The GENERALS Teams strive to create a culture that offers mentorship, developmental instruction, and guidance as athletes and their families move from the little diamond, transition to the big diamond, prepare for high school, and reach the collegiate and professional levels. While doing this, the coaches and the players of The GENERALS use practice, training, and competition to cultivate character,integrity, respect (for the game, teammates, coaches, parents, umpires, and the opposition) self-discipline, grit, and resiliency.
MikeMethany, the manager of theSt.LouisCardinals, sent a letter home to the parents of his son’s travel team. The five-page, 2,556-word letter that has come to be called the "MathenyManifesto" was writtenin a flash ofinspiration and frustration during a flight from New York toSt.Louisin 2009. Several years before the Cardinals hiredMikeMathenyto be their manager, friends pursued the longtime catcher to coach their sons'St.Louis-area youth baseball team. A veteran of 13 yearsin the major leagues and a witness to countless momentsin youth sports that disturbed him,including overbearing coaches and conflict with aggressive parents,Mathenyresisted their repeated invitations. On that flight home, he reconsidered, under certain conditions.Mathenypulled out hislaptop, clicked open a blank page and started writing the terms of his participation. Hereis the "MathenyManifesto."
We will never claim to be as knowledgeable as CoachMatheny, we werenot as talented a player as he, andwe may notcoach at the MLB level. Nonetheless,we have great respect for Mike’s message, and as educators and mentors of young people,we areimpressed by how well he composed his constitution.
GENERALS Coaches are expected to be teachers and mentors. Also, coaches are to represent the players well and to respect the game by beingin uniform, never using foul language, and never chewing tobacco. Communication with both parents and playersis essential. Coaches are asked to buildinto their practice sessions time at the end to speak with 2-5 players about goals and developing skills. Also, coaches will email parentsand players information regarding schedules, meeting times, locations, or otheritems.
The GENERALS pride ourselvesinorganizinga very efficient and effective practice.Thereis an adage that says "You don't rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training." We feel that players deserve a genuine experience to prepare them for the games.One of our objectivesis to make practice challenging and fast-paced so that games slow down and become less stressful.Many well-intending coachesorganizethings so that theinverseis true – practiceis easy and games are overwhelming.The GENERALS coaches are expected to do most of our coachingin practice to develop eachplayer’sskills and BaseballIQ.Come game time, the coaches are expected to talk strategy and BaseballIQ, but you will not see us yelling at our players.The games are for the kids to play, execute, and perform.Itis their time. GENERALS coaches are expected to encourage and support their players. Since we are limitedin time outside for practices, there are elements of the game that we have not yet covered especially early in theseason. Coaches will be taking notes as to the skillsthat we need to either refine orinstruct, and this will be our game plan for theupcomingpractices. Also, we stress aggressive baseball thatisintelligent and focused. Winningis often a by-product of the process and preparation.
GENERALS Teams will practice a minimum of 4 times prior to the firstscheduled game or tournament. Once game/tournament play begins, GENERALS Teams will practice a minimum of 1 day a week. With rainoutsor inclementweather, practices may moveindoors. If a practice is cancelled, all attempts will be made to reschedule, but all practices may not be made up.
Regarding winning, coaches will never compromise a young athlete’s career and well-beingin order to bring home the hardwarein a tournament. Coaches keep pitch counts and use theinformation below as a guide when using pitchers. Also, coaches will speak with parents directly to get approvalif using a pitcher more than usual. The following is the Pitch Count Guidelines from USA Baseball and the American Sports Medicine.
Recommended limits for 9-10 year old pitchers: 50 pitches per game, 75 pitches per week, 1000 pitches per season
Recommended limits for 11-12 year old pitchers: 75 pitches per game, 100 pitches per week, 1000 pitches per season
Recommended limits for 13-14 year old pitchers: 75 pitches per game, 125 pitches per week, 1000 pitches per season
Recommended limits for 15-16 year old pitchers: 95 game
As Coach Methany stated, the umpiring at our tournaments will often be less than perfect. Thisis a given. We expect GENERALScoaches and the players to be respectful of the umpires by notarguingballs,strikes, and callsonthe field. We expect the same of the GENERALS parents fans in attendanceas well.
Thedugoutis for the players and coaches only. Parents are not permittedin or around thedugout. The parents’ areaisin the bleachers orin the area designated for spectators. We haveseen parents participatefrom the stands atin-house and with travel baseball. Thisis not permitted with The GENERALS. We, as a coaching staff, discuss this with the players often. Parents are expected not to bein or near thedugoutto poke their headsin to sayhior see how their sonis doing. Parents are not to drop off drinks or snacksin the dugout. At several tournament venues, there are often nophysicaldugouts, so pleaserespect the area thatis outlined as the dugout. Also, players are not to haveanyfoodin thedugoutexcept seeds, a food bar, a very smallsnack, ora drink. Anything that a player needs should be with him prior to the game, yet we do understand that some players have specific needs because of medical reasons. Please discuss this with the coach first. However, hot dogs, soft pretzels, hoagies,pizza, cheese fries, etc... are not permittedin thedugout. Further,GENERALS parents are not to be coaching their child during the game, nor are they to make comments directed to opposing team's players, coaches, or parents.
