Hello All- As one of the Team Events Phoenix will be doing, we are happy to announce the first annual team trip to Kennywood Phantom Weekend on 10-21-23. A ticket will be provided for each player free of charge. Additional tickets will be $35 each. Parents and siblings are welcome to come but will have to purchase a ticket (I will handle ordering) Van transportation will be provided for a cost of $10 each to cover rental costs.
Registration and any payment is due by 9/22/23. Please register at the following link:
https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp...
Hi All-
Team Hitting will be every Tuesday (commencing 9/5/23) at 6PM and Every Saturday at 5PM with Coach Jim Devine in Warren Ohio. If your daughter already has a hitting coach, you do what makes you comfortable. Players do not have to attend both sessions but should attend at least one session a week. If you want to attend both, you are welcome. Coach Jim has helped many many baseball and softball players become premium hitters. Phoenix is providing this benefit to it's players and strongly encourages utilizing the opportunity.
1222 County Highway 142
Warren, OH 44483
Youngstown Phoenix FP Softball
Player/Parent Contract
Attendance:
Every effort should be made to attend all practices and be on time. We realize things come up, if you are running late please contact the coaching staff. Parents shall be solely responsible for ensuring that the player is transported to and from all practices, games, tournaments, and related activities. Such transportation shall be at the parent’s sole expense. Youngstown Phoenix organization and coaching staff assume no responsibility or liability for or in connection with the player’s transportation to practices, games, tournaments and/or activities.
Absences:
If a player must miss a practice, she must contact the head coach. The player must also contact the coach following a missed practice to get an upcoming schedule. In the event that a player misses practice or a game or has to leave early from either, it is the responsibility of the player to contact and get any updated information for upcoming events. Absences fall into two categories: Excused and Unexcused. Any unexcused absences, a player will be benched for an inning(s) or game per coaching staff discretion. If unexcused absences become a problem the player may be cut from the team.
Acceptable excused reasons:
- Doctor’s appointments
- Prior mentioned family vacations that coaching staff was informed of (please let us know at least 3-4 weeks in advance for games. This will give the coaching staff suitable time to find a sub to replace her).
- Previously scheduled activities that coaching staff was informed of (please let us know at least 3-4 weeks in advance for games. This will give the coaching staff suitable time to find a sub to replace her.)
- Legitimate family emergencies
Unexcused reasons that will not be tolerated:
- Tending to ponies
- Birthday parties
- Too hot or too cold
- No ride
- Not knowing about practices
- Sick or hurt without legitimate reason or Doctor's excuse (Unless you are contagious you can sit and watch practices. Something can always be learned, even if not on the field.)
Injuries/Insurance:
In the event of an injury, if possible, the player should still attend practices, games or tournaments. Much can be learned from helping coaches and listening to practice. If you are injured or become ill during a practice or game, it is your responsibility to your team to report it to a coach immediately.
Parents shall maintain medical, health, dental, and accident insurance for the benefit of the player. Parent understands that any insurance that might be procured by Youngstown Phoenix will be secondary. Such insurance will only provide benefits to the player once the limits of coverage of the insurance procured by the parent have been exhausted.
Player/Parent agrees to immediately notify the Youngstown Phoenix organization of any claim that the player was injured while participating in the Youngstown Phoenix traveling softball team. Should minor injuries occur during the course of play parents will allow coaching staff to administer basic first aid as needed.
Attire/Equipment:
Uniforms and bags will be provided by the team. Parents shall be solely responsible for ensuring the player has the equipment necessary to play for the team including gloves, bats, cleats, catcher’s gear (for catcher’s only) and other protective gear deemed necessary for safe play. Face masks are mandatory for all infielders. Borrowed equipment is sole possession of the team and/or coaches and MUST be returned at end of season. Come prepared to play!
Parents/Friends:
Good sportsmanship and professional behavior is expected at all times and in all circumstances by our coaches, our players and our parents. Please be courteous to the coaching staff, umpires and tournament officials. Parents are encouraged to work with their daughters, but not during game time or practices, this includes comments or instructions when up to bat. Practices are generally open practices unless the coaching staff feels the need for closed practices, in which case parents will be notified. Friends are encouraged to attend games and tournaments but are discouraged at practices.
Dugout:
Coaches and players in the dugout ONLY! Parents are encouraged to support their children. However, during practices and games they should refrain from approaching the dugout to coach, counselor to critique their daughter. Players are NOT ALLOWED to leave the dugout during games unless it is to use the restroom. Players should have everything they need with them inside the dugout (sunscreen, medications, water, snacks, ect.). Players are not to make phone calls or text messages at any time during practices, tournament play or team meetings, unless it is an emergency and permission is granted from the coach.
Uniforms:
Players should ARRIVE in the correct uniform for all games, and it should be clean and in good condition. Before warmups start all shirts are to be tucked in and remain tucked in for the entire game. All jewelry is to be removed before the game starts or not worn at all.
