UPDATED: MAY 7TH, 2024

INTRODUCTION

In 2022, Baseball Alberta initiated a partnership with Spordle to streamline data management processes and enhance efficiency throughout the organization. This strategic decision was made to address inefficiencies and fractures in data reporting caused by the split between database options. We acknowledge that some members may have reservations due to recent changes, but transitioning to Spordle ID is essential for the organization's long-term success.

MANDATORY REGISTRATION

For the 2024 season, Baseball Alberta requires the registration of all members, including players, coaches, umpires, volunteers, and OFMs, into the Spordle ID system. This mandatory step is crucial for managing and approving all team rosters, including those in Baseball Alberta scheduled leagues (Community League, Provincial A, AA, and AAA/BAEL).

GETTING STARTED

All associations are required to complete the Spordle ID User Form to request access to the system. Once the form is submitted, Baseball Alberta will provide access to Spordle ID at no cost to each Association account. Associations are encouraged to opt-in now to gain access to Spordle's extensive suite of tools, simplifying various processes. Please note - once your Associaiton has gained access has 

STAY INFORMED

Baseball Alberta will begin to communicate information to our members regarding system updates and other important info through Spordle. We are committed to assisting associations in adopting Spordle ID smoothly and efficiently, ensuring a successful transition for the 2024 season.

For questions, support, or further assistance, please contact Liam Froment (media@baseballalberta.com) or Danielle Moffat (operations@baseballalberta.com).

OPTION 1: FULLY UTILIZE SPORDLE ID FOR REGISTRATIONS

• Open up all registration packages (players, coaches, volunteers, and OFMs) via Spordle ID.

• Documentation on opening online registration can be found here.

OPTION 2: THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE INTEGRATION (RAMP, TEAMSNAP, ETC.)

* This option is only being made available for flexibility for any associations that want to stay with their third party software for the 2024 season. However, you should be aware that this option will require a significant amount of work for your volunteers to import registration information into the Spordle ID system before the deadlines proposed or fines will be imposed.

Please also keep in mind this process leads to duplicate issues and Spordle account parent / player linking issues. We highly suggest adopting the Spordle system and becoming familiar with the registration software. 

• Collect all mandatory Baseball Alberta fields within third-party software or externally. (See template below for fields that will be required)

• Provide Baseball Alberta with fully completed CSV. file of players, coaches and OFM’s correctly listed in the template to upload into Spordle ID.

• This process must be fully completed well before the roster deadline dates so that you are able to meet rostering deadlines. 

• New players, coaches and managers must be sent in or manually added into the system to ensure up to date registrations. 

• CSV. template for required fields can be found here

PLAYER / COACH REGISTRATION DEADLINE

• All Associations will be required to register all players and finalize registrations before July 1st. 

• Keep in mind, for associations playing in Baseball Alberta Leagues, players will have to be fully registered before initial roster deadlines in order to meet requirements.

• For a player to be considered “registered” under Baseball Alberta, they must be added onto a team roster under Spordle ID.

• This will ensure all invoicing, Baseball Canada / AABC / Baseball Alberta Board of Directors reporting, and data analysis will be completed on time.

DESIGNATED SPORDLE CONTACT (REGISTRAR)

• Each association must designate a Spordle contact (registrar). They will be the primary contact and user for their association.

• All associations must fill out the Spordle ID User Form providing Baseball Alberta with their main Spordle contact and other additional users.

• Once fully connected into the system, registrars will have access to add additional users within their association. This will also give the the option to hand off user access if they are no longer the primary Spordle contact. Information on how this can be done can be found here. 

ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION

1. Base Information Completion:

• Visit the Organization tab on your Spordle ID Association profile and fill out all required fields, including Association Full Name, Abbreviation, Usual Name, Main Email Contact, Main Phone #, Primary Mailing Address, and website. 

• Detailed instructions can be found here.

2. Staff and Board Member Registration:

• Register all mandatory staff and board members under the Staff tab. These roles include President, Executive Director/General Manager, Registrar, Umpire Coordinator, and Girls/Women’s Baseball Director. Please make sure you add at least one phone visible only to us in order for us to contact the designated person in your organization. 

• Please keep in mind staff must be registered as members before you are able to have them added.

• Detailed instructions on applying staff can be found here. 

• More info is also provided in the next section - Staff and Board Member Information

3. Association Waiver Signing / Questionnaire (NEW):

• The 2024 Baseball Alberta Association Membership form is now available.

• We kindly ask that you review the document and have only one person with signing authority complete the process for your Association using their personal Spordle account. Please consult with your board or executive before signing the Waiver to ensure only one submission is received.

2024 BASEBALL ALBERTA ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP FORM (SPORDLE ID)

4. Outstanding Invoices:

• Ensure all outstanding invoices and or deficiency fines are settled promptly to avoid any delays in the approval process and to be eligible to have teams participate in their schedule.

5. Final Submission for Approval:

• Once all information, including Base Info, Staff / Board Members, and Questionnaire, is correctly filled out and finalized, submit your association for approval.

• We will be notified of your submission, we will then review it and if everything looks good your status will change from pending to approved.

• You can see how this is done here. 