Early on in the season andthroughout year, coaches stress to the players about respecting the game, the umpires, the other team, theirteammatesand coaches.Challenging umpires, disrespecting players on the other teams, being condescending toteammatesand talking back to coaches will not be tolerated. Throwing gloves, bats, and helmetsin frustration will have consequences.Players will be removed from the gameif they aredisrespectfulor throw objects.We just want to be clear on this topic. Players will be removed from a gameif they are disrespectfulor throw objects.
Further, players are expected to hustle at all times and to sprint on and off the field.If teams are waiting for their next game to start, players are to be respectful.Anytime a playeris wearing his GENERALS uniform or gear, heis expected to conduct himself appropriately.
Coaches have organizedtheirteam’sbattinglineup and have outlined a strategy regarding pitching and defensive positions for games.With thisin mind, games are fluid and they do not always unfold according to the outline.By this,wemean that a pitcher scheduled to pitch only oneinning may go twoinningsif he has a 6 or 10 pitchinnings.Also, players are scheduled to play a minimum of half the game, butif a gameis stopped early because of the mercy rule,or because the game's time limit has expired, balanced playing time may not result. Also,if a GENERALS Teamis starting one of their more dominant pitchers on a Saturday morning, and the team they are playingis found to be weaker, a coach may elect to remove his better pitcher to strategically utilize him more effectively against a more competitive team.
One of our goals fordefenseis to put players in a position and situation where he can succeed.For example, a player whois aleftymay not do as well at third as he wouldin the Outfield. An athlete who has developing hand-eye coordination may not succeed as Catcher but might do fine elsewhere. One whois still evolving regarding lateral movement will not do as well playing Short Stop or Second Base as he would at 3rd.Further, we may move players around until we find the chemistry for the team. Players will not play every position as they mightinin-house or travel baseball.
Parents, please do not approachanyof the GENERALS coaches regarding playing time and positions.Frequently,this happens afterin-house and travel ball, butis not tolerated with The GENERALS.We have heard parentalinfluence on a coach’s line-up or defensive positions frequently referred to as “Daddy Ball.” We do not operate that way. Kindly,anyquestions orinquiries regarding positioning are to be directed solely to the Directors. We request that anyinquiries be made 36 hours after the final out of the last game. Thank you forhonoringthis request. Families who do not honor this request will be asked to leave The GENERALS.
For 12U and younger, depending on tournament rules and considering team needs, Pool Round game day philosophy will be one of the following where all athletes are scheduled to play a minimum of half the game on defense: a lineup with all players batting allowing for unlimited substitutionin the field; a lineup of nine or ten with the non-starting players entering the game on defense andin the batting order halfway through the game. Also, 12u and younger players will have an opportunity to start approximately half of the Pool Round games. During the Seeding Round, Medal Rounds, or Championship Game (which normally occur on Sundays), line-ups may be constructed more strategicallydepending on team needs and player's skills and abilities. All attempts will be made to get all athletesin these games to contribute for defensive purposes, at-bats, and baserunning, but all players may not play half the gamein the seeding rounds. On occasion, a player might not make an appearancein the semi-final and finals game. The coaching staff is selected for The GENERALS because they areempatheticindividualswho operateand make decisions with eachplayer’s well-beingin mind. Please know that when a GENERALS coach looks down thebenchin a game,in the event where a players has not had a chance to play, heis analyzing how and when he can have aplayercontributeand participate. Further, since the 90' diamond demands more from players, and since roster spots are very position-specific, coaches at this level may use a more strategic approach for lineups and defense. For example, the catcher-pitcher battery may result in a catcher playing the entire game to catch a pitcher who throws a complete game resulting in not all players making an appearance in that game.
Regarding tuition, a check is required at tryouts. Checks are to be made out to BCBA.If an athlete is not selected for the team, his deposit check will be shredded. Any checks, electronic payments, or cash tuition payments remitted by players are non-refundable once an athlete commits to The GENERALS team. If a player chooses or elects to discontinue participation with The GENERALS for any reason, tuitionreimbursem*nt will not be offered.In the event that atournament or eventis rained out or cancelled completely, all attempts will be made to schedule another event; however, reimbursem*nt maynot beofferedif a new make-up event is not organized or if the published fees of the new tournament or eventdoes not parallel thepublished feesfor the cancelled tournament or event. Also, if an athlete is unable to attend the tournament or event that replaces a rained out or cancelled tournament or event, tuition reimbursem*nt isnot offered. Tuition is not prorated nor refunded if a player misses any tournaments, games, practices, showcases, or other GENERALS event. This includes if a playermakes a high school varsity or JV team, or is called up to a JV or varsity team at any part of the season. Tuition is not prorated nor refunded for cancelled practices and training sessions. Tuition is not refunded nor prorated due to to COVID limitations or cancellations; tuition may only be directly applied to future GENERALS teams tuition. Prorated tuition may beoffered for Guest Players or individual in a team GENERALS Player Development Program.
By trying out and/or playing for The GENERALS, you understand and accept these terms outlined explicitly or otherwise implied.
