Parents
POLICIES
REFUND
REFUND REQUEST POLICY
Blue Springs Baseball recognizes there are times when our program may not fit every child - or - that from time to time, family plans change. We have scaled our refund policy to help offset our cost associated with accommodating every registered player.
Anyone requesting a refund must complete our Refund Request Form. This form must be completely filled out.
Refund requests received before the posted date of the Blue Springs Baseball Draft Day, will be entitled to a full refund of their registration fee, minus a $15 processing fee.
Refund requests received after the posted date of the Blue Springs Baseball Draft Day, but before the game schedule has begun, will be entitled to a 50% refund, minus a $15 processing fee.
There will be no refunds granted from Blue Springs Baseball once the game schedules have begun, regardless if your child played in a game or not. Nor will Blue Springs Baseball grant refunds for players in the National League. Refunds for players in the National League are to be worked out between the player’s parents and the team manager.
Remember, Raffle tickets, service fees, and late registration fees are not refundable.
Once your refund request information has been verified, BSB will issue your refund by one of the following methods:
- If fee was originally paid by cash or check, the refund will be mailed to the address provided on the request.
- If fee was originally paid by credit card, the refund will be applied to the credit card used for enrollment.
INJURY
REPORTING AN INJURY
Sometimes accidents happen. To report an injury, please fill out the BSB INJURY REPORT and email it to bsbbod@bluespringsbaseball.org.
YOUTH SAFETY
ABUSE POLICY
In compliance with the 2017 Safe Sport Act, which has set higher standards of care to protect youth, Blue Springs Baseball (BSB) has adopted a Child Abuse/Molestation Risk Management Program. Certain elements of this program are being communicated to parents in this Parent’s Guide in order to enhance education and to help to create an environment that is hostile to abusers. The basic elements of this program are outlined below:
BACKGROUND:
Child abuse/molestation has become a growing concern in recent years on a national level as the topic has received much attention in the media surrounding abuses in churches, schools and sports programs. Any form of child abuse/molestation is despicable and goes against everything for which Blue Springs Baseball stands.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this new risk management program is to reduce the liability risk and related negative publicity, expense, and trauma to the children that we serve, as well as BSB itself. The program will educate all league administrators and staff on examples of child abuse/molestation, warning signs, policies that can be implemented to reduce the risk, volunteer screening, and how to deal with allegations of child abuse/molestation
DEFINITIONS:
Child Abuse:
Verbal abuse (ridicule or put-downs), physical abuse (any hurting touching or excessive exercise used as punishment), emotional abuse (threats to perform unreasonable tasks), and sexual abuse.
Sexual Abuse:
Refers to a wide spectrum of interactions including rape, physical assault, sexual battery, unwanted physical sexual contact, unwelcome sexually explicit or offensive verbal communication, coercive or expletive sexual contact, verbal sexual harassment, and/or sexualized attention or contact with a minor.
Conduct Official:
Single person within the league who is appointed by the Board to administer the Simplified Child Abuse/Molestation Risk Management Program. The Conduct Official is responsible for education, reviewing Volunteer Applications, checking references, conducting criminal background checks, handling appeals from disqualified candidates, conducting investigations on allegations of abuse, acting as liaison to local law enforcement, etc.
POLICIES ON CHILD ABUSE/MOLESTATION
Limit One-on-One Contact:
It is BSB’s policy that no activities should take place involving one-on-one contact between a single, non-related league volunteer and a child, if such activities can be practically avoided. Instead, a “buddy system” is encouraged where two (2) adults should always be present during practices, games, carpooling, and special events.
Prohibition of Sleepovers:
All BSB sanctioned team or league sleepover activities should be prohibited whether overnight parties or traveling to away games. Exception: Teams traveling to far away tournaments can have sleepovers if each child is either accompanied by his/her parent or is being supervised by two (2) adults who are in each other’s presence at all times.
Touch Policy:
Touch is acceptable only if it is “respectful and appropriate”. Some experts have adopted a no touch policy, but most experts believe that “no touch” is an over-reaction and is ultimately damaging in itself and not practical.
Verbal Conduct Policy:
Inappropriate comments of a sexual nature and suggestive jokes are prohibited.
