Little League Baseball, Inc., United States Eastern Region

State of Pennsylvania Association of District Administrators

www.pastatell.org

Meeting Minutes

8 April 2017

Lundy Building, Little League Headquarters Complex, South Williamsport, PA

State Coordinator Bill Dithrich called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m.  Roll call was taken by sign in sheet.  Districts represented: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17/32, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29 and 30.  Absentee ballot proxies were presented by Bill Meyers – District 14, John Jones – District 19 and David Pelberg – District 30.  Corey Wright, East Region Director was also present.

Motion to approve the meeting minutes of 15 October 2016 was made by District 9.  Second by District 12.  Motion passed.

Motion to approve the finance report dated 8 April 2017 was made by District 13.  Second by District 16.  Motion passed.  Report attached.

Bill Dithrich noted that he had been in contact with DPH Pins who wanted to make a presentation, but were unable to due to the busy time of year and the extra duties on the staff since the passing of Jim Hammer.

OLD BUSINESS

The following sites have been assigned state tournaments:

            8-10 Baseball – Section 8 – District 21 – Morrisville Little League

            9-11 Baseball – Section 6 – District 20 – Bethlehem Lehigh Little League

            Little League Baseball – Section 5 – District 17 – Christy Mathewson Little League

            Intermediate Baseball – Section 7 – District 14 – Carlisle Area Little League

            Junior League Baseball – Section 1 – District 25 – Cranberry Little League

            Senior League Baseball – Section 1 – District 10 – DuBois Little League

            8-10 Softball – Section 3 – District 15 – Wellsboro Little League

            9-11 Softball – Section 2 – District 9 – Fairchance Little League

            Little League Softball – Section 1 – District 10 – St. Mary’s Little League

            Junior League Softball – Section 3 – District 13 – Berwick Little League

            Senior League Softball – Section 2 – District 9 – Carmichaels Little League

NEW BUSINESS

• A.    Jim Burns opened discussion on a few of the new rule changes:

  • a.      Sign stealing – Jim noted that he felt the penalty was too arbitrary and felt the wording should be “shall” be ejected instead of “can” be.

  • b.     Keeping foot in batters’ box – concerns over uniformity of enforcement.  Corey Wright encouraged leagues to implement during the regular season so players are used to it by tournament time.  Emphasized that each batter would get a warning before a strike could be called.

  • c.      Residency requirement Group 2 – all the items in this category contain sensitive information and it will make it difficult to collect it.  Corey pointed out in response that all information can be blacked out other than name and address and several items can fall under more than one category (water bill – utility or municipal)

  • d.     Corey also emphasized that the school enrollment eligibility is not just for those outside the league boundaries by residence, but those residing within the boundaries can simply use school enrollment rather than three residency proofs. 

• B.    Bob Wilson opened discussion on the state tournament policy of requiring hosts to provide meals to team personnel following games.  Specifically the problem of leagues preparing meals and teams leaving after a game because the families are going out to dinner.  Last year a league spent nearly $1,000 on meals only to have teams not stay for the meal.  Suggestions included:

  • a.      Provide a banquet but not required to provide meals

  • b.     Provide simpler meals (pot of pasta, meat balls, etc.) but more than a hot dog.Motion by District 17, second by District 9 to table changing the policy until the fall meeting.  Motion passed. 

• C.    Host team clarification – the procedure of entering a host team in a state tournament was further discussed.   Only a district champion can apply for a waiver to advance to the state tournament and not participate in the section tournament.  The problem of a league knowing if a state tournament has room for a host team was discussed.  This must be determined prior to the start of section play, so if there is a question whether a tournament is full, inquiry needs to be made to the section coordinators to verify if they will have a participant.

• D.    Corey presented a couple of proposal for consideration:

  • a.      Awarding state tournaments to leagues selected from applying leagues for three years with the advantage of knowing the site from year to year.  Once a three year term is up the tournament would be open for bids.

  • b.     Instituting higher state dues with the funds being used to assist leagues hosting state tournaments with flags, meal stipends, baseballs or softballs, etc.

GOOD OF THE ORDER

• A.    Background checks:

  • a.      Leagues using an umpire association must still run background checks on umpires they use.

  • b.     If there is an issue with a board member, coach, assistant coach, etc. and the league did not run a background check, the league is responsible for liability.

