Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador Long Term Athlete Development Implementation Plan 2014-2015

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Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador Long Term Athlete Development Implementation Plan 2014-2015
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador
Long Term Athlete Development Implementation Plan

                    2014-2015
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador Long Term Athlete Development Implementation Plan 2014-2015
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                                       Table of Contents

1. Purpose

2. Introduction- LTAD Primer

3. Baseball BNL Background (Organizational Structure + Member Associations)

4. Provincial Competitions- LTAD Stages

5. BNL-LTAD Progress to Date

6. Baseball Canada Programs

7. Coaching

8. Umpiring

9. 4 Pillars- Actions Plan with timelines

10. Acknowledgments

11. Appendices
       a. NCCP Transfer of Qualifications
       b. Baseball NL Provincial Tournament Coaching Requirements
       c. Pitch Count Information
       d. Provincial Inventory- 4 Pillar Work
       e. BNL Registration Numbers
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador Long Term Athlete Development Implementation Plan 2014-2015
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                                                Purpose

Baseball is a popular summer time sport in Newfoundland and Labrador, with 2000+ people enjoying
the game annually. Although the sport is popular with a rich history, everyone involved in the delivery
and administration of baseball in the province are responsible for ensuring that the game continues to
be fun, accessible and provide opportunities for excellence.

In this plan you will see how Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador (BNL) plans to continue to be a strong
presence in the sports scene in our province. Athletes, Coaches and Umpires are the backbone of the
game and we plan to ensure that each sector is put in the position to grow and succeed.

Long Term Athlete Development is a philosophy that will continually be evolving and Baseball NL will be
along for the ride, doing what we feel is best for those involved in our game to develop and excel. This
plan will reflect the next 2-3 years and what we expect to accomplish to continue to make our game
great. As new research and ideas are implemented, and through trial and error efforts of our own, we
will continually fine tune and re-evaluate to ensure that the product we are offering the registrants of
our province is the best it can be.
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador Long Term Athlete Development Implementation Plan 2014-2015
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                         Introduction- Long Term Athlete Development Primer

What is LTAD?
Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) is a systemic approach being developed and adopted by
Baseball Canada to maximize a participant's potential and involvement in our sport. Tailoring a child's
sports development programme to suit basic principles of growth and maturation, especially during the
'critical' early years of their development, enables him / her to:
      Reach full potential
      Increase lifelong participation in baseball and other physical activities

The LTAD model is split into stages in which a player will move from simple to more complex skills and
from general to baseball related skills. For example, a beginner may start by learning basic throwing and
hitting actions and then once this has been mastered he / she will progress onto more advanced skills.
This framework will set out recommended training sequences and skill developments for the participant
from the Active Start stage (5 and under) to the Active for Live Stage (adult recreational).

Where has it come from?
A combination of recent research and the knowledge of coaches from around the world are being used
to write the LTAD model. The program is sport-science supported and based on the best data and
research available. Our work is based on the work of Canadian sport scientists, and focuses on key,
common principles of individual development, which many sports organizations consider good practice
in long-term planning for athletes.

Many leading sports stars have attributed part of their success to participating in different sports and
activities at a young age by giving them a wider base of sports skills. Our goal will be to develop our
players by training and enhancing all the athletic skills that contribute to their success.

What will this mean for your child?
During your child's first few years of baseball, the emphasis will be on physical literacy. Time should be
spent learning the ABC'S of athleticism (Agility, Balance, Coordination and Speed) to teach them how to
control his / her own bodies. For this reason, your child may take part in exercises that do not look
relevant to baseball but are supporting their development. Games and other sports will teach your child
to throw the ball (basic throwing actions), catch it (hand-eye coordination), change direction and run
properly. At each stage the child will be trained in the optimal systems and programs to maximize his /
her potential as a ballplayer and as a long-term participant in sport.

