APLL Advanced Program May 5, 2008

Program Background: In September 2007, Virginia District 8 received approval from Little League International to pilot a program for advanced-level players. With little time to develop the program, select District 8 Leagues moved to begin play in mid- September with teams in the Major Baseball and Junior Baseball Divisions. Feedback from participants in the Fall 2007 program has been utilized to establish guidelines for the 2008 program.

Advanced Program Managers: Must be a Manager or Coach during APLL’s 2008 Spring Season. First consideration will be given to rostered staff within the Division. Must be an APLL Voting Member. Are required to submit an Advanced Program application prior to the end of tonight’s meeting. Will select their Coaches. All personnel must be approved by the APLL Board of Directors.

Advanced Program Tryouts: Only players league-age 9 to 16 and registered for the APLL 2008 Spring Season are eligible to try out for an Advanced Team. Teams will be assembled based on the 2008 League age of players. Players age 10, 12 and 14 have the opportunity to “play up” and must declare which division(s) they are interested in playing for prior to start of the tryout session. A parent must be present to sign in their player prior to the tryout session. A $5 Tryout Fee must be paid when players are signed in.

Advanced Program Tryout Dates: Baseball: –May 12, 2008 – 7pm to 9pm Softball: –May 13, 2008 – 7pm to 9pm Last Chance/Alternate Date (both Baseball & Softball) –May 20, 2008 – 7pm to 9pm

Advanced Program Player Selection: Players will be selected by the team’s Manager. Player selection will be based on: –Talent –Attitude –Commitment to program –Position(s) played

Advanced Program Season: Teams must wait until after the end of the 2008 All Star Tournaments to begin play. Season will begin in August 2008 and continue into November Play will consist of combination of scheduled games and mini-tournaments. Current expectation is 8-10 games each month, with schedules being produced monthly.

Participating Leagues: In addition to APLL, Virginia Beach Little League and Green Run Little League are committed to the program. Eastern Shore leagues, Fleet Park Little League and Naval Air Station Little League have expressed an interest in participating. Leagues outside of District 8 have also expressed an interest in participating in mini- tournaments.

Advanced Program Player Fees: Fee for 2008 Advanced Program Season is $250 per player. Fees are non-refundable. Fee covers one uniform per player, umpire fees and game balls. Funds remaining will be applied toward tournament entry fees. Travel costs are the responsibility of the player/parent. No AP Bucks will be accepted to offset the cost of Advanced Program player fees. Board Members receive no special consideration relating to Advanced Program player fees.

Advanced Program Payment Plan: $100 due in mid-July with signed commitment contract. $50 due prior to September 1, $50 due prior to October 1, $50 due prior to November 1, Failure to make payments on time and/or returned checks will result in suspension of play for the player involved. Specific details on how to make your payments will be communicated in July.

Bingo Duty in Lieu of Payments: The initial $100 payment is required for all Advanced Program players. Bingo duty will be accepted in lieu of subsequent $50 monthly payments. Bingo duty must be fulfilled during the month prior to the due date of the payment. Bingo workers must be at least 14 years of age. 14 and 15 year-old workers must have a signed parental consent form on file at the Bingo Hall per VA Gaming Commission rules.

APLL Bingo Sessions: Are held every Wednesday and Friday. Duty hours are 9am to 2:30pm. Location is Witchduck Hall at 660 North Witchduck Road in Virginia Beach. Advance notice of your intention to work a session is appreciated – please Cheryl Mazza at

Advanced Program Fundraisers: Fundraising opportunities will be offered to teams desiring to raise funds to enter additional tournaments. Fundraisers will not be used to reduce the $250 Advanced Program Player fees. Income and expenses for Advanced Program teams, although serviced through the APLL General Account, will be tracked separately to allow individual teams to benefit from their fundraising efforts.

Advanced Program Q & A: Why are you piloting this program? –For years, APLL has recognized that Little League does not offer a competitive program, other than the All Star Tournaments, for our players. As such, many of our more talented players opt to leave the league to join teams that are perceived to offer more to their players. Additionally, we note that the teams that ultimately play in the televised Little League games each year seem to play more games than our regular seasons permit. These concerns were escalated to officials at Little League, International and authorization to pilot this program was granted.

Advanced Program Q & A: It sounds like there is a potential for favoritism to come into play when players are being selected for these teams, since Managers make the decision. What if my child does not make the team? –Since Managers will be responsible for running the team, it is important that he/she has a good relationship will all the players, that all positions are covered on the field, and that the team will be competitive. These teams are modeled after travel ball teams and are for the highest caliber of APLL player who wants to play with other talented APLL players for an entire season. Travel teams do not accept all players who express an interest in playing for a team, neither will the APLL Advanced Program. Players who are not selected will still be eligible to play ball through our regular Fall Ball season.

