2015-2016
Bronco Select
Travel Baseball & Softball
Handbook And
Rule Guide
INTRODUCTION:
On behalf of the Bronco Select Baseball & Softball Board, welcome to the 2015-2016 season. The mission of the board is to create a fun, fair, and safe baseball/softball environment that promotes the development of self-confidence, respect for others, leadership, and teamwork in our athletes. We strive to create an environment that results in a positive experience for everyone involved in the program - athletes, parents, coaches and all volunteers. The Bronco Select handbook provides a reference for most of the information that participants and parents need to know about the program. Any other necessary information may be located on the Bronco Select Website at www.broncosselect.com . Please take time to review the handbook and the website. Thank you for your participation. Your support and feedback will allow the program to continue to grow and improve, allowing us to achieve our goal of becoming the premier community based travel program in Wisconsin.
TRAVEL BASEBALL & SOFTBALL PHILOSOPHY The purpose of this program is to provide athletes who have demonstrated advanced baseball/softball skills the opportunity to compete with other players who have similar abilities. Teams will participate in both league and tournament play. The objectives of the Bronco Select Program are to provide an organized program for the youth of the community that will promote physical fitness, stamina, and agility; develop self-confidence, respect for others, teamwork, and leadership; teach the fundamentals of baseball/softball; assist players in developing their skills; and incorporate the spirit of good sportsmanship in victory or defeat while having fun.
The Bronco Select board will consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and the remaining head coaches in the program (total number may vary from year to year based on the number of teams). The President and Vice President will both be a current head coach the Secretary and Treasurer can be a head coach or other individual associated with the program. The officers will be elected on an annual basis by a majority of board members. The board is in place to direct and guide the activities of the program, set annual fees and allocate funds.
There will be a website available to everyone with each team’s events listed. Some parents will be asked to help the organization out by doing certain duties delegated by the coaches of the program.
We will be collecting all traveling baseball fees at the parents meeting in October. This will include most fees for the season – Some exception will apply. If your team agrees to go on an extra trip, the parents will be responsible for the extra costs involved. (Hotels, food, travel expenses, etc.)
Travel Participation Travel baseball/softball requires a significant time commitment. To assure ample playing time, only 10-13 players are placed on each team. Every player's presence is important and is expected! Unless otherwise exempted by the coach, all players are expected to attend all practices, league games, and tournament games. Unexcused absences may result in a reduction of playing time. Family vacations should be planned accordingly.
Team Issues
Parents should refrain from addressing team issues with the coach during or directly following a game. When a problem arises parents are encouraged to wait 24 hours to allow emotions to cool off. A meeting should then be set at a mutually agreed upon time to discuss the situation.
Registration Fees: The registration fee for all kids involved with Bronco Select is $400. In addition to the initial registration fee, each player is required to sell (20) ten dollar tickets to the spring pig roast. The pig roast is our major fundraiser for the year. Registration fees cover the uniform(s) and approximately half of the teams' expenses; the other half is paid for by revenue received from the pig roast. Team's expenses are for participation in league and tournament games, umpires, equipment, uniforms, field usage, field maintenance/improvements, and association administration and support. All travel fees are collected at the parents meeting. This will include most fees for the
season. Additional money may be required if your team's expenses are above average as
determined by the Bronco Select Board.
Fundraising As mentioned above the annual pig roast is the major fundraiser for Bronco Select and affords the program to maintain very modest registration fees. In addition to selling 20 - $10 tickets each family is required to have two adults work a two hour shift during the pig roast. The pig roast date is set at least 6 months in advance of the actual event. In the event that there is a significant family conflict and the parents will not be available they should make every effort to find replacements to work their shift. If the shifts are not manned the family will be charged a fee of $50 plus their child will be suspended for one league game. The penalty must be paid before your child can return to play.
Bronco Select will also run a bowling fundraiser in early spring. This fundraiser is to supplement the fees required to send the U13 team on the annual trip to Omaha. Each team is required to fill up two lanes. Additional assistance may be requested for this bowling fundraiser.
Additional individual team fundraising may be done to supplement the teams tournament budget, cover hotel fees, purchase additional uniforms, etc. Any additional fundraising should not be done in conflict with any Bronco Select Program fundraising.
Games and Practices
Indoor practices will begin shortly after the first of the year. Your coach should contact you in December with the details of the practices.
Baseball teams will play in the M.A.J.O.R. youth baseball league. Games will be throughout Southeastern WI. League play for baseball begins in April (ages 8-14) and continues through July, with approximately 16 weekday league games, plus 4 to 5 tournaments played on weekends (Friday through Sunday). Each team will decide how many tournaments they will participate in. Each year the Bronco Select board establishes a tournament budget. Teams which exceed their tournament budget will be expected to self-fund the excess amount.
Softball teams will play in the MMFL league. League play for softball begins June 1st and continues through July 31st , with approximately seven doubleheader league games, plus 4 to 5 tournaments played on weekends (Friday through Sunday). Each team will decide how many tournaments they will participate in. Each year the Bronco Select board establishes a tournament budget. Teams which exceed their tournament budget will be expected to self-fund the excess amount.
Local Fields: The program will be using the fields at Yorkville Elementary School, Union Grove High School and Union Grove Elementary School. Any other field usage will be at the coach’s discretion.
