New Registration Policy Eases Spring Preparations
If you don't read any other part of this newsletter, please read about this new registration policy!
- Any player whose application is received after March 15 will not be guaranteed a roster spot. A few additional applications may be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis, but only if we deem it to be in the interest of those who have registered on time.
- All registrations must be submitted either at a public registration event or by mail. Coaches and board members cannot accept registrations, otherwise.
So please plan to register on time. We are
serious about enforcing this new policy.
From March 15 to the start of the season we must draft teams, enlist coaches, finalize sponsor lists, order uniforms and equipment, and schedule games, fields, and umpires.
In the past, many timely registrants have had their experience diminished by late arrivals, and it was not fair to them. Since we want as many youngsters as possible to enjoy our great sport, please plan to register on time.
Thank you for your understanding.
From the President
The end of the winter is in sight and we can see spring training ahead of us. It is time to think baseball and softball again.
First of all, be aware of the new registration policy. Late registrants will not be automatically placed on teams. They will go on a waiting list with no guarantee of playing. So please don't be caught unregistered. An application is enclosed and we do have a walk in registration outlined in this newsletter. No exceptions will be made.
The winter months proved to be exciting. Your SYBS board worked hard during the period leading up to the holidays and preparation has turned to publishing this newsletter, getting ready for our final registration push and the unveiling of our new web site.
The biggest news is the approval of the lights at West Side Field. We offered a gift to the Town of lights for two diamonds to help alleviate the field availability crunch and to afford the opportunity for our kids to enjoy the thrill of night baseball and softball, mainly during the summer. Our gift included several other improvements to West Side Field.
It resulted in a long, drawn out debate with much press and much discussion. Ultimately, the Town accepted our gift, but asked that it be limited to lights for one diamond at this time. I am pleased that the SYBS board acted with the highest level of professionalism and respect for the process. I also want to thank all of the supporters that came and endured the proceedings. Your support went a long way in deciding the final vote. In the end, the Selectmen voted 4-1 in favor of the lights. I sincerely thank the four selectmen that supported SYBS and the youth of the Town and simply caring. Construction for the lights will begin in the early spring. Won't it be fun to come to West Side and enjoy a game and a burger?
In other winter news, SYBS has been awarded the 2000 11-year-old state tournament. The tentative start date for that tournament is July 21 and it will be held at West Side. There were several towns applying for the tournament and it is an honor to be selected. The baseball is generally high quality and exciting with the winner advancing to the New England Regionals and then on to the Cal Ripken Division World Series.
As always, we are still looking for volunteers to serve on our board of directors as well as other places, both behind the scenes and on the field. Most importantly, we are still without a Vice President of Softball. If you have a child in the softball program, won't you please consider helping us and especially the kids. Each board member is a volunteer and most are stretched to the maximum. We can really use your help. Please volunteer! It can be difficult but it is always rewarding.
Guest Column
By Joe Lang, Varsity Baseball Coach
The Middlesex School, Concord, Massachusetts
TAKE CARE
- Take care of your dreams,
For your dreams become your thoughts.
Take care of your thoughts,
For your thoughts become your words.
Take care of your words,
For your words become your actions.
Take care of your actions,
For your actions become your habits.
Take care of your habits,
For your habits become your destiny.
A resident of Winchester, I have been a high school baseball and football coach in the Greater Boston area for over 24 years. In that time I have gained a lot of baseball experience and as an educator have tried to impart those experiences to my student athletes. The above saying best describes the one attribute I value above all the rest - ATTITUDE.
In sports, there are many things you can't control, like the coach you have, the team you are selected by, or the competitiveness of your fellow teammates. But, the one part of sports you can control is your attitude. Baseball is probably the fairest sport that you can play, because there are no physical requirements. You don't have to be tall or big or exceptionally fast or even have a strong arm. There are nine positions on a baseball team and each requires a different skill. What this means then is that there is a potential for anyone who works at the skills needed for the position they may choose to excel at their chosen position. A short personal story will help illustrate this point.
Mike, is a former high school player of mine who wanted to be a varsity catcher in the worst way. However, the one major drawback to Mike's catching plans was that he had a very weak arm. Mike would not accept this coach's assessment of his situation and recommendation that he should move to another position. Instead, Mike figured out early in his career what he could do to compensate for his lack of strong throwing skills. He worked at developing precise footwork, a quicker release of the baseball, gained knowledge of what pitches to call with men on base and how to locate a pitched ball around the plate in order to make all of these skills work together. Mike worked hard at developing these skills for over two years by playing on every organized youth and club team that would have him.
Mike's good attitude and hard work paid off. He became the varsity catcher for his final two year's of high school, was elected captain of the baseball team his senior year, and threw out over 70% of the runners who tried to steal bases on him. Were there players on the team with stronger arms? Of course there were, but none of them wanted it more nor were willing to work as hard as Mike to achieve what they wanted most.
