Overview
WULL allows use of certain baseball fields for select team practices according to this policy for the purpose of enabling the character and skills development of players in WULL who have completed at least one year of Pee Wee baseball.
According to Michigan State University's Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, children participating in organized sports tend to achieve higher results in school, develop excellent interpersonal skills, and lead healthier lives.
In the United States, youth are dropping out of sports at an alarming rate. A major contributing factor is the "win at all cost" mentality of many parents and coaches that creates a pressure filled environment for the kids and ultimately turns them away from sports.
To combat this trend, WULL has partnered with Positive Coaching Alliance which teaches that winning is a goal in youth sports but that there is a second, more important goal of using sports to teach life lessons through positive coaching. West University Little League has partnered with PCA to bring the following message to our leaders, players, parents and fans - at WULL, "We Honor the Game".
Although not a formal WULL activity, IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR COACHES, PARENTS, AND PLAYERS PARTICIPATING IN SELECT BASEBALL which tends to be more competitive than Little League to be examples of PCA and WULL goals at all times whether at WULL facilities or at those of other leagues or organizations. Doing so is a requirement in order to use our fields for select teams.
Eligibility
Use of WULL facilities for Select Team activities is permitted only by approval of WULL for teams with: '
- at least 80% of their players who have participated in WULL in the most recent Spring Season (or who are participating in the current WULL Fall Ball program) for players up to LL age 13 (50% for players LL age 14 and older); however teams LL age 13 and under with a player residing within the WULL boundaries who did not participate in WULL in the most recent Spring Season (or did not participate in the most recent Spring Season and not currently participating in the WULL Fall Ball program) are not eligible to use the fields.
- players who have played at least one WULL PW Spring Season (LL age 7 for the most recent LL Spring Season)
- a manager whose child plays on the team
- a paid manager who has been approved by WULL, and a parent who (a) takes responsibilities for all interactions with WULL, and (b) takes financial responsibility for the team payments to WULL
- an approved insurance policy (see insurance requirements)
- a $500 deposit mailed to: WULL, PO Box 25053, Houston TX 77265
On occasion and completely at the discretion of the league, certain other teams may be allowed use of WULL facilities for a select activity. Generally this occurs for teams with High School aged players. Under no circumstances will teams with players under the minimum age be allowed to use WULL fields for select activities.
Parents of WULL players may be allowed to schedule a field for a birthday party subject to availability.
Managers may pre-arrange for a scrimmage with a team that is not a regular user of WULL fields by providing a single PDF file of an insurance certificate with minimum liability coverage in advance to the Scheduler. Such use will be at the sole discretion of WULL. These "visiting teams" will not need to have WULL and additional insureds listed on their part as their use is occasional. If use is more than occasional, then such teams will be subject to all requirements of the regular users.
Insurance Requirements
A valid insurance certificate in a single PDF file must be e-mailed to the Select Team Schedule Coordinator, "Scheduler" BEFORE REQUESTING A FIELD.
In order for any select team or other organization to obtain authorized use of any WULL field it must obtain insurance for its players and coaches or other participants. The insurance must have coverage of at least $2,000,000 per individual. The WULL fields are owned and/or controlled by a number of organizations that must be named as additional insured’s on the policy certificate EXACTLY AS SHOWN BELOW:
City of West University and its employees and agents
3800 University Boulevard
West University Place, TX 77005
Houston Independent School District and its employees and agents
4400 West 18th Street
Houston, TX 77092-8501
Tri-Sports Association
3780 University Blvd.
Houston, TX 77005
South Campus Sports Association
10001 Stella Link
Houston, TX 77025
West University Little League
3908 Milton Street
Houston, TX 77005
Greater West U Area Sports Association
3908 Milton Street
Houston, TX 77005
HYLAX-Houston Youth Lacrosse
10001 Stella Link
Houston, TX 77005
Southwest Football League of Texas
(Physical Address is 10001 Stella Link Houston, TX 77025)
PO Box 270503
Houston, TX 77277-0503
West University Softball Association
10001 Stella Link
Houston, TX 77005
Safety
The safety of all participants, spectators, and by-standers is the responsibility of the team manager. All WULL Safety Rules must be strictly followed. If you see anyone not following the rules or doing something that may result in injury or damage to facilities, it is your responsibility to immediately stop it even if it is occurring in a common area or on another field.
