coaches corner

Thank you for stepping up to get involved — we truly appreciate it. Our league runs because of volunteers like you who are willing to give their time and energy to our players.

If you haven’t already, please be sure to register as a volunteer before the season begins. It’s a quick and easy process — just follow our step-by-step guide and you’ll be all set.

We’re grateful to have you as part of the team and look forward to a great season together.

Zero Tolerance Policy for FMYSA League Play (including TEBA & Interlock)

1.       FMYSA has ZERO TOLERANCE for: Threats, Abusive Language, or Out of Control Behavior by any of its members (players, parents, family members, fans, assistant coaches or head coaches) towards any league official (umpires, tournament officials, etc.), league volunteers or employees, other league members, Town of Flower Mound officials or employees, or opposing teams (players, coaches, fans). NOTE: Same policy applies for “away games.”

a.      Ejections, or Written Reports (the filing of an official Grievance) that rise to the level of: “Threats, Abusive Language, or Out of Control                      Behavior” willresult in an Immediate Suspension from the team and all league activities.

                                      i.     Suspended persons shall not attend: Practices, Games, or any Team Activities

                                    ii.     Umpires are required to report such behavior and must report ALL ejections

                                  iii.     A detailed investigation will follow by the Zero Tolerance Committee (the committee is comprised of the League President/UIC, the                                                    appropriate League VP, and the General Manager) with interviews of witnessing and/or involved parties

                                  iv.     Initial Suspension Period is 10-days (while the investigation takes place)

b.      Reinstatement Procedure.

                                      i.     Requires an in-person meeting with the Zero Tolerance Committee (and potentially the Age Group Director and HC if the suspended                                                person is an assistant coach or parent, etc.)

                                    ii.     If approved for reinstatement, the length of suspension will be determined as a result of the reinstatement meeting and would be one                                               of these options:

a.      10-days (minimum, even if the investigation and committee meeting take less than 10-days)

b.      1-month

c.       1-season (remainder of)

d.      If not approved for reinstatement for the season, a permanent suspension may be issued

                                  iii.     The suspended person (receiving a 1-season or permanent suspension) may appear before the full FMYSA Board (at the next                                                                scheduled board meeting) if they wish to plead their case to reduce their suspension.

USA Baseball Certifications Required for Coaches & Team Managers

FMYSA is proud to be a USA Baseball BASE Certified Organization. To help provide a safe and positive environment for our players, all on-field coaches and team managers are required to complete and maintain their USA Baseball certifications.

Requirements may include:

Annual Background Check

Abuse Awareness for Adults Training

USA Baseball "A" Certification (for applicable coaches)

Linking your USA Baseball account to Flower Mound Youth Sports Association

These certifications help ensure our volunteers are properly trained in player safety, abuse prevention, and best coaching practices.

Please note: Coaches and team managers who do not complete the required certifications may not be permitted to participate in practices or games until all requirements have been satisfied.

For assistance with the certification process, please contact the FMYSA Administration Office during regular business hours, Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

For All New Coaches:

New Users Guide

For Returning Coaches

Abuse Awareness

Background Check

"A" Certification

Posted Feb 8, 2018, Updated June 2021 (Earth Networks)

FMYSA SEVERE WEATHER POLICY (LIGHTNING/THUNDERSTORMS)

Lightning & Severe Weather. Lightning and Severe Weather are genuine safety hazards that must be viewed seriously. Everyone should immediately seek shelter any time they believe lightning threatens them. Many of our ballparks are now equipped with Earth Networks Lightning Detection Systems. This new system (installed/operational June 2021) will sound ONE 15 SECOND BLAST OF THE HORN which signals the suspension of all activities (practices, games, activities). A WHITE STROBE LIGHT will then flash and remain flashing until safe conditions return. Activities may resume after THREE 5 SECOND BLASTS OF THE HORN (the white light will also cease flashing). If you feel threatened by lighting, you should seek shelter even if the horn does not sound. If directed by the FMYSA General Manager or FMYSA Board Members to “seek shelter” you must do so immediately and ensure your players and parents do the same regardless of whether or not the Earth Networks System as sounded. PLEASE NOTE: if the system doesn't fire and there is no FMYSA staff at your location, use your best judgment and err on the side of caution, SAFETY FIRST!

PLEASE NOTE: You may access a "Count Down Clock" for the following locations: Bakersfield Park, Gerault Park, Jakes Hilltop Park and Glenwick Park, by accessing "Lightning Delay Information" on the FACILITY TAB of the FMYSA website.

ARTICLE (local Dallas Area Death) REMINDING EVERYONE OF THE DANGERS OF LIGHTING:

https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2018/08/clay-jones-forney-lightning-loss-football/

You should seek shelter in your vehicles. DO NOT REMAIN AT THE BALL FIELDS OR STAY IN THE DUGOUTS OR BLEACHERS.

Coaches, first and foremost, you are responsible for the safety and well-being of your players and parents in these situations. Lead by example and seek safety immediately, nothing is more important.

One estimate is that 24,000 people are killed by lightning strikes around the world each year and about 240,000 are injured. (Source: Ronald L. Holle. 10th International Lightning Detection Conference. Tucson, Arizona, USA. Retrieved on 2011-11-08.)

Coaches – failure to observe the Lightning and Severe Weather warnings, either from the Earth Networks Lightning Detection System or FMYSA General Manager or FMYSA Board Members will result in your team’s loss of scheduled practice time. Repeated failure to enforce this policy with your team will lead to suspension. We have ZERO TOLERANCE regarding this safety issue. This policy will be enforced by the FMYSA Board and the FMYSA General Manager. SAFETY FIRST!