What has this got to do with baseball?
Baseball Canada is looking to provide children with all the skills needed to take part in physical activity
throughout their lifetime. We are looking further into the future than teaching the skills to win games or
tournaments tomorrow if it may have a detrimental effect on them taking part at a later age. It is
thought that taking part in baseball-specific training too early can lead to an early dropout rate, create
muscle imbalances and also neglect teaching the fundamental skills needed for most sports. In fact,
research shows that early specialization in most team sports results in these outcomes.
Research has also shown that it is during childhood that people are best at learning physical skills. For
this reason, we are advising coaches and parents to teach transferable skills first that will allow your
child to become proficient in a number of different sports and therefore increase their chances of being
physically active throughout their lifetime. For example, if your child learns to catch and throw a ball
successfully, an avenue to take part in other ball sports is opened.
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador Long Term Athlete Development Implementation Plan 2014-2015
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                                        Baseball NL Background

Organization Structure
The Baseball NL executive organization is elected at each Annual General Meeting. Terms consist of 1
year and are open for nomination every year. The role of the executive is to govern baseball
provincially in a democratic manner adhering to the articles, by-laws, rules and regulations of the
Baseball NL Constitution and providing leadership in the growth and development of baseball in all
regions of the province in conjunction with principles of long term development of player, coaches,
umpires and volunteers. The current executive consists on the following positions:

Executive Director- Paid Position
President- Elected
Vice-President- Elected
Eastern Director- Elected
Central Director- Elected
Western Director- Elected
Minor Chairperson- Elected
Assistant Minor Chairperson- Elected
Treasurer- Elected
Coaching Chair- Appointed
Umpire Chair- Appointed

Member Associations
Baseball NL has 10 members associations spread throughout the province. Member associations have
the ability to partake in any Baseball NL program, enter teams in provincial championships and bid to
host Provincial, Atlantic and National tournaments. Each association holds a vote on voting issues at the
Annual General Meeting and Semi-Annual General Meeting. The current member associations include:

Corner Brook Baseball Association
Pasadena Minor Baseball
Grand Falls-Windsor Minor Baseball
Gander Minor Baseball
Baseball Conception Bay North
Conception Bay South Minor Baseball
Paradise Minor Baseball
Mount Pearl Minor Baseball
St. John’s Minor Baseball
St. John’s Amateur Baseball
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                                  Provincial Competitions/LTAD Stages

Baseball NL holds provincial championships in July and August of each year from U11 to Senior.
Provincial tournaments are tiered events where all efforts are made to group similarly talented teams in
the same tournament to ensure teams receive meaningful competition.

In several cases the winner(s) of the provincial events then represent the province at an Atlantic or
National tournament.

Baseball NL also has a provincial team program for U15, U17 and U18 that gives our best players at
those age levels the opportunity to compete at high performance events.

The table below shows the Provincial, Atlantic and National events that are available to players and
teams in the province.

*Qualifying Teams
     Age Group                LTAD Stage Equivalent                      BNL Competitions
          U8                     FUNdamentals                              All Club Based
   U11 (Mosquito)               Learning to Train                     AAA, AA, A- Provincials
                                                                        AAA, AA- Atlantics*
    U13 (Peewee)                 Learning to Train                     AAA, AA, A Provincials
                                                                 AAA- Eastern Canadian Nationals*
                                                                           AA- Atlantics*
    U15 (Bantam)                 Training to Train                    AAA, AA, A- Provincials
                                                               U15 Nationals- Provincial All-Star Team
                                                                        AAA, AA- Atlantics*
    U18 (Midget)              Learning to Compete                        AA, A- Provincials
                                                              U17 Canada Cup- Provincial All-Star Team
                                                               U18 Nationals- Provincial All-Star Team
                                                                           AA- Atlantics*
     U21 (Junior)                 Active for Life                         AAA- Provincials
                                                                          U21 Nationals*
  Open Age (Senior)               Active for Life                                B, A
                                                                       Open Age Nationals*
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                      Baseball NL- LTAD Implementation Progress Steps to Date

Since April of 2006, when LTAD was first introduced to the membership, Baseball NL has made great
strides in implementing programs and practices that are in line with LTAD. In these years we have seen
our first association gain RBI status by Baseball Canada, pitch count introduced at provincial
tournaments and the creation of provincial all-star teams to compete at the National level. Below are
the steps that have been taken.