Program Evaluation Forms Parents and players are asked to complete a questionnaire at the end of each season on their experience with the Bronco Select program and their coaches. This is your most significant opportunity to express your opinions and to help us make improvements. Contents of evaluations are confidential. The Bronco Select Board values and considers all input, recommendations, content offered from the evaluations. Please take advantage of this opportunity. Each new season we will let you know what changes were implemented as a result of evaluations. If you have any questions please contact the president, or vice president as they will be the only one with access to the evaluations. The Bronco Select Board and all of our volunteers value your opinions. If you have suggestions for improving our program, the best way to communicate them is to include them on the questionnaire you are asked to complete at the end of the season. Please include as much detail as necessary for us to understand what you would like to see implemented. If evaluations are not timely, you may submit suggestions to any Bronco Select Board member, but please still put them in writing so that they receive the attention they deserve. Suggestions specific to your player's team are also appreciated. Please discuss your comments and concerns with the team's coach at an appropriate time. He/she will greatly appreciate if you will avoid all discussions prior to or during games and practices and will be better able to focus on your request after the event.
Uniforms & Equipment
The Travel Baseball/Softball program will supply uniforms including two jerseys, pants and a hat. The items are for the player to keep after the season. Any damage to equipment caused by negligence or intentional abuse must be reimbursed by the player. Failure to do so will result in denial of any further sport participation in any Bronco Select program by the player or any member of his/her family.
The Bronco Select program also supplies:
· approved game baseballs/softballs
· catchers gear(shin guards, mask, chest protector)
· catcher’s glove
· scorebooks
· first aid kit
· other practice equipment
Personal Equipment: Each player must provide his/her own glove, shoes, batting helmet and personal protective equipment (except catcher's equipment). Properly-fitted, correctly-sized equipment is very important to a player's success -- especially in terms of gloves (not overly large) and shoes. Most leagues require the wearing of athletic supporters with a hard protective cup; in any case, their use is mandatory by the Bronco Select Board. Players are encouraged to use cleated baseball shoes with hard rubber/plastic or metal cleats, according to the rules of the league in which they participate.
Bats are another item of equipment which, like gloves, need to be fitted to
the individual player. Parents should consult coaches and/or specific league
rules before purchasing bats. The Bronco Select program does not provide bats as part of the team's equipment bag.
TRYOUT POLICIES
Players not selected to this year’s team are encouraged to play in their recreational league to better hone his skills for next year. Each tryout is a clean slate for all players.
Eligibility and Registration: A player is eligible to participate in Bronco Select
Baseball team tryouts subject to the following criteria:
Complete registration form.
Must meet age (grade) guidelines set by the program. Age cutoff is April 30th of the current year for baseball and December 31st for softball.
Bronco Select must be the player’s priority, in terms of sports, during the baseball season. Players are allowed to play in their respective recreational league but it should not interfere with Bronco Select games. If the player is a pitcher on Bronco Select he/she should work with their coach to set pitching limits (this is to avoid injury).
Photocopy of birth certificate made available to Bronco Select board at the parent’s meeting.
Players that tryout for traveling baseball may not be placed on a team, even if there are roster spots available. For the safety and self esteem of the players, it is sometimes best to not be put on a traveling team and then develop skills in a different environment such as recreation baseball. If after tryouts, it is determined based on the scoring that players do not have the skills necessary to participate in traveling baseball, they will not be placed on a team.
The birth date cutoff is April 30th. The team (age level) for which a player is eligible is the same as the player’s age on that date of that baseball season. A player cannot play up.
GENERAL POLICIES
Attendance - Every player's presence is important and is expected!
Unless otherwise excused by the coach, all players are expected to attend all practices, league games, and tournament games. Unexcused absences may result in a reduction of playing time!
Behavior and Sportsmanship/Suspensions
- The highest standard of sportsmanship will be expected from players, coaches, parents, umpires and spectators.
- Players will treat their teammates, coaches, umpires, all spectators, and the opposing team with respect. After each game, all team participants will line up and shake hands.
- Conduct which will not be tolerated includes verbal abuse ("trash talk"), tantrum-like acts, profanity, arguing judgment calls, physical aggression on or off the field, acts intended to cheat the spirit of the rules or to intimidate the umpires. Umpires may use their discretion whether to issue a warning or to immediately eject the violator (coach, player, or spectator) from the game. The umpires and/or coaches are responsible for reporting all incidents to the Bronco Select Board. Subsequent violations may result in suspension from play and/or attendance.
- If you have a problem with the performance of an umpire, please direct your concerns to the team's coach. He/she represents the program and should be the only person communicating with the umpires. One of the objectives of the program is to teach respect for the officials/umpires and the proper procedure for dealing with problems.
The Bronco Select Board reserves the right to suspend any coach, parent, player, or spectator who violates sportsmanship rules. A coach or umpire may suspend any player who acts in an unsportsmanlike manner. The coach must give the player one warning and discuss the situation with the player's parent(s). The warning should include an objective description of the behavior and of the intended discipline. Another violation shall result in the player sitting on the bench for the remainder of the game. The next violation shall result in the player sitting on the bench for the remainder of the game plus the entire next game played. Subsequent violations may result in the player being suspended from the league. All player violations/suspensions must be reported to the Bronco Select Board.
Playing Time
There will be no playing time guarantee. Playing time is at the coaches discretion. A coach may reduce the playing time of any player for failing or refusing to attend practice sessions or games. The coach must give the player one warning and discuss the situation with the player's parent(s). The warning should include an objective description of the behavior and of the intended discipline.
Head Coach Selection
Coaches are selected by the Bronco Select Board. Primary selection criteria include past coaching and playing experience, personal coaching philosophy, support of the travel program and Bronco Select policies, and the applicant's commitment to spend several hundred hours during the season. Coaches' responsibilities begin in August with tryouts for next year’s team.