Revised 1/2006
Flower Mound Youth Sports Association
Select Baseball Guidelines
1. PURPOSE OF SANCTIONED SELECT BASEBALL
To offer a quality, competitive, select baseball program sanctioned by FMYSA and available to FMYSA baseball participants.
2. FMYSA SELECT PROGRAM & TEAM ORGANIZATION
The FMYSA Board of Directors is the final authority regarding sanctioned select baseball matters.
The FMYSA Select Baseball Committee (FMYSA-SBC) is responsible for overseeing the select baseball program. Currently, that committee is comprised of the President of FMYSA, the Vice President of Baseball, the Select Baseball Director, the AA Baseball Director, and the Rattlers Baseball Club Director. Contact information is available on the FMYSA website ( www.fmysa.com).
FMYSA may authorize official sanctioned select baseball teams for any of the following designated age classifications to include Rattler and other select teams given sufficient interest and talent levels in each classification:
· 9 & Under , 10 & Under , 11 & Under , 12 & Under , 13 & Under , 14 & Under
FMYSA Board of Directors may grant approval to sanction select teams in other age groups. The FMYSA-SBC will determine the number of teams sanctioned at each age group and will submit its recommendations to the FMYSA board for final approval by October 31 of each year.
Playing Time and Team Rosters: FMYSA recreational rules requiring minimum playing time requirements are waived. However, all select baseball team coaches are expected to abide by the following sanctioned select baseball minimum participation requirements for defensive innings:
Overall League Schedule Each Tournament
AA 50% 50%
AAA/Maj 50% Avg. 2 innings per game
Each team shall have a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 12 players. The Select Baseball Director or the VP of Baseball must approve rosters carrying below 10 or above 12 players.
3. COACHES’ APPLICATIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES & CONDUCT
Head coaches, assistant coaches, and all game-day coaches of sanctioned select teams are volunteer positions. Head coaches may select their own assistant coaches. There can be only one designated head coach of each team.
Any person considered for a head coaching position shall notify the Select Baseball Director in writing through the process on the FMYSA website. Coaches will be selected once a year in October for the following spring season. 9U coaches will be selected prior to the fall season. After reviewing the applications, the Select Baseball Committee shall nominate a head coach for each sanctioned select team, subject to approval by the FMYSA Board of Directors.
When selecting team head coaches, the Select Baseball Committee and Board of Directors shall consider each of the following criteria:
· Knowledge of the game
· Ability to effectively teach baseball to age-specific players
· Coaching experience and coaching success
· Ability to communicate effectively with parents
· Amount and quality of past support provided to FMYSA
· Ability to complete NYSCA Certification and background check
· Any previous written complaints or commendations from other coaches, parents, umpires, or other league members
· Any other pertinent information regarding the individual’s qualifications to serve in this capacity
In addition to coaching their respective sanctioned select teams, head coaches are required to assist the FMYSA Recreational Baseball Leagues during league registration, league coaches meetings, draft evaluations, camps, clinics, tournaments, etc. All select baseball coaches MUST help, or send a team representative to help, with the fall and spring coaches clinic, the fall pitching clinic, and the spring rec league skills evaluation.
It is required that each coach or a designee create and maintain a website for indoctrination and communication purposes. Minimum website information should include: Level of play (AA, AAA, Major), estimated dates for beginning and ending a season, expectation of time for practices and tournaments, and intentions to play out-of-town tournaments.
Head coaches of sanctioned select baseball teams cannot be a head coach for any other team during the baseball seasons.
Conduct: All head coaches are required to be members in good standing of FMYSA’s approved accredited coaching certification program (i.e., NYSCA), and pass an annual background check as administered by an approved FMYSA contractor. Assistant coaches may, at the request of FMYSA, be required to pass annual background checks and/or pass certification.
All coaches, including assistant coaches, represent FMYSA at all times. They are responsible for the well being of each team member. All coaches will demonstrate proper demeanor while serving as an FMYSA representative. Failure to do so may result in probation and possible removal from the privilege of being on the field during games. The FMYSA Board of Directors reserves the right to remove any coach from the team for cause.
4. PLAYERS, RESIDENCY RULES, PLAYER REMOVAL
Any player, league age 8 or above, may try out for any FMYSA sanctioned select baseball team. Players may play up in an age classification. Interested players should be reminded of the commitment required to participate at this level.
Selected players will make seasonal commitments (Jan-Aug or Aug-Nov). Coaches should refrain from selecting players who, regardless of reason, are unable to commit to participation requirements, as well as a majority of the scheduled events. While a member of a sanctioned team, players shall not participate on any other baseball team without written authorization from the sanctioned team’s head coach. Players who are on any age group league-sanctioned select team roster are not eligible to participate as a guest player, or as a roster player, in any FMYSA recreational league game of any age group.
Residency Rules: Teams sanctioned by FMYSA will adhere to the following residency requirements, in addition to any external league residency requirements (NTI, Bear Creek, etc.). Teams may carry the following number of players who DO NOT reside in the Marcus HS or Flower Mound HS feeder areas*:
AAA** Major* *
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9U 3 3
10U 3 3
11U 3 4
12U 3 4
13U 4 5
14U 4 5
*Residency is determined by school registration address.
*Team playing level depends on how the team registered with USSSA.
Player Removal: The Head Coach may remove a player from a team for cause with approval of the Select Baseball Committee. The head coach must consult with the Director of Select Baseball and/or the VP of Baseball before initiating removal of a player for cause.
