The YAC travel program is preparing for the 2010 summer travel season. We currently anticipate tryouts to take place the weekends of February 20th & 21st, and March 6th & 7th, up at Extra Innings in Fishkill, NY from 8am to 12pm. Exact times for each division will be forwarded separately. We ask that you complete and forward a player application as soon as you can so that we can get a feel for the number of players trying out at each age division.
We anticipate having teams in the following age divisions: 9U, 10U 11U, 12U, 13U, 14U, 16U. As has been the case in the past, if enough players express an interest in playing in the 18U division, we will sponsor a team in that division as well. We are planning on having Scholastic Coaches in our 18U, 16U and possibly the 14U divisions. In the event that we have 22 or more players try out in any one age division, the program will field two teams in that age division.
We are currently accepting head coach applications for the 2010 seasons. Head coaches will be determined and assigned after the player evaluations in each division. This is a volunteer program and your assistance is required for the program to work. Anyone who has an interest coaching should complete the Head Coach Application found on the YAC Baseball Website, under Travel Program, Head Coach Application.
For the third year of what we hope will be an ongoing tradition, the 12U team will be going to Dreams Park in Cooperstown New York for a week, to compete against 100 teams from all over the country. Some teams travel from as far as Hawaii to compete and we are happy to be able to provide our 12U team this opportunity in what is their final year of little league. At 13U they will play on the full 90 foot diamond.
In a bold, new, progressive move, the 11U, 12U and 13U divisions will not be required to play in-house. Instead, teams from those divisions will play both a spring and summer travel season. This will give those players a greater opportunity to play at a higher level and provide the competition to elevate their skills even further. We urge these players to participate in the in-house program if they choose.
The 11U and 13U will play spring travel in the WBA (Westchester Baseball Association), while the 12U team will play a 50/70 program in the NYEB (New York Elite Baseball) league. Summer leagues are yet to be determined, but more than likely all teams, with the exception of the 12U team, will play in the WPBA (Westchester Putnam Baseball Association). If the WPBA offers a 50/70 program for the 12U division, we will also play there. If not, we will look at other alternatives as yet to be determined.
We are planning to have a week long travel baseball camp early in the summer as part of the travel program. The camp will be run by scholastic coaches and have special instructors from local colleges on a daily basis. The tentative date for this camp is the week of June 28th. More information on this camp will be distributed shortly.
If you have any questions that are not answered below please feel free to contact the travel coordinator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Travel Baseball in the Westchester Putnam Baseball Association (“WPBA”)?
Yorktown Travel Teams of various ages compete against teams from other towns from the middle of June until the second week of August. Each team plays approximately 20 games. Approximately three games are played weekly both on week nights and weekends. Approximately half of each team’s games are played on Yorktown fields with the other half being played on the fields geographically spread between Fairfield County, Connecticut, and Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties, New York. In addition, teams practice and sometimes participate in tournaments both before and after the WPBA season.
YAC Travel Baseball provides an opportunity for YAC athletes to play baseball in a competitive environment. Unlike the YAC in house baseball program, travel players “try out” for a team and are not automatically guaranteed a spot on a team. Trying Out does not guarantee that a player will be chosen to play if there are more applicants than positions available on a given team.
YAC Travel baseball is different than in house baseball in that travel baseball is a competitive environment which focuses on wins and losses, and the league in which it is played provides a playoff format culminating in a championship game at each age division based on wins and losses. While the in-house program focuses on providing players with the basic skill sets designed to “teach” the game of baseball to players of all skill levels with the emphasis on learning and not competition, Travel is for players who already have the basic skill sets and are looking to improve on their abilities through competitive play, advanced practice and a greater frequency of practice and play.
