Freedom Program ManualRevised 3/6/2017

The Freedom Program is the LGSL All-Star program. The Freedom Program does not take the place of the House League, rather it extends competitive play once the House League season is over. The goal or intent of this program is to offer our registered LGSL players the opportunity to compete at a higher level of softball against other All Star teams in the Mid-Atlantic Area at a reasonable cost.

FREEDOM PROGRAM YEAR

The Freedom Program Year will consist of the Summer Season that will run through July 31. House League practices and games will take precedence over Freedom Team practices and games.

The Freedom Summer Season will consist of the following:

Practice – Begins on or about May 1st and will be conducted on Sundays until the House League’s Spring Season has been completed. Upon completion of the House League Spring Season, each Freedom Team will be granted additional practice slots per week. The number of additional practice slots per team will be determined by field availability.

The Freedom Summer Season will end July 31st. The Freedom Team may participate in any All-Star or C Level Tournament within the

Mid-Atlantic Area, as well as the Loudoun County Double Headers. Keep in mind that the Freedom program is not intended to be a travel program so coaches are strongly encouraged to keep all costs (tournament fees, fuel, hotel, etc.) at a reasonable level.

PLAYER EVALUATIONS

Freedom coaches must hold player evaluations prior to the start of a new Freedom Program Year. All players selected to play on an LGSL Freedom team will be selected based on playing ability. Any returning Freedom players from the previous year will be required to try out each Freedom Year. Tryouts will be held in April and will not take priority over any scheduled house league games or practices. Freedom Teams will be decided by May 1. The evaluation process will be conducted by the LGSL Board approved Freedom Team Manager and his or her LGSL

Board approved assistant coach under supervision. Players will be scored on four criteria: running, throwing, hitting and fielding.

The Freedom Director will monitor each age group’s evaluation process. The Freedom Director or other Board Members may be used to assist in the evaluation and/or selection process should the Head Coach request assistance. Head coaches must provide the Freedom Director with their proposed roster. The Freedom Director will be responsible for making team announcements and will notify all participants of the results of the evaluation via email within 5 days of the completion of the evaluations.

Contact the Freedom Director for the Freedom Team evaluation dates for your age group. Evaluation dates will also be posted on the LGSL website and communicated to the LGSL membership via email. Recruiting or advertising for players outside of LGSL is prohibited.

TEAMS

The Freedom teams will consist of a minimum of nine players and a maximum of 14 fully rostered players. A player’s selection for the Freedom Team will be based on playing ability. Should the Freedom Director determine that the conditions exist (see below) for more than one team in the 10U or 12U age group, the first team will be the Freedom Select and the second team will be the Freedom All Stars.

Age Divisions:

8U: LGSL will only field one team at the 8U level unless otherwise determined by the Freedom Director.

10U: LGSL will field two teams at the 10U level assuming the following conditions are met: Enough skilled players to sustain two teams (players should not be selected to a

Freedom team simply because they attended try outs) Adequate pitching/catching to support two teams

12U: LGSL will field two teams at the 12U level assuming the following conditions are met: Enough skilled players to sustain two teams (players should not be selected to a

Freedom team simply because they attended try outs) Adequate pitching/catching to support two teams

14U: LGSL will field one team at the 14U level.

Team Eligibility:

A Player’s eligibility in the Freedom Program is based on the age group that the player participated in during the House League Spring season of the same Freedom year. Players who chose to “play up” in the Spring House League must try out for the same age division for the Freedom Program. All current registered players that can commit to participating in the

Freedom Program and can also commit to participate in no less than 60% of their house league games as outlined on the player commitment form, is eligible to try out for the Freedom Program. Players must be registered for LGSL House League to participate in the Freedom Program. If at any time a player is not registered for House League (Spring or Fall) they will no longer be eligible to participate in the Freedom Program. Unlike House League, playing time is not guaranteed. Players who are rostered on a travel team at any point during the season are not eligible to play Freedom.

