitch to the batters. Outs are recorded and the score is
kept, but not reported; hence, team standings are not kept.
PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST PLACEMENT OUT OF THESE GUIDELINES!
All players in Teeball and Softbaseball receive participation trophies
SOFTBALL is for girls in grades 2 through 8. Please do not confuse LMYA with Little League. They are two independent programs.
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Dissatisfied With A Coach
Q. What if I am dissatisfied with my childs coach?
A.
Talk to him/her. Explain your concerns. Chances are other parents have
the same concerns. Offer to help coach the team. The more active you
become, the more your child's coach will accept your suggestions. Should
you be unable to resolve a problem, send the Board a written
explanation of your dissatisfaction or email us the complaint.
LMYA Baseball Grievance Committee
PO Box 395
Lafayette, 94549
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Changing Teams
Q. Not happy with the team your child is on?
- His/her best friend is on a different team.
- Team will not work for planned carpool.
- Practice conflicts with piano lessons.
- Wanted him/her on team coached by your neighbor.
- He/she is only in kindergarten, but you are sure he/she is ready for softbaseball.
A. PLEASE WAIT!
- A
great deal of thought and effort goes into team placement. If you made a
request and we could honor it, we did. However, there is no way we can
accommodate all players' requests.
- In
Teeball and Softbaseball teams were carefully made based on schools,
neighborhoods and experience. Children are grouped by their grade and
whether or not they have played before, not by their parents assessment
of where they should play. Also, because we try to have the same number
of players on each team, it is very difficult to move one child without
having to move another one.
- In
Softball and Baseball, teams were drafted with emphasis on achieving
parity. To try and move players after the teams are set would spoil the
balance and nullify the draft.
- Therefore,
whatever age group and sport your child is in you MUST accept your
child's placement. Arrange new carpools, make new friends, reschedule
piano. Help us make this season a success by not tampering with the
integrity of the teams.
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Replacements
Q. What if after the season starts, someone has to drop off the team, can we find a replacement?
A.
NO! We do not allow anyone to sign up once the first game has been
played. Teams who lose players must try to get through the season with
fewer players.
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Waiting List
Q. What about players who sign up after the close of registration.
A.
They will be wait listed, and if a team loses a player before the first
game, that coach can ask the League for a replacement.
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Refund Policy
Q. What is the Refund Policy?
A. Pre-season (before teams are formed February 15th
| Conflict with another sport |
Full Refund |
| Medical |
Full Refund |
| Other |
$25 Processing Fee |
During season (after teams are formed)
| After teams are formed |
No Refund |
Refund requests must be submitted in writing. See Refund Request Form.
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How Often Does The Team Practice?
| All
teams are assigned a 1 hour practice time, once a week. Coaches may add
an additional practice, weekly, subject to field availability.
Practices are held at local school fields between 4 PM and darkness.
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What If My Child Has A Conflict With His/Her Team's Practice Time?
| Team
practice schedules are determined after players are assigned to teams
and are subject to the limitations of field availability and coache's
schedules. If you know that your child is not available on a certain
day, please indicate it on the registration form, however, we cannot
guarantee your child's practice time. Please make every effort to free
up your child's schedule so that he/she can attend practice regularly.
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How Important Is It For My Child To Attend Practices And Games?
| Very!
It is discouraging for a coach not to have all his players show up at a
practice or a game. We understand that children get sick and there are
reasons they occasionally cannot attend a scheduled activity. If your
child cannot make a practice or a game, it is very helpful to call the
coach and let him/her know. However, if your child cannot make a
significant number of practices, your child may be overbooked and you
may want to reconsider signing him/her up for Baseball/Softball. It is
not fair to the coach, the team or the player for him/her to
consistently miss practices or games.
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