What’s inside

• Safety officer & league contacts
• Coach certifications & required trainings
• Field safety & game-day protocols
• Emergency & incident response procedures
• Weather, environmental & health guidelines

Each training can be completed by following the link to its respective page.

Mandatory

• Abuse Awareness — 20–25 min, annual (all on-field volunteers)
• Background check — required for all volunteers

Optional

• CDC Heads Up — Online Training (TRAIN)
• Little League Diamond Training

When to report

• First aid supplies used at a game/practice
• Player removed or sat out due to injury
• Any injury needing medical care or f/u
• A near-miss or unsafe condition

What to include

• Injured person's name & phone number
• Date, time, and location of the incident
• Description of what happened
• Preliminary injury assessment
• Your name & phone number

Forms

• Incident & Injury Tracking Form — required for every reportable incident
• Accident Claim Form — required if medical attention was needed

Important Contact Information

• Safety Officer: Michael Fishback — [email protected] — (206) 940-8463
• President: Jason DeMotts — [email protected] — (206) 601-7108
• Emergency: 911

Concussion Management — Observed Signs

• Appeared dazed or stunned
• Loss of consciousness (even briefly)
• Unsure of game or opponent
• Moves clumsily
• Answers questions slowly
• Personality or behavior change
• Forgets events before or after the injury
• Headache, nausea, balance issues, or foggy/sleep/memory changes

Common Causes in Baseball

• Head-to-ball
• Head-to-head or body
• Head-to-wall, ground, or equipment

Return-to-play

• Medical clearance required before resuming
• Follow staged activity increase per provider
• Submit written clearance to Safety Officer/coach

Resources

• File Incident Report
• CDC Heads Up — Coaches (PDF)
• CDC Heads Up — Parents (PDF)
• CDC Heads Up — Online Training (TRAIN)

Lightning — Know the Risk

• Strikes up to 10 miles away — act before rain starts
• Most victims struck before rainfall begins
• Monitor forecasts; use a weather app at the field
• Clear at first thunder or threatening skies

30/30 Rule

• Clear: Thunder within 30 sec of lightning — everyone off the field
• Wait: 30 min after last thunder before returning
• Game started: Umpire calls the game for lightning

Shelter

• Safe: Sturdy building or hard-top vehicle with windows closed
• Not safe: Dugouts, pavilions, bleachers, or sheds

Heat Exhaustion — Signs

• Cool, moist, pale skin
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Weakness or exhaustion
• Nausea
• Note: Skin may not feel hot

Treatment

• Remove child from the heat
• Wrap with cool, wet towels
• Ice packs to back of neck
• Drink cool water

Heat Stroke — Signs

• Vomiting
• Decreased alertness or level of consciousness
• High body temperature (up to 105°F)
• Skin may be moist; child may stop sweating
• Rapid, weak pulse
• Rapid, shallow breathing

Heat stroke is a medical emergency — call 911 immediately.

Staying Cool — Coaches & Players

• Water breaks every inning — hydrate before, during, and after
• Light-colored, moisture-wicking clothing
• Shade in the dugout; bring a pop-up canopy
• Sunscreen to reduce heat absorption
• Spray bottle or wet towel on neck/wrists
• No energy drinks — water or electrolyte sports drinks only
• Watch for early heat illness signs; pull players early

AQI Thresholds — WA DOH Guidance

• Good (0–50): Proceed as planned
• Moderate (51–100): Proceed; accommodate players' health conditions
• Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101–150): Consider canceling activities 1+ hour; under 1 hour may continue
• Unhealthy (151–200): Cancel all outdoor activities or move indoors with filtered air
• Very Unhealthy / Hazardous (201+): Cancel all outdoor activities

Modification Options

• Reduce intensity — switch to lower-exertion drills
• Reduce duration — shorten total outdoor time
• Relocate — move indoors or to a location with better air quality

Symptoms to Watch For

• Burning eyes
• Coughing or throat / nose irritation
• Wheezing or shortness of breath
• Headache or fatigue

If any player shows symptoms, move them indoors immediately and notify a parent or guardian.

Decision authority

Straight from the mouth of Jon Becker, NCLL UIC:

• Before first pitch: Authority rests with the league (president). In practice, coaches decide together; umpires can advise and should be weighed in.
• After first pitch: The umpire crew chief has sole authority to continue or suspend play due to weather, often based on infield safety.

