BAYFL is the league that it is because of its volunteers.  Everyone – from our long-time  concession manager, Pam Lindall, who spends about 20 hours a week on BAYFL activites much of the fall, to the person who helps paint goal posts for a few hours, volunteers their time.  It’s pretty impressive to the families / supporters of BAYFL have been able to accomplish.

Members of the Holt and Cass Families Volunteering to Park Cars at the Topsham Fair

Below are descriptions of some of the ways people can volunteer to help BAYFL.

Coaching – While the title is self-explanatory, it isn’t necessary to have football or cheering coaching experience.  You just have to want to work with kids, give them positive support and help make the sport fun.  All coaches must take a short online course in coaching  offered through the National Alliance for Youth Sports (we pay for the class) and undergo a background check.  If you are interested in coaching football, contact our Coaching Coordinator Jeff Kelly (coaches@bayfl.org)of if you want to coach cheering, contact our Cheering Coordinator, Suzanne Gagne (cheering@bayfl.org). If you are considering becoming a coach please download this memo which explains how to get certified / re-certified.  You will also need to sign this code of ethics and return it to Jeff Kelly. 

Concessions - Tanya Goddard manages our concession stand.  Each team is assigned a time (usually during their children’s games, the Team Parent recruits volunteers) when they need to fill some slots at the concession stand.  However, Tanya would also like to have some help from people who are able to make a bigger commitment to help her run the stand.  Contact Tanya (concessions@bayfl.org) if you are interested in helping out more.

Team Parent – The Team Parent is selected by the coaches shortly after the team is formed.  The Team Parent makes sure that the team’s grounds crew and concession shifts are filled, coordinates the team’s efforts in the league fundraisers, distributes league information and coordiantes the team’s end of the season party/picnic.  Our Team Parent Coordinators, Lynn Sirois (tpclynn@bayfl.org) and Hillary Backhaus (tpchill@bayfl.org) help keep team parents informed and coordinates their efforts.

John Faith teaching some players how to hold the ball.

Grounds Crew – Grounds crew members help set up the field for the first game, put away the markers after the last game and run the chains in between.  You only have to set up or take down if your child is playing  in the first or last game.  Volunteers usually do it during their child’s game, so it is the “best seat in the house”.

Board of Directors – The Board of Directors meets year round.  It plans for the league and the season, organizes the fundraisers and sets league policy.  The Board of Directors undergoes a background check.

Equipment Managers -  Equipment managers help distribute and fit equipment at the beginning of the season, repair and adjust it during the season and collect and organize it at the end of the season.  As those of you who have been around the league for a couple of years know, Randy Klatt, our president has also doubled as our equipment manager.  He’s retiring at the end of 2010, so we’re looking for a replacement (or better yet, multiple replacements – one for the 1st – 3rd grade, one for the 4th-6th grade, and one for the 7th and 8th grade players.

In addition to the ways to volunteer listed above, you may know of another way you can use your skills / talents to help the league.  For instance, in 2009, the Gerencer Family started showing up with special treats for the concession stand – homemade pulled pork and even a few seafood chowders.  In 2010, Mark Leaman volunteered to rebuild our website.  If you see a need you would like to fill, please contact one of the members of BAYFL’s board of directors.

Note:  To volunteer for coaching or board of directors positions, a BAYFL volunteer application  must be completed.