Game Coordinator Policy

Little League Alberta Game Coordinator Policy 
 

PLEASE NOTE* 
This role has been widely called “Umpires Advocate” within Little League 

 
Little League Alberta is strongly recommending all of our Member Associations to adjust their internal verbiage and policies to use the term Game Coordinator to align with the Little League International Rule Book and Little League Alberta Policy. 

The Little League Alberta Game Coordinator Policy is in place to ensure the following:  
 

• Protect our non-adult umpires (Children) from inappropriate or unprofessional conversations with adult coaches, managers and volunteers.  

• Ensure that we provide a structure for our non-adult umpires to work through situations of disagreement and conflict in an empowering and responsible manner. 

• Provide support for our “Rule of two” framework for all coaches- ensuring that 2 appropriate adults are participating in the conversations.  

A Game Coordinator MUST be provided by the AWAY team for all games where there are two (2) non-adult umpires working the game. lt is the responsibility of the HOME team coach to confirm and communicate to the AWAY team prior to the Home Plate Meeting if BOTH umpires are non-adults to ensure that the AWAY team confirms they have a volunteer parent available for the role. In the situation where there are two (2) non-adult umpires the game MAY NOT proceed without a Game Coordinator involved. There are no exceptions to this. The Game Coordinator CAN NOT be a member of your Coaching Staff for that game. Should there NOT be a Game Coordinator appointed as required above, all game results will be nullified and the game will not count towards the standings and coaches from BOTH teams may be brought forward for a disciplinary hearing. 

When choosing a Game Coordinator we strongly encourage that you should do your best to ensure it is your most level headed and responsible parent. 

The Game Coordinator is to be present at conversations between the non-adult Umpires and the Coaches to ensure proper decorum and behaviour is followed. The Game Coordinator does not need to have intimate knowledge of the Little League Rule Book. The Game Coordinators role is to be the voice of reason to ensure any and all conversations proceed appropriately and responsibly - allowing the non-adult umpires the chance to work through the situation (individually or together) without any undue pressure or conflict. Should a coach wish to have a conversation with the non-adult umpires, after they have called for "Time", they must ask for the Game Coordinator to be a part of the conversation with them and the non-adult umpires. The non-adult Umpires also have the ability to ask the coach to wait until the Game Coordinator is present for the conversation.  

The role of the Game Coordinator is covered in the Little League Rule Book in Rule 9.03 (d) and shall be summarized as follows: 

• To be included in the Pre-Game Meeting as noted in Rule 4.01 

-Little League Alberta Policy Requirement: The Game Coordinators full name shall be included on the Visiting Team Line Up Card AND the Official Score Book. 

• To remain at the game at all times, including between half-innings in a position to see all the actions on the field and in close proximity to the field; 

• To oversee the conduct of all players, managers, coaches and umpires in the game; 

• Has the authority to disqualify any player, coach, manager, or substitute for objecting the decisions of an umpire or for unsportsmanlike conduct or language; 

• Have the ability to judge as to whether and when play shall be suspended during a game because of inclement weather as per the Little League Rule Book and Little League Alberta Weather Policies 

• The Game Coordinator shall not interrupt or stop a game until all play and action ends. 

Any instances which leads to an ejection of a coach where they DID NOT utilize and engage the Game Coordinator as required (in Games where it is required as above) will result in an additional 2 Game Suspension for the ejected coach above the penalties already required by both the Little League Rule Book and Little League Alberta policy.  

When a Game Coordinator is involved in a game as required above, it is requested that they also submit an Incident Report through the Little League Alberta website for all incidents as needed to support the Umpire Incident Reports. 

https://cloud.rampinteractive.com/littleleaguealberta/files/coordinator%20policy.pdf