If there are any injuries during your use of the fields, communicate incident information to the WULL Safety Director, the Scheduler, and the WULL President as soon as possible after ensuring the injured person gets the necessary medical treatment and the parent or guardian are notified.
All teams must have a first aid kit and parent contact information at all times WULL facilities are used.
Field Availability
Fields are generally not available during the WULL Spring Season. There may be some limited availability.
Fields are prioritized in the following order: WULL season and all-star games and practices, WULL-sanctioned special events, WULL-approved select team practice by age, certain other teams with WULL approval.
Only South Campus and McGovern fields will be scheduled. Other fields are shown on the schedule for league activities, and special occasions such as league-approved birthday parties. PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST OTHER FIELDS.
Use of the Junior and Senior field will be restricted to older teams requiring the larger fields. All use of the Senior field must be approved by the Senior Director. It will take more time for the Scheduler to obtain this approval. Plan accordingly.
Scheduling
Requests for fields will be accepted from the team manager only. Communications from anyone other than the team manager will not be acknowledged unless there are extenuating circumstances and an advanced-request for a temporary team communicator has been approved by the Scheduler. All communications shall be by e-mail. While responses may be timely if possible, there may be circumstances that do not allow this. Plan ahead to avoid issues.
Requests for fields in the upcoming "schedule week" of Saturday-Friday should be e-mailed to the Scheduler any time between the preceding Monday-Thursday. The schedule will be e-mailed to the Select Managers on Fridays. The Facilities Director will schedule lights as required. Available times are M-F 5-7 and 7-9; Saturday 8-10, 10-12, 12-2, 2-4, and 6-8; and Sunday 11-1, 1-3, 3-5, 5-7, and 7-9.
Changes during the schedule week are strongly discouraged and may not be granted. Last-minute requests may not receive a response. FAILURE TO PLAN IS NOT THE SCHEDULERS PROBLEM.
Cages will not be scheduled. SELECT TEAMS SHOULD ONLY USE SC CAGES allowing WU Cages to be used by individual parents working with their WULL player.
Field Cost / Accounting
Fields will be charged at the rate for each 2-hour slot, currently $80 subject to change at any time at the discretion of the league. This money will allow WULL to maintain the fields and cover some other operating expenses while charging the select teams a preferential rate.
The schedule automatically calculates the total field cost per manager each month which will be deducted from the team balance by the WULL Treasurer. When a team balance hits $100 or less at the end of the month, the Treasurer will bill the select manager by e-mail an amount required to return the outstanding balance to $500. If the team will no longer use the fields, they can e-mail both the Scheduler and the Treasurer who after completion of the next monthly cycle will send a check to the select team manager for the outstanding balance.
Questions regarding field use should be directed to the Scheduler. Questions regarding outstanding balances should be directed to the Treasurer.
Cancellations / Care of Fields
Field cancellations of less than 48 hours will be subject to the full charge. Cancellations for weather will be credited automatically if WULL closes fields or in other cases if the manager notifies the Scheduler and Facilities Director with sufficient time to cancel the lights or if he determines use of the field will cause damage and communicates to the Scheduler in a reasonable amount of time.
USE EXCELLENT JUDGMENT TO AVOID ANY FIELD OR FACILITY DAMAGE. STAY OFF WET INFIELDS, AND DO NOT USE THE GRASSY AREAS IF THERE IS ANY POTENTIAL OR SIGN OF DAMAGE. TREAT THE FIELDS AS IF THEY ARE YOUR OWN - THEY ARE!!
ANY DAMAGE TO FIELDS OR FACILITIES FOR WHICH THE OFFENDER CAN BE CONFIRMED WILL BE CHARGED TO THE SELECT TEAM MANAGER. LOSS OF FIELD PRIVILEGES AND OTHER ACTIONS MAY BE TAKEN BY THE LEAGUE FOR DAMAGE AND NEGLECT OR FAILURE TO FOLLOW WULL SAFETY RULES.
Additional questions about field use can be directed to Cullen Evans at cullenevans@gmail.com