Manawa Youth Sports Association is 100% volunteer-run. As a small community, we rely on parents, grandparents, community members, and others who can help in a variety of capacities.
Coaches
Each team needs a head coach who is willing to schedule and plan practices, schedule games with coaches from other communities, manage the team equipment, be responsible for all parent communication, ensure player safety, and of course, coach games. Head coaches must be at least 18 years old. All coaches are required to sign a coach’s code of conduct and submit information for a confidential school-performed background check. This ensures the safety of the children participating.
Assistant Coaches
Assistant Coaches work with the head coaches to run practices and assist in game day coaching duties. When head coaches are not available, assistant coaches who are at least 18 years old are able to run practices and games independently. Any assistant coaches under age 18 must have an adult coach present at all times. Assistant coaches also much submit the code of conduct and background check form.
MYSA Board Members
Elected members of the community who ensure that the league runs smoothly and manage the business side of the organization. These positions include President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. We encourage parents of younger children who will be with the program for several years to inquire about these roles, because, without these folks, we have no league. They take care of registration, fundraising, scheduling and paying umpires, managing the website and social media accounts, finding concessions volunteers, overseeing equipment and facilities purchases, coordinating practice schedules, purchasing uniforms, acquiring insurance, and more.
Concessions Volunteers
Our concession stand is a good source of revenue to help fund our league and ensure we can purchase the equipment and uniforms that are not covered by registration and other fundraising. All families with children participating are required to work at least one shift per season in the concession stand at a home game. All scheduling of concessions workers is done online using GoSignMeUp.
Concessions Coordinator
This position purchases the necessary food, beverages, and supplies for each of our three concessions stands and ensures they stay stocked throughout the season. This position does carry a MYSA debit card to make needed purchases, so no personal expenses are incurred. If you like Sam’s Club, this job is for you!
Umpire Coordinator
This position is responsible for recruiting new umpires and connecting with returning umpires to ensure that all home games have adequate umpire coverage as per an established schedule. The coordinator tracks umpires’ time and submits requests to Treasurer for payment.
Tee-ball/Coach Pitch Coordinator
The main responsibility here is to establish balanced teams after registration has closed and communicate with coaches about rosters and schedules. The coordinator should be available on Sundays during the games to observe and ensure the league runs smoothly and diffuse any situations that may arise. This person will make decisions regarding weather cancelations and rescheduling. At the end of the season tournament, the coordinator will present the winning teams with their awards.
Equipment Coordinator
This volunteer position ensures that MYSA players have safe equipment to use throughout their time with MYSA. This includes helmets, catcher gear, balls, bats, tees, etc. as well as practice nets, bases, and umpire equipment. He/she monitors the condition of the existing equipment and replaces it as it becomes worn or expired (yes, helmets have expiration dates on them). The equipment coordinator stays in contact with coaches to distribute equipment and also to check equipment back in at the conclusion of the season. The equipment coordinator uses a MYSA debit card to make all purchases.
Field Maintenance Coordinator
We utilize three fields for games and another for practice. Each of these fields requires regular maintenance, including dragging, liming foul line, batters’ box, on-deck circle, and pitcher’s circle. Coaches are already busy on practice and game days getting players ready, therefore, it is essential to have parent/community volunteers who are willing to help keep the fields in good playing condition and be ready for game days. MYSA has lawn tractors and field drags at all game locations as well as chalkers in the equipment sheds. Individuals with personal ATV/UTV who are in town or willing to trailer into town are perfect for this role. The chalking portion only takes about 10 mins once the dragging is done.
Baseball Coordinator/Softball Coordinator
These two positions oversee the 10u and above teams for baseball and softball and coordinate with the Wolf River League contacts for game scheduling, rules questions and end of year wrap up. Additionally, they coordinate with the coaches at the various levels, assist with any rules questions, team dynamic problems or umpire questions. This role can be a coach or a parent who may not coach but is great at coordinating and communicating.
For questions or to volunteer for any of these super-important behind-the-scenes roles, email mysamanawa@gmail.com.
