Greetings All!
DA For District 13 Has Changed!
My name is JP, the new District Administrator for Washington District 13,
Little League. Very pleased to meet all of you.
Lets get the basics out of the way:
My phone number is 509-288-0141
My email is jarel(a)rodeotv.net <mailto:jarel@rodeotv.net>
I work full time running a tech company, raised 5 kids (yes I know the
pressures of having every kid in a different activity after school)
I love Little League! I love baseball! I have been involved in several
district and state level teams (even won a championship or two)
I have managed teams, coached, and been involved in "Select Teams" and
"Travel Teams"
I have coached, managed, played, or administrated baseball programs for 45+
years!
I live in Spokane Valley and have been a DA for Washington District 5, an
ADA, and a League Board Member for about 15 years now.
I have moved to the Spokane area and am now DA for Washington District 13.
I'd like to let you all know of some of the things I'd like to talk to you
all about and remind you of a couple of things Little League has asked the
DAs to do.
1. DAs are supposed to meet 5 times each year with each League board in
the district. So I will be asking you all for both "joint meeting times"
when we can all as boards or representatives of boards can sit down and
visit about district and board/league issues.
2. I believe in a strong district leadership. Therefore I'd like to
start recruiting volunteers to help with the administration of the district
business and functions. These volunteers would be the "ADA" or assistant
district administrator position, and we need several! These are assistant
level positions, and usually take no more than 20 hours in a month on
average. Slower in the fall in winter, and busier in the spring and summer.
They are:
a. ADA Treasurer - manages the bank account and bills/income for the
District
b. ADA Baseball - manages the baseball programs
c. ADA Softball - manages the softball programs in the area
d. ADA Chief Umpire - District Chief Umpire - responsible for getting
the info to the leagues about rule changes, workshops, tournaments, and
more. Also helps in resolving questions, disputes, rulings, etc.
e. ADA Player Agent - Answers League questions about drafts,
eligibility and more
f. ADA Communications - Maintains a district website (I will set it
up), handles mailing lists, and District communications
g. ADA fund raising and league development - my personal favorite! This
position would help leagues find resources to build their own fields, better
equipment, sponsors, etc. A level above the fund raising at the league level
and focused on building Little League in the District. (As an example we
managed to develop more than $300,000 for District 5 last year to provide
50/70 playing field upgrades to several leagues. )
These are very helpful and necessary positions, and for those of you that
want to get more involved at higher levels of Little League, then this is
the path forward. You start by being an ADA. Basic ADA requirements are:
1. You should be able to devote 15-20 hours per month to ADA duties on
average - some months are lighter, some are busier
2. You cannot be a coach of a District Tournament team if you are an
ADA, you can manage a regular season team
3. You should be available to travel to round table meetings (In
Seattle and San Bernardino), expenses paid by the District. These are
usually 1-2 day meetings to understand Little League initiatives and so
forth.
4. You should have a desire to make District 13 better, and help each
league become outstanding! AND Be FOR THE KIDS playing in their leagues.
Little League is all about making a kid's playing experience so enjoyable
that they want to come back year after year, and help mentor them into being
better adults. It's all about the Kids!
5. A general understanding of the Little League program (What you don't
know - we will train you on!)
6. You can sit on a Board and be an ADA
7. You can be "just a parent" and be an ADA
8. You can be a volunteer with the local league in any capacity
9. You do have to get a background check that we do through Little
League
10. You do have to attend regular District staff meetings (once a month)
for about 2-3 hours.
I need the help! My goal is to get enough volunteers at the District level
to form a District Board and have the District sustaining better operations
by 2022! If you are interested please call and visit with me about it ASAP.
WE NEED LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS IN THE DISTRICT! HELP HELP HELP!
State Tournament
District 13 has been awarded the State Tournament for the Major's Division
this year. We need to discuss where/who is going to do that. Stacy Ashcroft
has indicated their league is interested, but sometime in late December
(this month) I'd like to have a meeting with all the presidents (to start to
meet the 5 meeting rule laid down by Little League) and make a final
decision on how we are going to manage and host the State's most visible
tournament. Hosting the 12 year olds is a big deal and I want to do it
right! So be expecting a meeting invitation the middle/late December! We
have a State DA meeting in January to finalize the venue and hosting league
and I need that confirmed by the end of December.
