Palo Alto Babe Ruth (PABR) Frequently Asked Questions 2009 Spring Season Edition Q: Why should we consider Babe Ruth baseball? What makes Palo Alto Babe Ruth different? A: Babe Ruth Baseball was established more than 50 years ago for serious and competitive players seeking to enhance their playing skills through quality coaching and high-level competition. It is considered the premier development program in the country. Babe Ruth baseball is played on a full-sized baseball field with 90 foot bases and pitching from a distance of 60 feet 6 inches. These are the same dimensions used in high school, college and professional baseball. Players prepping for play at the high school level and beyond will benefit greatly from competitive experience on the same size field, and often the exact same fields, they will be playing on at high school. This is one of the great benefits to participating in the PABR program. PABR managers are carefully selected and regularly appraised. All PABR coaches participate in a local continuous development program to maintain the highest standards of coaching for the benefit of the players and the league as a whole. On a national level, Babe Ruth baseball requires that all coaches successfully complete a certification course developed by Ripken Baseball. PABR players and coaches are governed by a local code of conduct. Players must tryout to be selected for a team. selected for a team. Tryouts are highly competitive and not everyone will be Athletes who see baseball as one of their primary areas of sports focus, who are looking for a highly competitive league in their local area and who are able to commit to the team requirements should find Palo Alto Babe Ruth ball their best option. Q: What are the new changes for the 2009 season? A: As our board members, coaches, players and parents have observed over the past few years, youth baseball has become a much more competitive game with so many options available for our youth. We feel it is our number one priority to continue to offer a high quality competitive baseball league within the Palo Alto area for our kids and to prepare them for high school baseball and beyond. In an effort to improve the quality of play and allow the players to compete at their age and grade level, Palo Alto Babe Ruth will be introducing a new structure for the league that will go into effect for the 2009 season. -13 year old Prep Division with inter-league play planned with Mountain View Babe Ruth. -A 15U Division with teams that are rostered with mostly 14 and 15s. This structure will better serve our players by allowing our 13 year olds more time to adjust to the larger field, consistent playing time and a longer season to develop their baseball skills (they would begin practicing in March and playing in April). Our 14/15 year old players will benefit from a higher level of competition to further develop their baseball skills and prepare them for high school baseball and beyond. Q: How many teams will PABR field in 2009? A: Our plan is to field Eight (8) 15U Division teams and Four (4) 13-Year Old Prep Division Teams Q: Is the 13-Year Old Prep League, really just a minor league within PABR? A; No. The goal of the PABR Prep League is to provide a highly competitive baseball league from the best 13 year old players within the PABR boundaries and offer them consistent playing time and instruction from experienced coaches. Selection for this division will be through competitive tryout. Our roster of Prep Division coaches for the 2009 season includes coaches with multi-year experience in the PABR 13-15 yearold division as well as extensive post season coaching experience at the state, regional and world series levels. For 2009 our Prep League teams will be managed by: Rick Farr, Paul Wagner, Steve Sinchek, Ryan Schmidt PABR is committed to making the Prep League equal to the 15U level experience in terms of uniforms, equipment, playing field access, quality of umpires and coaching. To that end, PABR has appointed a Prep League Commissioner, Mike Piha, and Player Agent, Andrew Shenk, with the responsibility of administering
the league and ensuring the quality of the experience and representing the interests of the Prep League to the PABR Board. The Prep Division will have its own League Tournament and field an all-star team that will participate in the Babe Ruth post season tournaments. Q: Is there an option for an advanced 13 year old to play-up with the 15U Division? A: Yes. The goal of this rule is to allow 13 year-old players with demonstrated ability to play at higher level an opportunity to do so. Each of the 15U teams has the option to draft one 13-year old player designated as a play-up player under the following requirements: This is a one year only selection. 