First, a BIG thank you for volunteering your time to help the LRSL to provide a positive softball experience to your daughters. Volunteers like you help us provide a quality recreational softball experience for our daughters.

If this is your first year as a Team Mom/Manager, you might have questions about what kind of help a Team Mom/Manager is supposed to provide.  Here is a sampling of what to expect.

1. COACH HELP: Remember, we are all volunteers and have jobs and lives outside of softball and we recognize our spare time is limited. In addition to spending time on the field during practices and games, coaches must also prepare drills and position assignments outside of practice time. Therefore, please help out the Coach as much as possible by making phone calls to players about practice/game times, reminding each parent of their assigned snack contribution, helping with Team/Player picture collection and distribution, keeping the dugout area clean, helping to organize the parents for an end of season team party, making fliers and handing out league notices to your players. I know the commitment for practices and games can be time consuming. However, this is an opportunity to spend time with your daughter at her “office” or “workplace.” So, the Team Mom/Manager position can be a rewarding one when it comes to bonding with your daughter and interacting with your Ranchos neighbors.

2. TEAM SNACKS: The Team Mom/Manager is responsible for assigning each parent on the team the responsibility for supplying a post-game snack for the team. The parent-snack schedule for the season should be prepared and distributed prior to the first game. If a player’s parent cannot provide a snack after a particular game, the parent should notify you so that you can arrange another parent to fill in or trade games. If a parent forgets to bring a snack, then they can still provide the snack by purchasing “Player Meals” from the Snack Bar. Player Meals are an inexpensive, convenient way for parents to provide post-game snacks. Player Meals cost $1 and include a hot dog, Capri Sun drink, and a treat. We are somewhat limited in our food options in the Snack Bar, but our Snack Bar Coordinator is more than willing to work with Team Mom/Managers and parents to develop alternative “Player Meals.” The Team Mom/Manager is responsible for making sure the Snack Bar Coordinator or the other Snack Bar Helpers are notified before each game whether they intend to purchase Player Meals after that game. This enables the Snack Bar to have all Player Meals ready to go when the game is over, and the Player Meals are distributed quickly and efficiently.


3. DUG OUT/CONDUCT: At games, ASA regulations require that only Coaches and Team Moms/Managers are allowed in the dugout with the players. While you are in the dugout, part of your responsibilities are to help keep the players’ morale up by reminding them that this is to be a fun experience and they are there to learn more about softball. Encourage the girls to sing softball songs or cheers so long as they are respectful of the other team. No one is permitted to yell at the Umpire, Coach, opposing Coach, or any player. Please do not hesitate to report inappropriate behavior by parents, coaches, other players or anyone else. The goal of the recreational league is to provide a fun experience for developmental softball. We are not competing in professional sports. There is a contact sheet in the Coach’s binder that has a list of names and phone numbers of Board members who can be contacted during a practice, game or other league event if immediate action is required.

4. SNACK BAR: In addition to the Snack Bar Helpers, the league needs volunteers to assist in assembling and serving food (such as at a BBQ hosted by the league), help set up/break down tables and chairs, and unloading the Snack Bar supply truck and stocking the Snack Bar. The Snack Bar may also need additional assistance during Opening Day and End of Season Ceremonies. The Team Mom/Manager can help the league by calling parents who signed a volunteer sheet to help with these additional Snack Bar duties. If you have any questions about Snack Bar related issues, please contact the current Snack Bar Coordinator.  They can be found in the LRSL Board Members tab on this website.

5. WEB SITE: Encourage parents to check the League website (www.libertyranchossoftball.org) frequently for information about league activities, game times/dates, team pictures, and photos of the players. The website is a convenient way to notify parents/players of news about league activities. If you have any information you believe should be posted in the “Team Mom” area or elsewhere on the website, contact the Website Coordinator or League President.

All in all this is becoming one of my favorite summer things to watch.  And with two younger kids I'm content to know that I'll be enjoying this for quite a long time.