June President's Message

I love these pictures.  They say it all.  I know I have said this before, but I will say it again, Four County Little League is about everyone in the family getting involved.  Moms and Dads, don't hesitate to ask how you can help.  Volunteer umpires is a big part of our organization.  We need more of them.  It is never too late to get involved.  If you want to help out, just ask.  We would love to show you how to umpire.  Remember, you don't have to be perfect.  And don't forget, the best place to watch the game is on the field.  If you have any questions about umpiring, let me know.

June 2013 PCA Player of the Month

Four County Little League is a Positive Coaching Alliance League.  Our Coaches are Double Goal Coaches and our parents are Second Goal Parents.  Our players are Triple Impact Competitors.  Each month, we will highlight a few of our Triple Impact Competitors.

The Triple Impact Competitor has three main facets:

• Personal Mastery: Making oneself better
• Leadership: Making one's teammates better
• Honoring the Game: Making the game better.

Each month we recognize players who live up to these three points. The coaches and managers nominate the player and then two are chosen.  

This month we have one winner:

Jeremiah (Levi) Johnson

I have never seen a player more positive.  I have seen him on and off the field.  He cheers for his teammates and also cheers for the opposing team.  As an adult, you expect a child to be polite, by Levi is VERY polite.  He usually says "Yes Sir" and "Yes ma'am".  He is a leader on his team and tries to keep their spirits up when they are down.  He Honors the game with Respect for the rules, officials, opponents, his team and himself.  He is truly a class act and other kids should look to him as a model of how to act not only as a ball player, but as a good person.  Keep up the good work Levi.  Submitted by Anonymous

PCA Player(s) of the Month (May 2013)

Four County Little League is a Positive Coaching Alliance League.  Our Coaches are Double Goal Coaches and our parents are Second Goal Parents.  Our players are Triple Impact Competitors.  Each month, we will highlight a few of our Triple Impact Competitors.

The Triple Impact Competitor has three main facets:

• Personal Mastery: Making oneself better
• Leadership: Making one's teammates better
• Honoring the Game: Making the game better.

Each month we recognize players who live up to these three points. The coaches and managers nominate the player and then two are chosen.  

This month we have several winners.

Colin Gregowich

Colin is focused, supportive of his teammates, and opponents. He shows total respect for the umpire crews and the coaches from both his and the opponents team. Colin has 100% dedication and shows unwavering support for the team and individuals.  Great Kid and perfect example of a FCLL PCA Player! Submitted by Coach Jason Love.

Paul Wells

this young man displays all the attributes you want to see in a ballplayer or a student. never gives up, takes the good with the bad with the same smile on his face, he is a pleasure to coach and I'm proud he's on the Spartans. Submitted by Coach Brian Johnson.

Trevor Zior

Trevor has proven to be a natural leader on the field as a defensive player, or when at bat. He is a great catcher, and often takes time in between pitches to encourage the pitcher to slow or calm down if things are getting off track. He is also frequently the first one in the infield to shout the number of outs and where the play is after a play has completed.

When at bat, he often leads the rest of the dugout in cheering for the team member at bat and is a big believer in that the Orioles only succeed as a team. Submitted by Coach Don Poorman.

May President's Message

Usually, my President's Message is inspirational in some way and designed to help our parents, coaches and players be the best they can be.  This month, I am reserving my space for a huge announcement   It is with great pleasure that I bring you the following news.

The 2013, inaugural season, Intermediate Division Maryland State Tournament has been awarded to District 2 (Four County Little League) and will be held at Summit Ridge Park.

This is both a great honor and a great challenge.  We have lots to do.  We need a committee to get together very quickly to start to work on this.  The event start on or about July 6 and should last about a week.

I am very excited about this on a number of fronts.  This is a great opportunity to promote our league, our district and the town of Mt. Airy which is our center and our base.

This is going to be a big effort and we will need volunteers to help.  Keep in mind, FCLL may not have a team involved, but it is still important to provide a great experience for all the kids from around the state.  There should be about 5 districts involved and one of our goals is to make this successful so that leagues want to expand their Intermediate programs for next season.  The winner of this tournament will go on to the Regional tournament held in New York.  The winner of that tournament will then go to the World Series held in CA.

Many folks don't realize that FCLL is more than just a great place to play baseball in the spring.  We are part of Little League International.  Little League, each summer, operates numerous International Tournaments that FC competes in.  This year is the inaugural season for the Intermediate Division and we are so excited to promote both the league, the division and our district by hosting this event.  If nothing else, mark your calendars for that week and stop by and see some very high level baseball.  Keep in mind, one of the teams that wins could make it to the World Series.