                                 Implementation Step                                     Date
                        Baseball NL adopts Winterball program                        October 2003
Rally Cap introduced at AGM, information/materials provided to all associations        April 2006
              Baseball Canada LTAD Manuals circulated to associations                  April 2007
            Adopted Pitch Count for Provincial Peewee AAA tournament                   April 2008
  Successful in obtaining LTAD grant from Sport NL to provide Rally Cap hats,       September 2008
 DVD’s, printed manuals, brochures and posters to all interested associations
              Adopted Pitch Count for all minor provincial tournaments                  April 2009
               Grand Slam program piloted by Corner Brook Baseball                    Summer 2010
               Girls day in baseball clinics and activities (annual event)              July 2010
  Participated in Sport NL “Sportfest” which is an interactive sport showcase           May 2011
            where children can try a wide range of sports (annual event)
            Baseball NL holds full day LTAD Implementation Plan session                April 2012
Provincial Summer Games competition changed to U16 regional all-star format           August 2012
             to be used as evaluation piece for Canada Games program
      St. John’s Minor Baseball becomes first Baseball Canada RBI approved              April 2013
                              association in the province
  Game modifications made in U11 baseball: no base on balls in A, oversized             April 2013
 plate, everyone on roster bats and minimum number of innings that must be
                                  played in A/AA/AAA
  My First Pitch information, booklets and brochures provided to associations          April 2013
   Provincial all-star teams sent to U15/U18 Nationals instead of club teams,         August 2013
      provincial coaching staffs named and identification camps conducted
                  First Challenger program run by Paradise Baseball                   August 2013
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                                      Baseball Canada Programs

Listed below are the programs offered by Baseball Canada that are also being offered by Baseball NL and
its member associations. While some programs are further developed and more established than
others, we strive to offer these programs to their greatest potential.

         Program                                   Description                              Stage
                              Introduction to baseball. 6X6 format for mini-games        FUNdamentals
                                   with extra group doing skills development.
   Rally Cap                   Evaluation based on skills acquisition using colored
                                hats. Resources includes hats, practice plans, etc.
                                  School based program where schools get free            FUNdamentals
                               equipment and curriculum. Program sponsored by
 Winterball                       MLB. Resources include DVD, Fan Guide, etc.
                                 Program focused on skill development using a            Learn to Train
                                   sticker album to track progress based on
                                    experiences with the game of baseball.
 Grand Slam
                              Program targeted at the development of pitchers            Learn to Train
                                entering the U11 division where pitching is first
My First Pitch                                     introduced.
                                Excellence program where associations across               All Stages
                              Canada can get Baseball Canada seal of approval if
       RBI                   meeting quality standards in coach education, sound
                                       programming, equity and safety.
                              Program that provides an opportunity for children            All Stages
                             with cognitive or physical disabilities to enjoy the full
 Challenger                      benefits of participation in baseball at a level
                                          structured to their abilities.
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                                                  Coaching

Baseball NL’s Coach Education Program is based on Baseball Canada’s National Coaching Certification
Program. The program is the national standard for training and certification for coaching in the country
and it exists to help all coaches from the grassroots level to the elite level.

Courses are offered throughout the province each year that support the development and education of
coaches. The goal of Baseball NL is to provide capacity in each region of the province so that coaches can
conveniently achieve the level of training they choose. Since LTAD is athlete centered and coach driven,
the proper development of coaches in our province is very important.

For all coaching information you can visit nccp.baseball.ca for a full description of the program. You can
also look at the appendices in the back of this document for the following:

    -   Transfer of Qualifications (relevant to anyone who was trained in old “level” system of NCCP and
        want to know how it transfers to new NCCP)
    -   Baseball NL requirements for coaching at Provincial, Atlantic and National events
    -   Pitch Count information

                                                 Umpiring

Umpiring is an important aspect of the game of baseball. The availability of certified qualified umpires at
all levels of baseball play ensures a positive, engaging baseball experience for all players, whether it be
grassroots, house league or all-star competition.