Unlike in-house, players are not rotated for equal playing time or equal opportunity at a position. Up to and through the age of 12, players are guaranteed two innings in the field and one at-bat per game. From 12+ and up there are no minimum play requirements. As mentioned, Travel Baseball is a more competitive form of baseball. Scores and standings are kept in all divisions, and only the top teams will make it to the playoffs. Only nine (9) players play in the field, and you can only bat ten (10). In the in-house program, we have “free” substitution rules. In travel, substitutions are closely tracked. As a result of this, we strive to put no more then 13 players on a team. Due to the amount of pitchers that are needed, some coaches may opt for a larger roster. In addition, some rules such as stealing, bunting, and tagging-up at the 9-12 year old age groups will be different than those of our in-house program, meaning that they are closer to the rules followed by Little League Baseball. Although the league itself is competitive, our coaching staff will work with the players to advance their skills while providing a safe and fun environment and not focus solely on winning.
Eligibility
YAC Eligibility
In order to be eligible to play YAC Travel Baseball all players must be a YAC member in good standing, registered and playing baseball in the spring 2010. In the 9 only, 10U, 14U, 16U and 18U divisions, the player must participate in either the in-house program or be a member of the Yorktown high school (or other attending high school ) baseball teams. The 11U, 12U and 13 only divisions require that the player submit their deposit and participate in the evaluations/try-outs to be selected to play on a team. It is recommended that 11U, 12U and 13 only players should register for the in-house program if they intend to play baseball this season since travel spots are not guaranteed. Any payment made to in-house will be credited to the travel fee if a player from the 11U, 12U and 13 only divisions makes the travel team and elects not to play in-house.
WPBA Eligibility
The league in which YAC travel is played, Westchester Putnam Baseball Association (WPBA), requires that YAC team members reside in the Town of Yorktown. With application to WPBA (by YAC Travel Baseball not the individual player) permission may be granted for an out of town player to play on a YAC travel team, however permission is not guaranteed. If an out of town player formerly played in the WPBA for another town, that player will be responsible for obtaining a release from the team which he had formerly played.
The travel deposit will not be refunded to an applicant who fails to obtain permission from his former team and then tries out and makes a YAC Travel Team and is ultimately denied eligibility by WPBA to play.
The travel deposit will be refunded to a player not from Yorktown who (i) has not formerly played in WPBA for another town, and (ii) who has disclosed his out of town residency on the YAC Travel Application and who (iii) who is denied eligibility by WPBA.
Age Eligibility
Click here for Age Eligibility Chart
YAC intends to field teams in the following age groups:
9 only, 10U, 11U, 12U, 13 only, 14U, 16U and 18U.
The governing date by which a player’s age is determined is that players age as of May 1st 2010. The age of a player on May 1, 2010 determines his division for Travel play for the 2010 season.
The YAC in-house program has traditionally grouped players by their school grade. For example, there have been players that are 11 years of age that play with 12 year olds of the same school grade, both being considered as in their last year of “majors” as 6th graders. Reciprocally, there are 11 years olds that are in fifth grade that are considered in their first year of “majors.” However, travel baseball does not contemplate a child’s grade, only their age. As a result, very often, travel teams have a mix of children from the grades within the age grouping. May 1st is the date set by Little League and is honored virtually among every travel league. Thus, children from a higher grade may be playing with children from a lower grade. Example: When trying out for the 11U travel division, the 6th grader whose birthday is on or after May 1st, 1998 and the 5th grader whose birthday after is on or before April 30th 1999 are both 11 and qualify for the same division. These 11 year olds qualify for the 11U division for travel purposes.
YAC Travel has had to review this situation annually. With the exception of 9 only and 13 only divisions, players of a younger age are technically allowed to “play up” by WPBA rules but the practice is discouraged. Other towns rarely play their players up as it typically weakens the younger team. The intent of Travel is to field the most competitive teams possible. When a particular age group has strong talent playing up will be considered. In most instances where players have “played up” in the past, with a particular YAC Travel Team, strong consideration to continue to do so will be made on a player by player basis by YAC Travel Baseball. In instances where players have not played up before there will be a strong inclination to have that player play age appropriate. YAC Baseball will reserve the right to make a final determination on which age group a player will play in. That determination will be primarily on the basis of what will field, collectively, the strongest YAC Travel Teams.
