Hi All,
Especially you board presidents.
I wanted to share some thoughts - with the all the leagues and the WHOLE
BOARD - but pointed towards those that are still planning on working on a
Board next year.
The TIME IS NEAR TO START VOTING AND SEATING NEW BOARDS!
If you are a board member that likes to "phone in" their participation. then
you should think about doing something else. Something that grates on me
every year is when I see a president(especially) or a Board member who has
the title but all the real work is done by the Player Agent, VP, or some
other board member. The president should be the leader, example, and
motivator to be excellent for Board participation and work. If you are a
board member YOU should be the example of what it means to be a good
volunteer. This is not a good thing for the players or families, or the
league when those that sit on the board aren't the example of what "Good" is
in terms of Little League volunteerism. BE THE EXAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE IN
PARTICIPATION IF YOU SIT ON THE BOARD. Then your volunteers will have
something they can look to for an example. Often times (not always) if the
volunteers are not up to par, or are lacking, it's because the Board is not
the best example.
Here are my thoughts and what I am seeing in successful leagues and boards,
and what I measure as success.
First, my criteria for a successful league is not one that wins Districts
every year or goes to the World Series. My criteria for success is one where
the players are clamoring to get back to the field and be with their team
and play baseball. Where the majority of the players can't wait for the
season to start, or they don't want to leave the field after practice
because the experience is so good. or they rush to get ready for the game
because they think they might get a hit, see their friends, or make a play.
because the players dream of playing in the big game and have hope for a
bright future. Where they learn to play fair, demonstrate good
sportsmanship, and share a camaraderie with dozens of other kids. Where they
feel like they belong.
Second, success is when the vast majority of the parents want to volunteer
because they see value in the program, understand the need, and are
encouraged and appreciated by their participation. Where they sense
community, develop community bonds that are hard to break, and want to be
better people.
Finally, when all of that comes together, then the community understands the
value of a league and they want to participate in the league in some way,
support it, and help it be strong and vibrant.
That's when you are successful.
So do to that you need to start with a good board. I have some suggestions
as I have come to know all the leagues in our district, many in our state,
and some nationally. When I see a good league I notice several things.
1. The DA is proactive in the District and has a good ADA staff.
2. The president is focused on league operations year round and is "All
about Little League"
3. The board is inclusive, diverse, dedicated, and shoulders the work
My suggestion as we move into the season is that the current board, if
they intend to be seated again next year, start looking for additional
members to help round out soft spots in the skills, assets, and drive they
are missing on the board. And. here is something that is counter-intuitive.
look for "non-baseball" people to sit on your board. Most boards look for
parents, coaches, or "those in orbit" around Little League to sit on the
board. and while their help is important, it's more important to pick
strategic people to sit on your board. And people who will work.
Try not to have too many coaches sit on your board. One, or possible two in
leagues with more than 500 players is sufficient. And pick someone more
experienced as coach or manager to sit on the board if you want a coach or
manager on the board. Having too many coaches on the board is a problem.
Why? Because during the season they are busy with their teams and can't
properly attend to board duties. second they have a tendency to look for
advantages or slant towards things coaches want when they may not be the
best things for all players, all teams, and for the league operations. While
coaches and managers input is important, it's only ONE view out of about a
dozen that are necessary to keep a league running well.
Look towards business and civic leaders to sit on your boards. They will
help with field expansion, relations with city operations (for those that
don't have their own fields), relationships with other business leaders,
insight into funding, and they will have a sense of process, policy, and
operations.
Set an expectation of "WORK"! During the off season, if done properly,
league board members will have about 10 hours a month of work for Little
League. 2-3 hours a week. During the season, set the expectation of 40-60
hours a month. And then hold the Board accountable. Try "filter" board
members who don't want to make the time commitment to do things right. Let
everyone ahead of time know, "If you sit on this board you will be expected
to do XYZ". Then if they don't do XYZ, and you can't get them to do XYZ
after some polite and gentle prodding, then ask them to step down and find
someone else who will do the job. It is the definition of insanity to be
short on volunteers (as boards can be), assign them a job, not have it done,
then wonder why things are hard. It's better to find someone that will be a
help to the board rather than leave someone on who doesn't do anything. and
there are very few jobs on a Little League Board that take no effort..in
fact none that I can think of.
On the next topic, I go back and forth. Sometimes I like a "big board" -
lots of board members. This is good if the president is good and manages his
Board well. This is a case where "many hands make light the work". In other
cases, smaller boards can be more effective and move the league forward. In
the former case, a big board usually means that there are lots of opinions,
resources, relationships, and good positive energy. Sometimes though when a
board is too big, nothing happens because the opinions are too fractured and
there is little consensus on important issues, fighting starts, and people
and relationships breakdown and nothing gets done. and the league starts to
break up into "Factions". where some groups of families may be influenced by
one board member or another in a negative way.
On the other hand, a smaller board is more nimble. They get things done
because they reach decisions quickly.. communication is usually good, and
the wheels of administration run fast. The problem is there is often not
enough people to do the work so a couple people wind up doing everything and
eventually get burned out. You don't want that either. Smaller leagues can
be OK with smaller boards, but if you want a league to grow, it's better to
have a bigger board. If you have a bigger league, you need a bigger board,
because everyone in the league deserves as much personal attention and
concern as is possible.
Don't play favorites. You have to be fair, even handed, and judicious with
ALL families, players, volunteers, and constituents of your league. Now this
one is hard for me to do. because I always try to go out of my way to favor
those that invest heavily in volunteering for Little League duties. a team
parent that spends 40 hours a week working for their team gets ALL of my
attention when they say something. Same thing for a Board member who is
always at the field, takes their lunch break to mow, and donates $500 cash
every year to sponsor a team.. when they talk, I listen especially hard. But
I also think you have to balance that so as not to show or try not to show
favoritism to any specific group within the league or community.
So the final things to consider when picking / electing your board for next
year:
1. Look for Civic, Business, and Community leaders to sit on your board
2. Make sure there is good, honest, polite, respectful communication
among all board members
3. Set expectations for work and involvement ALL YEAR LONG.
4. Weed out those that don't prove to be as attentive to board duties
as they should be - everyone pulls their fair share, or find someone that
does
5. Be transparent, open, and inviting to all who want to be involved.
There is a place for just about anyone in Little League
6. Determine the right size for your board. Look at your by-laws.
constitution to see what fits your needs and what is chartered.
7. Follow the Little League Charter, your constitution and by-laws, and
Washington State LAW about how to elect your boards
I am attaching a "Year in the Life of Hometown Little League" to give you
some ideas of what to do and look for all season long. Let me know when you
are having your general/annual member elections and meeting. I'd like to
attend as many as I can. Remember a good Little League is good for the
community, the families, and the players. You CAN make that happen.
Regards
JP
DA WA5/13
