Announcement of my resignation from the Owls Team
Subject: Announcement of my resignation from the Owls Team
Owls Family,
North Shore Little League has placed our team at a competitive disadvantage and some of our kids at academic disadvantage with the actions they have taken.
The first issue is Academic in nature.
When Alyssa Mendoza first took on the team, she stood up for the kids when the League scheduled an imbalance of 8 pm games for our team vs all other teams. The league altered the schedule, but still did not balance out the effect of our team playing more 8 pm games on Tuesday night than the other teams. The current schedule yields the following count of 8 pm games on Tuesday nights.
6 - Owls
4 - Tigers
3 - Bulldogs
3 - Jayhawks
On Wednesday, March 8th, I met with the Vice President of the League, John Reid who is also the Bulldog's manager. Also attending the meeting were the Managers for the Jayhawks and Tigers. Each of the Managers and League Vice President agreed the schedule needs to be balanced and fair to the kids academically because waking up on Wednesday morning for school after an 8 pm Tuesday game is unfair to the Owls with 6 late Tuesday night games. Upon that agreement, I made a new schedule taking into consideration the opening day game that we completed.
The problem and the new schedule was submitted to Jose Pena, the President of the League is in the link below:
https://goo.gl/KnudWU
The President of the League responded with the following reply, "Schedule cannot be changed as it impacts concession coverage. Each team has 8 early games and 8 late games.".
I pointed out the error in his reply with the following message:
"All of the PeeWee Concessions nights are scheduled on Monday night for our league. I took that into consideration. That has zero impact and I am not going to have a catcher on some Tuesday nights.
Please reconsider this.".... I did not receive a reply to my appeal.
The second issue relates to the fair access of the North Shore Little League facility and what is available to the kids.
While I have participated in only three practices, the kids have not received the opportunity to practice with the full team like other teams. I developed a plan to meet up with players in smaller groups over Spring Break using the batting cages as announced after the game Friday night. After the game, I was told that I would not be granted access to the facility until Monday following Spring Break.
This is unfair because all other coaches have been given keys to the facility already and can practice therein.
I again sent a message to the President stating we need to meetup to discuss the access and schedule and received no reply.
After not receiving a reply, I notified him that I would be resigning from the League as a manager and coach.
I brought over 12 years of Little League experience to the Owls as a player, umpire and assistant coach. In those 12 years, I have never seen a league operated in a manner where our kids well being was not put first (academics vs schedule) and a team not given fair access to the resources which the parents are pay for (batting cages).
The only way for this message to be heard by the league is for me to step down as the Manager. Your kids are now in the capable hands of Matt Mendoza, Jesse Perez, Alyssa Mendoza with Philip and Ashley Box.
I will be in the stands with you going forward cheering the team on.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Tom Olson
For those who have asked me, the phone number of the North Shore Little League President is below.
Jose Pena
713-392-8470
Game tonight - Update
Owls Family,
Despite my prediction of rain and the condition of the field, another league actually played ball last night at Field 3. We are still scheduled for a 6 pm game today and we are still in for 60% chance of rain/thunderstorms.
We need to be prepared to play today in case the rain holds off. So, just in case, please let me know you got this message and the status of your player(s) health since I have some kids with the flu earlier in the week.
Thank you in advance,
Tom Olson
Coach & Cheif Meteorologist
Practice for Thursday
Owls Family,
With the weather expected to rain on us Friday (60% Thunderstorms) and the upcoming Spring Break next week, there is not likely going to be any baseball for the next week. That being the case, I am going to get the Batting Cages repaired and the machines in good working order this evening. Additionally I am going to install some more lights so we can see better inside of the cages.
Look for messages about opportunities to practice your batting one on one or small group coaching in the coming days, during spring break and the following weekend.
Since I am not holding practice this evening and if it miraculously clears up tomorrow, then I will pull a Bull Durham level Natural Disaster when nobody is looking. This is what a Natural Disaster looks like.
https://youtu.be/cLMxmZr3S5s
See you all soon.
Tom Olson
Coach, Manager & Rainmaker
Great News!!! Practice Status - Wednesday, March 8th, 2:40pm
Owls Family,
We have the batting cages from 5:45 to 7pm this evening.
Try to arrive at the ball park with your gear by 5:30 at the latest since this is new to some of us. I will be there at 5pm to work with anyone whereas we have space just to throw the ball.
Thank you,
Tom Olson
Coach, Swamp Drainer
Practice Status - Wednesday, March 8th, 1:45pm
Owls Family,
The Practice Field is a swamp.
Right now, I am waiting to hear if we can have access to the batting cages at the ballpark. I understand if you want to make other plans with family this evening and appreciate every chance you can give you kids time to practice. I understand that family dinner and homework means just as much if not more to you.
As soon as I know, I will notify you via Text and post it on the Game Changer website.
Thank you,
Tom Olson
Coach, Swamp Drainer
Text Messages, Communications
Owls Family,
There have been some problems with Texting messages. Sometimes they are not going through.
To remedy that breakdown and enhance communication, I have implemented the Game Changer application which is endorsed by Little League and almost every other Baseball organization in the US.
The Application will track the Plays in Games, Player Stats, In-Game Scores along with Final Score and Real Time Plays if a parent cannot be at the ball park via the Application on a Android or iPhone.
Please use the link below to connect on your phone or computer:
https://goo.gl/J7WXst
The Team Announcements will be posted here first and foremost. We will continue to send Text Messages as before. The Team Announcements are open to the Public and do not require a login or registration.
Your Player's Statistics requires registration & approval. This prevents other teams from gaining access to see how well we are playing.
If you want to use the Application on your Smart Phones, please use the link below for your device:
iPhone:
https://goo.gl/bcCXec
Android:
https://goo.gl/eAj7sg
I am looking forward to dryer weather and seeing you all soon at either practice or the ballpark for the next game.
Tom Olson
Coach and Manger
The Owls
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