In the first night game in Erial Little League history, the Major division White Sox come from behind to defeat the Rangers 10-3! 

 

Erial Juniors Seminoles get their first win under the lights at Erial Little League.

The Junior girls softball team defeats Winslow 13-7 in there first game of 2012!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR RAFFLE PRIZE WINNERS!

GRAND PRIZE WINNER = CHRISTIAN LEON

SECOND PLACE WINNER = JOE DONNELLY

THIRD PLACE WINNER = JOANNE PIPER

FOURTH PLACE WINNER = LUCAS MARCHIANO

FIFTH PLACE WINNER = KRISTINE McCONNELL

SIXTH PLACE WINNER = KELLY SCHULTICE

SEVENTH PLACE WINNER = (PRESENT AT OPENING DAY CEREMONIES)

Below is the list of ticket sales WINNERS for the top ten sellers of tickets. $500 for 1st, $300 for 2nd, $200 for 3rd and Phillies gear for 4th thru 10th! Great work ELL families in supporting our league!  

What Makes A Nightmare Sports Parent -- And What Makes A Great One!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 8:20 pm

Written by: Steve Henson

Hundreds of college athletes were asked to think back: "What is your worst memory from playing youth and high school sports?"Their overwhelming response: "The ride home from games with my parents."The informal survey lasted three decades, initiated by two former longtime coaches who over time became staunch advocates for the player, for the adolescent, for the child. Bruce E. Brown and Rob Miller of Proactive Coaching LLC are devoted to helping adults avoid becoming a nightmare sports parent, speaking at colleges, high schools and youth leagues to more than a million athletes, coaches and parents in the last 12 years. Those same college athletes were asked what their parents said that made them feel great, that amplified their joy during and after a ballgame. Their overwhelming response: "I love to watch you play."There it is, from the mouths of babes who grew up to become college and professional athletes. Whether your child is just beginning T-ball or is a travel-team soccer all-star or survived the cuts for the high school varsity, parents take heed.

The vast majority of dads and moms, that make rides home from games miserable for their children do so inadvertently. They aren't stereotypical horrendous sports parents, the ones who scream at referees, loudly second-guess coaches or berate their children. They are well-intentioned folks who can't help but initiate conversation about the contest before the sweat has dried on their child's uniform.In the moments after a game, win or lose, kids desire distance. They make a rapid transition from athlete back to child. And they’d prefer if parents transitioned from spectator – or in many instances from coach – back to mom and dad. ASAP.Brown (pictured below at podium), a high school and youth coach near Seattle for more than 30 years, says his research shows young athletes especially enjoy having their grandparents watch them perform.

"Overall, grandparents are more content than parents to simply enjoy watching the child participate," he says. "Kids recognize that."A grandparent is more likely to offer a smile and a hug, say "I love watching you play," and leave it at that. Meanwhile a parent might blurt out …

“Why did you swing at that high pitch when we talked about laying off it?"

"Stay focused even when you are on the bench.”

"You didn’t hustle back to your position on defense.”

"You would have won if the ref would have called that obvious foul.”

"Your coach didn't have the best team on the field when it mattered most.”

And on and on.

Sure, an element of truth might be evident in the remarks. But the young athlete doesn’t want to hear it immediately after the game. Not from a parent. Comments that undermine teammates, the coach or even officials run counter to everything the young player is taught. And instructional feedback was likely already mentioned by the coach. "Let your child bring the game to you if they want to,” Brown says. Brown and Miller, a longtime coach and college administrator, don't consider themselves experts, but instead use their platform to convey to parents what three generations of young athletes have told them. "Everything we teach came from me asking players questions," Brown says. "When you have a trusting relationship with kids, you get honest answers. When you listen to young people speak from their heart, they offer a perspective that really resonates.”So what’s the takeaway for parents? "Sports is one of few places in a child's life where a parent can say, 'This is your thing,’ ” Miller says. "Athletics is one of the best ways for young people to take risks and deal with failure because the consequences aren’t fatal, they aren’t permanent. We’re talking about a game. So they usually don’t want or need a parent to rescue them when something goes wrong."Once you as a parent are assured the team is a safe environment, release your child to the coach and to the game. That way all successes are theirs, all failures are theirs."And discussion on the ride home can be about a song on the radio or where to stop for a bite to eat. By the time you pull into the driveway, the relationship ought to have transformed from keenly interested spectator and athlete back to parent and child: "We loved watching you play. … Now, how about that homework?"

