volunteers


PAGS is a volunteer driven non-profit organization. We rely on the generosity and goodwill of our benefactors, sponsors and many many volunteers to manage our league, provide scholarships to anyone in need, coach our teams and otherwise complete the many many tasks it takes to provide youth softball in this community!

expectation for families

Each family is expected to contribute. There are three main ways: donate, sponsor and volunteer. In addition, for those families with too much going on to volunteer, there is an opt-out fee option. Information on the opt-out option can be found here. More information on donating or sponsoring a team can be found here or contact us at sponsors@paloaltoyouthsoftball.org.

Volunteer preferences

PAYS is collecting volunteer preferences in the TeamSnap registration form. This is the best way to help us understand how you prefer to contribute so we can try to match your skills and interests with our most critical open positions. Not sure if you shared your preferences at registration, want to make a change or have more to share? Please drop us a note at volunteers@paloaltoyouthsoftball.org.

Volunteer Options

Head Coaches are responsible for softball instruction and coaching during practices and games – this is the most critical role to our success, and we will invest in training and development! Head Coaches create the practice plans and lineups according to PAYS standards. They also help mentor/develop less experienced assistant coaches. All coaches will have access to great training and mentoring resources, free use of the cages and full reimbursement of the cost for training and certifications. Head Coaches are also permitted to identify a co-head coach or assistant that we will try to pair you with as well as practice day and game preferences to facilitate scheduling.

Assistant Coaches support the Head Coach and will be provided the same training and certifications. Experience is helpful but not necessary.

The Team Manager helps coordinate communications on everything outside of running practices/games, including uniform needs, ensuring scorekeeper/field prep duties are covered by volunteers, and potentially schedule/location updates via the TeamSnap app (particularly if a team is playing in tournaments). They serve as the main point of contact for parents, helping streamline communication and keeping the team organized throughout the season. A Team Manager will help support or backfill for any other non-coaching needs.

Depending on the age/level of play, there are two types of scorekeeping duties: handwritten book and/or using the GameChanger app. Both require basic knowledge of the rules of softball.

Teams are provided a budget for social activity each season (ice cream, movie nights, etc); the social planner helps find a suitable date/time and organizes 1-2 team bonding events per season. There are also league-wide events that require planning and help!

The team families rotate duties for bringing snacks after each game; the snack coordinator ensures that each game has a family volunteered or assigned (and ideally that this responsibility is distributed equitably across all the families).

Field Crew duties involve dragging/raking the field, chalking the lines, and ensuring the bases and pitching plate is properly installed before the start of games on our home fields (Cubberley, El Camino, Baylands, etc). In order to properly maintain our fields, they should also be dragged before/after practices. Training will be provided.

The Team Photographer ensures that we capture the fun moments from team practices, games, and events (including a posed picture of the full team in uniform each season, where possible) and uploading to our Google Drive. Short videos are also welcomed. This content may be shared on our social media (Facebook and Instagram).

Beyond just the team your player(s) are on, we need volunteers to keep our league running now and in the future – recruiting, marketing, equipment, uniforms, scheduling, events – contact execboard@paloaltoyouthsoftball.org if you would like to become active on the PAYS (formerly PAGS) league board!