13 year-old players chosen under this rule are assigned to the 15U team only for their 13 year-old year and must tryout the following year to be eligible for permanent selection on a 15U team. A 13 year- old player s primary play is within his/her 13 year-old team however, this player may be called upon to play with the 15U team only if this does not conflict with a scheduled 13 year-old game. The play up player is eligible to be called up per the manager s discretion. PABR s goal is to use reasonable efforts to have this player called up for at least six 15U Division games 13 year old players called up to play with their 15U team are not subject to the minimum playing rule. Play-up players assigned to a 15U team that participates in the 15U Division League Tournament are automatically assigned to the team s roster for the tournament (Note: minimum playing time is waived for the League Tournament.) The selection of 13 year old players on 15U teams will occur after the Prep League draft and after the Prep League has started competitive play. This approach allows all players the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to play up through competitive play and not just a tryout.. Only players drafted on to a Prep League team are eligible for selection onto a 15U team. This draft will occur prior to the 15U Division Opening Day. Q: What ages are eligible to play Babe Ruth League Baseball in 2009? A: Palo Alto Babe Ruth baseball is comprised of players with a 2009 League Age of 13, 14, and 15 years old: Players born between: May 1, 1995 April 30, 1996 are considered to have a 2009 league age of 13 May 1, 1994 April 30, 1995 are considered to have a 2009 league age of 14 May 1, 1993 April 30, 1994 are considered to have a 2009 league age of 15 If you were born before May 1, 1993, or after April 30, 1996, you are not eligible to play in Palo Alto Babe Ruth in 2009 The Babe Ruth Birth chart can be found here: http://baberuthleague.org/resources/2009bbbirthchart.pdf
Age Verification: Each new player must submit a copy of his or her birth certificate at one of the PABR tryouts. No player will be authorized to play in the PABR League without proper age eligibility verification. Q: Who is eligible to play in the Palo Alto Babe Ruth Baseball League? A: Selection for a PABR team is by way of a competitive tryout. Any youngster of eligible age residing in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley or selected areas of Redwood City (generally south of Jefferson Ave) is eligible to tryout. Interested players in Los Altos or Los Altos Hills should contact the Mountain View Babe Ruth League; Redwood City players living north of Jefferson should contact Belmont Babe Ruth League. However, if you have a strong reason for playing in this league, we will entertain applications on a case-by-case basis. Q: How do I register for PABR 2009 Spring Season and how much does it cost? A: Registration is done, online only, at: http://www.sportability.com/pabr Registration fees for the 2009 Spring Season are: All Players: $325 Q: My son is already in Palo Alto Babe Ruth. Will he be able to stay on the same team? A: For 2009, players 14 and 15, already on a team will be allowed to stay with that team, and they do not need to participate in tryouts. Starting with the 2010 season, 14 year old players must try out to be selected for a 15U Division team and then once selected are automatically assigned to that team the following year as a 15 year-old with no tryout required. All 13 year old players selected for a Prep Team, including the play-up player option are required to tryout again as a 14 to be eligible for permanent selection for a 15U team. Important Note for 2009: For the 2009 season all current players are eligible to renter the draft as part of the league contraction to 8 teams. All current players will be placed on a team as part of this process without a tryout. Q: What are the dates, time and location of the 2009 tryouts? A: Stay tuned to www.pababeruth.org for the tryout date, times and locations Q: What if we cannot make it to the tryouts? Can our child still be drafted? A: Players may be selected onto a team only if they participate in at least one of the scheduled tryouts. In exceptional cases, only upon a approved waiver from the PABR Board. Players who have an injury that prevents them from participating in the skill portion of the tryouts are required to attend one of the tryouts so that the managers can get a chance to speak with the player. Q: Can a player attend more than one tryout for the current season? A: PABR strongly recommends that all players attend both tryouts. The rules require a player to attend at least one try out in order to be eligible for selection in that season. Tryouts are scheduled for two separate dates. If one of the tryout dates is rained out, a makeup will be held. Stay tuned to the PABR website for details: www.pabebruth.org Q. What happens if my child does not get selected onto a team? A: You will receive a refund of your registration fee and your child can consider other baseball programs (such as the Little League Junior and Senior programs which are sponsored by most of the Little League programs in the Palo Alto Babe Ruth district). Q: What if my child wasn t selected for PABR in previous years, can he or she tryout again for the current season? A: Yes. Players can tryout in any year in which they meet the age eligibility and residency requirements. The tryout process is very competitive and we have had players persevere and get selected for a team after not
