BPAA Baseball

· For the most part, National League teams are selected based on the location of the park closest to your home. Late registrations and other factors may result in your son or daughter being placed on a team whose park is not in your area.

· Keep in mind that some park areas may have more than one team and other parks may be combined.

· Players wishing to play together may choose one friend to play with on the registration form. The board will place you on the same team provided the requested friend also picks you on their registration form. (Example: John Doe picks to play with John Q and John Q picks John Doe). If there is not a match or more than one name is designated the request may not be able to be satisfied and no guarantees can be made. Siblings will be placed on the same team.·

· We will do our best to place children with a particular coach or group of friends. Keep in mind that we cannot guarantee that all special requests other than the one above can be honored.

· In 2008 we will begin to attempt creating teams in the 9-12 year old National Leagues with more equal levels of skill by requiring a short evaluation of these players at Extra Innings, Brooklyn Park on Saturday, March 8th from 8am - 12pm. More information on this will be provided at the registration sessions.

Keep in mind this is a first year for this and it will be a learning experience for everyone.

2. Is my child talented enough to tryout for an American League or Traveling team?

· This is a difficult question to answer. All kids mature both mentally and physically at different rates. The tryout drills are the same for all kids in each age group.

· All 9-13 year olds are encouraged to try out.

3. My child doesn't normally play at Northwoods Park. Why do I have to work in the concession stand?

National League teams are expected to provide volunteers to work in the concession stand when their teams are playing at Northwoods.

· While many of the improvements made are at Northwoods, revenues from the concession stand support our program at ALL levels.

Yearly expenditures include:

· Equipment (Baseballs bases, catchers equip. etc…)

· Subsidized umpire fees (even though we all pay umpire fees, last year BPBA subsidized umpire fees by about $3,000)

Some of our recent capital improvements expenditures are:

· Air Conditioning of the concession stand at Northwoods Park

· Installation of the spectator net at Northwoods Park

· Scoreboards at Northwoods Park

4. What happens if my child tries out, but is not selected for a traveling or American League team?

· If your child is not selected for a traveling team, he or she will be placed in the American League draft pool.

· If you child is not selected for an American League team he or she will be placed on a National League team based on the park location you selected at signups.

· Since National League umpire fees are less than American League fees, you will receive a refund check for the difference in 4-6 weeks.

5. What size bat should my child be using?

· Today's emphasis is on bat speed. Generally, a 16 to 18 ounce, 26 to 29 inch bat is adequate until a child is more than 10 years old A good way to test bats is to go to the batting cage and use their bats until your child finds one he or she is comfortable with.

6. What equipment does my child need?

· Baseball Glove

· Athletic Supporter and cup or female protector

· Spikes (rubber spikes only), (optional)

7.What equipment is provided by BPBA (issued to coaches)

Ø Baseballs

Ø Catchers Gear (combination mask & helmet, chest protector, shin guards & mitts)

Ø Bases

Ø Bats

Ø Uniform shirt (returned to BPBA at end of year)

Ø Uniform pant (returned to BPBA at end of year)

Ø Uniform cap (kept by player at end of year)

Ø Uniform socks (kept by player at end of year)

8. Who umpires the games?

· Parents or coaches umpire 7 & 8 Year Old League year old games.

· Paid umpires umpire all other games.

· This year we have elected to subsidize umpire fees with revenues from the concession stand.

9. What are the differences between the American and National League?

American League

National League

All games are played Northwoods Athletic Complex

Each child goes through tryout process.

Teams are selected coach's draft.

All parents are required to work one or two shifts in the concession stand during the season.

All star game (4 players per team are selected)

Practice 1 to 3 times per week (coaches discretion)

2 games per week

Most games are played at City Parks

Mid season and end of season tournaments are played at Northwoods Complex.

Mid-season and year end tournaments are on the weekend

Weekday Games

Teams are selected based on a child’s park location

Parents are required to work a single shift in the concession stand during tournaments.

Practice 1 to 2 times per week (coaches discretion)

2 games per week

10. Where will my child play games?

National league games are played at various parks throughout the City of Brooklyn Park.

American League games are played at the Northwoods Athletic Complex

All games start at 6:15 PM with no new inning starting after 8:30PM
(When playing a lighted fields and playing a late game, these may be later.)

updated: 01/16/2008