Travel:
During the summer season there will be travel. Please be advised that these travel days are not vacations. A lot of money has been spent to enable us to participate in a tournament. As a team we are participating in tournaments with the sole purpose to play softball.
There will be tournaments in which overnight stays are mandatory; tournaments that are 2 hrs or more away and/or tournaments that require us to stay as part of entrance into said tournament. All other overnight stays are at will. We will do local tournaments as well. Phoenix defines local as within 70 minutes of Youngstown. We understand not everyone is not from Youngstown, but a home base must be designated to determine local/out town.
Tournaments:
We will be doing 7-8 summer tournaments consisting of 3-4 showcases and 3-4 “local” competitive tournaments. If participation is high enough, we will do a beach tournament or a Tennessee Nationals. In regards to fall ball, it will consist of a six week Sunday double header league and a possible showcase/pumpkin smash tournament. This will keep most local after busy summer and travel.
Playing Time:
At the beginning of tournament season up to the middle of said season, the coaches will play every player equally during Pool Play, with bracket day being the coach’s sole decision on whether to play the best 9 or continue to bat the lineup. This allows for positions to be learned and improved upon, effort to be shown both on and off the playing/practice fields and good sportsmanship and encouragement to be exhibited. At the start of the season’s halfway point playing time will be determined by each individual’s performance, attitude and effort per the coaches. What a player puts into it will be what she gets out of it, so play hard girls!
Private Lessons:
Private lessons are greatly encouraged; however, they are not permitted in lieu of mandatory team practices. Please schedule any private lessons around the regularly scheduled mandatory practices set up by the coaches.
Team Practices:
There will be, at least, one MANDATORY team practice once a week during the season except during HS no contact (if applicable). WE WILL BE ACTIVE YEAR AROUND with exception of a few weeks after summer and over the holiday season. We will be practicing 2x a week when there are no tournaments scheduled. One of those practices will be normal practice with the coaches and the other day will be team drills with an outside partner. Our partner will provide hitting instruction as well as fielding, and general mechanics. Our partner is one of the best in the area and all will benefit from this. If there is a conflict where you have your own hitting instructor, this will not interfere with your chosen instructor and that is your choice! The day(s) will be determined by the coaching staff. We will also do several tournaments, friendlies and scrimmages during the winter. Advance notice will be given as to not interfere with other activities (winter sports) and we normally only enter these when we know we have enough girls to field a team and be competitive.
Addressing Concerns/Problems:
We encourage an open relationship between coaches, players, and parents and keep the communication lines open. If a problem should arise, parents should contact the head coach and set up an appropriate time to address any questions, concerns or complaints. If a coach cannot resolve, bring the issue to our committee. The committee will consist of the Officers and a coach and trustee from each team. A private conference will be arranged to address any problems.
Financial Obligation/Team Fees:
It is important to be reminded of your Financial Obligation and to ensure that every effort is made to pay your fees on time. If needed a payment plan can be entered into with the final payment being made no later than two months after the player has accepted an offered team position or has signed up for volunteer events to take place (more on program later) In order to keep Youngstown Phoenix operating by reserving spots in tournaments (team fee), ordering uniforms, equipment and providing field and facility use, it is absolutely essential that all fees be paid timely. Corporate sponsorships will be applied to current season’s fees of the player who solicited said sponsor; anything over the current season’s fees will go into the general team fund. If a player’s fees are behind the player’s participation will be affected. Please let the head coach know before it gets to this point. There could be help in other ways available to help with fees, such as a work for fees program, for example. All checks should be made payable to Youngstown Phoenix.
Should a player/parent quit, withdraw or leave the team at any point, for any reason once a team position has been accepted, team uniforms, bags and borrowed equipment MUST be returned. The following is considered team equipment: uniforms, helmets, bat bags and any other protective gear purchased by the Youngstown Phoenix. The exiting player may receive a refund of any cash fees paid at the discretion of the committee and coaches based on the circumstances. The player will not receive a refund of any kind for fees paid with sponsorships or fees paid through the volunteer work for fees program. This relates to just the fees portion of the earn your fees program, excess funds over fees to be discussed later. Player fees are set based on the number of tournaments and the number of players that originally join the team.
Non-Refundable Deposit:
A $400.00, non-refundable, deposit is due August 25, 2023. Contact the head coach if you have any questions. If a player joins after August 25th, 2023, deposit is due upon acceptance of spot on team.
Fundraising:
All fundraisers are optional and Phoenix will facilitate setting them up. As our fees will be a little higher than some, we will be providing the most bang for your buck. The fees can be paid, worked off through the earn your fees program or through fundraising. The fundraiser will take place in early fall if folks want to advance towards their fees commitment.
After reading and agreeing to the Player/Parent contract please sign, date and initial where appropriate and return the last page to head coach by: Upon Signature signed.
Please retain the body of the contract for your records. WELCOME TO PHOENIX!
Parent/Guardian signature and date:
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PROGRAM RULES:
1. Honor your commitment. If you sign up for an event, we must honor our commitment to our partners for the health of the program. We understand life events happen. If you have to cancel, make every effort to get someone to replace you. More than two unexcused commitments will exclude you from further opportunities.
