Demand Fair Play and Accountability in Livermore Youth Baseball

Spring baseball should build confidence and teamwork. Instead, many Livermore families are experiencing an unchecked culture of exclusivity—often called "Daddy Ball"—that is driving our kids away from the game.

Currently, developmental opportunities like pitching, catching, and top batting spots are heavily hoarded by volunteer coaches’ own children and a select few favorites. The rest of the roster is sidelined, receiving only the bare minimum playing time. They are implicitly told that no amount of effort in practice will ever earn them a real opportunity.

Worse, when families respectfully raise these concerns, the local league board meets them with total silence. District leadership then washes its hands of the issue, calling this favoritism an "internal league matter."

Organizations using taxpayer-funded facilities and collecting community registration fees cannot operate as closed-door clubs. We must demand accountability.

We formally demand the following from the Local Board, District 57, and LARPD:

1. Equitable Rotation: Strict guidelines requiring coaches to rotate all players through premium and developmental positions during regular-season games.
2. Transparent Grievance Protocol: A formalized system where the board must officially acknowledge and respond to parent concerns within 72 hours.
3. Anti-Retaliation Protections: Enforceable policies protecting players from reduced playing time or marginalization when parents raise good-faith concerns.
4. Independent Oversight: Mandatory audits of leagues that receive recurring complaints about exclusionary coaching practices.

Every child on the roster deserves to be coached, developed, and given a fair shot to succeed. We will not continue to fund a private playground for a select few.

If you believe youth sports should serve the entire community, please sign and share this petition today to demand transparency and fair play for all our kids!