WRBA Parents All-Star Informational Meeting May 1, 2017
Agenda Welcome Review of All-Star Guidelines/Ethics Coach and Player All-Star Selection Process Playing Time Expectations Playing Time and Financial Commitments Ripken Specifics The Ripken All-Star Experience (practices, prep tournaments and sanctioned tournaments) Sanctioned Tournament Schedule Sanctioned Tournament Locations Pony Specifics The Pony All-Star Experience (practices, prep tournaments and sanctioned tournaments) Sanctioned Tournament Schedule Sanctioned Tournament Locations Q and A Session
All Stars in General While this could be an exciting experience for your entire family, the player selections, playing time and expenses are sensitive subjects When it comes to All-Stars, WR and the Coaches will never make everyone happy When registering, all parents agreed to abide by the Code of Ethics
Parent Code of Ethics Parents may NOT attempt to influence the All Star selection process or they risk their child being disqualified from potential all star selection and/or play Examples of prohibited conduct: 1. Asking a coach whether your child will make an all star team 2. Asking a regular season coach to alter a child s playing time, position, spot in the batting order, etc. to influence potential for all star selection
All-Star Player Selection Process Head Coaches provide a CONFIDENTIAL list of All-Star nominees to their League Commissioner For each player nominated, the Head coach must also submit an All Star Commitment Letter signed by both parents All-Star selections will occur May 7 Player selections are determined by a vote of the Head Coaches only, and are strictly confidential The All Star Head Coach may invoke 1-2 coaches picks from those that received votes (top 3 vote getters who were did not make team) The process is NOT guaranteed to be fair to everyone, it is just guaranteed to be followed
All-Star Commitment Letter Please Do NOT ask your coach for a letter, as that is the same as asking if your child is going to make an All Star team All-Star Commitment Letter is an Agreement Letter Must be Signed By Both Parents Parents and players may NOT discuss the nomination with anyone Nomination doesn t guarantee the player is chosen for an All Star team
Commitment Letter Highlights Selection to an All Star team does not guarantee any playing time whatsoever Regardless, players must attend: A majority of practices Both sanctioned and unsanctioned tournaments Regardless, parents will have to pay for: All-Star fees as determined by the Board WRBA required All-Star uniforms Team funding of non-sanctioned tournaments Travel and expenses for both sanctioned and non-sanctioned tournament
Possible WRBA All-Star Teams (may change from year to year pending coaching interest, talent pool, need, and practice field availability) 7 and under 7U Cal Ripken Team (Machine Pitch) 8 Year Olds 8U Cal Ripken Team (Machine Pitch) 8U Pony Team (Coach Pitch) 9 10 Year Olds 9U Cal Ripken Team 9U Pony Team 10U Cal Ripken Team 10U Pony Team 10U White Team 11-12 Year Olds 11U Cal Ripken (50/70) from NL 12U Cal Ripken (50/70) from NL 11U Pony from NL (+AL) 12U Pony from NL 12U Pony from the AL
Ripken Specifics
Ripken Basics Divisions: League Diamond/Bases Pitching 7U 60 ft. Machine 8U 60 ft. Machine 9U 60 ft. 46 ft. 10U 60 ft. 46 ft. 11U 70 ft. 50 ft. 12U 70 ft. 50 ft. West Raleigh is in Eastern NC State, and Southeast Region Regional Commissioner is Henry Sermons, State Commissioner is Tom Steele; District Commissioner is Scott Wall
Key Cal Ripken Tournament Dates Age Group Area Early Start Date State Start Date 7U TBA 28-June State Locations Wilson County Wilson NC Regional Travel Date Regional Locations World Series Travel Date World Series Locations NA NA NA NA 8U 24-Jun 1-July Laurinburg NA NA 9U TBA 1- July Swansboro, NC 18- July Williamsburg,VA NA NA 10U 24-June 1-Jul Henderson, NC 18- July Williamsburg,VA TBA Hammond,IN 11U, 70' TBA 24-June Winterville, NC 18- July Longwood, FL NA NA 12U, 70' 17-Jun 24- June Laurinburg,NC 11-Jul Clemmons, NC 2- August Branson, MO
Example Ripken Practice/Tournament Schedule Practice/tournament schedule varies by age/coach/success on the field Summer season starts June 1 st Usually will practice 4 days a week. First tournament will be 1 st or 2 nd weekend in June 3 or 4 Ripken Tournaments 3 to 5 tournaments that are non-ripken Ripken season typically ends in late July (or early August for 10U and 12U team that advance to the World Series)
Example Ripken Budget Activity # of events Estimated Cost/Event/Player Estimated Total Cost All-Star Fees 1 $75 $75 Non-Ripken Tournament Fees 4 $30 $120 Additional Practices 10 $5 $50 Uniforms, Helmets, etc. 1 $150 $150 Misc. (equipment/baseballs) 1 $50 $50 Total $445 1. Total above does not include team/family travel expenses which can range from $25/tournament for a local tournament to over $1,000/tournament for Ripken SE Regional or World Series Events 2. Many opportunities for team fundraising.