If you are interested in helping with the event, please email president@fcllbaseball.org

2013 Hit-A-Thon / Picture Day...

For those new to FCLL the "Hit-A-Thon" may be new to you, but this is our 13th year for this very fun day. This fund-raiser allows the players to actively participate in fundraising. This is a great opportunity to let the players showcase the hitting skills they learned throughout the season and will be a fun day for the whole family. This fundraiser is our only major sources of income that pays for most of our operating expenses and we need your support. The Hit-AThon will take place on Saturday, May 11th at Russell Windsor Field.  This is in conjunction with Pictures, so you don't want to miss this event.  A full schedule will be provided very soon.

Our Goal is $100.00 per player, $1000.00 per team & $29,000 for the league...Lofty goals, but it can be obtained. 

The rules are as follows:

• Players earn hits for every $10 in flat donations obtained (click here for donation form) or (click here to set up your online donation site). For example: a player obtains $35 in donations; this player would earn 3 at-bats. There is no limit to the amount of contributions the player can collect but a maximum of 10 at-bats can be obtained due to time considerations. 
• An at-bat consists of hitting a fair ball a minimum distance of 20 ft. (The fields will be lined) For T-Ball Clinic/T-Ball/Rookie/Minor divisions, a tee will be used. The distance measured will be how far the ball travels until it stops rolling.  For Major/Intermediate/Juniors divisions, a front soft toss be used. The distance measured will be determined by how far the ball travels in flight.
• A time schedule for each division and team will come out prior to the event. If you cannot make your assigned time please let us know ASAP to see if other arrangements can be made.

For every player who earns $30.00 or more, he/she will recieve an awesome surprise gift. Other prizes could be earned as well. Prizes will be awarded for the most earned, the longest drives, etc. 

Top Earner Prizes

1. $200.00 Gift Card to Extra Innings
2. $100.00 Gift Card to Dick's Sporting Goods
3. $50.00 Gift Card
4. $25.00 Gift Card
5. Throw out first pitch at the FCLL Keys game in July.

For the teams who raise $1500.00 or more, we will provide a gift card for a pizza party for your team...

These prizes will be awarded during the End-of-Year event  

The concession stand will be open all day.

We need volunteers to make this day be a success.  Email volunteer@fcllbaseball.org to help.

Click here if you need a donation form.

Click here to sign up for the "Online Donations" site.

• Click on Fundraise
• Enter your players name into the space provided  

April President's Message

Every month I try to come up with a topic that is relevant and important for our players and parents and this month, like last, I can't say it any better than the folks at PCA have already said it.  Below are some great tips for "Honoring the Game".



Here are ways that parents can contribute to a positive youth sports culture so that children will have fun and
learn positive character traits to last a lifetime.

• Before the Game
• Commit to Honoring the Game in action and language no matter what others may do.
• Tell your children before each game that you will be proud of them regardless of how well they perform.
• During the Game

• Fill your children’s “Emotional Tanks” through praise and positive recognition to help them play their best.
• Fill their teammates’ tanks, too!
• Do not instruct your child during game action or at breaks; let the coaches coach.
• Cheer good plays by both teams.
• Mention good calls by the official to other parents.
• If you disagree with an official’s call, Honor the Game – BE SILENT!
• If other spectators yell at officials, gently remind them to Honor the Game.
• Don’t do anything in the heat of the moment that you will regret after the game. Ask yourself, “What do 
• I want to model right now for my child?”
• Remember to have fun and enjoy the game.
• After the Game
• Thank the officials for doing a difficult job for little or no pay.
• Thank the coaches for their commitment and effort.
• When reviewing the game with your children, ask rather than tell. Instead of immediately sharing your opinions or telling them how they can improve, ask questions such as “What did you learn
  
  from that game?” or “What was your favorite play?” or “What was the most fun part of that game?”
• Remember to give your children truthful and specific praise…not just the typical “good game” but, for example, “I saw how well you moved your feet on defense.”
• Tell your children again that you are proud of them whether the team won or lost.

March's President's Message.

You know, every once in a while you come across a book, sign or article that you say to yourself, "I could not have said it better."  Well, this month, I noticed an article on the Little League website that says what I have been feeling and thinking for a long time.  This come from Darrell J. Burnett, Ph.D a sports psychologist who gives talks on family life, youth coaching and other relevant topics.  These are my thoughts through his words...Enjoy...

PROFANITY IN YOUTH SPORTS:  Kids, Coaches, & Parents: An “Attitude” Problem

Written By:  Darrell J. Burnett, Ph.D.

During the past year I witnessed three youth sports players overreacting to an official’s call. A female volunteer umpire called a third strike. The batter glared at her and said, “That was a ball, B *** h!” A soccer official flashed a yellow card at a player, who hunched his shoulders, pursed his lips, got up in the official’s face and said, “You’re full of s..t!” A basketball referee called a 5^th foul on a player, who then furiously stomped off the court making an obscene gesture with his finger.

