SRA VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
VOLUNTEERS RUN SMITHFIELD RECREATION ASSOCIATION
SRA is an organization operated by VOLUNTEERS ONLY. We rely solely on a devoted legion of adult volunteers to help ensure that the organization remains structured and runs smoothly. We are always looking for responsible and enthusiastic individuals to support and coordinate SRA, through its administration, events and activities. Parents of children involved in SRA are required to fulfill one of the Key Volunteer Positions described below. In addition to the key volunteer positions below, parents will need to assist with field set-up before and clean-up after each practice and game. Our managers and coaches devote an extraordinary amount of time to teaching and developing our players. At a minimum, parents must return the favor by covering the field duties so that the fields remain safe and in the best playing condition possible.
PARENT VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
PARENTS OF SRA PLAYERS ARE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING
1. HOME TEAM CONCESSIONS
Designated home teams are responsible for providing concession stand staffing during games at Beale Park or Luter Sports Complex (this does not apply to games at non-SRA fields). Shift details will be managed by team parents for each team.
2. KEY VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
§ SRA could not function without our community of adult volunteers who assist in a wide variety of roles from coaching to ground maintenance. Parents are requested to fulfill one of the following KEY VOLUNTEER POSITIONS listed below.
§ While SRA strongly encourages volunteer participation, there is a NON-VOLUNTEER FEE POLICY for those who wish to opt out of volunteering for a key position. Parents opting to not volunteer for one of the KEY VOLUNTEER POSITIONS below will be charged an additional $35 per team at registration. NOTE: OPTING OUT AND PAYING THE EXTRA $35 DOES NOT WAIVE THE CONCESSION SHIFT REQUIREMENT.
VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR SCHOOL AND ORGANIZATIONS
Do you have or know an adult or student that needs volunteer hours for school, scouts or other programs?? Send them our way! We work with volunteers of any age and skill level. An SRA board member will be more than happy to sign off on any necessary documentation. SRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
SRA KEY VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
PLEASE CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS LISTED UNDER “TEAM STAFF” DURING THE REGISTRATION PROCESS. THE $35 NON-VOLUNTEER FEE REFERENCED IN “DISCOUNTS & FEES” WILL BE CHARGED FOR THOSE OPTING NOT TO VOLUNTEER.
*NO POSITION IS GUARANTEED AND IS BASED ON AVAILABILITY AND NEED FROM SEASON TO SEASON*
HEAD COACH (1 POSITION PER TEAM)/ASSISTANT COACH (UP TO 3 POSITIONS PER TEAM)
Being a head coach or assistant coach requires time, patience, and basic knowledge of the game of baseball or softball. Each team has a head coach and up to two rostered assistant coaches (three in Pinto and Tee-Ball). Head coaches and assistant coaches will also be required to attend off-season meetings and instructional sessions, including Rules and Safety meetings and Coaching Clinics. Head coaches and assistant coaches, in conjunction with the website notices, will communicate with the parents/guardians of your players to inform them of any schedule changes, rainouts, and SRA events and activities. As a head coach or assistant coach, you have more interaction with young people than anyone else in SRA. Therefore, it is important that you understand the goals and virtues of the SRA program in order to effectively communicate them to your players. If you are interested in managing or coaching, please contact your respective Commissioner.
TEAM PARENT (2 POSITIONS PER TEAM)
The team parent organizes and reports the team volunteer responsibilities and assists the head coach with team communications and social media (if applicable). The team parent organizes parent-led field set-up and clean-up before and after practices and games and coordinates the team's concession stand schedule. The team parent must also attend a concession stand training session prior to the start of games to familiarize them with scheduling and responsibilities. The team parent will coordinate the team's photo day and distribution and collection of uniforms. The team parent also helps to organize the end of season team party and communications with the team’s sponsor. If you are good at organization, scheduling and communication please volunteer to be a team contact parent. Each team may have up to two team parents to divide up the responsibilities.
Dugout Duty also falls under this position for registration. Although not technically a team parent, parents that perform dugout duty (primarily for teams 8U & below) would also fall under this category when completing the “Team Staff” section of registration.
SCOREKEEPER (2 POSITIONS PER TEAM)
Every team needs capable scorekeepers to enter the lineups and record each game accurately and neatly in a scorebook and/or GameChanger. This will include recording in the scorebook who is pitching and when during the game and keeping a record of the number of innings thrown by each pitcher. The head coach will rely upon the scorekeeper to record each game properly because innings pitched affects eligibility depending on the league level. Each team needs more than one scorekeeper to ensure that there is at least one present at the start of and during every game. If you plan to attend almost every game, know how (or are willing to learn) to record a game in a baseball or softball scorebook and/or in GameChanger, please volunteer to be a team scorekeeper (or teach someone).