FMYSA does NOT consider the following as causes for removing a player during a spring/summer or fall season:
FMYSA COULD consider the following as causes for removing a player during a spring/summer or fall season:
5. TRY-OUTS & RECRUITMENT
Sanctioned teams’ official try-outs will be coordinated and operated, in most cases, by the respective head coach. FMYSA will provide each team with equitable field time to conduct tryouts. Coaches may rent facilities or fields on their own for team tryouts if needed beyond league-issued fields, or in case of bad weather. Coaches will hold try-outs in an attempt to give all participants a fair and equal opportunity to make the team. Newly formed sanctioned teams are required to hold open tryouts. Returning teams may conduct open tryouts depending on needs. Players from the previous season are not guaranteed positions and may be asked to try out like any other player.
RECRUITMENT PROTOCOL between FMYSA sanctioned teams is as follows:
During the baseball season, head coaches are allowed to add players as needed to the team. If the player being added to a team is on the roster of another FMYSA select or recreation baseball team, the Select Baseball Director, VP of Baseball and both head coaches must be in agreement to add the player prior to the player practicing or playing with the new team.
Final rosters shall be announced prior to in-person league registration. This policy allows players not selected for “Sanctioned” teams to be able to participate in recreation Baseball. In the event of conflicting schedules, the league will make exception for those wanting to sign up for recreational league.
6. GUEST PLAYERS
The spirit of the Guest Player rule is intended to allow short-handed teams the temporary use of other players, normally for league play. It is not intended to exclude regular team members in favor of more highly skilled players. Guest players may only be used when a team is missing players from its beginning of spring or fall season rosters. When the missing player returns, the guest player must relinquish his spot on the team with exception: A guest player may be used for state and national tournaments, even if the missing player returns, if the guest player played in the qualifying tournament. Be careful in tournaments: Incorrect roster moves could jeopardize the guest player’s or your team’s eligibility for future tournaments.
7. FEES
A membership fee will be assessed to all select players before each spring and fall season by FMYSA. The membership fee will include expenses such as field usage fees, insurance, team level equipment, background checks, administration cost and web support. The annual membership fees will be determined and announced by the FMYSA Board of Directors before each spring season.
Players/parents also are responsible for cost of all uniforms, league fees, tournaments fee, gate fees, registration fees, and field usage fees above and beyond what FMYSA furnishes for practice and games.
8. FUNDRAISING, REFUNDS, RECORDS INSPECTION
Teams should seek new private sponsorships for select baseball teams and solicit existing FMYSA recreational sponsors. A list of FMYSA recreational sponsors is available on the FMYSA website.
In the event a player quits or is dismissed (for cause) from a team, the player or the player’s parent(s) are eligible for a pro-rated refund for any parental contribution, less uniform and other fees, if the termination occurs on or before Memorial Day Weekend for the spring season, or October 15 for the fall season. Coaches are expected to “do the right thing” in these situations.
A team’s accounts, books and records shall be open to inspection by team members/parents. Coaches should volunteer such information by request. A parent may further request by making a written request to FMYSA. Head coaches are solely responsible for all financial aspects of their sanctioned select baseball team. These fiduciary duties, whether performed by the head coach or a designee, should include: accurate bookkeeping, paying of bills, fund raising and reporting as required. Coaches are required to share any bookkeeping with parents or FMYSA upon request.
9. EQUIPMENT, UNIFORMS & TEAM NAMES
Select teams fund their own uniforms and equipment. However, any equipment or uniforms supplied by FMYSA shall remain the property of FMYSA. Aside from damage incurred from normal wear, parents will assume financial responsibility for all damage or losses suffered while the property/uniforms were issued to them.
Team colors, team name, uniform fees and uniform selection are the responsibility of the select team coaches. For new teams, the Select Baseball Director must be notified of and approve team names prior to uniform orders.FMYSA may require affiliation patches on a required spot on game jerseys. If such uniform patches are required, FMYSA will provide such patches to all sanctioned select teams. Select teams have the discretion to affix sponsor names and logos to team-funded uniforms.
Teams are encouraged, but not required, to register in local and state tournaments using the name “Flower Mound” before the team name to further brand the quality of baseball played in the community.
No team other than the designated “TEXAS RATTLERS” shall utilize the “TEXAS RATTLERS” name.
10. AGREEMENT
All participants/parents chosen for a sanctioned team shall submit a signed FMYSA Registration Form and full membership fee payment prior to the first game of the year. This normally is done through online or in-person registration.
Any player selected to play for the sanctioned select baseball for a SRPING/SUMMER TEAM shall make a commitment of one (1) full season to the team and coach. Any player selected to play for a FALL team shall make a commitment of one (1) full FALL season to the team and coach.
11. GRIEVANCES
Handling of all questions, concerns and problems always will be handled first on a team level. The Select Baseball Board encourages the player to approach the head coach to insure interaction and attempt a resolution. If resolution cannot be agreed upon then the parent and coach should attempt to resolve the issue. The final step would be to file a written grievance with the Select Baseball Director and carbon copy the FMYSA VP of Baseball. The Select Baseball Director will try to resolve the issue with all parties’ interests in mind. If the Select Baseball Director determines the Select Baseball Committee should address the issue, then a SBC meeting will be convened and final resolution will be completed and communicated within 10 days. SBC DECISION WILL BE FINAL.
It is not the intent of the grievance process to manage or address day-to-day handling of teams, practice routine, lineups, playing positions, etc. These types of issues are a coach’s decision and must be handled between the coach, player and/or parent(s).
12. AMENDMENTS
These guidelines may be amended by majority vote of the FMYSA Executive Board of Directors at any general membership meeting provided that meeting notice contains the proposal that the sanctioned Select Baseball Guidelines will be amended. These guidelines are subject to the review and approval of the Flower Mound Youth Sports Association Executive Board.