 FIVE SIGNS OF A NIGHTMARE SPORTS PARENT

Nearly 75 percent of kids who play organized sports quit by age 13. Some find that their skill level hits a plateau and the game is no longer fun. Others simply discover other interests. But too many promising young athletes turn away from sports because their parents become insufferable.Even professional athletes can behave inappropriately when it comes to their children. David Beckham was recently ejected from a youth soccer field for questioning an official. New Orleans radio host Bobby Hebert, a former NFL quarterback, publicly dressed down LSU football coach Les Miles after Alabama defeated LSU in the BCS title game last month. Hebert was hardly unbiased: His son had recently lost his starting position at LSU.Mom or dad, so loving and rational at home, can transform into an ogre at a game. A lot of kids internally reach the conclusion that if they quit the sport, maybe they'll get their dad or mom back.As a sports parent, this is what you don't want to become. This is what you want to avoid:

 • Overemphasizing sports at the expense of sportsmanship: The best athletes keep their emotions in check and perform at an even keel, win or lose. Parents demonstrative in showing displeasure during a contest are sending the wrong message. Encouragement is crucial -- especially when things aren’t going well on the field.

• Having different goals than your child: Brown and Miller suggest jotting down a list of what you want for your child during their sport season. Your son or daughter can do the same. Vastly different lists are a red flag. Kids generally want to have fun, enjoy time with their friends, improve their skills and win. Parents who write down “getting a scholarship” or “making the All-Star team” probably need to adjust their goals. “Athletes say their parents believe their role on the team is larger than what the athlete knows it to be,” Miller says.

• Treating your child differently after a loss than a win: Almost all parents love their children the same regardless of the outcome of a game. Yet often their behavior conveys something else. "Many young athletes indicate that conversations with their parents after a game somehow make them feel as if their value as a person was tied to playing time or winning,” Brown says.

• Undermining the coach: Young athletes need a single instructional voice during games. That voice has to be the coach. Kids who listen to their parents yelling instruction from the stands or even glancing at their parents for approval from the field are distracted and can't perform at a peak level. Second-guessing the coach on the ride home is just as insidious.

• Living your own athletic dream through your child: A sure sign is the parent taking credit when the child has done well. “We worked on that shot for weeks in the driveway,” or “You did it just like I showed you” Another symptom is when the outcome of a game means more to a parent than to the child. If you as a parent are still depressed by a loss when the child is already off playing with friends, remind yourself that it’s not your career and you have zero control over the outcome.

FIVE SIGNS OF AN IDEAL SPORTS PARENT

Let’s hear it for the parents who do it right. In many respects, Brown and Miller say, it’s easier to be an ideal sports parent than a nightmare. “It takes less effort,” Miller says. “Sit back and enjoy.” Here’s what to do:

• Cheer everybody on the team, not just your child: Parents should attend as many games as possible and be supportive, yet allow young athletes to find their own solutions. Don’t feel the need to come to their rescue at every crisis. Continue to make positive comments even when the team is struggling. 

• Model appropriate behavior: Contrary to the old saying, children do as you do, not as you say. When a parent projects poise, control and confidence, the young athlete is likely to do the same. And when a parent doesn’t dwell on a tough loss, the young athlete will be enormously appreciative.

• Know what is suitable to discuss with the coach: The mental and physical treatment of your child is absolutely appropriate. So is seeking advice on ways to help your child improve. And if you are concerned about your child’s behavior in the team setting, bring that up with the coach. Taboo topics: Playing time, team strategy, and discussing team members other than your child.

• Know your role: Everyone at a game is either a player, a coach, an official or a spectator. “It’s wise to choose only one of those roles at a time,” Brown says. “Some adults have the false impression that by being in a crowd, they become anonymous. People behaving poorly cannot hide.” Here’s a clue: If your child seems embarrassed by you, clean up your act.