getting selected previously. In this case, as with any other player trying out, there is no guarantee of selection. Q: What are managers and coaches looking for in the tryouts? A: Coaches vary in what they look for; some favor size, some speed; some lean more toward offensive skills and some more toward defensive skills, and so on. All look for solid baseball fundamentals; by this age, baseball ability begins to count more than overall athletic ability. Players will want to improve their chances of being selected by taking groundballs, throwing long toss and swinging the bat starting well in advance of the tryouts. Coaches will also be keen to judge a player s commitment and attitude. Be prepared during tryouts to discuss your baseball goals and how you fit them in with your other sports and school activities. Q: What kind of commitment is expected of players? A: PABR players are governed by a local code of conduct. Additionally, players are expected to attend all team practices and games. For each hour of game/practice time, players should expect to put in several additional hours of work away from the team. Managers will expect to see players improve their baseball knowledge and ability, and they will certainly expect conscientious attendance by their players. If managers feel this commitment is not being lived up to, they may cut a player from the team at any time to make room for another, more-committed player. Q: What equipment must my player have? A: A player must have a good quality glove of his/her own and his/her own baseball shoes. Metal cleats are permitted and recommended for Babe Ruth baseball. (Shoes with pointed metal spikes such as golf or track shoes are not allowed). In addition, it is recommended that each player have his/her own bat (you may want to wait and discuss bat choices with the team manager before selecting one). It is highly recommended that male players wear a cup; it is mandatory that catchers wear one. Most teams require that the players wear baseball pants, sliding pants and bring a jacket/pullover to each practice/game. Check with your team manager for any team specific equipment rules. In all cases jewelry is prohibited by rule while practicing or playing in a game. Q: Is there a minimum playing time requirement? A: Yes. Both divisions are instituting a minimum play rule for 2009. Prep Division: In an official game, all players must play two (2) consecutive innings of defense and have at least one (1) official at plate appearance. This rule may be waived if a player arrives late to a game or presents a discipline problem.. If a player is acting as the Extra Hitter for the entire game that is considered a fulfillment of the Mandatory Playing Rule for that player (the player must stay in that position for the length of the game). The mandatory play option is waived for any game that does not go a full 7 innings such as a game shortened by the 10-run mercy rule. 15U Division: 15U Division: In an official regular season game, all rostered 14/15 year old players present and physically able must enter the game in some fashion and remain in the game for at least one out (pinch running, pinch hitting, playing defense only, being the EH are all acceptable examples). This rule may be waived if a player arrives late to a game or presents a discipline problem. A discipline problem is defined as a violation of the team specific rules or the PABR Code of Conduct. It is accepted that discipline problems may occur during a game. If a manager elects to site an exception due to disciplinary issues or injury he should notify the opposing manager as soon as it is known. The mandatory play option is waived for any game that does not go a full 7 innings such as a game shortened by the 10-run mercy rule. The rule is NOT waived for a game that only last 6.5 innings due to the home team being ahead. 13 year old players called up to play with their 15U team are not subject to the minimum playing rule. For the entire regular season each 14/15 year old player must accumulate the following plate appearances and defensive innings:
Regular Season Total Plate Appearances = # of regular season games present and eligible (physical, no discipline issue) multiplied by one plate appearance Regular Season Total Defensive Innings = # of regular games present and eligible (physical, no discipline issue) multiplied by two defensive innings. The Mandatory Playing Rule is waived during the League Tournament for both divisions. Q: My child is a high school student. What happens if he or she is drafted, will Babe Ruth conflict with high-school baseball? A: No, it will not. PABR supports high school baseball, and will not require attendance at practices or games where a conflict exists. Players not already on a Babe Ruth team, but who are on a high school team, can participate in tryouts. Games do not commence until mid-may, after the high-school baseball season ends. Your child should be prepared to discuss other activity commitments with managers during the tryouts. Q: Where does the PABR play its regular season games? A: Regular season games are played in various locations based on field availability. Game locations may include: Baylands Sports Center in Palo Alto, Flood Park in Menlo Park, Palo Alto High School, and Gunn High School. Q: What are the dates of the season? A: The Prep