Managers Guidelines and Forms

Coaches Guideline

This is not the Major Leagues.  This is recreational youth baseball and softball league being played for the enjoyment of the kids.  No one is perfect on the field - umpires, coaches, or players.  We are all amateurs and we are on the field to have fun.  If we can remember this, we will have less problems and the games will stay enjoyable to watch, play, and umpire.

Here are a few guidelines that will help keep things in perspective.


How to approach an umpire when you do not agree with a ruling during a game:

  1. Before entering the field of play “ask” for time out from the umpires.  The umpires will grant you time out when all play has ceased, i.e. all runners have stopped advancing and no plays are being made.  Coaches should not just walk out on the field before all play has stopped or time out has been called by the umpires.
  2. Do not enter the field or approach an umpire yelling and screaming about a call or ruling and expect any cooperation.  (This is a good way to get ejected.)  If you think you have a valid point to make or disagree with a ruling, calmly ask for time out. Ask to talk with the umpire who made the decision in dispute.  It is the managers right to do so.
  3. Any umpires decision which involves judgment, such as but not limited to, whether a batted ball is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or ball, or whether a runner is safe or out, is final. No player, manager, coach or fan shall object to any such judgment decisions.

Managers or coaches leaving the bench or coaches box to argue balls & strikes will not be permitted.  They should be warned if they start for the plate to protest the call.  If they continue, they could be ejected from the game.

  1. If a manager wishes to appeal an umpire’s decision, he must make his appeal to the umpire who made the disputed decision.  Such umpire may ask another umpire or umpires for information before making a final determination on the play.  However, no umpire shall in any way criticize or seek to reverse another umpire’s decision unless asked to do so by the umpire making the original call. 
  2. Remember, stay calm, be polite and do not get personal in any way during your discussion with the umpire.  State your case in a timely manner and stay focused on the play in question.
  3. Once an umpire has made his decision, do not try to argue with him to change his mind.  A warning and maybe an ejection could be coming if you persist with un-sportsmanlike behavior and delay of game.
  4. If a manager still thinks the umpire ruled incorrectly (on a non-judgment call) he must immediately protest.  Direct the protest to the umpire who made the decision in question.  Calmly go through the protest procedure and then get on with the game.  The Manager has the right to protest and the umpire and other team should not think anything less of him/her for protesting the game.
  5. The managers and coaches are responsible for the conduct of their fans.  They should handle team problems at the field when brought to their attention.  Un-sportsmanlike conduct from fans is unnecessary and will not be tolerated by the umpires.
  6. Do not approach an umpire after the game is over to offer unsportsmanlike comments or to argue about things that happened in the game.  Any person who does this is at risk of being ejected and / or suspended for their un-sportsmanlike behavior, even after the game is over.
  7. Have patience with our younger umpires.  Many are umpiring their first games.  A young umpire may need a few seasons to get his/her strike zone and overall game better.  We depend on many 14-15 year old umpires working for the SPAA to be there at 18 years old and beyond.  If they get too much abuse from coaches and fans they just simply quit, and the training process starts all over again.  
  8. If you have a problem with an umpire, please contact the SPAA office by calling 636.397.3149 or by email at [email protected].  Your complaint will be taken seriously and dealt with promptly.

Have a great season!

General Information About Playing At SPAA

SPAA would like to remind all the coaches and managers that you are not allowed to stand outside the dugout area on the playing field. This is extremely dangerous and shall not be tolerated.

Teams wishing to use batting sticks are asked to do so at your own liability. A coach, manager, or adult fan are to hang on to the other end of the stick and should be on the watch for other fans walking by. This is for everyone’s protection.

PLAYERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE HOLDING THE STICK FOR OTHER PLAYERS! This is for everyone’s safety.