Good luck to all of the players in the Sachem Youth Baseball/Softball program this coming season. Remember from Mike's real life example to have dreams, maintain a good attitude, work hard, and develop good habits, and destiny will take care of itself.
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How to Register for the Spring 2000 Season
Registration for the spring baseball and softball season is well underway. If you have not yet registered, please do so by mail as soon as possible.
Please mail the completed form and payment as specified at the top of the form. Make a photocopy if necessary for multiple children or acquaintances or print one from our new web site (see article below); we require a separate form for each child. For those who prefer to register in person, the one opportunity to do so this year will be on Saturday March 4, 2000 in the Community Room at the Police Station from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon. A banner will be displayed downtown to remind the community of this event.
Parents, if you are unsure whether your children are already registered, please check the address label on this newsletter: Whether a child is registered for spring 2000 is so noted as "Reg" or "Not Reg" immediately after his/her name. Look for a separate symbol for each individual child.
Also, this is a perfect opportunity for parents to volunteer to help our organization by checking off one or more boxes on the registration form. A description of the duties of each volunteer position is shown on the reverse side of the form along with a description of the available leagues.
SYBS in Cyberspace
Sachem Youth Baseball/Softball announces its new web site. Go to the Town's site at www.WinchesterMass.org and follow the sports link to Youth Baseball/Softball. There you can find a wide variety of useful information including:
- Registration information
- Calendar of events
- League Schedules, standings, game write-ups
- Game cancellations during inclement weather
- SYBS organization information
- Useful links
So in besides finding up to date information about youth baseball and softball in Winchester, you can download registration forms, find links, and check to see if the weather has caused cancellation of the day's games.
Check it out and let us how you like it and what we might do to improve.
Baseball 101 (Part 6)
Basic Strategies
Baseball and softball often employ strategies to try to take advantage of particular game situations. Here are some of the basic ones. Some apply on offense, others on defense. Typically, the options on the large diamond (90-foot base paths) are more varied than on the 60-foot diamond because leading off the base is not allowed before the pitch crosses home plate on a small diamond.
Hit and run - this is when a base runner, usually at first base, begins to advance as if to steal, while the batter swings at the pitch trying for a hit. The advantage of a well executed hit and run is that it gives the runner an increased opportunity to advance to two bases on a single. Sometimes, the batter may hit the ball to the spot in the infield vacated by the second baseman who moves to cover second base when the runner appears to be stealing, resulting in a base hit that otherwise may not have occurred.
Sacrifice bunt - this is the situation in which bunts are seen most often. Usually a sacrifice bunt is used with a runner on first or runners on first and second in a close game. In calling for a bunt, the manager "sacrifices" an out by asking his batter to make a well placed bunt so the infielder can only make a play on the batter, allowing the base runners to move into scoring positions.
Squeeze Play - with a runner on third, the batter lays down a bunt, allowing the runner a chance to try to score. In a safety squeeze, the runner waits to see that the bunt is placed on the ground before running home while in a suicide squeeze, the runner leaves third when the pitcher is committed to throwing the ball to the plate. A safety squeeze requires a more accurately placed bunt in order to be successful. A suicide squeeze is riskier in that the batter may bunt a popup or fail to bunt the ball at all.
Infield in - this is a situation when, with a runner on third base and less than two outs, the defense may choose to play its infielders "in" (closer to home). By doing so, the infield can handle a ground ball sooner and throw it home over the shorter distance in an effort to keep the runner from scoring. The inherent risk is that a sharp ground ball hit to the side of an infielder may allow too little time to field it, thereby giving up a base hit that might not have occurred as well as giving up the run that they were trying to prevent.
Double Steal - The most common double steal situation in youth baseball is with runners on first and third. The runner from first will run toward second base, sometimes trying to get in a rundown, providing a distraction to the defense that might allow the runner from third to bolt home and score. This play is a challenge to both the offense and defense. Timing and quick thinking are critical to success. The defensive options to thwart the run are: (1) executing the rundown crisply; (2) ignoring the runner altogether; (3) throwing the ball to a decoy fielder like a charging middle infielder, the third baseman or the pitcher; and (4) having the catcher hold the ball. In any case, it is of utmost importance for the infield to be well schooled in this situation and to practice it regularly so that the splitsecond decisions will become instinctive reactions and precious little time will be wasted in executing each variation of this play.
Clinics Planned for Coaches
All managers and coaches will once again have the opportunity to attend coaches' clinics this spring. The sessions are intended for SYBS volunteers and will break down the appropriate skills and strategies needed for a given age and/or level of play. This is an excellent chance to review the basics of teaching baseball and softball to kids and also to compare notes with more experienced coaches.
Coaches are required to attend sessions based on the minimum training they need for the level at which they will be coaching, except when they have already had comparable training under our program in the past. All other volunteers are welcome to attend, if they so choose, even if not coaching this year. Clinics will take place in on March 21 and 28 and April 3 and 10 at Winchester High School, from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M.
Please talk to your league commissioner about the exact details including which sessions you should attend.
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