Applications & Deposits
Applications will be provided via the YAC Baseball website. The information provided on the application must be complete and accurate. A deposit in the amount of $275.00 will be taken when the application is submitted. If a player is chosen to play and otherwise chooses not to play, the deposit will not be refunded. If a player is not chosen to play the deposit will be refunded. Non town residents should be guided accordingly with the deposit rule articulated under eligibility.
If there are extenuating circumstances that are medically related YAC Baseball at its sole discretion will consider a refund of a travel deposit if and when the position is filled by another player.
Payment of the deposit is due prior to, or at the tryout. Failure to tender payment at the tryout may disqualify an application.
Tryouts
There will be two tryout dates posted on the website for each age division. There will be times posted for each group on the YAC website. A player needs only to try out on one of the two dates. If a player wishes to try out a second time he may but is not required to. All players are to bring their own gloves. Bats and batting helmets will be available but if a player has his own it is suggested that he bring them.
What is the commitment to play travel?
The Travel Baseball season runs from approximately June 15th to August 10th. The YAC does not allow for “part-time” players. If a player makes the team, it is expected that they will be at all of the practices and games, and dedicate the YAC team as their “primary” team. Should a conflict exist with another team, it is expected that the player will play for the YAC team. If your family schedule means that your child will miss more than two games in a 20 game season, we ask that you not deprive another potential player of that roster spot. Failure to attend all scheduled practices and games may effect your child’s playing time which is at the sole discretion of your child’s coaching staff.
My husband and I both work and we are unsure that we will be available to transport our player ?
Parent involvement is extremely necessary for this program to be enjoyable for all participants. At times, drivers will be needed to take teams to away games. As always, parents are welcome to provide their assistance for those children that might need some help in getting to games. While that cannot be guaranteed by the YAC, it is a perfect example of how parents pull together and help each other out so that the kids can have fun.
How are the travel evaluations structured?
Undoubtedly, this is the most challenging and unenviable aspect to the process of running Travel Baseball. Inherently, “evaluations” are subjective to the person who is making the judgments. Some programs in the area avoid this step by implementing an “invitation only” tryout. The YAC feels that all players deserve an opportunity to tryout for travel. The down side to this approach is that sometimes “cuts” are made. Making that decision is the hardest part for these coaches, and a position that we don’t like to be in. The YAC will be seeking the assistance of independent evaluators who are involved with youth baseball, along with those people who have submitted head coach applications for each age group. The independent evaluators will be weighted as 2/3 of the vote, while the average of the coaching applicants will be weighted as 1/3 of the vote.
Is there more than 1 travel team at each age level ?
It depends. If there are enough applications and available fields to field a second team, i.e. at least 22 applications at a particular age group, a second team may be fielded. In the 2009 season there were two teams at the 14U division only. This again was a function of the number of tryout applications available in 2010.
Is there a fee to play travel? If so, how much?
A participation fee usually ranging from $350 to $500 will be required of each player that makes the team. The fee will cover all of the expenses associated with running the team, as well as their custom uniform. The non-refundable deposit of $275.00 is required for your child to participate in the player evaluations payable at tryout. If we do not receive the check the application will be voided. If your child is not chosen for a team, you will receive a full refund.
Does the YAC carry over the teams each year?
No. The Travel Baseball program is open to all participants in our 2010 YAC Spring Baseball season that are eight years old, or older. The invitation to tryout goes to everyone. In addition, all players, regardless of prior Travel Baseball experience, are required to tryout.
I heard that if my child had not played travel at nine there is no room for him at ten?
This is not true. While a player that played at nine has the distinct advantage of experience of having played travel before that child’s prior participation does not guarantee a roster spot the following year. Since the number of teams in each division is a function of applications at the tryout, even the number of teams and therefore roster spots are a variable each season.
My Son may not make the team and I would like to know if I could encourage other player‘s to tryout so that there will be enough players to field a second team, can I?
Yes and we encourage you to.