For the safety of the players SPAA has moved our warm-up circle to the outfield side of each dugout. This will give all batters warming up more reaction time. So often they turn around to talk to other players in the dugout and that is very dangerous to have your back to the play, so we feel by putting them on the outfield side of the dugout it should help eliminate this problem. It should also eliminate the need for players to “cross over” to the opponent’s side when taking warm up swings.

Safety gear, such as but not limited to, cups, heart guards, face masks, etc, are recommended by the league but not provided. Parents may purchase these on an individual basis as they see the need for them with their own children.

All players must be registered before taking the field. To do this they may go online and register prior to playing.

Line up cards are provided by SPAA and will be included in your managers packet. Please make sure these are filled out completely before going to ground rules. This is very important to have full names and numbers on this card as well as that of the manager and coaches present for this game filled out completely. If the child is not present at ground rule time, cross him/her off the line up card before you turn this in to the umpires and opposing manager. They can be added at the end of the line up at any time when they arrive. (Be sure and let the umpire and the opposing manager know when this child arrives) If you do not take them off the line up card and they are not present when their turn at bat comes, they will not be eligible to play during that game at all. (NOTE: they are not counted as an out if they are not there, just ineligible.)

The umpire will provide the game balls and the scorecard. The umpire will turn in the completed scorecard and the game balls they brought to the game at the end of the game. They must turn these in to get paid for this game. It is the umpire’s responsibility to turn these in, but it is your responsibility to be sure the correct information is on the scorecard. Please remember the umpires are in charge of the game. Regardless of the umpire’s age, we expect the managers, coaches, and fans to show respect to the umpires. We expect you, as a manager, to be responsible for your coaches, players, and fans. Also, please remember that protests are valid when based on a rules violation only, not umpire judgments. Remember, we are here for the kids, not our own personal gain.

The lights are all on a timer and will be going off at 10:45 PM unless games finish earlier and then the board member by have them turned off sooner.

Schedules will be posted on the website and kept updated with reschedules.

Managers will reschedule their own rain outs.

If there is doubt as to whether or not you will be playing due to inclement weather please have your parents and yourself check the rainout line app or call 636-400-0122.  Updates are made by 4:00 PM Monday - Friday; 7:30 AM on Saturdays and 11:30 AM on Sundays. Feel free to give the web site addresses to your parents but please instruct your parents and players not to call our office for rain out information.  Any parents that opted in to our communications during registration will also get an email if the field is rained out.

If you need to forfeit a game with out penalty, you should call the SPAA office at 636-397-3149 and let us know that you will not be able to field a team. We will contact the opposing manager.

Forfeiting without penalty means: 

1) You know you cannot field a team for a particular game and you know that ahead of time 

2) You call our office at least 36 hours prior to game time and forfeit 

3) If your field is playable, the game will go down as a forfeit 

4) If the field is not playable  field is not playable at game time that day, we will reschedule the game.

SPAA will provide a 12-ounce team soda for SPAA teams free of charge immediately following their games. Only players in uniform, the manager and the coaches will be given team sodas directly following their game.  If you play at Olde Towne or up on the hill at Woodland, where there is no soda machine, players will get a freezer pop

NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES of any kind are allowed in our parks while SPAA holds the permit. Violation of this could result in forfeiture and serious action taken by our board. Please help us by informing your parents of this. Anyone caught with alcohol will be asked to dispose of it or put it away. If they refuse to do so they will be ejected from the park, the police will be called and their team will run the risk of forfeiting.

As a manager and a coach we ask you to remember that no smoking, electronic cigarettes or tobacco products are allowed in or near the dugout or playing area. Penalty for the first offense will be a warning; ejection will result in a repeat offense. We ask you, whether a spectator, coach, manager or league official, to also please be considerate of other individuals while using tobacco products in the pavilion areas also.