Baseball NL’s Umpire Development is based on standards adopted by other provinces across Canada.
Baseball Canada’s National Umpire program is the national standard for umpiring in the country and it
exists to provide the standard for all umpires umpiring at the national championship level.

Umpire Clinics are offered throughout the province each year and provide the training and education
required for all umpires for all levels of baseball. The goal of Baseball NL is to provide capacity in each
region of the province so that local associations are able to provide umpires for grassroots,
developmental and house league play as well as provide certified, qualified umpires for any provincial
level baseball they may host.

The provincial levels of certification are Level one, Level two and Level three; national certification is
Level four. The approach is developmental in nature, in that individuals enter the system at Level one
and progress towards higher levels of certification based on clinics completed, continuing umpire
education and experience gained through umpiring games.

For umpiring information you can visit Baseball Canada Website (www.baseball.ca) and select the
umpire link or the Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador website at
www.sport.ca/league/index.php?league=24 .
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                                 4 Pillars of BNL- Implementation Plan

In our efforts to implement LTAD in our province, it became clear that we have 4 main pillars that we
need to focus on. These 4 pillars make up the foundation of our LTAD implementation efforts and will
guide our decisions moving forward. The 4 pillars are:

    i.     Athlete Development
    ii.    Competition
    iii.   Coaching
    iv.    Umpiring

The action plan presented in each of the pillars below is the result of discussions based on the strengths
and weaknesses on the current situation of each pillar. This work took place at the LTAD Implementation
meeting in April 2012 and then continued through phone, email, online surveys and Baseball NL
meetings.

Committee members were asked what is currently being done correctly and what can we change. From
that, 4 action items from each pillar were identified. The following actions are in order of importance.

Pillar #1: Athlete Development
Doing what is best for the athlete has to be the main consideration for coaches, parents and
administrators. This ranges from children just being introduced to the game through Rally Cap all the
way to the high performance players playing for our U17 team. We need to give children the
opportunity to achieve their full potential by supporting then on and off the field throughout their
development.

                     Action                               Responsibility                    Timeline
Further education around Rally Cap and        BNL Technical Director, BNL                  June 2015
Pitch Count/My 1st Pitch                      Staff/Executive, Member
     - Make Rally Cap standard initiation     Associations
          program for all associations
     - Provide coaches with resources to
          better develop pitchers
     - Ensure consistent communication
          of Rally Cap/My 1st Pitch at BNL
          Meetings and coaching courses
          and through email and website
Create efficient, cost effective ways to      BNL Staff/Executive, Member                  June 2015
utilize facilities and equipment for off-     Associations
season training
Deliver structured off season program in      BNL Staff/Executive, BNL Provincial          June 2015
all areas of province                         Team Coaches, Member Associations
Standardize selection protocol for BNL        BNL Provincial Teams Management              June 2014
Provincial All-Star Teams (U15, U17, U18)     Committee
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

Pillar #2: Competition
The competition system in the province has a huge impact on a player’s development. Meaningful
games and practices are needed to ensure that children are appropriately challenged and given every
opportunity to develop at their own pace. This will require collaboration between coaches, parents,
neighbouring associations and association administrators.

                     Action                                  Responsibility                   Timeline
Explore game modifications to make game          BNL Technical Director, BNL                Ongoing
more enjoyable (especially at younger levels)    Staff/Executive, Member Associations
Regional interlocking events for house league    BNL Regional Executive Members,            June 2014
and all-star                                     Member Associations
Encourage local associations to host more        BNL Regional Executive Members,            Ongoing
invitational tournaments and series              Member Associations
Explore more competition opportunities for       BNL Provincial Teams Management            June 2014
BNL Provincial All-Star teams                    Committee
Review game scores and trends to ensure that     BNL Technical Director, BNL                Annually
teams are properly tiered in provincial          Staff/Executive
tournaments

Pillar #3: Coaching
Coaches play a vital role in the development of our players and we must provide them with the
necessary skills and resources to succeed. This will be achieved by having the capacity to deliver courses,
providing meaningful professional development opportunities and ensuring we support our best
coaches to work with provincial level players.

