2) Batathon is planned for May 10th (along with our league Parade through the Borough, from Pickering to Chandler). This is CRNAA's only fundraiser and is very important to the league's operational successes. Please take the steps necessary to ensure that your team contributes this season to the most successful Batathon in League history. How can you do that? Get organized. Assign 2 team parents to participate on the Batathon committee. Experience tells us that, those teams that plan ahead are the teams with the highest sponsorship point total. Get started. The sooner the kids begin, the better. Batathon packets should be available by Opening Day, or shortly thereafter. Get involved. Follow-up and encourage your team to actively participate in the Batathon Fund Raiser, from day 1. Matt Schram is the CRNAA Fund Raising Coordinator and will be organizing the Batathon Committee (including your team parents) very soon. Again, this is our ONLY fundraiser, and this money helps offset the cost of large, expensive projects - like fieldwork.

3) 3 of our fields (2 at Chandler and Pickering) have recently undergone or in the process of undergoing significant improvements. The infield on the Front Field at Chandler has been completely re-worked, while the Back Field was given just enough attention to make it look like new again. They both look incredible! Shortly, Pickering will look like new, also. As you can imagine, this effort was not cheap (see note about Batathon, above). In order to protect against CRNAA having to do this EVERY year, we need to ensure that we manage the care of these fields - before AND after games AND practices. Glenn Seibert, the CRNAA Fields Coordinator, has organized coordinators for each field and they are the go to people when it comes to fields. At the same time, Managers, Coaches, AND Parents need to contribute too. Please make sure that you adhere to the guidelines (in the Division rules and on the website) established for field care and seek out Glenn or any one of his coordinators should you have any questions. In the case of proper care, it is more than just doing it - but also doing it the right way.

4) Snack Shacks - if you haven't already, please take the steps necessary to ensure that you have 2 parents available to work the Shack, at your respective complex, during each and every one of your home games. I would suggest that you assign 1 parent as your team Coordinator and have that parent take on the job of scheduling Shack coverage. Donna McCormick Miller (Chandler) and Danielle Teta (Pickering) are the CRNAA Shack Coordinators, but should not be expected to work the Shack anymore than any parent should. They have plenty to do in managing their Shacks and should not have additional or fill-in Shack duty included in their job description. It would go a long way in helping Donna and Danielle if you not only assigned a team Coordinator, but also got that name to them.

5) Know your Division Rules, inside and out. Kevin O'Shea, CRNAA VP, put a great deal of time and effort in ensuring that the rules at each level of play were updated and appropriate. Please don't deviate from what is intended to make the game run according to plan.

6) Little League Baseball should be a positive experience for all involved. Yes, we keep score, track wins and losses, and reward the Division (Babe Ruth, Majors, National, and American) Champions at the end of the year. Please don't let these facts get in the way of ensuring that each player on your roster gets equal playing time, in the outfield AND infield, and even gets to pitch. This is especially true in the younger Divisions (National and American), which are intended to be instructional levels. Win or lose, first place or last, the kids will forget the result before they go to bed. Please keep things in perspective.

7) Kid umpires will be used in the American and National Divisions. Do not ever challenge or argue an umpire's judgment call...not ever. Only get involved when there is a clear rules violation. When this occurs, discuss it with the other team's Manager, correct the situation, and move on.

8) Please take the time, and encourage your players and parents to do the same, to thank the many volunteers that contribute to the successful running of what I know to be the best youth sports organization in Bucks County, if not further. Without these volunteers, CRNAA would not be the league that it is today. This includes you all, so thanks!

See you at the fields!

Tom Rogers
President, CRNAA