SMITH SCOOP

Spring 2024 - Pre-Season Information

We are excited to be kicking off Half Moon Bay Little League’s 55th year of offering a baseball program to Coastside youth! Below you will find details on important upcoming dates, events and information to ensure a seamless and successful start to the season.  The Board has been working hard for months to plan an exciting season and can’t wait to welcome your families back to Smith Field.  Play Ball! 

Field Clean Up Day: Saturday, January 27th

We are scheduling a community field clean up day at Smith Field on Saturday January 27th from 9:00am to 1:00pm.  We need everyone’s help to get the fields completed and ready for opening day.   There is a link to a sign up sheet with tasks that need to be completed below. Please mark your name for a project. We will provide lunch for everyone so bring the whole family! Looking forward to seeing everyone on January 27th.  

Sign up here: Smith Field Clean Up Day

Gear Swap: Saturday, January 27th during Field Clean Up Day

Please drop off any unwanted gear to the swap bin located near the snack shack and grab any gear you need for the spring season! 

Swap Items Accepted: Baseball socks, baseball belts, baseball pants (no holes/rips), sliding shorts, gloves, bats, batting gloves, helmets, cleats and baseball equipment bags.

Important 2024 Spring Season Information/Dates: 

Waitlisted Players: If your player is waitlisted, we will advise you no later than January 23rd if there is an opening for them for the Spring 2023 season. 

Team Placement: Drafts are currently in process for AAA, Minors, Majors and Juniors teams and team placement is happening for AA and T-ball.  Your player’s team placement will be announced the week of January 29th.  Once teams are finalized, you will hear from your team manager with more information. 

Game Schedule: The game schedule will be announced no later than February 15th.

SAVE THE DATE - Opening Day: March 2nd - please plan to attend our opening day ceremony (time TBD, but typically around noon)

Easter Weekend: Games will be scheduled on Saturday March 30th

Spring Break (CUSD & Seacrest 4/13- 4/21): Game schedule is TBD, but there will likely be games scheduled on April 13th and not on the weekend of April 20th.  Game schedule depends on the use of Smith Field by the City of Half Moon Bay.  The game schedule will be announced by 2/15.  There may be an optional practice scheduled at your team managers discretion between 4/15 - 4/19.

Playoff Schedule (AAA and above): Playoffs will begin in early May and typically last two weeks.  

Closing & Award Ceremonies: Tentatively scheduled for May 18th.

Equipment/Uniform needed:

Uniform 

• Jersey/Shirt - You will purchase you player’s jersey once teams are finalized (info will come from your team manager)

• Pants, Belt, Socks - Team manager will provide details on what to purchase

• Hats will be provided by HMBLL

  Glove - You are required* to have your own glove
  Helmet - Recommended*, but not required (we will have team helmets available)
  Bat - Recommended*, but not required (we will have team bats available)  NOTE: only USA bats are permitted in Little League, no USSSA bats at practices or in games. 
•  Protective Cup - Required for AAA and above
  Cleats - Required for AAA and above, recommended for AA and Tball* 

*If you do not have these items, come check out our gear swap (1/27 9am-1PM at Smith Field).

HMBLL has worked with Dick’s Sporting Goods (DSG) who has offered a special coupon and a discounted in-store shopping event.. 

Here are everyday coupons to get you started on your baseball gear shopping (Valid through 1/31/24). We will send an updated coupon when available.
Additionally, we will have a DSG 20% off Shopping Weekend Event from Friday, February 2nd - Sunday, February 4th at DICK’S Sporting Goods located at 64 Serramonte Center, Daly City. Be sure to use the coupon linked below, as this is specific to our organization. The coupon is valid in-store only on the dates above and should be shown at the register during checkout. CLICK HERE FOR COUPON

Volunteer Information: As a reminder, Half Moon Bay Little League is operated completely by volunteers. All families are required to fulfill the volunteer roles that they signed up for during registration to ensure a successful season. 

Background Check: All HMBLL volunteers (board members, managers, coaches, field help, team parents, scorekeepers, etc.) are required to have an annual background check completed through JDP/HMBLL prior to the start of practices.  You will receive an email to start the background check process once the Team Manager has identified you in a role. If you have not completed the background check process, you will not be permitted to work with the players or be on the field until it has been completed. Background checks are in addition to LiveScan requirements for regular, on-field volunteers, such as managers, coaches, and those helping with practice support.
Livescan: If you are volunteering to be a Team Manager, coach or will be helping regularly on-field in any capacity, you must go through the LiveScan fingerprinting process specifically with Half Moon Bay Little League. LiveScan fingerprinting completed for other organizations does not carry over and cannot be transferred. 

Team Managers:  Please plan to attend the following mandatory Managers Meetings

• Field Prep & Maintenance Meeting on January 27th at 8:30 AM at Smith Field 2 with Alex Resh. Following this training, you can connect with Cris Seva to pick-up your equipment bag.  

• Manager/Coach Information Meeting on January 30th from 6:30-8:30 PM: This meeting will be held in “The Reef” at Sea Crest School (901 Arnold Way, Half Moon Bay). “The Reef” is located around the east side of the Sea Crest gymnasium next to the playground. At this meeting we will have a presentation from the Positive Coaching Alliance, a brief First Aid training, distribute manager binders with practice plans and review all important, logistical information for managers. 

• Team Parents: Please plan to attend a Team Parent meeting via Zoom in February.  Date to be announced. 

• Team Scorekeepers: Please plan to attend a Scorekeeper informational meeting and training via Zoom in February.  Date to be announced. 
  
• Snack Shack: Please be reminded that every team is required to participate in assigned snack shack shifts throughout the season.  These are not optional and are not included in the volunteer opt out fee during registration.  Your team parent will provide more information on your team’s assigned shifts at the start of the season. Should a team not fulfill their obligations, they may be subject to forfeiture of their game.

Player Medical Forms: For safety, each player is required to complete this linked form and turn a printed copy into your team Manager at your first practice, prior to partaking in any HMBLL activities.

Game Changer App: Once the practice and game schedules have been issued, you will be able to access them via the Game Changer app.  If you don't have the Game Changer app, you will likely receive an email from Game Changer prompting you to download it once your Team Parent activates the process.  Once you do (or if you already have the app) you can go in and import your player’s team. This app links to the Sports Connect registration system and will allow all the coaches and parents to communicate very easily. 

Merchandise: Get your HMBLL merch! Link here to the online store.

SF Giants Baseball Camps:
Giants Baseball Camps is running several week long sessions of camp this summer and they are offering friends and family of Half Moon Bay Little League an exclusive $50 discount on the cost of enrollment! To view locations and access this exclusive promotion, please visit WWW.SFGIANTSCAMPS.COM and enter 24HMBLL50 in the promo code section of the application.  This promotion will expire on January 31st, 2024.  

If you have any questions, contact San Francisco Giants Baseball Camps at 415-800-2014 or via email at [email protected].