                     Action                                 Responsibility                     Timeline
Easy access to workshops in all parts of         BNL Technical Director                     June 2015
province by ensuring adequate number of
Learning Facilitators are trained
Early ID of coaches to ensure maximum time       BNL Provincial Teams Management            Annually
with players throughout season                   Committee, Member Associations
Expand professional development                  BNL Technical Director, BNL                Ongoing
opportunities available to all coaches           Staff/Executive
Sharing of best practices, LTAD materials and    BNL Technical Director, BNL                Ongoing
other relevant coach information                 Staff/Executive
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

Pillar #4: Umpiring
Officials play a critical role in baseball. Retaining sports officials is a vital component in developing a vast,
qualified group of umpires. Just like coaches, umpires need the support system that enables them to
obtain certification and receive professional development where appropriate.

                     Action                                     Responsibility                      Timeline
Establish clear set of requirements to umpire       BNL Umpire Chairmen, BNL                     June 2015
at BNL tournaments                                  Staff/Executive
Identify “champion” in less identified areas to     BNL Umpire Chairmen, Member                  Ongoing
organize umpiring development                       Associations
Create capacity in central/west to grow             BNL Umpire Chairmen, Member                  Ongoing
current umpiring program                            Associations
Provide support to all associations (clinics,       BNL Umpire Chairmen, Member                  Ongoing
education about certification process, etc.)        Associations
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                                         Acknowledgements

Baseball NL would like to thank the following people who were instrumental in the completion of this
plan.

       BNL member associations and executive. The people who helped complete this plan will also be
        the ones implementing it at the grass roots level and the commitment from these volunteers
        are what makes our game great.

       Andre Lachance and Jim Baba from Baseball Canada for their insights and experience
        throughout the process.

       Sport Newfoundland and Labrador for the operating grant which made this work possible.
        Without the financial support received from Sport NL a plan like this is not feasible.

Contact Information:

Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador
83 Ashford Drive
Mount Pearl, NL
A1N 3N7

http://www.sport.ca/NLBaseball/

                                              References

Baseball Canada (2007); Baseball Canada Long Term Athlete Development (Canadian
Leader in Throwing, Catching and Hitting)
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                     APPENDICES
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                           Baseball Canada NCCP- Transfer of Qualifications

The following chart is relevant to people who have completed training in the old “levels” system of the
NCCP and would like to know how that training translates to the new system.

You can view this table online at nccp.baseball.ca -> Migration Policy
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                             2013 Baseball NL- 2013 Coaching Requirements

             Requirements listed also fulfill National Tournaments at each respective level
              *Coaches at Baseball Atlantic tournaments need to be REGIONAL TRAINED

Mosquito (U11)
A: Initiation Coach Trained OR Level I Certified (All coaches)
AA: Initiation Coach Trained OR Level I Certified (All coaches)
AAA: Initiation Coach Trained OR Level I Certified (All coaches)

Peewee (U13)
A: Initiation Coach Trained OR Level I Certified (All coaches)
AA: Initiation Coach Trained OR Level I Certified (All coaches)
AAA: Head Coach- Certified Regional OR Level I Certified + Level II Technical + MED*
Assistant Coaches- Trained Regional OR Level I Certified

Bantam (U15)
A: Initiation Coach Trained (All coaches)
AA: Initiation Coach Trained (All coaches)
AAA: Initiation Coach Trained OR Level I Certified (All coaches)

Midget (U18)
A: Initiation Coach Trained OR Level I Certified (All coaches)
AA: Initiation Coach Trained OR Level I Certified (All coaches)

Junior (U21)
Qualifier: Head Coach- Certified Provincial OR Level II Certified + MED*
Assistant Coaches: Trained Provincial OR Level II Certified

Senior (Open Age Group)
B/A: Trained Regional OR Level I Certified

*Only applies if coach completed his/her MED by June 30, 2009, if not additional requirements will be
needed

Visit nccp.baseball.ca for listing and explanation of all courses
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                                                  Pitch Count

Issues related to arm safety and the optimal development and rest were reviewed thoroughly and at the
2007 Baseball Canada Fall Conference recommendations were brought forward.