PRACTICE & GAME PREP HELPER (2-4 POSITIONS PER TEAM)
A helper is a parent who reports to the head coach at each practice and provides directed assistance during the practice. To qualify as a helper, you must attend and be ready to assist at most practices throughout the season. A helper does not need to have prior coaching experience and will be guided by the head coach or assistant coaches in their assigned tasks. Additionally, a coach can direct a helper to prepare the game field prior to the announced start time. This may include raking, dragging, watering and resetting of bases and pitching rubbers or mounds. A helper will also line the field and batters' boxes. Parent volunteers from each team (if both are SRA teams) will work in conjunction to perform the pre-game preparations. Following a game, helpers will also rake level the batters' boxes, sliding areas and pitching areas. Head coaches will be able to assist you in training so you can prepare the field in accordance with PONY rules. If you stay at the ballfield for most of your player's practices and games, this may be a productive way to fulfill your volunteer requirement. If you are interested in coaching in the future, you may want to volunteer as a practice helper prior to making that commitment.
BEALE PARK WORKDAY VOLUNTEERS
SRA is responsible for overseeing and performing the maintenance of Beale Park. To get the fields, dugouts and sheds into shape and safe, SRA will hold Beale Park Workday a few times annually to prepare the fields before the start of the Spring and Fall seasons, before tournament season and after any major storm that damages the fields. Beale Park Workdays will be announced via our website, Facebook page and email to all SRA members. As a Beale Park Workday volunteer your skills and abilities may be used to trim grass, trim bushes and trees, remove leaves, replace and rake dirt, zip-tie loose netting, and execute minor repairs on fences, dugouts, benches and bleachers. If you are not afraid of doing a little yard work and have your own rake and some work gloves and can work for a couple hours a couple times a year, please volunteer to be a Beale Park Workday volunteer.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SRA's Board of Directors, elected from and by the adult members of the league, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the league. To receive credit as a volunteer as a Board Member/League Officer you must already be officially voted in and be acting as a Board Member. Please contact the current President or Secretary if you wish to volunteer to become a future Board Member. Our current bylaws provide for eleven (11) Board positions, including: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Concessions, Equipment, Building & Grounds, Information Technology, Sponsorships & Publicity, Baseball Commissioner and Softball Commissioner.
Please email [email protected] to inquire about any open positions.
BASEBALL SUB-COMMISSIONERS
If you are interested, please contact your respective Commissioner to inquire about any open positions.
SOFTBALL COMMITTEE
If you are interested, please contact your respective Commissioner to inquire about any open positions.
CHAMPION LEAGUE COMMITTEE
Champion League is for disabled youth in our community that want to experience the joy of playing baseball. SRA is in the process of starting a Champion League from scratch and needs people to help create and build this program.
NICK STAHA SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
Work with other committee members to review scholarship applications and choose recipients.
LENDING LOCKER COMMITTEE
The Lending Locker is in the Beale Park boardroom (above the concession stand). We need people to help organize items and keep the space neat & tidy. We also need people who are willing to “work” the Lending Locker. Ideally, we would like to open to accept donations and for shopping at least twice a month.
BUILDINGS & GROUNDS COMMITTEE
Anyone who is committed to attending the Beale Park Workday falls into this category when completing registration. But there is so much more you can do to help with general maintenance of Beale Park:
§ Clean bathrooms (needs to be done at least once a week or as needed).
§ Refill toilet paper & paper towels in bathrooms (needs to be done at least once a week or as needed).
§ Empty trashcans & take trash to dumpster (needs to be done at least once a week or as needed).
§ Edge & trim the property (the gentleman who cuts our grass does not do this).
§ Spray Round-Up.
§ Drag & rake fields.
§ Pick up supplies from local retailers.
§ Miscellaneous fence/building repairs.
§ Handyman type services.
CONCESSIONS COMMITTEE
While concession workers are vital to its operation and we are always looking for help in that area, there are other things you can do to assist the concession manager. NOTE: THIS DOES NOT EXCUSE OR EXEMPT YOU FROM WORKING YOUR CONCESSION SHIFT.
§ Pickup food & supply orders from local retailers.
§ Be present for scheduled deliveries (primarily at Luter).
§ Unpack & organize food & supply orders (Beale & Luter).
§ Clean & stock concession stands prior to season opening (Beale & Luter).
§ Clean & prepare concession stands for closing at end of season (Beale & Luter).
§ We also need reliable, responsible adults willing to work the grill & deep fryer on a consistent basis.
SAVE BEALE PARK COMMITTEE
Help with organizing and setup of fundraiser, as well as assist with obtaining sponsorships.
UMPIRE
This is a paid position with SRA; however, it fulfills your requirement as performing a Key Role with SRA. Umpires are solely needed. If you are interested, please choose this option during registration, when completing the “Team Staff” section and we will pass your information along to the appropriate person. You are also encouraged to email SRA at [email protected] if interested to receive a quicker response.
AT THE CLOSE OF REGISTRATION YOUR INFORMATION WILL BE GIVEN TO THE APPROPRIATE BOARD MEMBER AND/OR COACH FOR THE POSITION YOU HAVE SELECTED. YOU WILL BE CONTACTED VIA EMAIL AFTER THE TEAM SELECTION HAS BEEN FINALIZED.
Download, save or print SRA's Volunteer Info using the link below:
SRA Volunteer Information ^0 Key Roles_Positions .docx