Deadline Dates: 

AAA Associations - March 8th, 2024 (Extended)

AA Associations - March 15th, 2024

A Associations - March 31st, 2024

STAFF AND BOARD MEMBER INFORMATION

• Associations must provide Baseball Alberta with their current Staff and Board Members within Spordle ID.

• They will all need to be added as members before designating them into positions.

• The following positions will be mandatory: President, Registrar, Girls/Women’s Director and Umpire Coordinator.  You will be able to add multiple positions on one individual.

• Associations with roles beyond those listed above will be asked to fill out all their staff / board positions as well (REP Directors, Secretary, Treasurer, etc.).

• All documentation and info for how to apply staff can be found here.

TEAMS

• Teams within Baseball Alberta scheduled leagues must be entered into the system.

• Team entry will be completed on a separate Google form and within Spordle ID, Baseball Alberta will manually add teams to each league they desire to play in.

• Teams must be entered into the 2024 season and rostered with all players who are active for the current year.

• Teams who will be entering Baseball Alberta Leagues must title the team name as follows (City/Town, Team Name, Age Category, Division/League): 

  • ex. FORT MCMURRAY OIL GIANTS BLUE 13U AA, CALGARY BUCKS 18U BAEL or LACOMBE DODGERS 13U CABL

• Teams will have the ability to rollover into future seasons. More info can be found in the documentation below.

• All documentation with regards to adding teams can be found here.

• All documentation with regards to the team profile can be found here.

ROSTER MANAGEMENT

• Rosters will be 100% completed within Spordle ID.

• In order for a player to be considered “registered” with Baseball Alberta they must be rostered on a team in the current year. 

• All teams playing in Baseball Alberta scheduled leagues Players, Coaches, and OFM's must be added to team rosters before the initial roster deadline date.

• All Community League teams not playing within Baseball Alberta schedules leagues will have until the All Player Spordle ID Registration Deadline to have their teams rostered. 

• This will be the responsibility of the designated Spordle contact and not the coaches and/or OFM’s unless otherwise delegated.

• All documentation and tools with regards to rostering can be found here.

ROSTER AND COACH APPROVAL

• You can view all roster deadlines for the current season here. 

• All rosters in Baseball Alberta leagues will be required to request for approval. 

• You will have access to see what coaches will need for qualifications. 

• Coach requirements will be checked and approved in Spordle ID.

• All Community League teams will not be requried to submit their teams for approval. The team will be fine to be left as "DRAFT". 

CRIMINAL RECORD CHECKS

• Criminal Record Checks will be required by all rostered coaches and managers. 

• CRC's or Screening Forms are to be collected by the Primary Associaiton of the coach or manager. 

• It will not be required by Baseball Alberta to have CRC's entered into Spordle for the 2024 season, but it will be implemented in 2025. 

TRANSFERS

• If a player within an Associaiton requires a transfer in the Spordle system so they are able to be rostered or register, please reachout to media@baseballalberta.com and provide the name and ID # of the player.

• All players that require a transfer in order to be approved on the roster will still have to go through the manual transfer process found here. 

AFFILIATES

• All Affiliate Player Guidelines can be found here. 

UMPIRES

• All Umpires will be required to register into Spordle ID.

• If an Umpire registers for a clinic, they will then be considered registered for the 2024 season.

• Umpires clinics and registration will be made available on the Baseball Alberta Spordle Page. 

COACHES

Spordle, Baseball Canada and Baseball Alberta are currently working on a system to connect the NCCP Website to Spordle ID to sync data for all coaches and certifications.

For Coaches:

• For all coaches currently active in the Baseball Canada NCCP system: You now should have fully synchronized profiles with the Baseball Alberta Spordle ID system. When registering at the Association level, please search for your name to locate your existing coaching profile within the system. Ensure that you select your own profile before proceeding with registration. If there is no profile showing up, select create new participant. 

For Associaiton Admin Spordle ID Users:

• If you are encountering difficulties rostering coaches listed under Baseball Alberta, please reach out to media@baseballalberta.com for assistance in resolving this issue.

• Once roster deadlines are complete, all coaching eligibilty requirements will be checked within the Spordle ID rostering system. 

CLINICS

• All NUCP (umpire) clinic registrations will be hosted on Spordle.

• Registration for all clinics will be made available on the Baseball Alberta Spordle Page - Clinics. 

COMMUNICATION TOOLS

• Spordle ID allows for communication to all members of each organization.

• Associations may still use third-party applications / software to communicate with their membership if preferred.

• All info regarding how to use communication tools can be found here. 

SPORDLE PLAY REQUIREMENTS (SCORE ENTRY)

Score entry is to be completed within Spordle PLAY. Off-Field Managers and Head Coaches will have access to be able to enter scores. Coaches and managers are to be added to a roster and fully registered within the Spordle ID system before they are granted access in Spordle PLAY. 

COMMUNICATION STRATEGY

• All communications to the Baseball Alberta office will be made through the designated Spordle contact for each association. 

COSTS

• Associations will not be charged to use Spordle ID in 2024. 

FINES / PENALTIES

• Fines and penalties for non-compliance with Spordle ID requirements will be enforced in 2024.