GUIDELINES AND RULES OF OPERATIONS FOR BASEBALL & SOFTBALL

Transcription

1 GUIDELINES AND RULES OF OPERATIONS FOR BASEBALL & SOFTBALL 1

2 TABLE OF CONENTS TOPIC PAGE# THE LEAGUE 3 AWARDS 3 DIVISIONS 4 RATINGS & DRAFT PROCESS BASEBALL 5 RATINGS & DRAFT PROCESS SOFTBALL 6 REGISTRATION & ROSTER ASSIGNMENTS BASEBALL 6 REGISTRATION & ROSTER ASSIGNMENTS SOFTBALL 7 SCHEDULING SPRING BASEBALL 7 SCHEDULING SPRING SOFTBALL 8 SCHEDULING - FALL BASEBALL 9 SCHEDULING - FALL SOFTBALL 10 UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT 10 UMPIRES & OFFICIATING 11 SPONSORSHIP 11 TRAVEL BASEBALL & SOFTBALL 12 The following information provided, should answer most of the questions that may come about as you participate in our baseball and/or softball activities; Should you have any questions that have not been addressed? Please Contact an Executive Board Member 2

3 THE LEAGUE The league is run by community Volunteers who donate countless hours to manage the leagues operations and complex maintenance o We accept assistance of all skills & occupations o General labor assistance encouraged Coaches are also volunteers of the community, they; o Instruct on baseball and/or softball fundamentals and sportsmanship to the best of their abilities o Assist with pre & post game field maintenance during the season o Commit to several hours a week coaching {minimal required} o Parents/Guardians can assist their Coach to lessen their work, Just ask!!! Registration late fees have been established to offset the additional costs associated with ordering supplementary uniforms and equipment after initial orders were completed Snack Stand proceeds help support operations and improvements to the entire complex; we ask that you consider making your purchases there. o Volunteers always needed any time-any day of operation o Your support appreciated All teams players, parents and coaches are expected to dispose of all refuse in dugouts and observation areas during and after completion of games and practices AWARDS Every Fall, CYA recognizes spring baseball and softball players from various divisions for their sportsmanship and play on the field The selection process is performed by coaches observations of opposing teams Players receive a plaque from CYA in honor of past board members who dedicated countless time for the betterment of the league and the game Local officials attend the event and present awards as well o photo opportunities are offered at the event Refreshments served 3

4 DIVISIONS Divisions are set by appropriate age/grade attending & according to established and recognized Youth Baseball & Softball rules April 30th is the cutoff date for baseball that determines placement, December 31 st is used for Softball; CYA utilizes an online registration software program to assist in the process. Divisions / Age Groups / Grade Baseball Age/Grade Divisions T-Ball; 4 & 5 yrs. olds Pre-K and Kindergarten / Pre-farms; 6 yrs. olds - 1st grade Farms; 7-8 yrs. olds; 2 nd & 3 rd Grade / Juniors; 9-10 yrs. old; 4 th & 5 th Grade Note: 11 yr. olds 6 th graders permitted for Fall discretion of CYA and restrictions may apply Majors; yrs. old 6 th & 7 th Grades / Seniors; 13 and older (if enough interested) Softball Age/Grade Divisions Softball T-Ball (Juniors K-2); 4-7 yrs. olds Pre-K through 2 nd Grade Softball 3-4 (Minors 3-4) 7-9 yrs. olds; 3 rd & 4 th Grade Softball 5-6 (Majors 5-6) 9-11 yrs. old; 5 th & 6 th Grade To optimize playing time, CYA prefers roster sizes to be; o players per team in all divisions o T-Ball Divisions 8-10 players If volunteer coaches are not sufficient, then roster sizes will unfortunately increase and reduced playing time will result T-Ball & Pre-farms divisions are about development o no scores or statistics are kept o no standings kept 4

5 Farms and Juniors divisions in Baseball are competitive in nature; in that o Playoffs are part of the Spring season; o Every team is in the playoffs o Top teams will get a bye if the numbers of teams are not divisible by 4. Major s division structure of competitive play differs year to year, o Interleague play with neighboring leagues is an option, Depends upon enrollment. o Intra-league games would also have a playoff process To be determined each year. Minors and Majors divisions in Softball are competitive in nature; in that o Scores and records are kept. o Softball is usually and interleague division meaning we play other organizations teams as well as our own teams. o Playoffs only happen when opposing organizations agree to playoff games and formats. RATINGS & DRAFT PROCESS FOR BASEBALL CYA utilizes at ratings system to assist in establishment of the Farms & Juniors Division teams. Players are rated by the volunteer coaches of their respective divisions on their basic fundamental skills of hitting, fielding and throwing; Player Agent coordinates the draft and obtains a consensus by the coaches which determines a final listing placement. Affords each team and coaches the best possible information when drafting players at all skill levels. All registered baseball players in the Farms and & Juniors Divisions must attend the ratings process, regardless of what a parent/guardian or previous coaches may consider the ballplayers skills to be; o This process affords all coaches for the particular season, the ability to fairly assess all players for their draft consideration. The drafting system creates the best opportunity for establishing fair competition and challenges coaches to develop their ball players during the season 5