The recommendations were based on sport science, a review of research on arm safety and an extensive
pilot conducted by Baseball Alberta. Concurrently in 2007, Little League International (LLI) had
introduced a Pitch Count regime based on the recommendations of the American Sports Medicine
Institute based on a series of studies carried out on behalf of USA Baseball, LLI and Major League
Baseball. In addition, we had access to research and information from our LTAD experts on rest and
recovery and optimal skill development recommendations at each stage of development.

Baseball Canada Pitch Count - Number of Pitches and Rules:

                           Mosquito                Peewee               Bantam                 Midget
      No rest             1-25 pitches           1-30 pitches         1-35 pitches           1-40 pitches
    1 day rest           26-40 pitches          31-45 pitches        36-50 pitches          41-55 pitches
    2 days rest          41-55 pitches          46-60 pitches        51-65 pitches          56-70 pitches
    3 days rest          56-65 pitches          61-75 pitches        66-80 pitches          71-85 pitches
    4 days rest          66-75 pitches          76-85 pitches        81-95 pitches         86-105 pitches
    Maximum                75 pitches             85 pitches           95 pitches                105

Safety Rules:

1. Any player on the team is eligible to pitch, and there are no restrictions to the number of pitchers a
manager may use in a game.

2. Pitchers shall be permitted to have 2 appearances in the same calendar day. If a pitcher requires a
rest following the 1st appearance, they cannot return to pitch in the same calendar day.

3. Pitchers cannot pitch 3 consecutive days unless a pitcher's first 2 days combined does not exceed:
Mosquito - 25; PeeWee - 30; Bantam - 35; Midget - 40 If a pitcher's day 1 + day 2 exceeds those figures,
they require at least 1 days rest. A pitcher cannot pitch 4 consecutive days.

4. The official scorekeeper will calculate the total pitches thrown for that calendar day and determine
the required rest starting the next calendar day. Athletes must not exceed the maximum pitch count
total for that day.

5. Once a player assumes the position of pitcher, they cannot catch for the remainder of the day.

6. Pitchers shall be permitted to finish the batter if his'her maximum pitch limit has been reached for
the calendar day.

7. Intentional walks will be included in Pitch Count totals.

8. Required rest shall be defined in "days" starting at 12:01 a.m. and ending at 11:59 p.m. of the next
calendar day. If a game continues past 12:01 a.m., those pitches are counted as if pitched prior to
midnight. If a game is suspended, when it resumes, it is defined as a different day
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

9. A pitcher who is removed from the pitcher's position during a game shall not be permitted to return
to pitch in the same game even if the pitcher is retained in the game at another position.

10. The manager or coach may make a 2nd visit to the mound while the same batter is at bat in order to
remove the pitcher.

11. Any violation of any part of the pitch count rule, the result is the Head Coach is ejected from the
current game and receives an additional game suspension.
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                                              Provincial Inventory

The following information is the full version of the dialogue that went into developing the action play around the 4
pillars. From the information below we narrowed the notes into 4 actions per pillar.