Lightning safety

Play must stop immediately when lightning or thunder is detected. Everyone should shelter in a substantial building (electrical/plumbing preferred) or a hard-topped metal vehicle. Dugouts, sheds, and small outdoor structures are not safe. Resume only after 30 minutes with no lightning.

Who calls a rainout?

If the City of Seattle determines fields are unsafe to play on, practices or games scheduled on those fields cannot be held. Even if the City of Seattle does not close the fields, team managers and league officials may decide fields are unplayable in advance of play.

Once a game begins, the chief umpire is solely empowered to halt play if conditions are unsafe. Lightning in the area is cause for immediate suspension of play, regardless of field conditions.

How do I find out about rainouts?

• Rainout hotline: (206) 233-0055 (updated Mon-Fri at 3:30 PM).
• Field reservations: Seattle Parks & Recreation field reservations .

City alerts & closures

Subscribe to the parks email alerts. You’ll get two updates on weekdays (around 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM).

If the City of Seattle determines fields are unsafe, scheduled practices or games cannot be held. Even if the City does not close fields, team managers and league officials may decide fields are unplayable in advance of play. If your field is listed, it is officially closed and you should expect a closure sign at the field.

Grey areas to expect

• Parks & Rec does not post official field closures on weekends.
• Some Cloverleaf fields (4, 5, 6) might be unplayable while your scheduled field (e.g., 3) is playable.
• Both teams may be able to improve conditions with a short pre-game field rake.

In grey areas, use good judgment and be honest. Work with the opposing coach and answer:

1. Is it safe—and do both teams agree it is safe?
2. If you spent 10 minutes on the field after the game, would it be the same or better than when you started?

Please use your best judgment; our relationship with Parks matters.

When a game is canceled (no grey area)

1. If bad weather is forecast, communicate with the opposing coach. For inter-league games, reach out to your division lead for contact info.
2. Make the call; if you’re on-site, involve the umpire when possible.
3. Notify your team and umpires immediately (email/text/app).
4. Intra-league (NCLL vs NCLL): One head coach emails [email protected] with original date, start time, and teams. CC both head coaches and the division lead.
5. Inter-league (e.g., NCLL vs RUG): Decide which league will reschedule. If it’s NCLL, email [email protected] with original date, start time, and teams. CC both head coaches and the division lead.
6. Get the game back on the schedule ASAP (may need division lead help in GameChanger) so parents and umpires can plan.
7. Cross fingers.

Weekend updates & group chat

Note: The Parks Department hotline is not updated on weekends. If fields are unsafe, the only indication may be a posted closure sign, which is unusual. On weekends, field playability is usually at the discretion of managers or league officials.

An informal Google Group of managers and umpires often shares updates. To join, email the Umpire Coordinator .

Quick checks

• Watch league rainout alerts before leaving home.
• Use the 30/30 lightning rule; stop play on unsafe surfaces.
• Report rainouts to the scheduler and reply quickly for makeups.

Coach checklist when a game is canceled

• Notify your team and families right away (email/text/app).
• Confirm the field status call with the league or umpire crew.
• Coordinate with the opposing coach about reschedule options.
• Update any volunteers (scorekeeper, team manager, snacks).
• Log the cancellation and next steps with your division coordinator.

Step 1 — Check status

• Confirm field status (league text/email, city parks hotline, field coordinators).
• Walk the infield/mound if on site; standing water or unsafe footing = no play.
• Coordinate with opposing coach and umpire if assigned.

Step 2 — Notify immediately

• Post in your team channel (GameChanger/Team Central) and email families.
• Include: field, date/time, status (canceled, delayed, moved indoors), and next update time.
• Alert umpires/field crew if applicable so they can stand down.

Sample: “Today’s 5:30 PM at Lower Woodland #2 is canceled due to rain. No reschedule yet; we’ll share a make-up slot once posted.”

Step 3 — Protect the field

• Replace/tighten tarps, secure bases, and remove standing water with buckets (no digging ruts).
• Do not drag heavy screens or rakes on soaked clay; avoid creating holes on the mound/batter’s box.
• Lock sheds and return league gear to dry storage.

Policies & make-ups

• League may close fields proactively; always honor posted closures.
• Games take priority over practices for reschedules; use assigned slots for make-ups.
• Coordinate with your division scheduler for make-up requests; include teams, division, and open dates.