Division will start in March with games starting in April through June. The 15U Division will start play in May after the high school regular season. Separate League tournaments for each division follow. District 6 All Star tournaments take place in early to mid-july. Preseason practices commence after team-formation as scheduled by the team manager. Practices will be on locally available fields. Q: How many practices are there in a week and how long will they be? A: We try to make available to the managers approximately two to three practice time slots each week during the pre-season. Managers then schedule the fields for practice as needed, and they decide on the length and frequency of the practices. However, they normally run between 2 to 2½ hours. Q: What are the tournament teams and how are players selected? A: In Babe Ruth, there are tournament (All Star) teams for each age bracket, 13, 14U and 15U (the U stands for Under meaning that younger players are eligible, although playing up is not common). Near the end of this season, a tryout will be held for players interested in All Star play with the manager of each team making selections for the team. Players may play on only one tournament team. Tournament play continues as long as the team wins at each successive level, potentially through the end of August. Those worried about summer vacations, bear in mind that high-level tournament play represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a young ballplayer, an opportunity that we will be striving to achieve. Please plan accordingly we intend to be competitive at this level, and Palo Alto Babe Ruth All Star teams have frequently won our district tournament and advanced to the State Tournament or beyond. Q: What is expected of parents? A: PABR is a volunteer organization and relies on the participation of parents in certain key areas. At least one parent from each family should attend team parent meetings (at least one inaugural meeting and others as called by the manager). Parents will be expected to lend a hand in fundraising and other league activities too. Baylands Park is equipped with a snack bar that is a major source of revenue for the League. The home team at every game played there is responsible for running the snack bar. The home team is responsible for announcing the game or operating the scoreboard. These amenities add greatly to our program, and all families will be expected to pitch in. Additionally parents can expect their services to be welcomed for official scorekeeping. Parents should also help their child honor his commitment.
Q: What does the League expect of the managers? A: We have been working had to provide a top-quality program. The quality starts with the team managers. Managers have a lot of autonomy in running their teams. What the League looks for from them is that players receive good quality instruction that will allow them to grow in their baseball skills. We also expect managers to oversee player deportment in the areas of sportsmanship, team participation and responsibility for equipment and facilities. PABR managers are carefully selected and regularly appraised. All PABR coaches participate in a local continuous development program to maintain the highest standards of coaching for the benefit of the players and the league as a whole. On a national level, Babe Ruth baseball requires that all coaches successfully complete a certification course developed by Ripken Basebal. PABR players and coaches are governed by a local code of conduct. Additionally, all League officers, managers and coaches participate in the Justice Department s Live Scan screening program. Q: May I request which team my child plays for? A: No. We understand parents and players desires to get onto the same team as a special friend or to play for the team that practices closest to home, but such requests are difficult to reconcile with a team s needs in terms of player age, positions, availability for out-of-season play and so on. It is therefore impractical to try to honor requests for choice of team. Only two exceptions are made. Parents with more than one eligible child may request either that they be drafted onto the same team or that they be on separate teams. Either option, however, provides no guarantee that both, or even one, will be selected. The other exception applies only to team managers, not coaches, who have the option to have their own sons or daughters play on their team. In all cases of player selection, decision of the managers is final. Q: What is the emergency medical consent form? A: All sports have risks of injury. Youth baseball has one of the lowest rates of any sport. Still, injuries happen. Very few require instant medical attention. Should one occur, however, every effort will be made to reach a parent or, failing that, a contact listed by the parent. If the parents cannot be reached or the need is so urgent that care is required even as the parents are arriving, medical personnel will provide assistance only when a duly authorized agent is present. Therefore, we have the need to have signed medical consent forms for all players. Also, the League carries secondary medical and liability insurance for players and coaches.