Uniforms:

Freedom teams will only wear LGSL approved uniforms. The Freedom Director is responsible for choosing and ordering Freedom uniforms. Uniforms will consist of one pair of softball pants, two Freedom jerseys/shirts and two pairs of socks. Uniform cost will be part of the player participation fee. Players may select their own jersey number, however if there are two teams in an age division, there may not be duplicate numbers between the teams. The Freedom Director and the coaches will work together to determine how to resolve duplicate numbers should the need arise. Coaches are encouraged to order an extra Freedom jersey/shirt to be used as a “blood jersey” or for use by a substitute.

Substitute Players:

If a Freedom team is short players due to injury or illness, teams may use substitute players. A substitute player may be a player from a lower age division Freedom team or, in the case of an age division with multiple teams, a player from the other Freedom team within the same age division. LGSL registered non-Freedom players may be used as substitutes only with the approval of the Freedom Director and only as a last resort. Players from leagues other than LGSL may not be used as a substitute player under any circumstances.

TEAM MANAGER (HEAD COACH) SELECTION

Any Coach wishing to be considered the Manager of a Freedom Team should submit a Freedom Manager Application to the LGSL Freedom Director or President. Applications will be accepted beginning at the LGSL coaches meeting each spring. The Freedom Manager application must include the age group of interest, coaching experience, and a commitment to compete with the team in post season play. Each applicant will agree to abide by the guidelines set forth in the LGSL Freedom Program Handbook.

The LGSL Freedom Director will review all applications and provide the LGSL Board with a Manager recommendation for each age group. Applicants must be current House League coaches and preference will be granted to House League Head Coaches. A copy of the Freedom Manager Application is included as Appendix A.

Head Coaches may select one assistant coach prior to player evaluations. Assistant Coaches must be board approved prior to evaluations and are required to have participated as a coach in

the current Spring Season, or be Board approved if they have not participated with LGSL in a coaching capacity, and will be held to uphold the same Code of Conduct. Subsequent to roster announcement, additional assistant coaches may be added to the coaching staff should the Head Coach so desire. Selection of Assistant Coaches should not be a tool used by Head Coaches simply to get the Assistant Coach’s daughter on the roster. All coaches are subject to a background check as per LGSL policy.

****Freedom Coach “renewal” from year to year is not automatic. Each Head Coach must reapply for a Head Coach position for each year they would like to coach. The LGSL Board reserves the right to remove any Freedom Team Manager or Coach should it be determined that the Manager or Coach has violated the LGSL Code of Sportsmanship or any Tournament rules for which their team has participated. Freedom Team Manager Responsibilities

In addition to coaching duties, each Freedom Team Manager will be required to submit a Freedom Team Roster, Team Schedule and Team Budget to the Freedom Director for approval, typically by mid-May for the Summer season. Failure to do so may result in the team’s double header or tournament play being delayed. The team participants will be responsible for all tournament and summer/fall league participation expenses (uniforms, tournament fees, field use fees, etc). The Team Manager is responsible for registering the team for any tournament or summer/fall league the team will participate in. No Freedom expenses will be paid unless sufficient funds exist in the team’s Freedom account. Coaches that pay expenses out of personal funds and request reimbursement do so at their own risk if funds are not available in their team’s Freedom account.

FREEDOM TEAM PARTICIAPTION FEE AND REGISTRATION

PLAYER PARTICIPATION FEES

The player participation fee for the Freedom Program, which will be different amounts for each team, will be based on the team schedule and may be subject to additional administrative fees as determined by the LGSL Board of Directors. Any administrative fees would include County field allocations fees, insurance costs and any processing fees incurred by the league to participate in tournament or summer/fall league play. It should be noted that the Team Schedule may be subject to change at the agreement of all team participants. Uniform cost will be included in the player participation fee.

