Little League Baseball in Newton, MA A proposal to highlight current and mounting challenges & to offer a solution to preserve and enhance the Little League.

Little League Baseball in Newton, MA

A proposal to highlight current and mounting challenges & to offer a solution to

preserve and enhance the Little League experience for the youth of Newton.

Problem Definition

• Little League enrollment is down– Competing with Club baseball, Soccer, Lacrosse, etc

• As numbers fluctuate it becomes difficult for leagues to put to balanced teams, with equitable skills– Players get pulled up to make numbers work for next

level, hurting their “age level” skill pool• If the product isn’t competitive & fun, the kids are

more apt to choose alternatives• Fragmented approaches across little leagues and

seasons

Objectives

• Create a league with enough players at each level so as to minimize the skill difference between the top and bottom players

• Increase player retention• Ensure there are enough teams at each level• Preserve the local culture of the current leagues • Improve coordination and options across Newton and

seasons (spring, summer, and fall)• Balance community versus competition• Maximize the volunteer opportunities for people who are

willing to contribute their time

League Vision

• To create an environment where children in Newton are introduced to the game of baseball and through instruction, coaching & emphasis on fundamentals develop an interest & love of the sport– We aim to develop players who understand the

rules of the game and have sound technique while making friends and having fun in the process.

– Build a sustainable league that supports these values and encourages community support

General PhilosophyProvide a safe & engaging program through which the kids develop athletic skills, self-esteem & friendships. The

program will optimize action & achievement. Specific game rules and coach training will support these goals. The aim is have players completing each season with more confidence & a desire to come back for the next season

• Majors: most competitive with a focus on player development, sportsmanship & teamwork.

• Minors: Transition levels with a balanced approach to fun/development & competitiveness.– AAA

– AA

• T-Ball, Rookie & Farm: - Designed to introduce kids to Baseball and foster a love of the game via fundamentals & social aspects. Focus on Fun and not on Wins & Losses; Instructional & Developmental

Newton LL’s by the numbers…

6 & under 7 8 9 10 11 12 Annual Total % dif prev yr

North 112 41 34 42 28 19 23 299 5%

Central 96 35 47 39 30 26 22 295 (7%)

West 98 24 34 23 29 17 27 252 0%

SouthEast 140 67 66 68 58 51 52 502 (1%)

Total '14 446 167 181 172 145 113 124 1348 (1%)

North 94 40 52 29 26 21 22 284 1%

Central 84 48 49 43 34 27 32 317 (5%)

West 67 34 30 35 28 35 23 252 (16%)

SouthEast 124 63 73 76 61 61 48 506 (17%)

Total '13 369 185 204 183 149 144 125 1359 (11%)

North 104 49 31 28 24 23 22 281 (3%)

Central 72 42 45 49 43 44 40 335 (3%)

West 76 36 44 41 41 28 35 301 0%

South + East 148 90 90 86 81 62 52 609 (7%)

Total '12 400 217 210 204 189 157 149 1526 (4%)

North 110 34 33 31 30 26 26 290

Central 67 60 50 44 56 46 24 347

West 71 46 47 48 31 37 20 300

South + East 148 95 104 87 89 68 63 654

Total '11 396 235 234 210 206 177 133 1591

Today’s StructureDistrict 10

Newton North- Majors- Minors

-etc.

Newton Central- Majors- Minors

-etc.

Newton West- Majors- Minors

-etc.

Newton South East- Majors- Minors

-etc.

Spring - Level of IntegrationLevel Divisions Comments

MajorsCommon PoolAmerican DivisionNational Division

• Common pool draft• Transition teams for first year• 2 Williamsport 11/12 teams• Balanced schedule across 2 divisions

AAA/AA Lions Division

Bowen, Countryside, Spaulding, Zervas

Mason Rice, Angier

Tigers DivisionCabot, Horace Mann,

Lincoln-Eliot, Underwood, Pierce, Burr, Franklin, Ward,

Williams

• Teams assembled from within Elementary Schools in each division

• Multiple Williamsport 9/10 & 10/11 teams• Unbalanced schedule across pools• Friend requests

Farm & Rookie Lions Division

Bowen, Countryside, Spaulding, Zervas

Mason Rice, Angier

Tigers DivisionCabot, Horace Mann,

Lincoln-Eliot, Underwood, Pierce, Burr, Franklin, Ward,

Williams

• Teams assembled from “adjacent” elementary schools

• Schedule all within division, same field.• Friend requests

T-Ball Pool 1Bowen

SpauldingMason- Rice

Pool 2ZervasAngier

Country-side

Pool 3Cabot,

Lincoln-Eliot, Underwood,

Ward

Pool 4Horace Mann,

Pierce, Burr, Franklin,Williams

• Teams assembled from “adjacent” elementary schools

• Schedule all within division, same field.• Friend requests

Proposed Organizational StructureNewton Youth Baseball

Spring Majors Summer/Fall Baseball

Tigers Minors Spring Lion Minors Spring

Roles/ResponsibilitiesAdministrative Board• Set missions for each league• Capital improvements &

campaigns• Financial controls, insurance,

etc.• Relationship with City• Vendor relationships• Playing rules• Relationship with Little League

of America• Field allocation• Web site

Operational Board• Coach selection• Team formation• CORI• Scheduling• Clinics • Coaching development• Field maintenance & preparation• Sponsors• Snack bars• Local events (parades, movies,

etc.)

Little League Baseball in Newton, MA

Reserve Slides

A Closer Look (Major’s teams by year)

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015*project

Central 5 5 4 4 4

North ? 4 4 4 3?

SouthEast 4 + 6? 4 + 6 8 7 6?

West ? ? ? 4 3?

Newton Elementary School Districts

Little League Baseball in Newton, MA

Background/resource slides

Today’s StructureDistrict 10

Newton Central- Majors- Minors

-etc.

Newton West- Majors- Minors

-etc.

Newton South East- Majors- Minors

-etc.

Spring - Level of IntegrationLevel Divisions Comments

MajorsCommon PoolAmerican DivisionNational Division

• Common pool draft• Transition teams for first year• 2 Williamsport 11/12 teams• Balanced schedule across 2 divisions

AAA/AA Lions Division

Bowen, Countryside, Spaulding, Zervas

Mason Rice, Angier

Tigers DivisionCabot, Pierce, Burr,

Franklin, Ward, Williams

• Teams assembled from within Elementary Schools in each division

• Multiple Williamsport 9/10 & 10/11 teams• Unbalanced schedule across pools• Friend requests

Farm & Rookie Lions Division

Bowen, Countryside, Spaulding, Zervas

Mason Rice, Angier

Tigers DivisionCabot, Pierce, Burr,

Franklin, Ward, Williams

• Teams assembled from “adjacent” elementary schools

• Schedule all within division, same field.• Friend requests

T-Ball Pool 1Bowen

SpauldingMason- Rice

Pool 2ZervasAngier

Country-side

Pool 3Cabot,

Pierce, Ward

Pool 4Burr,

Franklin,Williams

• Teams assembled from “adjacent” elementary schools

• Schedule all within division, same field.• Friend requests