•To ensure that EVERY CHILD who wants to TRY BASEBALL receives that opportunity regardless of any financial barriers or obstacles of any kind.

• That they get to experience the social aspect that the nature of the game provides in making friendships and lasting memories. While providing an opportunity to build a skill set that will help them not only in baseball, but in life, no matter just how “good” they think they are in either capacity.

• To provide skill development throughout the year for those that can’t afford indoor training on their own, travel team participation, or aren't fortunate enough to have parents with cage access, etc.. If there’s enough of you, we’ll find a way to get you covered!

• To lay the foundation for many of these children - regardless of what age they begin to take it up at - to register in some type of organized DIAMOND SPORT at some point in their lives. Even if it’s just Mixed Slo-Pitch when they’re in their 30’s!!

• To provide a “MEAL PROGRAM” come this Spring / Summer at least once / week for those that attend a JPB event.

The Dugout Club is a Society that was formed in 2009 to originally support and keep the Douglas College Baseball program viable for that season and beyond. After 3 years of doing so, TDC then began to take on other projects to support Youth Baseball in the Lower Mainland. The Society currently have 6 Directors and one Member that have about 210 years in Baseball and/or Softball experience guiding this ship. The importance of that is about to grow greatly in the years to come as we take on more or bigger projects going forth now that we’re aligned with the BCASF and the Vancouver Foundation.

• Indoor Gym Training - Baseball 5 - The program for these nights will be to stress the key FUNdamentals of the game with a good amount of time playing BASEBALL 5. Because of the quickness and action packed way it’s played, it lends itself well in transitioning to the real game when faced with decision making and skill applications in fielding the ball. https://www.baseball.ca/baseball5

• Rally Cap Play - As laid out and sponsored by the Toronto Blue Jays and as promoted by Baseball Canada.

• Friday Night Lights - The hope is that we get more than enough players signed up for the JPB programs that each Friday Night we’ll go out and play a game under the lights. Teams will be mixed up week by week as we go along. Coaches will watch over and help where needed but for the most part, we’ll let you “Just Play Ball”. Equipment will be supplied if needed except for helmets.

• Little League Play - Again, if the numbers warrant it by Mid to late April and there’s a desire to play “organized baseball”, then we’ll do so but your registration costs and https://www.baseball.ca/baseball5insurance will already be covered by your JPB membership. All that you’ll need to consider is having your own helmet. If needed, bats and gloves can be provided by TDC. Of note, LL play definitely favours those that are born from Sept. 1st to Dec. 31st. Instead of always being the youngest or smallest in your age group, you have an opportunity to be one of the oldest.

• Fall Ball Play - Unfortunately, this past Fall we saw numerous kids get cut from Fall Ball teams or Travel teams. Our intention is to provide an opportunity to keep playing for ALL those that still want to. The hope here is the NEW AT INFIELD will already be in at Brighouse Park by this time and we’ll plan around that. That’s a development that we’ll hope to stay on top of for sure.

• Private or Small Group Training Opportunities - Over the last couple of years, a number of Metro Vancouver kids have been working out with Grant Rimer. This will still be available at an additional cost to those registered in the Just Play Ball program.

The Dugout Club is well aware of some of the hardships many families are experiencing these days even here in Richmond. We’re also aware that many of the children receive a meal during the week from programs such as Feed-U-Cate whom we ourselves have supported many times in the past. “The Plan” is to provide a meal OR a meal token to participants at least once / weekend that they come out and participate in an even

Parent “leaders” and youth baseball coaches are encouraged to participate for sure at the younger ages but at this point we’re not planning to charge a fee. Also, Coaches willing to take a full time position where needed, would not pay a registration fee as well. We’re hoping as many as possible will not help not only your child’s growth and

development of the game for now & years to come, but also facilitate many others you will engage and mentor.

For now, TDC Director and longtime Coach Serj Sangara will oversee the Coach and Player Development for the programs but will also be guided by longtime Pitching Coach Grant Rimer who has been running our Just Play Ball programs for the last year and is currently training a number of players in small group private sessions. Depending on the growth of the program, others will be added when available

This is not to be part of the Just Play Ball programs. However, IF a participant wanted to play on a LL All-Star team come July, and lived outside Richmond, certain applications would need to be make without any guarantees you’d be eligible.

As this is the first year that we’re offering OPEN REGISTRATION throughout the year, we’ll look to see what days work best for most OR what days the parks are available to us. i.e. As of this point, we have access to Mitchell School on Monday Nights for or Baseball Training - Baseball 5 program and we have Brighouse Park and King George Park on the weekends for our Spring / Summer baseball programs and at least 3 week nights as well at one of the two parks. So we have lots of flexibility there!

Since starting the JPB program in 2016, there’s been very little travel involved for either the regular programs or even when we oversaw RICHMOND LITTLE LEAGUE. In 2017,2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022, teams mostly came to us at King George, Gibbons and Brighouse Park. If we do form teams for that program, I’d expect basically the same amount of travel… Few trips to New West and maybe South Vancouver. I don’t anticipate much more unless a whole new league evolves in the Lower Mainland.