Simsbury Little League

Equipment update: Batting helmet cages are required/USA bats

Please note: It is a Simsbury Little League local rule that face cages must be worn on batting helmets both batting on the fields and in the batting cages at all levels except t-ball. There will be no exceptions to this rule. C-flaps are not legal in our league. If any players are seen without the metal face cage attached to their helmets, they will not be permitted to play. 

If you need a batting helmet with a cage to borrow for the season, please notify your manager at the start of the season and one will be assigned to you. 

Please also note: All bats used in Little League baseball must carry a "USAbat" stamp. Bats will be inspected prior to the start of every game. There will be certified bats available for team use. 

--Simsbury Little League Board of Directors

All adults who are interested in volunteering for Simsbury Little League as a manager, coach or umpire are required to complete a background check. This is a Williamsport Little League mandate. Only volunteers who have successfully completed their background check annually will be permitted on fields and dug out, including any parent or adult who wishes to help with field maintenance before games and practices. All volunteer applications are completed online

Below are guidelines on who needs to fill out an application:

• All managers or coaches age 16 and older who interact with the players on a practice or game field and dug out, including helping with field maintenance
• All umpires age 16 or older (note:  youth umpires between the ages of 12 and 15 are NOT required to complete a volunteer application)
• Team administrators do NOT need to complete a volunteer application

All approved volunteer applications from the spring season are valid for the full calendar year which includes both the spring and fall seasons.  

Applicants should allow at least a few days for applications to be processed.  Some applications take longer than others, sometimes up to a week.

Please read below the suspension policy for managers and/or parents who fail to comply with this volunteer policy.
 

Volunteer Application Process

If you would like to volunteer please email Julie Trythall ( ). Julie will email you a link to complete your background check using our preferred vendor.  Please include your full name, email address and if you are a returning or new volunteer.

Questions?
All questions related to volunteer applications can be directed to Julie Trythall ( ) or additional contact information can be found on the board contacts page.

Schedule
The listing of approved volunteers will be posted on the SLL website under Documents;  it will be updated every few days.

Approved Volunteer Listing
The list of approved volunteers will be posted on the Documents tab of the website.

Suspension Policy
Below is the suspension policy for managers and/or parents who do not comply with Simsbury Little League's volunteer application policy. 

Manager Non-Compliance
A manager who allows anyone over the age of 16 who has not been pre-approved by the SLL Board of Directors to participate and interact with SLL players on a practice or game field by will be suspended. Suspensions are as follows:

Pre-Season Suspensions are enforced after application deadline has passed and all applications have been processed: Manager is suspended immediately plus two practices

In-Season Suspensions:

• 1st offense: Manager is suspended immediately, current game plus 2 games
• 2nd offense: Manager suspended immediately, current game plus 5 games
• 3rd offense: Manager suspended for the duration of the season

Parent Non-Compliance
Anyone over the age of 16 who has not been pre-approved as a coach by SLL Board of Directors who participates and interacts with SLL players by coaching on a practice or game field is suspended for the entire season and must apply for reinstatement the following year.

Simsbury Little League

Youth Umpires

Simsbury Little League's baseball and softball games are generally umpired by youth umpires.  We wanted to take this opportunity to explain to all our families the expectations we have regarding interactions with umpires. Regardless of the umpire’s age, the SLL policy is that all judgment calls stand and managers, coaches and spectators are not to argue or attempt to influence these calls.  This includes any sort of gestures or sounds of disagreement.  Simply put, please support letting the umpires umpire.

All umpires will make mistakes regardless of their skill level and experience.  With 80+ umpires in the program it is an on-going task to keep up with training needs.  Please remember that our youth umpires are trying their best and are generally out there without anyone cheering them on in the stands or giving them those words of encouragement when mistakes are made.  They too are developing their game and we as a league have adopted a zero-tolerance policy to make sure there is an appropriate atmosphere for everyone involved in games at Memorial Fields.

Below is a summary of our expectations and policies regarding our umpires:

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The only adult who may approach a youth umpire with a question is the manager of the team.

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No assistant coaches may have a discussion with a youth umpire during the game.

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No one should “coach” the umpire during the game or give them “friendly tips”.  This includes coaches and/or spectators.

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Assistant coaches and managers may not guide or influence judgment calls.  

Coaches and spectators should not yell out “strike” or “ball” before the umpire even has a chance to make their call. 
Please let the umpires call the game without any assistance.

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Local rule 10.3  Encouraging Sportsmanshipd

Managers, coaches and players shall make every effort to urge parents and other spectators to respect the decisions of the umpires. The home plate umpire may suspend

play in any game where spectators are guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct. If the behavior continues, the umpire will suspend the game until the guilty spectator leaves the area of the field.  If the spectator is unaffiliated with either team, the game will be suspended until the situation is resolved. In extreme or unresolvable situations, the police should be called.

 

In 2012, our League President at the time, Tom Benneche, wrote a letter to the SLL Community entitled "They Are All Our Kids!"  
Below is a link to this letter as it embodies SLL's expectations regarding youth umpires.  

They Are All Our Kids! 
(May 15, 2012)

 

Thank you in advance for adhering to our policies and remembering that

the youth umpires are our kids!

 

 

 

• A 2x8 foot hard backed banner sign, using sponsor's logo, will be hung on the outfield fences of Memorial Park.
• A rotating web banner located at the top of the home page for SLL’s website (www.simsburylittleleague.com).  The banner will include a link to sponsor's website when available. Our webpage is where all Little League families go to register and to keep informed about upcoming dates.  With over 600 families in our league we have quite a lot of website traffic recorded throughout the year!

Tommy Tanski

Each year Simsbury Little League offers four $1500 scholarships to current High School seniors.  These scholarships are offered to seniors who participated in either the baseball or softball Little League program here in Simsbury.  The scholarships are given in memory of Tommy Tanski, who was a Simsbury High School junior, and a former Little League player, but passed away in a car accident in 2011.  

Tommy Tanski played Little League from 1999-2005 and during that time played for two district All Star Teams. He also played for the Strikers soccer team and played soccer in High School.  Tommy was a tremendous teammate and understood that his contribution was more about the team than any one individual.  

For many, the time playing Simsbury Little League baseball or softball is something to be cherished for years to come.  It is when friendships are formed, character is built and memories are made. During the registration process, please consider donating towards this scholarship fund and helping SLL continue to provide them in memory of Tommy Tanski.

To make a direct donation to this fund, please click HERE.

Thank-you!
SLL Board of Directors