If you would need to protest a game, you must notify the umpire at the point of the rule infraction before the next pitch is thrown. Once the next pitch is thrown it is too late to protest. The umpire must then notify the opposing team that you are protesting. You have 72 hours to turn in a protest form and a copy of your scorebook (both your side and the opposing side) with the point of the infraction marked along with a $50.00 check made out to SPAA. Be sure and fill out the form completely. You will be notified as to the outcome of your protest in writing. If you win your protest, the game is replayed from the point of the infraction only and your $50.00 check will be returned. If you lose your protest, the game stays as it is and your $50.00 is forfeited. THERE IS NO REASON NOT TO SIGN THE CARD JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE PROTESTING. Refusing to sign the scorecard may result in a suspension of the manager. If the opposing team announces he/she is protesting, you must turn in a protest form with your side of the infraction described also.

At the end of the game, both teams should send a representative out to sign the scorecard in the presence of the umpire(s). The final score on the scorecard may only be changed with the consent of all parties involved.

SPAA will have Stldigital taking our team and individual pictures again this year. You may sign up from our website.

SPAA is responsible for proper cleanup and operation of all of the fields, grounds, and buildings during the time we have a permit for. After each game, please have your players clean up cups, garbage, etc. from around their bench area. This is only common courtesy. If the clean up of the dugouts is not done we will have to consider alternative team punishment for leaving your dugout trashed.

Any teams playing games at Shady Springs Park are asked to have their parents not park on the street behind diamond 10 or in the YMCA parking lot. Anyone violating this may run the risk of the park ranger being called, a ticket being issued and their car towed. Parking in the Montessori School parking lot is permitted when school is not in session.

Practice Field Policies

  • Practice reservations for April - October may be made beginning November 13, 2023.
  • Fees are $16 per 90 minute block and must be paid when you reserve your time
  • SPAA teams may request free practice time for March once you set your team up.
  • Teams are expected to clean up after themselves and keep trash in the trash receptacles provided.
  • NO REFUNDS WILL BE MADE – ONLY CREDITS WHEN APPLICABLE
  • SPAA will be monitoring Strehl field conditions in case of rain and the website will be updated as to whether fields are open or closed. A credit will be given for your practice time if your field is rained out.
  • No credit will be issued for time scheduled and not used unless it falls under our inclement weather policy with proper notice.
  • Full payment is due at the time of reservation.
  • **Board members will be able to reserve free time and paid time just like any other SPAA team may do. They may reserve for their child’s teams (SPAA and non - SPAA) . This is a “ perk ” for being a board member and volunteering your time away from your family while serving on committees, attending board meetings and doing 3 – 4 weeks of board duty a year.

Managers Expectations

Following is a list of what the SPAA board expects of our managers:
  • SPAA Board of Directors has the right and power to put you on probation or suspend you for any period they see fit, for any indiscretions on the part of yourself, your team or your fans. You are responsible for the actions of your coaches, players, and fans.
  • Teams are responsible for supplying their own uniforms and every player must be dressed alike and have a number on the back of their shirt at least 6 inches tall. (T-ball teams are furnished with shirts and hats.)
  • If a player approaches you to play on your team, it is your responsibility to find out if this player is already signed on another SPAA team in the same age group before you talk to him/her about joining your team.

Manager's Ethics

The SPAA board has adopted the following guidelines for our managers:

  • Place the emotional and physical well being of your players ahead of your own desire to win.
  • Lead by example in demonstrating fair play and sportsmanship to all your players.
  • Treat each player as an individual, remembering the large range of emotional and physical development for the same age group.
  • Do your best to organize practices that are fun and challenging for all of your players
  • Become familiar with the playing rules of your age group.
  • Try to use the philosophy of “Do unto others as you would like others to do unto you” when dealing with umpires and opposing managers, coaches and fans. Report problems to the league office.
  • Keep in mind that children are great repeaters of what they have heard.
  • Help your fans and other coaches remember that the game is for the children and not the adults.
  • Try to emphasize to your players, coaches, parents and fans that this game should be fun for the kids. If it is not fun, then we have lost site of what it is all about.

Purpose Rule Change

Protest Form