Volunteers
Reston Little League is operated solely by the help of volunteers. The majority of help comes from the parents of the little leaguers, but you don't need to be a parent to volunteer your time!
There are numerous areas where Reston Little League can use help. Coaching, umpiring, field maintenance, fundraising, and events coordination are just a few of the areas where you can show off your skills! Lend a hand in support of Reston youth by volunteering a small portion of your time. The experience is rewarding!
Parents and other volunteers who wish to manage a team or serve as an assistant coach at any level must also complete the on-line volunteer application process. All managers and assistant coach applicants must apply on-line. If you haven't registered for Reston Little League in the past, you will need to create an account with In-Sports to complete the application.
The RLL Board of Directors has positions with varying areas of responsibility that include President, Vice President, Player Agent, Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Umpire, Quartermaster, Information Officer, Registrar, League Commissioners (All levels), Scheduler, Safety & Training and Fields Coordinator.
This individual is responsible for handling all aspects of team management. These include instructing players in the proper techniques of baseball during planned practices and games, soliciting volunteers to assist him in running the team, supporting the fund raising events of the league, teaching and demonstrating proper sportsmanship, insuring that the players and other personnel are safe at all times, requesting additional practice fields and times from the scheduler in case of postponements, and managing the player participation during games consistent with the league rules for minimum and maximum game time. Managers are responsible for carrying out the RLL safety plan in regards to use of the proper equipment, proper evacuation when inclement weather occurs during practices and games, and the proper response and treatment in the case of injury to a player, coach, or spectator. Managers should attend all instructional classes provided by the league. Administratively, the manager must represent the attitude and philosophy of the league in reporting to their respective commissioner: results, pitchers used, etc., field conditions, umpire issues for improving the league, parent issues if they are obstructing the team harmony, player evaluations for the Player Agent, and clarification on any rules issues. This position requires a significant time commitment on the part of the individual, but can rely on the assistant coach as an occasional backup.
The assistant coach’s job is to help the team’s manager. He may occasionally be called upon to perform all the manager’s functions. An assistant coach helps the manager in running practices and developing the skills of the players. During games, assistant coaches may coach the bases or monitor the player behavior in the dugout, or even be the scorekeeper.
We have found it difficult for a manager and assistant coach to provide the individual level of instruction needed in the T-ball division. We need T-ball Parents to learn the baseball techniques with their child from their coaches during practices, and assist the children in providing personal instruction and guidance to their child as well as others whose parents are unable to attend.
The Team Volunteer Coordinator acts as a liaison between the manager and the team’s parents/guardians, to ensure that all required efforts can be accomplished. Many of these efforts are listed below, including Scorekeeper, Scoreboard Operator, Picnic Volunteer and Publicity. It is up to the team regarding whether have a post-season party. This person would coordinate this type of effort as well.
The Team Field Coordinator is responsible for all field maintenance activities. These include attending any field day activities, performing field maintenance such as raking before and after the game with the Coordinator of the opponent team, laying down the chalk foul lines and batters’ boxes, and reporting to the League Field Coordinator any needs required at the fields where their team’s games and practices are held. The Team Field Crew is responsible for executing the work required by the Team’s Field Coordinator. All Team Field Crew volunteers, including the Coordinator, are required to attend a field maintenance training session presented by the League’s Field Coordinator.
The League Coordinator is responsible for scheduling the concession stand, in concert with the league’s game schedules, ensuring the inventory is well-stocked, and collection of funds. The Division Coordinators act as liaison between the league and teams. They can also fill in for the League Coordinator if necessary. Team Staffing of the concession stand not only includes the managing of the cash box as well as the drinks and snacks inventory during the game, but also the responsibility of returning the cash box to one of the league’s concession stand coordinators. Typically the concession stand is opened at least 30 minutes prior to the earliest game and closed within 15 minutes of the last game’s completion.
Umpires are needed for behind the plate and in the field. Umpires must be of age that makes them ineligible for playing Little League (13 years old as of 4/30) . Youth Umpires may be compensated for umpiring, but adults are not. Youth Umpires are required to attend any training offered by the league. It is recommended that adults also attend the training depending on their experience.
Our experience suggests it is difficult to provide umpires for all games. We need volunteers to Umpire games when our staffing is inadequate. These volunteers are expected to know the game rules, and act as unbiased as possible while their young family member will be playing on one of the teams. We expect each team to supply one Team Umpire for each game if no League Umpire has been assigned. The Team Umpires may rotate between plate and base duty. Although umpire gear is available in each equipment box at the ball fields, if desired the plate umpire may take his/her position behind the pitcher.
Team Sponsors will have their name on the back of the player’s uniforms for the team they sponsor as well as have an advertisement in the RLL yearbook. Prices will be provided on request.
The League’s Fundraising Coordinator is responsible for managing the League’s chosen fundraising effort among all the teams. Scheduling, collection of funds raising, ordering of prizes are among the duties of the League’s coordinator. This person hosts league-wide fundraising meetings and attends sessions on the days of the events. Division Coordinator oversees activities with their division, works closely with the league coordinator, and acts as a liaison between the league and the teams. The Team Fundraising Coordinator is responsible for handling the paperwork, promoting the effort to the team, and distributing and collecting raffle tickets. Team coordinators are required to attend some meetings and organize their team's fundraising efforts.
Reston Little League is part of Virginia’s Little League District 4. Each year, at the end of the house league season, all-star teams containing children between the ages of 9 and 12 play in district tournaments, for the right to represent District 4 at the Virginia State Championships. Fox Mill District Park will host many of the games within the district. Division Coordinators for each tournament are needed to ensure teams of individuals are available to host the tournament games as representatives of Reston Little League. These teams are responsible for field preparation and clean-up, scorekeeping, announcing and concession sales, typically at both Fox Mill Fields simultaneously.
The scorekeeper is responsible for keeping accurate stats in a team score book during the game. Scorekeeping includes entering the lineups, recording all hits, walks, strikeouts, runs, etc. while following the standard procedures used universally by scorekeepers (these procedures are easy to learn). In addition, the scorekeeper may be called upon to track the number of pitches thrown by each individual pitcher during the game (AA, AAA, Majors only). Scorekeepers must be willing to give the game their full attention during play.
The Scoreboard Operator is responsible for setting up the equipment before the game, recording the innings, outs, balls, strikes and runs during the game and returning the scoreboard equipment to the concession stand shed after the game is over.
The RLL picnic has many varied volunteer opportunities required to make the picnic a success. These include set up (tents, food stands, etc.), food and drink dispensing, picnic activity assistance, and cleanup.