District Tournament
I'd like to encourage all the leagues to participate in the District
Tournament. I will be talking to the parents starting in January about the
"totality" of the Little League program through a series of emails and
possibly parents meetings in the local leagues. I'd like to get that idea
that everyone needs to participate at some level in the Districts. It's
actually good for your programs, and good for your players. Giving them a
goal to shoot for improves morale, participation, and general interest in
your Leagues. The more you can get more kids to play, the more they enjoy
their time in Little League. Districts/All-Stars is a good motivator if done
properly. I am not about who is going to WIN districts, I am about who gets
to play and how much.
Mariners Road Show/Coaching Clinic
We have the opportunity to host/be involved with a Mariners / Coaching
Roadshow this next summer. Coaches and possibly players are considering
coming to Spokane to host a week long camp for players and coaches. Fees and
other information is forthcoming, but I have spoken to the organizers and we
are putting together a great week of teaching and skills learning here in
Spokane and it will be put on by an excellent coaching staff. More details
as this unfolds.
Little League Day at the Mariners
This upcoming year, the Mariners will have three days during the season
where Little Leaguers can get special ticket prices, do a parade on the
field and get other "perks" at the T-Mobile stadium. These days will be
published soon, and each league can get special tickets and information on
"Little League Days". You will be getting this information directly from the
Mariners. Make sure your teams see this! The Mariners have a good
relationship with Little League and this promotion is just one more thing
you can use to excite your teams and players about Little League!
New Leagues
We have the opportunity to possibly add 2 new leagues to District 13. I'll
keep you posted as this develops. I like to build. I am not a "passive" DA,
but I want the District to grow, I want the Leagues to grow, the players to
have fun, develop their skills, and receive good mentoring by good people. I
am currently talking to two different groups about forming leagues in our
district and adding them to our roster. I want to see your leagues grow. In
a week, I am going to toss out a couple ideas I have gotten from around
Little League on how to improve registrations. Lets make 2020 a great year
and a beneficial year to your players! I am not here for Cal Ripken, Babe
Ruth, Pony, or select teams, I am here to build Little League. I want to see
50/70 to be played more in our District, and how about Juniors? Seniors? All
of those programs would do well in Spokane. Lets explore the possibilities
of growing our leagues and programs through added divisions of Little
League. Many people don't know Little League actually goes from Age 4 to 17!
I think Spokane has TREMENDOUS potential to be a real shining star in the
Little League universe. We have lots of good people to help and volunteer,
good playing facilities, and tons of good kids. Lets build this thing up and
make it an example of how to do things right!
ASAP Plans
I wanted to remind you all to do your ASAP Safety plans early! Try to get
them done by Mid January! - By doing this, you help the District meet
certain goals demanded by Little League International. It's easier now that
ever, because the ASAP plan is online. Just review what you did last year
and resubmit. It's fast, simple and necessary. Do it early! I have seen some
of you have already chartered too - that's great! Get the charter done
early!
Using this Forum
I have linked all the Boards together in this email forum. If you have a
question, or would like to start a discussion, simply send a message to
district-13-officers(a)lists.rodeonetworks.com
<mailto:district-13-officers@lists.rodeonetworks.com> and that message will
be broadcast to all the board members of all the leagues in our district.
Use it to discuss anything related to Little League or league operations, or
any ideas you may have to help out our District. Be nice, don't flame
anyone, and be respectful. This is here for you all to COMMUNICATE.
Finally,
If you have questions, or concerns, please contact me ASAP. I want to help
your Leagues become the best they can be. I am not a "sitter" but rather a
"doer". I want to see good strong Boards and people devoted to giving kids a
great baseball experience. Let me know if you need help in any area!
Regards
JP
Washington District 13 DA