• Be a good listener and a great encourager: When your child is ready to talk about a game or has a question about the sport, be all ears. Then provide answers while being mindful of avoiding becoming a nightmare sports parent. Above all, be positive. Be your child's biggest fan. "Good athletes learn better when they seek their own answers," Brown says. And, of course, don’t be sparing with those magic words: "I love watching you play."

Click here to contact Bruce E. Brown and Rob Miller. 

The Erial Little League Board of Directors and Officers, and the Gloucester Township Police want everyone to park only in designated parking areas on or around the ELL complex. If you are parking on Essex Road, Sterling Street or Belleview Avenue, please do not park on the "field" side of these streets as you will receive an illegal parking ticket from the police. There is plenty of parking at Erial Elementary School. Please use this parking lot. Please be courteous and do not park where you will block someones driveway or mail box. We would prefer that you DO NOT Park at all on LINE STREET (adjacent to T-ball and Minor Field) as this is a very narrow street. If you park in front of someones mail box or driveway, your car is subject to be towed at your expense.

The Gloucester Township Police have issued their one and only warning for this year. Parking is available at Erial Elementary School, as well as parking areas on the ELL complex. Parking on or around the ELL complex is at "your own risk" and ELL, the Board of Directors and Officers, Gloucester Township, Gloucester Township BOE and Public Works assume no responsibility for any damage resulting to your vehicle on or off of our complex.

Sincerely,
Erial Little League Board of Directors and Officers

Please take a few minutes to fill out the 2011 Erial Little League survey. It's great way to let the Board of Directors know how you feel the league is running and an easy way for you to tell us what you think needs improving!

Thank you for all you have done to make 2011 another great year at

ERIAL LITTLE LEAGUE

If you live in the blue section then you are considered within Erial Little League boundaries and are required to play for Erial Little League, if you choose to play Little League Inc. baseball this season. If you do not live within the blue section you will need a waiver from your local Little League organization to play at Erial Little League. 

View Erial Little League Boundaries in a larger map

Erial Little League would like to congratulate  Board of Director member Toni Jenkins for her election into Temple University's Sports Hall of Fame!!!

Toni was elceted for her oustanding accomplishments in Field Hockey and Softball!

Click this link to read the Gloucester Township Patch article.

Erial Little League has successful inaugural season of Girls' Softball!

Our first season of girls' softball with Erial Little League was a great success. We would like to thank all of the girls that came out this fall to participate.  There was impressive talent and good sportsmanship.  We would also like to thank all of the parents, coaches, and volunteers that helped.

As most of you know, Erial Little League is a volunteer organization of very dedicated people who want to provide a great baseball and memorable environment to your children. We do our best to make sure that our fields are well maintained, that our concession stands are full of great food and snacks, that our equipment is the best available and, most importantly, that the youth of ELL have a lot of FUN in the process. To make sure that we can make all of this happen, we need you, the parent/guardian, to help us out.  

As has happened in years past, everyone who signs up a player at ELL will be required to work one shift in a concession stand per registered player. However, to make this matter easier for our BOD and our volunteers, we have implemented a new format back in 2010. Erial Little League will be collecting a $50.00 concession bond, per registered player during our registration. 

• The way this works is that you pay via check/cash, $50.00, at registration per player that you register. We will not cash your check at registration and if you pay via cash, it will be deposited into our ELL bank account. When you have worked your assigned concession stand duty you will get your uncashed check/cash back within 2 weeks of your assigned date. If the league has a rainout on your scheduled day, we will attempt to reschedule you to another date during the season. If we cannot reschedule you, we will return your uncashed check/cash to you. If you do not want to be assigned for concession stand duty, let us know at registration and we will process your check/cash as an opt out choice. If you do not work your assigned concession stand date and there is not a rainout on the date you were scheduled to work, we will cash your $50 check or put your $50 in cash into out ELL bank account. In the event that we cash your check and it is returned via the bank, there will be a $25 processing fee.
• If you have any questions, please email us at ell_bod@eriallittleleague.org