Any surplus funds remaining at the conclusion of the Freedom Program Year, or equipment purchased with team funds, will revert to LGSL at the conclusion of the Freedom Program Year. Surplus funds may include, but are not limited to, player registration fees, sponsor donations, and fundraising proceeds. Surplus funds are not eligible for refunds or credits to other LGSL expenses/charges. These funds will be placed in a Freedom Scholarship fund to help players that have the skill but not the financial means participate in the LGSL Freedom Program.

PLAYER/PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Individual registration will be required for each player that has been selected to a Freedom Team. Upon acceptance of an invitation to participate on a Freedom Team, each player will be required to:

Complete the LGSL Freedom Team Registration & Commitment Form online Submit a copy of the player’s Birth Certificate if not already on file with the LGSL

Secretary

A copy of the LGSL Freedom Team Registration & Commitment Form is available from the Freedom Director.

LGSL BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES & SUPPORT

The Freedom Director is responsible for coordinating the LGSL Board Member support necessary to provide the following for each Freedom Team:

Player Evaluations – Scheduler and Freedom Director with additional assistance from House League and Travel Director.

Softball equipment (including catcher gear, bats, helmets/chin straps, scorebooks, and softballs) – Equipment Managers

Coordinate County Field Allocations and Scheduling Practices and Games – Scheduler Tournament and Summer/Fall League Payments – Freedom Director and Treasurer Team Money Management – Freedom Director and Treasurer Administrative Assistance – House League Director, Secretary & President

HANDBOOK REVISIONS

This handbook cannot foresee all possible scenarios that may arise over the course of the season. In the event that a situation arises that is not clearly defined in this handbook, the Freedom Director, with the assistance of the LGSL Board of Directors, shall resolve the issue. The LGSL Board shall resolve any interpretation issues. If any decision that needs Board involvement has to be made prior to the next scheduled Board Meeting, the Freedom Director shall submit the issue to the LGSL Board of Directors via email to obtain a timely decision.

The Freedom Director is responsible for overseeing the LGSL Freedom Program. At the end of each season, the Freedom Director will recommend any changes, deletions or additions to these guidelines for the LGSL Board’s consideration. The LGSL Board will be responsible for finalizing any changes to these guidelines.

APPENDIX A

FREEDOM MANAGER APPLICATION(Following)

Freedom Team Manager Application

Please print clearly

Today’s Date: _______________ Season Year:

Name:_____________________________________________________________

Address:___________________________________________________________

City: ___________________________ Zip: ____________

Sex:________ DOB_________________

Home Phone: ________________________

Cell Phone: _________________________

Work Phone: ________________________

E-mail:________________________________________________________

What age group do you wish to coach?

Age Group: 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U

Previous coaching experience (include both head and assistant coaching):

In LGSL (Include prior Freedom experience)

Year(s): ___________________________________________________

Team(s): __________________________________________________

Other Fast pitch Softball leagues

Year(s): ___________________________________________________

Age(s): ___________________________________________________

Other Sports leagues

Year(s): ___________________________________________________

Age(s): ___________________________________________________

Special sports training:**

Coaching Certifications Yes/No: _________ Year: _________

Other (list): ____________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Please provide the names and contact information of two (2) references that are non-family members.

1.

2.

Please provide the board with your coaching philosophy and over all approach to coaching and mentoring young ladies.

Completion of this form does not guarantee a position as a Freedom Team Manager. If you are selected for a Freedom managerial position, you will be expected to read and abide by the code of conduct set forth by the Loudoun County Parks, Recreation & Community Services (PRCS), as well as the rules and regulations of the associations to which the LGSL is affiliated. Violation of any rules, regulations or points of conduct may result in your removal from the position to which you are appointed, in accordance with the current By-Laws of the Leesburg Girls Softball League, Inc.

By signing below, you also agree to adhere to the requirements defined by the Board of Directors of the LGSL in its by-laws, the Freedom Program Manual or other directives.

______________________________________________ ________________ Signature of Applicant Date Note: The Leesburg Girls Softball League, Inc. will not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, gender, sexual orientation or disability.