The mudcat way

 I’m sure everyone is as excited as we are to begin a new season.

 If you are curious about what Mudcats Baseball is trying to accomplish, our expectations and commitment levels, and how this program operates,  it is my hope that the information that follows will begin to address some of your questions.

A Little About Us – THE MUDCAT STORY
The Whatcom County Mudcats has been an officially registered non-profit organization since 2022. Currently in its fourth season, our organization started out with one team, working towards a short tournament venue - before the pandemic hit. From there, we grew to five teams (including one Rec team) in 2022. 

As a result of renewed effort, reorganization, and expansion, we are currently winding up an event filled 2024-25 winter-spring training season and excitedly on the verge of rolling out a traditionally trained, well-coached ten-team baseball program for Whatcom County youth. 

At this stage in our development, we, as an organization, have a great deal to be proud of, including a carefully recruited, enthusiastic, well-trained and vetted coaching staff, and a highly responsible, hard-working board of directors. In line with our mission of inclusion and growth, we are also proud to be able to expand on what we started last season through the incorporation of a need-based scholarship option, an extended Rec level program, and developmental fast pitch program for girls. 

THE MUDCAT MISSION
The original mission of our program was to offer a travel baseball option that was affordable for working families, which continues to be a major focus of what we are trying to do. As we’ve continued to grow, we’ve begun to define what it means to be a Mudcat - and be part of the Mudcat Nation. 

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

Character development is at the heart of the Mudcat way of thinking. More specifically, some of the character qualities we are looking to build upon are as follows:

• Enthusiasm - for the sport and for physical activity - an absolute must for anyone who wishes to improve
• Intention - An individual commitment to work hard and strive to improve 
• Cooperation - A willingness to work with others 
• Sportsmanship 

                      ...  Self-control in the face of disappointment and/or the

                            excitement of success (win graciously, lose with 

                            dignity) 

                      ...  An unqualified respect for opposing players, coaches, 

                            and parents, and 

                      ...  A respect for the game - and its officials (an   

                            appreciation for the difficulty of the job umpires do -

                            we're all in this together).

• Team Spirit - An understanding of the value of team effort and dedication to a common goal along with an insight into the balance between that effort and one's own personal interest.
• Preparation - Have a plan, listen carefully to coaches, dedicate personal time to self-improvement, and be ready for practice. 
• Self-responsibility

                      ...  Be on time

                      ...  Communicate with your coaches if you have an issue 

                      ...  Be willing to carry equipment and help out with other

                            group related duties, and 

• A respect for the game                    
• And a respect for the local community - and its baseball facilities (keep a clean dugout) - especially when playing away games and tourneys.
   

HOW WE DO THINGS AND A FEW OF OUR EXPECTATIONS

As our organization grows, it has become important to establish standards and define expectations. These include a few practice/game preparation pieces that all teams will adopt. 

OUR METHODS include...

Physical warmup routines, an arm care and throwing progression regimen, and an adaptable, customizable program-wide practice plan template, somewhat consistent across age and skill levels, that will provide the standardization needed to enable our coaches to work efficiently, while providing flexibility for coaching styles and creativity. 

CODES OF CONDUCT

We have also developed written expectations (a Code of Conduct) for coaches and parents. 

PLAYER EXPECTATIONS
Our player expectations include timeliness and accountability. "On time" for practice is five minutes early. "On time" for games at the Rec level is 45 minutes early and 60 minutes for Select level teams. Tardiness and anticipated absences should be communicated to coaches. With mutual communication as a goal, "no call, no show" absences are counterproductive, frowned upon, and could lead to removal from the program.

PLAYING TIME
Everyone is going to play. However, fair does not always mean equal as our program also emphasizes competition. Not everyone is going to pitch and not everyone is always going to play a certain preferred position. With that as a given, we will attempt to move and train kids at various positions, particularly at the younger levels, while encouraging interested players to pitch (and learn the catching position), as pitching is the currency of baseball. 

League and practice games will have more emphasis on keeping playing time as equal as possible; tournaments will emphasize putting players in the best position to succeed, having kids play their roles and focusing on team success.

FUNDRAISING
Finally, with regard to fundraising, our program is currently budgeted to operate in the red. Beyond just team sponsors, we need to raise 20k to break even. We’ve met some of this need already via an early spring raffle, and plan to continue these efforts through an upcoming "Hit-a-thon", with an unwritten hope for each participant to raise about $100. The winning team and top three individual fund raisers will be awarded prizes.

In addition to the hit-a-thon, each team will be responsible for some other individual fundraising activity (community-based car wash, bake sale, raffle, etc. or one of many online or corporately sponsored promotions - of some sort. We would be pleased and thankful to find one parent from each team to coordinate this. The goal is to raise $30k as a program. 

Thank you all for your commitment - and welcome to Mudcat Nation! 

Coach Ryan, Program Director