6 There shall be no expectations when requesting coaches or being assigned with other players; as this will likely not be accommodated Coaches shall not have expectations of having players continually assigned to them RATINGS & DRAFT PROCESS FOR SOFTBALL There are no Ratings or Drafts for softball at this time. REGISTRATION & ROSTER ASSIGNMENTS BASEBALL When registering and requesting certain accommodations in the Farms & Juniors divisions, such as a Coach or being paired with other players; o Understand that your request/accommodation is not guaranteed o Player agent will evaluate all requests & accommodations and take the most appropriate action to ensure a fair draft process comes first o During the draft process, Player Agent may discuss any request or accommodation with drafting coaches, the decision lies with the coaches. T-ball & Prefarms teams are decided by the Player Agent in no particular fashion When registering and requesting certain accommodations within the Pre-Farms & T-Ball divisions, such as a Coach or being paired with other players; o Understand that your request/accommodation is not guaranteed o Developing rosters that have equivalent participants is the 1 st priority Accommodation requests for twins, siblings & extended families that are close in age; shall be honored. Once Rosters are finalized and confirmed by Player Agent; o Division Coordinators will review, notify and distribute to Coaches o Coaches will contact their players as soon as possible o Once players have been contacted, roster changes will likely not be granted in fairness to the young ball players Majors division teams are decided by Coaches and Player Agent, based on number of players registered, in the most equitable fashion 6

7 Late registrants for Farms & Juniors Divisions, once rosters are established, will be placed on teams at the Player Agent s discretion and according to the draft order only, accommodations or requests will likely not be accepted Late registrant placement for T-Ball, Prefarms and Majors division is at Player Agent s discretion, requests & accommodations not guaranteed Coaching o Spring season- Manager/ Head Coach shall chose 1 assistant only o Fall Season- Assistant coaches assigned after Head Coaching of all teams is accomplished Carefully read and understand CYA code of conduct REGISTRATION & ROSTER ASSIGNMENTS SOFTBALL When registering and requesting certain accommodations in softball; o Understand that your request/accommodation is not guaranteed o Player agent will evaluate all requests & accommodations and take the most appropriate action Accommodation requests for twins, siblings & extended families that are close in age; shall be honored. Once Rosters are finalized and confirmed by Player Agent; o Division Coordinators will review, notify and distribute to Coaches o Coaches will contact their players as soon as possible o Once players have been contacted, roster changes will likely not be granted in fairness to the young ball players Coaching o All players will play in a game; you must rotate everyone to ensure all players get playing time. Carefully read and understand CYA code of conduct SCHEDULING-SPRING SEASON BASEBALL Game days-2 per week o 1 game Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday Rainout makeup days Thursday & Friday (Practices cancelled) 7

8 Start time- 5:30 April, 6:00pm May & June o 1 game Saturday Rainout makeup Sundays (Practices cancelled) Start times- 9:00am, 11:00am & 1:00 pm o T-ball / Prefarms usually starts 10:00AM Weather may delay start times, check with your coach and CYA website Weather may alter season schedule o Every attempt will be made to complete season on time o In the event of excessive weather cancelations, amount of scheduled games may be shortened for every division team evenly, or multiple weekday games possible Practices are scheduled with the Field Coordinator by coaches only. o Each team will be eligible for 1 scheduled practice per week Days typically include Thursday, Friday, Saturday afternoons and Sundays, other days at Field Coordinator discretion o 2 nd request for practice same week, depends upon field availability Fielding drills can be done anywhere on the complex Sharing of fields with other teams encouraged Scrimmages also encouraged Coaches cannot cancel or reschedule games without approval of Division Coordinator, who will confer with executive board members o Coaches that are unable to make a game, shall solicit help of team adults to assist in game completion Teams can play with 7 players and opposing team can provide outfielders to assist SCHEDULING-SPRING SEASON SOFTBALL Game days-2 per week o 1 weekday game, 1 Saturday game (sometimes we have double headers) 8

