On-field volunteers are the lifeblood of Lawrence softball and baseball programs. Having adults that are committed to Team Management and Coaching – and who are willing to organize families and get kids to practice are the key to the smooth operation of the season. Being a Coach doesn’t mean you have to be great at teaching softball or baseball. It just means you have to be willing to connect your players with the right resources from around the league that *can* teach them softball or baseball. 

All Team Managers and Coaches are appointed by the President of Lawrence Little League, and all appointments are subject to final approval by the local league’s board of directors.

We realize that being involved a team comes with a time commitment alongside family, work, and other community volunteer efforts.

On behalf of the LTJBSA, THANK YOU for the time and talent you invest in Lawrence Township ballplayers.

We depend on a strong on-field volunteer program to operate, and offer different opportunities to be involved on the field. 

🔴 A Manager is responsible for leading the team and having overall accountability for the season, including being the primary contact for the team to the LTJBSA. They draft the roster, set lineup, manage playing time, and have overview of all practice activity and in-game decisions. They also are responsible for selecting coaches and parents to assist with the team, as well as keeping sensitive information (such as health information or discussions about player ability) confidential. Generally, volunteers start as a Coach, and then after a year or two of experience feel ready to take on a manager role. 

🔴 A Coach is responsible for supporting the team's Manager, working collaboratively at practices and during gameday.  They are also the secondary contact from the team to the LTJBSA. Coaching is a good starting point for parents who want to "help" on the field, but not in a primary role.

🔴 A Team Parent/Scorekeeper is responsible for supporting the team by coordinating logistics. This may include communicating practices dates or times via email or the GameChanger app, keeping score during the game, or operating the scoreboard from the press box, or helping to rake after practice. 

No experience is necessary for any of these on-field roles -- you don't have to previously have played softball or baseball, and don't even need a player in the League. The LTJBSA provides training classes annually. You just need to be enthusiastic about helping kids play ball, and have the understanding and patience to work with children in the age group of the division. 

All volunteers must register through our portal and pass our required background check process.

All volunteers that will be in contact with children on or off the field are required to take safety education courses as well as submit to a background check.

🔴Volunteer Registration Process

There is no cost to complete items 1-5 on this list. Vendors, however, may try to upsell you to paid a certificate that is not required by the LTJBSA. For item #6, IdentoGo (Lawrence Township's provider for fingerprint checks) charges a fee for the service (approx. $27).  

🔴Submitting Required Certifications

All volunteers must upload a Proof of Completion for each item on this checklist via our LTJBSA Volunteer Document Upload Portal before the first practice of the season. 

Volunteers do need to upload all Proof of Completion documents at one time. Click "Save and Continue" and the form will email you a custom link to return to this page to add new documents as you complete your courses. However, all required documents must be uploaded by the first practice.