The Little League Coach

Casselberry Florida Treasurer Steals Over 4,000 From Concessions

According to News Channel 6 in Orlando, a Casselberry, Florida Concessionaire is accused of stealing more than $4,000 from the Little League. Obviously this person is a scumbag. Stealing is wrong, stealing from kids is despicable. Unfortunately, this is more commonplace than we would like to admit.

I am familiar with two other instances right off the top of my head and certainly there are thousands more. The problem w/ Little League is so much cash changes hands, it is not difficult to steal. The problem is the fact that everything is run by volunteers. Unlike a business with stringent checks and balances in place, trust permeates Little League. Those that watched the Little League World Series this year may have seen the shots of the volunteers working concessions in Williamsport. They are all volunteers as well.

How does a league fix this problem? The only way is to instill as many checks and balances as possible within the constraints of the structure of the league. Here are a few we use:

1. Every board meeting the bank statements are compared to the treasurer’s report
2. Cash register reports are run each night to balance sales reports
3. Access to bank accounts is provided to more than one person and checked often to assure they are funded

Could someone still steal from us? Probably, but at least we have a decent set of checks and balances to head off any theft.

Another key component of this equation is the duck suspicion. If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, probably a duck. How does this apply? If you think money is walking, think stock is slipping, think cards are being overcharged, they probably are. Trust your gut and do some research. What’s the worst thing that could happen? You might find out the people you are volunteering with are just as honest as you.

What is the worst case of theft from a child’s sports league you have ever heard of?

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General
baseball, checks and balances, concessions, Hawaii, List of baseball jargon, little league, Little League Baseball, Little League World Series, Pitcher, theft, Williamsport
27 August 2008 comment TrackBack-URI

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