9 Rainout makeup days will be scheduled as soon as possible. This will be done between the coaches and can only be assigned according to field availability. Weekday Game time- 5:30 April, 6:00pm May & June Saturday Game times- 9:00am, 11:00am & 1:00 pm Weather may alter season schedule, game times, and field conditions. o All complex updates are posted on or website at connetquotyouthassociatrion.org o Every attempt will be made to complete season on time, however, the coaches & parents assistance on prepping fields and field maintenance will help with this. Practices are scheduled with the Field Coordinator by coaches only. o Each team will be eligible for 1 scheduled practice per week Days typically include Thursday, Friday, Saturday afternoons and Sundays, other days at Field Coordinator discretion o 2 nd request for practice same week, depends upon field availability Fielding drills can be done anywhere on the complex Sharing of fields with other teams encouraged Scrimmages also encouraged Coaches cannot cancel or reschedule games without approval of Softball Coordinator, who will confer with executive board members o Coaches that are unable to make a game shall solicit help of team adults to assist in game completion so schedule remains intact. Teams can play with any number of players and opposing team can provide players to assist SCHEDULING-FALL SEASON BASEBALL Fall ball begins in early September o Registration system is set up in that players could be prompted to the next division that the player will be assigned the following spring. o non-competitive format scores recorded are to ensure game is played only no playoffs 9

10 o allows players additional time to progress on their fundamentals o Registration commences prior to end of spring season and beginning of summer and ends just prior to fall season commencement. Fall Ball roster development is at the discretion of the Player Agent; o Coach, player and division accommodations and requests will be considered on a limited basis, 1 st priority player skills are evenly matched to ensure even & fair competition. No guarantees or expectations. o Coaches shall not promise players and parents that they will be reunited for the following season o Coaches will determine umpires as no league umpires are provided; Coaches and parents can umpire o Basic equipment provided SCHEDULING-FALL SEASON SOFTBALL Fall ball begins in early September Fall softball is instructional and scores and records are not kept. Games are scheduled once per weekday in the beginning of the season for the first couple of weeks and on Saturday through mid October. UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT Uniform Hat, Shirt & Pants issued by CYA for Spring Season Uniform Shirt only issued by CYA for Fall Season Equipment; o Coaches are provided w/following equipment each season; Bats, Helmets, Catching Equipment, Balls, Scorebook Coaches shall bring check when picking up equipment to ensure return check will not be deposited unless equipment is not returned o Players must bring fielding glove (none provided by CYA) o Players can use own helmet, bat, catching gear (optional) SEE LEAGUE RULES OF AUTHORIZED BATS o Misc. gear- batting gloves, protective devices encouraged (optional) 10

11 UMPIRES & OFFICIATING Adolescent ballplayers are our Umpires during the regular spring season for the Farms, Juniors & Majors Divisions, o Most play or have played travel & school baseball and do a good job, o Therefore, yelling, berating and intimidating any umpire for what may be perceived as a bad call by any coach, parent/guardian, family member, will not be tolerated by CYA. o There will be 1 warning per season per team for any incident reported o Second team incident will likely result in the immediate removal of specific individual or individuals from the complex and; o possible game forfeit by team with associated family at board discretion o Coach infraction could result in suspension or removal as deemed by the Board of Directors Coaches are instructed to mentor our young umpires Adults may assist young umpires during Farms & Juniors playoffs Majors Division may use both Adult & Youth umpires Protection of young umpires is the #1 priority SPONSORSHIPS CYA continually looks for annual sponsorships to support complex upgrades and maintenance There are several levels and types of sponsorships available, Check website or contact an Executive board Member Snack Stand engraved pavers is a great way to support CYA 11

12 TRAVEL BASEBALL & SOFTBALL Begins with 7-8 yr. olds More than 1 team per age group is acceptable Players 7-8 thru 10 yrs. of age, are expected to play in-house league Travel teams can play spring, summer and fall CYA currently fields o Baseball Teams at 8U, 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U, & 13U Older age groups acceptable o Softball Teams at 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U, and 18+ Minimum of 1 Coach of each team is required to become an active CYA Board Member, and is; o Expected to abide by rules and responsibilities set forth o Expected to attend percentage of weekly board meetings Teams are expected to assist in all field maintenance activities Travel teams are responsible for their own funding All Travel teams pay annual fees to CYA to cover associated costs of; o field usage and maintenance, o equipment usage and maintenance, o inside batting cages o supplemental insurance For additional information on starting and maintaining a team, contact Director of Travel Baseball, Director of Travel Softball, or Executive Board Member. 12