Take Home/Pick-Up:
Take home/pick-up of athletes by league personnel is strongly discouraged because of the difficulty in limiting one-on-one contact between adult and child (remember the Buddy System). Parent(s) should provide transportation for their own children to and from scheduled events. The league will clearly outline the expected start and end time for all events and communicate this with all parent(s). Parent(s) should be instructed to make back-up plans in the event they can’t provide transportation. If parent(s) can’t provide transportation they must communicate to the sports organization the name of the person(s) who are authorized to pick up the child. Such policy will help to protect against potential abductions or being thrust into the middle of any custody dispute.
Child Abuse Prohibition:
All forms of sexual, physical, verbal and emotional abuse are prohibited.
Name Distribution:
The distribution of directories/rosters with names, phone numbers, addresses, and pictures should be limited to persons on a “need to know” basis.
EXAMPLES OF ABUSE/MOLESTATION:
Emotional Abuse:
Yelling or making the following statements:
- You’re stupid;
- You’re an idiot;
- You’re an embarrassment;
- You’re not worth the uniform you play in; etc.
Physical Abuse:
Besides the obvious examples of a coach hitting, kicking, throwing equipment, or shaking a player, watch out for the following:
- Behaviors seem violent versus disciplinary;
- Training practices become abusive;
- Fighting is encouraged or ignored;
- Illegal moves, often associated with injuries are encouraged;
- Coaches teach improper techniques or encourage conduct which violates safety rules;
- Coaches allow athlete(s) to become physically or verbally abusive;
- Behaviors result in injures to athlete(s); etc.
Sexual Abuse:
An adult may not improperly sexualize touch by fondling instead of hugging (with permission), kissing, or seductive stroking of various body parts. On the other hand, appropriate touching can be used when a young child needs comfort, reassurance, and support. Appropriate touch is respectful of a person’s personal boundaries and comfort level, public (done in front of others and not secretly), and nurturing (not sexualized).
- Misuse of power and authority;
- Misuse of love and affection;
- Manipulation or tricks:
- This is love;
- This is what you need to be a part of the team;
- This is what we do for initiation
- Grooming: desensitization that begins with appropriate touch, then the touch change. Examples:
- You liked the touch before;
- What’s wrong? Don’t you trust me?; or
- courting (gifts, time, attention);
- romancing (talking of love or attraction);
- line (you’re special, I don’t usually do this sort of thing, you’re so mature, you’re so attractive); or
- secrets (this is our special secret, others wouldn’t understand, you or I would get in trouble)
ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE/MOLESTATION AND OTHER POLICY VIOLATIONS
Point of Contact: The Conduct Official is the appropriate person to whom all reports of child abuse/molestation should be reported. In the event that the Conduct Official is the alleged abuser/molester, the report should be made to the President of Blue Springs Baseball.
VOLUNTEER SCREENING
All volunteers who have repeated access to children will be required to complete a Volunteer Application. A Criminal Background Check will be conducted on each volunteer.
The Conduct Official will review the Volunteer Applications and will disqualify any candidate with a conviction involving crimes against a minor. In addition, other charges and convictions may be an indication of an unfit volunteer and may result in disqualification.
Thank you for taking the time to better understand the risk management program that is being implemented by Blue Springs Baseball. Your concern and vigilance are not only appreciated, but also an essential element of this program.
CLICK THE DOCUMENT BELOW TO VIEW THE PDF VERSION OF THIS POLICY
PRIVACY
PENDING APPROVAL
SCHOLARSHIP
BSB’s mission is for all area youth to play organized baseball. As an independent organization, we can only exist due to the fees we collect. However, we understand there are times when families may encounter a financial situation that temporarily prevents them from complying with our payment procedures. The purpose of this agreement is to provide you with a vehicle to make it easier for your family to allow your child to participate, while meeting our financial concerns.
The completed agreement will be kept as confidential as plausible.
The completed agreement must be signed off by the league President or Vice President.
Proposed payment solutions may include reduced fees, a payment schedule, or possibly a way to work off the league fees by providing services to the league. Please provide details on the solution that best fits your needs.
Failure to complete the agreed upon terms will result in forfeiture of this opportunity in the future.
To apply, please complete the Scholarship Application.