Pillar #1: Athlete Development

What are we doing right?
 Rally Cap implementation
 Pitch count implementation (especially at BNL tournaments)
 Increased effort to offer off-season and pre-season training
 Hitting recommended practice to game ratios
 Increased effort to improve house league competition through tournaments rule modifications, etc.
 Allowing kids to play up or down levels based on skill level
 More opportunities for kids to pursue higher competition (i.e. U16 regional tournament)

What are our problems?
 Constant turnover of coaches makes programs such as Rally Cap harder to implement
 Further education on Rally Cap and Pitch Count
 “One size fits all” approach to equipment (injury concern, improper fit)
 Geography concerns with provincial team training
 Efficient use of practice time (lack of practice planning)
 Access to indoor facilities as well as cost

What can we change?
 Education around Rally Cap and Pitch Count
 Creative, cost effective ways to distribute and utilize equipment
 Quality practice time
 Structured program for off season and pre-season (do it right, not just for the sake of “doing it”)
 Look at further opportunities for regional and provincial teams (i.e. U15 provincial team)

Pillar #2: Competition

What are we doing right?
 Rule modifications in house league (i.e. use of tee, throw to 2nd, etc.)
 Regionalized teams (U16 tourney)
 Appropriate ranking to ensure meaningful competition in provincial play
 Increased tournament opportunities (i.e. Invitational tournies)

What are our problems?
 Geography (outside Avalon)
 Lack of interlocking leagues and organized competition outside of provincial tournaments
 Making decisions with LTAD principles in mind (competition structure that does benefit one coach or team)
 Short season

What can we change?
 Evaluate minor division rules and see if we can make changes to make game more enjoyable
 Better organization of interlocking leagues where applicable
 More invitational tournaments
 Look at further opportunities for regional and provincial teams (i.e. U15 provincial team)
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

Pillar #3: Coaching

What are we doing right?
 Following Baseball Canada’s NCCP
 Coaches aspiring to reach higher levels of certification
 Easy access to info (Baseball Canada site, BNL staff)
 Creation of TD position

What are our problems?
 Not all coaches properly training (especially at house league level)
 Last minute certifications which leads to unprepared players and coaches
 Lack of initiative of coaches for certification or PD
 Limited PD opportunities
 Workshops outside Avalon
 Coaching to win on Sunday
 Lack of expertise in small communities

What can we do to change?
 Easy access to workshops and resources for house league coaches
 Early ID of coaches (especially provincial team)
 Early communication of workshops
 Bring in qualified coaches to deliver PD
 Promote independent thinking of players lead by coaches
 Expand TD position

Pillar #4: Umpiring

What are we doing right?
 Capacity for clinics when requested (doubled capacity of clinicians in past year from 2 to 4)
 Support and encouragement from provincial association
 Professionalism on the rise (dress code, level of training and expertise)
 Professional development opportunities available to St. John’s area umpires (Indoor training sessions)
 Dedicated executive position responsible for umpiring

What are our problems?
 Lack of opportunity outside of St. John’s area
        o Less games = less opportunity
        o Small pool of umpires means less training opportunities
 No clear minimum standards to umpire in provincial tournaments
 Top umpires work at junior and senior level and not at grassroots
 Lack of public database of umpires in the province

How can we improve?
 Identify ways to work with central/west on existing issues (sharing of best practices, adapting what is done
   elsewhere to fit the needs of central/west)
 Identify “champion” in less developed areas, someone dedicated to umpiring and who could possibly become
   clinician in future
 Establish set of clear guidelines for provincial tournaments
 Additional capacity for training (certification and professional development)
 Provide support to associations to meet required standards (share best practices, explain certification process,
   etc.)
Baseball Newfoundland and Labrador- LTAD Implementation Plan

                           2013 BASEBALL NL REGISTRATION REPORT

                              2010        2011        2012   2013

St. John's Minor              585         643         622    636
St. John's Senior/Junior      187         183         180    150
Mount Pearl                   223         270         318    389
Paradise                      183         202         224    256
CBS Minor                     125         145         150    138
Conception Bay North          325         145         103    161
Gander Minor                  145         167         172    147
Gander Senior/Junior          ----        ----        ----     21
Grand Falls-Windsor           148         187         166    160
Pasadena Minor                72          91          95       76
Pasadena Senior/Junior        12          14          6         6
Corner Brook                  236         220         230    210
Labrador West                 60          51          59     ----

Total                         2277        2318        2323   2350
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