  • c.      Leagues that pay umpires need to perform background checks and acquire worker’s compensation insurance.

• B.    Reminder that leagues are required by Little League rules to provide the Little League patch for regular season uniforms/jerseys.

EAST REGION REPORT

• A.    Corey Wright, East Region Director noted that:

  • a.      Don Soucy’s retirement will be effective June 1, 2017, but will continue with Little League in a senior advisory role.

  • b.     Amry has completed his first year as East Region Assistant Director.

  • c.      Staff is in the process of holding second interviews with three candidates for the second Assistant Director position.

  • d.     Nancy Rainey will be leaving the Administrative Assistant position due to health reasons.  Staff is unsure if the position will be filled.

  • e.      A revised tournament packet was emailed out to correct an error in the revision of the tie-breaker rule.

  • f.      State tournament hosts need to be aware of the East Region tournament sites and dates when teams need to arrive and to communicate with region hosts as to when state tournament champions will be determined and the champion contact information.

  • g.     Regional tournament umpires have been selected and invitations sent out.  They are looking into revising the current system of selecting by reviewing applicants with a panel.

  • h.     Roadshows will be more limited in number and modules will be developed and posted on the Little League University web site for presentation at district meetings.

  • i.       Bats – recommending not to purchase bats this year as they will not be legal for use next year.  Beginning in 2018 only bats with the USA Baseball stamp will be legal for Junior League and below.  Bat diameter of 2⅝ inches will be legal in major and minor divisions, with the bats weighing less.  The new bats will be available in the fall.  Both current year bats and the new bats are permitted for use in fall ball programs.

  • j.       East Region is considering no longer hosting the East Region Little League Softball tournament at region headquarters, due to timing issues and the costs involved with field preparation.  This year the tournament will be held on the grass infield, it will not be skinned.  They are looking at other locations, possibly a university, for future tournaments.

  • k.     He strongly recommends leagues use Blue Sombrero, for submitting rosters, etc.

• B.    Tournament

  • a.      June 1^st teams can be announced and practices begin.

  • b.     Little League Softball district tournament can begin June 12^th.  All others can begin June 23^rd without a waiver, but let East Region know if prior to July 1^st.

  • c.      Teams can scrimmage other tournament teams, but it must be done out of uniform and only with teams within the district or within contiguous districts.

  • d.     Corey passed out the 2017 Tournament Team Eligibility Affidavit highlighting portions of the documentation.

•                                                             i.     Section B:

  • 1.     Player Verification Forms are required.

  • 2.     Birth certificates or copies not to be kept.

  • 3.     Previous years’ Player Verification Forms are good provided the residency documentation is attached.

•                                                   ii.     Section C: manager is solely responsible for pitcher’s eligibility.  Tournament personnel not to get involved.

•                                                 iii.     Section E: can use new online system, Infinity, or other map.  Teams for East Region play must use the Infinity online map.  Any corrected league boundary maps need to be submitted to Amry as soon as possible.  The league finder system is functioning.

•                                                 iv.     Section G: only the pitch count data sheet can be shared with another team, nothing else.

•                                                   v.     The Regulation II(d) form is only to be used if a player lived within the league boundary and then moved outside the boundary.  If player using school enrollment advanced to a school not inside the league’s boundaries, they must have a II(d) form to continue to play in that league.

•                                                 vi.     The Regulation IV(h) form is only to be used if a coach or board member had lived inside the league’s boundaries then moved outside and continued service to that league.

•                                               vii.     A temporary manager or coach must be entered on the affidavit under replacement and can only do so once.  Otherwise a Volunteer Application and background check must be completed before he or she can be used again.

•                                             viii.     Only a tournament game director or DA can call East Region with tournament issues.  They are on call until 1:00 a.m.

•                                                 ix.     If a team advances to the next level and the affidavit is not complete, DA sets deadline and calls East Region and they will put pressure on the coach to get the information.

CLOSING COMMENTS

Next meeting date is scheduled for 21 October 2017, 12:00 pm.  Location to be announced.

Motion to adjourn was made by District 12.  Second by District 3.  Motion passed.  Meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Paula Dithrich

Administrative Assistant

Pennsylvania State Little League DA’s Finance Report

8 April 2017

Click here to open a printable version.