Welcome to the website of Lower Perkiomen Little League!

The home of youth baseball and softball in the Perkiomen Valley for over three generations.

Notice of Annual Meeting

On October 4^th we will be holding elections for the 2010 LPLL Board of Directors. All LPLL members are invited and encouraged to attend the annual meeting and also, to give consideration to joining the Board of Directors.

At the annual meeting, we will provide an update on the state of the league from a financial, infrastructure/facilities and membership perspective. The existing 2009 Board of Directors will then vote on those running for an Executive Board position in 2010. After the ballots are counted for the Executive Board, all members, whether they are running for a board position or not, will then vote on the full board of directors. All ballots are in writing and confidential.

There are 23 board positions planned for the 2010 season, of which, 6 are executive board positions. The executive positions are President, Secretary, Player Agent, Vice President of Baseball, Vice President of Softball and Treasurer.

What does it mean to be a Board Member for the LPLL?

Monthly Meetings

As you contemplate whether or not to get involved on the LPLL Board it is fair to wonder - what kind of commitment is required? We have a monthly meeting on the first Sunday of each month, generally 8 – 10 times per year. These meeting are held 7 – 9 PM in the Skippack Township building. The agenda is usually packed and we use the full two hours.

Owning a Functional Role

I have asked each board member, starting with last year’s board, to assume ownership of a “functional responsibility”.Examples of this are picture day coordinator, opening day coordinator, Umpire-in-Chief, Tournament Coordinator etc. Depending on the role, it can require 5 – 7 hours per week some weeks, while many weeks, nothing is required. For example, the picture day coordinator has work that is front end loaded relative to the season: organizing a vendor selection expo (at one of our Sunday meetings), selection of the vendor, planning and scheduling picture day, oversees the actual picture day, then, wrap up of picture and sponsor plaque distribution.

Important note: It is the ownership of these functional roles, by so many dedicated board members, that allowed us to continue our progress on so many fronts in the 2009 season. A full listing of the roles is listed below:

Functional Roles: Picture Day Coordinator, Fundraising, Equipment Manager, Registrar, Master Scheduler, Snack Bar Operations and Staffing, Tournament Play Coordination & Staffing, Player Development – Baseball and Softball, Information Officer, Opening Day Coordinator, Umpire-in-Chief, Safety Officer, Manager/Coach Development, Uniforms, Facilities Manager, Construction Manager

Officer-on-Duty Responsibilities

Finally, you likely have noticed board members at Palmer Park working in our burgundy pullovers or shirts, perhaps on the John Deere tractor. This responsibility is shared by all 23 board members and it is called being “Officer-on-Duty”. This is a critical role and involves setting up the fields, attending to equipment and supply issues, monitoring lightening, and a rapid response should we have an injury. With 23 board members, we each have 2 or 3 times were we are assigned Office-on-Duty each spring.

Can I help out and not be on the board?

YES!

We have many subcommittees and functional areas that need help (fundraising, field maintenance and on-boarding tee-ball and pony managers, to name a few). If you want to be more active in the league but not on the board, please just send me an email with your interests expressed and I will make sure the folks overseeing that functional area get in touch with you once the 2010 board is seated. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Next Steps

First, if you are interested in attending the meeting, please do so! It will be a fun night and we would love to have a big turn-out.

Secondly, if you are interested in joining the board or, helping out in a particular area but not joining the board, please send me an email at kkirkman@lpll.org with any questions you might have…or to simply say yes, I want to be considered for the board! Please be sure to include your contact information and I will get back to you promptly.

Please note: to be considered for the Board, we will need to hear back from you no later than September 24^th.

Thank you all for a great 2009 and please join us in working together to plan for a great 2010 Lower Perk.

With kind regards,

Kirk Paul Kirkman

President,
Lower Perkiomen Little League

Rule Changes for 2009: Bats for Little League and Junior League

Beginning with the 2009 Little League Baseball season, all non-wood bats used in Little League Baseball Divisions and below shall be printed with a BPF (bat performance factor) of 1.15 or less.

Also, in effect for the 2009 season, baseball bats with a diameter of 2 ¾ inches are no longer permitted for use in the Junior League Division of Baseball.

Baseball bats with a 2 5/8-inch diameter are now the standard for all teenage baseball divisions (Junior, Senior and Big League).

The "minus-3" requirement - overall weight (in ounces) of a bat can be no more than three ounces below the overall length (in inches) of the bat - remains in effect in Senior and Big League Baseball divisions, but is NOT a requirement in Junior Baseball.

Attention Managers and Coaches:

If you need to contact the Officer on Duty on your game day for any reason, you can now call 215-510-1598. The OD will have the phone with them while they are on duty. They can assist you with any emergency, equipment need or question. If you are at an offsite location for practice or a game and you are concerned about lightning, you can find out the latest status at Palmer Park.

Rainout Information: Call 610-489-4414 In the event of inclement weather or poor field conditions, cancellation of Lower Perk games will be announced at this number. Please note that unless otherwise specified, if all games are cancelled, all other outdoor activities (e.g., practices, work parties, etc.) are also cancelled.

Please note that on days when there are no games scheduled, field closures will not be announced at this number. Managers must use their discretion. They are entrusted with the safety of the players and the integrity of the fields. As a general rule, if your shoes get soaked in the grassand / or you leave any kind of an impression / footprint on the infield dirt, it's too wet to play and definitely too wet to use the fields.

Want to know what to do when there is lightning? Click here to read Lower Perk's lightning policy and procedures.

Parking at Palmer Park