Pony Specifics
Pony Basics PONY = Protect our Nations Youth Divisions: League Age Diamond/Bases Pitching Pinto 7-8 50 ft. 38 ft. (Coach Pitch) Mustang 9-10 60 ft. 44 ft. Bronco 11-12 70 ft. 48 ft. Pony 13-14 80 ft. 54 ft. West Raleigh is in the East Zone, South Region, Piedmont Section
Pony Sanctioned All-Star Tournaments 8Us Tournament Location Dates Piedmont Sectional Garner NC 6/23-6/25 Super PINTO Zone High Point NC 7/14-7/16
Pony Sanctioned All-Star Tournaments 9U Tournament Location Dates Zone West Raleigh 7/19-7/22 World Series Walnut, CA 7/26 7/30
Pony Sanctioned All-Star Tournaments 10U Tournament Location Dates Section High Point 7/7 7/9 Super Section Wilmington TBD Region Suffolk VA 7/19-7/23 Zone Chesterfield, VA 7/27-7/29 World Series Youngsville, LA 8/3 8/6
Pony Sanctioned All-Star Tournaments 11U Tournament Location Start Date Section High Point 6/23-6/25 Region Chesterfield, VA 7/10 7/13 Zone Cranberry, TWP PA 7/21-7/23 World Series Chesterfield VA 7/27 7/30
Pony Sanctioned All-Star Tournaments 12U Tournament Location Start Date Section High Point 7/6 7/9 Super Section Wilmington TBD Regional Suffolk Va 7/29 7/23 Zone Cranberry, TWP PA 7/28-7/30 World Series Los Alamitos, CA 8/3 8/6
Example Pony Tournament Schedule (Ages 9-12) 3-4 Gear Up Tournaments Top Gun, USSSA, and/or Nations (typically) Possible PONY Warm-up Sectional Tournament Comprises 6-8 local teams typically Double elimination format Winner advances to Regional tournament Regional Tournament Comprises 6-8 sectional winners Double elimination format Winner advances to Zone tournament Zone Tournament Comprises 6 Regional winners from multiple states Double elimination format Winner advances to World Series World Series Comprises 8 teams 5 US teams (4 zone winners plus host team) 3international teams(mexico, Caribbean, Asia Pacific) Format varies for age group: 11U was 3 pool play games and single elimination bracket play of top 2 pool teams in each pool 12U was double elimination format
Example Pony Budget 3-4 Warm-up Open Tournaments - $400/tournament = $33 per player X 4 tournaments = $132 per player All-star Registration Fee - $75 New batting helmet - $35 Bat bag - $40 Uniforms - $80-100 Slush fund - $35 Sectional gas/food 3 days - $175 Regional gas/food/hotel 3 days - $350 Zone gas/food/hotel 3-4 days - $700 World Series gas/food/hotel 4-5 days* - $800 Many opportunities for team fundraising. Notes: PONY provides lodging and 3 meals per day plus small travel allowance for 3 coaches and 12 players for the World Series. Your actual cost for the World Series could be different * Does not include possible airfare for World Series held outside of driving distance
Q&A
Thank You