Advanced Program Q & A: The cost of the Advanced Program is substantially more than the cost of APLL regular seasons, why? –The APLL Advanced Program has been designed to be self- sufficient. Our regular seasons are subsidized by income from our Bingo sessions, sponsorship and fundraisers – these subsidies will not be available for use by the Advanced Program. Since the Advanced Program will serve only a percentage of APLL players, we do not believe it would be fair for general APLL funds to be used to support the program. –Additionally, the Advance Program season will run longer than a traditional season for APLL, meaning increased expenses. –Finally, Advanced Program players will receive upgraded uniform components, which cost more than regular season uniforms.

Advanced Program Q & A: What if I can not afford the fees for my child to participate in this program? –We understand that this program is expensive compared to the regular seasons at APLL, however it is comparable to the costs involved with other travel or select teams outside of the Little League organization. With this in mind, we are offering parents the opportunity to work Bingo sessions to offset a portion of the total cost for their player(s). Each additional volunteer at our Bingo sessions increases the income to the league, which will allow us to allocate funds to the Advanced Program in exchange for your Bingo duty efforts.

Advanced Program Q & A: What if my child can not play the entire August through November season? Can I commit to only a portion of the season and pay a reduced fee? –You will be required to sign a contract that your child will be a part of this team for the entire season. If your child is unable to play in scheduled games or tournaments, no portion of your fees will be refunded.

Advanced Program Q & A: It will be easier for me to supply a Bingo worker in August than in the months that follow. Can I work several sessions in August and have this duty count instead of making my payments for October and November? –No. Bingo duty must be worked during the month prior to the deadline for your monthly payment. If you want to be exempt from the September 1 st payment, Bingo duty must be performed in August. If you want to be exempt from the October 1 st payment, Bingo duty must be performed in September. If you want to be exempt from the November 1 st payment, Bingo duty must be performed in October. This will create a constant flow of Bingo workers for the months that the Advanced Program is operational.

Advanced Program Q & A: What if I pay the entire $250 fee in mid July and then decide to work a Bingo session? –Rebates for parents who pay in advance and then work at Bingo sessions will be sent via check at the conclusion of the Advanced Program season.

Advanced Program Q & A: Why do I get the feeling that there will be many Board Member children selected for these teams? –In reality this will likely occur. Most of our Board Members joined the Board because their children have a certain degree of talent and they want to ensure that APLL continues to serve the community, as well as their child(ren), while moving forward with initiatives like this one. Our Board Members volunteer thousands of hours annually to keep our organization running year-round. If their children did not have a certain aptitude to play ball, they likely would be less inclined to donate so much of their time and talents to APLL.

Advanced Program Q & A: My child has friends who are interested in playing in the Advanced Program at APLL. Can they come to tryouts? –Only players who are registered for the 2008 Spring Season are eligible to try out and play for an Advanced Program team. If they live within the APLL boundaries, suggest that they register next spring so they will have the opportunity to try out in 2009.

Advanced Program Q & A: What is the difference between the Advanced Program and All Stars? –While there will be common players between the teams, there are distinct differences. –All Star Teams are selected from all regular season players who are eligible and available for the District 8 Tournaments held in late June/early July. These teams can not begin to practice together until the players can be named – no sooner than 2 weeks prior to the start of the District tournaments. The team remains intact until it is no longer able to advance due to game losses, then disbands. Uniforms are distributed to players to be worn for the All Star tournaments and are returned to the league. The League pays any associated player costs involved with traveling to tournaments beyond the District level, should the team win that championship. –Advanced Program Teams are selected from regular season players through a try out process by the team Manager. In 2008, these teams will begin play after All Star tournaments and have the potential to stay together, until the 2009 Spring Season. As part of their player fee, uniforms become the property of the player. Players/parents are responsible for any costs involved with travel.

Advanced Program Q & A: My child and I are ready to commit to this program. What can I do to help make the Advanced Program successful? –Get involved. Ensure your team-assigned Concession and Field Maintenance duties are covered. Keep the lines of communication open with your child’s Manager. Talk to your child about how this team will require a higher degree of commitment and dedication; and that these teams will be competing to win at all times. Support fundraising and team bonding activities. Provide constructive feedback and help us identify opportunities to continually improve so that APLL and the pilot program will be the best it can in the hopes of creating a permanent program for Little League worldwide.

Advanced Program Q & A: Additional questions from the group?