2. Aramark in general requires all volunteers be 18 or older, no exceptions. Anyone serving alcohol must be 18 or older and have completed Aramark’s TEAMS or RAMP training (We have link on website).
3. Other venue volunteers must be 14 or older. No volunteer under 21 can handle alcohol or ring a register that has alcohol sales on it.
4. For larger events where 4 or more Phoenix volunteers are participating, Kevin Barkey will be team lead and determine assignments. Assignments to encompass stand assignments, if group is split up, and also who is food runners vs register operators vs food prep. If he cannot attend, he will designate the team leader and they will assign stand assignments at their discretion. Kevin Barkey will ensure that assignments are rotated fair and equally.
5. As we understand that folks may have to be a little late to events or leave a little early, that is fine, but their share of the earnings may be reduced ratably to ensure fairness to other Phoenix members. To be clear, if someone leaves 15 minutes early or arrives 15 minutes late, that is sometimes unavoidable and excusable, we are talking about an hour or more one way or another.
6. Cell Phones- cell phones are to be used at a minimum during events. Ok to use to take pictures, contact parents or listen to music while in back kitchen during food prep. Under no circumstances are phones to be out chatting to friends and on social media. Repeatedly being told to put phones away while stands are busy can be grounds for being excluded from future events.
7. Socializing- It’s ok to say hi to friends that are attending games but no long conversations. Friends are not to hang around and be a distraction. Under NO circumstances are any free items to be given to friends! This is not our product.
8. Eating and drinking- Volunteers are normally allowed to eat and drink food prepared by our partners at the stand manager (employee of our Partners) discretion. This will be clarified what we can and cannot eat/drink at beginning of each event.
9. All communication with our Partner’s personnel regarding payout structure, work assignments and future events must be channeled through Kevin Barkey or his designated second lead (TBD). Any disagreements between Phoenix volunteers or between Phoenix volunteers and Partner’s personnel are also to be channeled to Kevin Barkey or his second lead (TBD) for resolution.
10.Tips- If tips are allowed by our partners to be solicited, we have decided that all tips are to be shared equally among all the girls/boys volunteering and working that are under age of 18. If the players bring friends or relatives to work on their behalf and they are under 18, they are to share in tips. Tips are not allocated to any one stand or to any one register in a stand to make it fair for all our girls, especially those working behind the scenes in food prep. TBH, they work the hardest in the kitchens and stocking.
IN the event that credit card tips are not paid out at end of event and added into pay total payment sent for event (Covelli does this), the credit card tips will be allocated across the volunteers credit just like the normal payment.
IN the event that only adults can work because only alcohol is being served, cash tips are shared amongst adults. Credit card tips will still go to the players payout (unless partner pays out at end of event).
11. As the Youngstown Phoenix is a registered 501c3, all earnings are to be used for fees/equipment/camps, etc. No credit earned can be paid to participants for any non Phoenix/softball related items or activities. If you leave the organization, regardless of cause, all amounts would normally be forfeited. While those are normally the rules, we do not necessarily agree with it. What the organization can do is grant or scholarship your earnings out to another team to cover fees in event you leave Phoenix. We do not find it fair to hold players hostage over their fees earned because they cannot afford to go elsewhere. This can be done legally!
IN CLOSING, THIS PROGRAM IS NOT ABOUT MAKING THE ORGANIZATION MONEY. IT IS ABOUT FAMILIES BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TRAVEL BALL. I TRULY BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM CAN GIVE MANY AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY THAT NORMALLY WOULD NOT.THE ORGANIZATION MAKES NO MONEY FROM THIS PROGRAM AND WILL NOT EVER. THE FOUNDERS OF THE PHOENIX ORG WILL WORK THE PROGRAM EVENTS AND USE THEIR EARNINGS FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS AND FUN STUFF FOR ALL OUR GIRLS!! THIS ALSO PUTS EVERY TEAM MEMBER ON EQUAL GROUNDS. PAY FEES OR EARN THEM OR FUNDRAISE THEM. FURTHERMORE, THIS ELIMINATES ANY HARD FEELINGS OVER SOME FOLKS GETTING A BREAK ON FEES WHEN OTHERS MAY NOT.
BACKGROUND CHECK FORM-COPY AND PASTE INTO BROWSER (FOR VOLUNTEERING AT BROWNS AND STEELERS)
https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=FALL20231&s=softball&p=registration&formID=80057
RAMP TRAINING -TO WORK AT ACRISURE (STEELERS/PITT)
https://rserving.com/web/pscc_state.php?siteid=251&flag=bartender%20license&statecode=PA
TEAMS TRAINING - TO WORK AT FIRST ENERGY (BROWNS) AND BLOSSOM
https://www.brainshark.com/teamcoalition/2025AramarkHBFL2
Please sign your agreement with the program rules.
Name:_____________________________ Date:_____________