Severe Thunderstorms – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

A thunderstorm is considered severe if it produces hail at least 1 inch in diameter or has wind gusts of at least 58 miles per hour. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people some years than tornadoes or hurricanes. Heavy rain from thunderstorms can cause flash flooding. High winds can damage homes and blow down trees and utility poles, causing widespread power outages. Every year people are killed or seriously injured because they didn't hear or ignored severe thunderstorms warnings. The information in this section, combined with timely watches and warnings about severe weather, could save your life.

• Listen to local news or NOAA Weather Radio for emergency updates. Watch for signs of a storm, like darkening skies, lightning flashes or increasing wind.

• If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be in danger from lightning. If thunder roars, go indoors! Don't wait for rain. Lightning can strike out of a clear blue sky. Learn more about lightning safety.

• Avoid electrical equipment and corded telephones. Cordless phones, cell phones and other wireless handheld devices are safe to use.

• If you are driving, try to safely exit the roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends.

• If you are outside and cannot reach a safe building, avoid high ground; water; tall, isolated trees; and metal objects such as fences or bleachers. Picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are NOT safe.

FMYSA’s Severe Weather Policy is that we mandate stoppage of game play or practice (or special events) and insist all players, parents, coaches, fans move to the safety of their vehicles. If an Earth Networks System sounds an alarm, we vacate the fields to the safety of our vehicles. Also, the FMYSA General Manager or any FMYSA Board Member may also provide instruction to vacate the fields in the event the Earth Networks System is offline or fails, or in anticipation of a fast-moving (fast approaching) storm. We constantly monitor multiple weather websites and work with the TOFM Emergency Management Staff. It is always SAFETY FIRST.

Posted Feb 8, 2018

FMYSA COLD WEATHER POLICY

Cold exposure can be uncomfortable, impair performance and even become life threatening. Conditions created by cold exposure include frostbite and hypothermia. Wind chill can make activity uncomfortable and can impair performance when muscle temperature declines. Frostbite is the freezing of superficial tissues, usually of the face, ears, fingers, and toes. Hypothermia, a significant drop in body temperature, occurs with rapid cooling, exhaustion and energy depletion. The resulting failure to the temperature regulating mechanisms constitutes a medical emergency. Hypothermia frequently occurs at temperatures above freezing. A wet and windy 30-50 degree exposure may be as serious as a subzero exposure. For this reason FMYSA is developing a cold weather policy using the wind chill factor not the ambient temperature. Wind speed interacts with ambient temperature to significantly increase body cooling. When the body and clothing are wet (whether from sweat, rain, snow or immersion), the cooling is even more pronounced due to evaporation of the water held close to the skin by the wet clothing.

Clothing is one of the most important parts of keeping the athlete’s body warm. Athletes should dress in layers and try and stay dry. Layers can be added or removed depending on temperature, activity and wind chill. Athletes should layer themselves with wicking fabric next to the body, followed by lightweight pile or wool layers for warmth. Athletes should use a wind block garment to avoid wind chill during workouts. Heat loss from the head and neck may be as much as 50% of total heat loss; therefore the head and neck should be covered during cold conditions. Other extremities should be covered at all times to protect from the wind chill.

COLD EXPOSURE:

• Breathing of cold dry air can trigger asthma attach (bronchospasm).

• Coughing, chest tightness, burning sensation in throat and nasal passage.

• Reduction of strength, power, endurance and aerobic capacity.

• Core body temperature reduction, causing reduction of motor output.

COLD RECOGNITION:

• Shivering, a means for the body to generate heat.

• Excessive shivering contributes to fatigue, loss of motor skills.

• Numbness and pain in fingers, toes, ears and exposed facial tissue.

• Drop in core temperature; Athlete exhibits sluggishness, slowed speech, disoriented.

• CHAIN OF COMMAND:

THE FOLLOWING CHAIN OF COMMAND WILL OCCUR:

NOTIFICATION OF TEMPERATURE

• FMYSA General Manager will obtain weather report from National Weather Service (or other reliable national weather service provider) and email current temperature, wind chill and precipitation to FMYSA Board Members.

• Weather reports are only required on days where the temperature concerns are warranted, i.e. a weather forecast, or weather statement, or weather advisory has been issued where temperatures are forecasted to below 32 degrees or below 40 degrees with precipitation.

• With Board Approval (President or EVP) FMYSA General Manager will “Close the Fields” by notifications to the league membership on the FMYSA Website and FMYSA Social Media Outlets.

ENFORCEMENT OF POLICIES:

• Violation of policies will be reported to the FMYSA Board. Consequences will be; loss of scheduled practice time, suspension from coaching, or dismissal from coaching, for any coaches that violates this policy.

FMYSA LEAGUE POLICY:

WIND CHILL FACTOR LESS THAN 32 DEGREES:

• No outside exposure.

WIND CHILL FACTOR LESS THAN 40 DEGREES WITH PRECIPITATION:

• No outside exposure.

TOURNAMENT POLICY:

• Decision to be made on-site by Tournament Director with support from League President and or League Executive Vice President.

Heads Up - Concussion Information

Keeping children and teens healthy and safe is always a top priority.Whether you are a parent, youth sports coach, school coach, school professional, or health care provider, this site will help you recognize, respond to, and minimize the risk of concussion or other serious brain injury.

 A Fact Sheet for Youth Sports Coaches

A Fact Sheet for Youth Sports Parents