The objective of Alderwood Little League is to instill in the children of our community the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, courage, and respect for authority. By promoting these values, we aim to help children become well-adjusted, confident, and happy individuals who will grow into strong, healthy, and responsible citizens. This mission aligns directly with the goals of Little League International.

To support this objective, Alderwood Little League provides a supervised program that follows the official rules and guidelines of Little League Baseball, Incorporated. All Directors, Officers, and Members are reminded that developing character and citizenship is the highest priority—far above exceptional athletic performance or winning games.

The Board of Directors, elected by the league’s membership, provides leadership and oversight for all league operations. The board meets regularly throughout the fall, winter, and spring to plan, prepare, and ensure a positive Little League experience for all families.

Beginning in 2006, the Alderwood Little League Board of Directors established three guiding principles for our league:

Invest in our Players and Volunteers – Provide volunteers with the resources and support they need to effectively serve players and families and help achieve our mission as a program.

Invest in our Facilities and Equipment – Ensure that players and families have access to safe, high-quality fields, equipment, and facilities.

Invest in our Community – Foster strong, positive relationships with community partners, vendors, and sponsors to support the league and its mission.

These guiding principles have shaped and directed our program since 2006.

Program Innovations and Milestones

• Developed and implemented a formal All-Star Policy with specific procedures for nomination, tryouts, and coach selection.

• Reorganized the Minor Divisions to include a "play up option" from 2006 to 2011, addressing the one-third of players affected by the league age changes in 2006.

• Introduced the "Farm Division" of baseball to facilitate an earlier, smoother transition into player pitch baseball.

• Introduced machine pitch in Minor Softball to support in-season pitcher development and create a more positive game flow.

• Established the first-ever Alderwood Challenger Team for players with special needs who would otherwise be unable to participate in baseball or softball programs.

Achievements Since 2006

• Developed a formal policy to replace one-third of equipment annually.
• Installed a new backstop and netting on Field #2 ($25,000).
• Completed construction of Field #3 ($30,000).
• Installed a new backstop on Field #1 ($30,000).
• Installed a new infield on Field #2 ($7,000).
• Renovated the infield on Field #1 ($10,000).
• Developed and implemented a formal field maintenance plan, contracting an outside company for mowing, weeding, and pest control.
• Repainted the entire facility.
• Replaced all dugout roofing shingles.
• Installed yellow fence toppers on all fields to improve player safety.
• Upgraded the batting cages with new machines, helmets, balls, and netting.
• Invested in uniforms, including Major, Junior, Senior, and Big League upgrades in line with surrounding leagues; All-Star jersey upgrades and regular replacement of pants; and introduced "AlderWear" to build community spirit.
• Invested in portable pitching mounds.
• Installed Jox boxes on Field #2 and Field #3.

The Coaches Committee was formed and is comprised of Board Members and Coaches from our program. Since 2006, the Coaches Committee has:

• Developed a protocol for interviewing coaches in the Majors and upper divisions of play.

• Established a set of standards, or "Building Block Approach," for teaching the fundamentals of baseball and softball.

• Provides annual Coaches Training, open to all managers, coaches, practice helpers, and parents, held in early March.

• Annually evaluates and recommends changes to House Rules adopted by the Board of Directors. (Visit "About Our Program" → "Local Rules" to view rules by division.)

• Introduced Winter Player Clinics, free to participants and held annually in January.

• Introduced softball pitching clinics for our players.

• Revamped the Fall Ball program to include player clinics. Alderwood was the first league in District 1 to provide softball Fall Ball, with participation exceeding 100 players for two consecutive years.

• Introduced nationwide background checks and ID badges to ensure a safe environment for players and families.

• Revamped the league website with more current information and, in 2011, launched a new site with online registration, improving access and enabling credit card payments.

• Donated and updated the Snack Shack bulletin board with current events and information.

• Introduced payment plans and scholarships to reach a broader segment of the community.