The three players had one thing in common: they were all nine years old!

Adult “Profanity” Role Models

Profanity is creeping into youth sports. I guess it was just a matter of time until the kids picked up what they’ve been seeing and hearing from adults in televised sports.

* Professional athletes “lose it” on TV, with sizzling interviews liberally interspersed with “Bleeps.”

*TV cameras zoom in on coaches who lose their cool and get in the face of officials, flailing away with a stream of four-letter words.

*TV close-ups show college athletes mouthing obscenities in reaction to an official’s call.

The media love to show an adult who is out of control. It makes for great ratings.

But we can’t lay all the blame on the media. Go out to a local youth sports event, and listen to the adults involved, whether coaches or parent spectators. With veins bulging in their necks, some yell out obscene remarks at the officials, at the opponent, and sometimes at their own players!

An “Attitude” Problem

When I see profanity creeping into youth sports I get concerned because it indicates an attitude. People don’t usually use profanity unless they are considerably upset about something. Profanity seems to have developed as a way of underlining how angry or frustrated or hurt we are. It usually occurs when a situation is tense, threatening, unsettling, etc. It doesn’t usually occur when people are having fun. Attitude is defined as “a person’s behavior, which indicates his/her thoughts, feelings, or opinions.” How is it possible that profanity appearing is in youth sports, where the major focus and “attitude” is supposed to be fun?

You can tell kids’ attitudes toward youth sports by watching their behaviors during practice or a game. If they see a game as a game, with an opportunity to learn skills, compete, increase confidence, and have fun, they’re able to “go with the flow,” have fun, and relax. They’re able to show a sense of humor and a sense of sportsmanship, winning without gloating, and losing without complaining. They’re able to handle and learn from their mistakes. If kids see a game as a game, there will be no reason for profanity.

When I see kids using profanity in reaction to an official’s call in a game, that tells me they have a whole different attitude toward youth sports. Show me kids who use profanity, and I’ll show you kids who see the game as a pressure-filled event, with winning as the only acceptable outcome. I’ll show you kids who are spending most of their energy trying not to make mistakes. I’ll show you kids who, if they make a mistake (which is inevitable in youth sports), will waste lots of energy making excuses and blaming others.

Message to Adults: “Your Attitude Is Showing!”

Why is profanity starting to show up more in youth sports? We know how kids learn to use profanity. They see it; they hear it; they try it. Kids have had their “mouths washed out with soap” for generations. Most youth sports have rules and consequences for using profanity. Some kids will respond. Some won’t.

N.Y. Little League Mother Arrested ...

A more important question is, how did the nine-year-olds quoted above develop an attitude toward youth sports that got them so upset, frustrated, and stressed out, that they reacted with profanity?

As adults, we often tend to focus on the “end product,” rather than the “process.” When an adult arrives at game’s end, and sees the kids coming off the field, what is the first word out of his/her mouth? It’s usually, “Who won?” or “Did you score any goals (get any hits, etc.)?” With our emphasis on the end product, we run the risk of teaching our kids to focus strictly on outcome rather than process. Their idea of success then becomes based upon outcome (winning) rather than process (skill improvement). Mistakes are no longer viewed as opportunities to learn. They are seen as occasions of failure, setting the scene for profane overreactions.

Research has shown that elite athletes focus on tasks, not trophies. That is, they focus on the process of their skill development, measuring their progress in terms of frequency, duration, or intensity. They have an intense desire to win, but most of their energy is spent competing against themselves. They don’t overreact to their mistakes, to their opponent, or to questionable calls by the official. Success in their eyes is measured by progress, not trophy size. They learn to control their anger, and stay focused, regardless of the situation. They take sole responsibility for their athletic performance, blaming no one. These are solid goals for parents to set for their young athletes, and profanity can only get in the way.

So, if you’re an adult involved in youth sports, and you come across one of those mouthy nine-year-olds mentioned above, it’s not enough to go for the soap. You’ve got to change the attitude. And it might involve changing your own. Parents, if you’re looking to develop a positive attitude in your kids, you would do well to watch your own behaviors at athletic events. Next time you go to a game, remember, your attitude is showing, and your kids are watching.

Dr. Darrell Burnett is a clinical psychologist and a certified sports psychologist specializing in youth sports. He has been in private practice in Laguna Niguel, California for more than 25 years. He is a member of the Little League International Board of Directors. The Institute listed him among the “Top 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America” for International Sport. His book, IT’S JUST A GAME! (Youth, Sports, & Self Esteem: A Guide for Parents), and his Sportsmanship Card Game, GOOD SPORT! are described at his website, www.djburnett.com, along with his other books, booklets, and CDs on youth sports and family life.