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HAUPPAUGE YOUTH ORGANIZATION (HYO)
BASEBALL TRAVEL PROGRAM POLICIES |
MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of the HYO Travel Baseball Program is to provide players with higher skill levels the opportunity to compete against youths from other communities with similar skill levels. .
It is the intention of the HYO Baseball Board of Directors to ensure that sportsmanship and town pride are always at the forefront of the HYO Travel Baseball Program.
AFFILIATION:
The HYO Travel Baseball League is a separate entity from the Hauppauge Little League, and is not affiliated with Little League Baseball of Williamsport, PA. In Hauppauge, the Hauppauge Little League (HLL) program is administrated by the HLL Board of Directors, under the guidelines of Little League Baseball, Inc. The same Board of Directors administrates the HYO Travel Baseball Program, under the name of “HYO Baseball”.
TRAVEL HEAD COACH SELECTION:
The first step towards the formation of a Travel Team is the selection of the Travel Head Coach. The following steps are followed for this process:
Solicitation:
A solicitation will be made to coaches within each division, to determine the interest in being considered for the Travel Head Coach position. Candidates are not limited to Head Coaches of In-House teams, and the HYO Baseball Board may reach out to current assistant coaches or parents who the Board believes would be suitable candidates.
The criteria for selection are:
- Baseball knowledge
- Coaching experience
- Availability for all Travel-related activities
- Satisfactory history with the HYO Baseball Board
It is highly recommended that the child player of a candidate coach has a significant chance of being selected for the Travel Team based on his/her merits.
Note: For players in age levels thirteen and above, the HYO Baseball Board reserves the right to hire paid coaches from outside of the program, in order to give these more experienced players the best instruction and leadership available.
Interview:
All Travel Head Coach candidates who meet the minimum criteria established by the board will be interviewed by the HYO Baseball Travel Coordinator. Interview dates and times will be announced to the HYO Baseball Board members, whom are invited to observe or participate in the interview process at their own discretion.
Selection:
Following the interviews, the HYO Baseball Board will select a Travel Head Coach, based on the recommendations of the Travel Coordinator, and a vote by the HYO Baseball Board. All decisions are final.
Assistant Coaches:
Upon the completion of the Travel Player Selection process (see below), the Travel Head Coach may select assistant coaches from the pool of parents of players who have been selected to the team.
Assistant coaches may be chosen from the list of Travel Head Coach applicants who were not selected for that position, however, there is no obligation to do so. All assistant coach candidates are subject to the same criteria as the Travel Head Coach (described above) and all selections must be approved by the HYO Baseball Board.
TRAVEL PLAYER SELECTION:
Little League Baseball, Inc. is designed to be a program for all children, regardless of talent or ability. Travel Baseball is available only to a small percentage of children who, through try-outs and exposure to the coaching staff, are chosen as the 12 – 15 best candidates to represent HYO Baseball, in games against teams from surrounding areas.
While it would seem obvious that the 12 – 15 best baseball players would make the Travel Team, this is not always the case. The selection process involves the evaluation of many tangibles and intangibles. Some of these include:
· Baseball talent and ability: Obviously the primary criteria for selection to a Travel Team.
· Eligibility: Any player trying out for a HYO Travel team, must be enrolled, and be an active participant, in the HLL in-house season (see DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY below). In cases where conflicts with school athletics prevent participation, eligibility will be determined by the HLL Board.
· Coachability: If a child has shown an inability to follow direction, lacks focus, or has been a behavioral problem, they might not be selected, even if they are one of the best players in the division. Conversely, a child who shows a strong willingness to learn and improve, but is not one of the top 12 – 15 players, might be selected.
· Sportmanship: A child who has exhibited a lack of sportsmanship towards his/her teammates, opponents, coaches or parents may be excluded from consideration. Additionally, if a parent has exhibited a lack of sportsmanship toward players, coaches, other parents or umpires, their child may be excluded from consideration.
· Commitment: If a child has shown prior disregard for practice and/or game dates they might not be selected, even if they are one of the best players in the division.
· Availability: Travel Baseball is primarily a Summer program. If a child’s family goes away for one or more weeks during the Summer, they might not be selected.
Determination of Eligibility:
It is the policy of HYO Baseball that Travel Teams be made up of players of a specific age as defined by Little League, Inc., regardless of the in-house Little League division they have played in.
Try-Outs:
Travel Team try-outs will take place in the mid-April to early May time frame. Generally, there will be 2 to 3 try-out dates. Try-Outs are open to all age appropriate players within the program, however, we suggest to coaches and parents that they be realistic about a player’s chances of making a Travel Team, to avoid the disappointment of failing to make a team.
During try-outs, players will be observed by the Travel Coach, and potentially several other coaches who may or may not be associated with the same division. Parents or legal guardians only will be invited to attend and view the try-out from an area designated at the field. Try-outs require good concentration. Communication with the children who are trying-out is prohibited as the safety of the children involved is our primary concern.
Secondary Team:
It is the goal of HYO Baseball to provide playing opportunities for all children that wish to play Summer or Fall baseball. Where there are a sufficient number of players trying out who meet the selection criteria, who have not been selected for the primary Travel Team, HYO Baseball will consider supporting a secondary team. The coach of the secondary team will be selected from the group of parents of the children that make up this team, based on the aforementioned Head Coach selection criteria.
No players who are selected for the primary Travel Team are permitted to play for the secondary team.
The decision to field a secondary team will be at the discretion of the HYO Baseball Board.
Selection:
Players will be selected to the Travel Team by the Travel Head Coach, from the candidates who attended try-outs, under the supervision of the HYO Baseball Board. The selection of players for the Travel Team will be based on the results of the try-out, and the evaluation of the selection criteria described above.
Practices:
Once the Travel Team(s) are selected, the Travel Coach is expected to run regular practices, leading up to the Summer Travel Season. Although all of the Travel Players will be playing in the Spring in-house HLL season, they are expected to make as many Travel practices as possible.
Travel Fees:
Travel Program fees will be communicated to the parents of all selected Travel players. Fees are due upon request and must be received prior to the first Travel game, or player will forfeit his/her position on the Travel Team. Exceptions and/or alternate arrangements will be made where a financial hardship exists.
HYO TRAVEL BASEBALL SEASONS:
The HYO Travel Baseball Program is divided into three (3) phases: Summer Travel, Fall Travel and Winter Workouts.
Summer Travel Season:
The Summer Travel season begins almost immediately after the completion of the Little League season, immediately following the July 4th holiday weekend. Generally, our “A” Travel Teams are enrolled in the National Junior Baseball Program (www.nationaljunior.com), and our “B” Travel Teams are enrolled in a less competitive, recreational Summer Baseball League.
Fall Travel Season:
At the discretion of the Travel Coaching Staff, a Travel Team may play a Fall Travel schedule. Sometimes, it is the choice of the Travel Coach to take the Fall season off, and to work on fundamentals.
Winter Workout Program:
The Winter Workout Program is the final phase of the Travel Baseball experience. HYO rents gym and batting cage time at the Hauppauge High School for these workouts.
Tournaments:
Travel Teams may participate in outside Tournaments throughout the Travel season, as long as they do not conflict with the primary Travel season, or other HYO Baseball designated activities. Requests to enter tournaments should be submitted to the HYO Baseball Board for approval.
The HYO Baseball Board of Directors reserves the right to amend any or all policies and procedures regarding its Travel Baseball Programs.
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