MSHYB Travel Program - Overview & Team Selection Guidelines
*** Updated January 2025 ***
Objective:
The program seeks to provide those who participate in MSHYB spring league an opportunity to play more competitive baseball in the summer and fall in order to further advance their skills and build camaraderie amongst the children in order to retain them as part of the MSHYB program.
Commitment Expectations:
Minimum of 2 practices per week and 2 games per week; can increase based on team and coaching availability. Attendance is expected and playing time may be impacted based on commitment levels.
Team Structure & Competition:
Summer Teams: 5 teams (8u-12u); 1 team per age group.
Summer Competition: Teams might compete in the district tournament, USABL tournaments, and/or the New Providence Green League.
Fall Teams: 5 teams (8u-12u); 1 team per age group with potential for additional teams based on demand.
Fall Competition: Teams might compete in tournament and/or league play.
Additional Teams: Subject to Board approval, additional teams can be formed in both summer and fall, based on demand and availability of qualified players. These teams would need to be administered and coached by parents.
Coaching:
Primarily a professional coach, additional support from hired assistant coaches or 2-3 parents. All coaches will have to go through the MSHYB coaching certification process.
Eligibility:
Who Can Tryout: Players 12 and under who participate in 50% of their MSHYB spring team’s games as well as anyone who moved to town during or after the MSHYB spring season and, as a result, did not get to play in MSHYB’s spring league.
What Team Can My Child Try Out For: Baseball age is defined as a child's age as of 4/30. Each child can try out for the team that is their baseball age as well as one year older than their baseball age, but a player can only be rostered on one team.
- 12-year-olds as of April 30 will be able to try out for the 12U or 13U summer team, 12U (rising 13s) or 13U (rising 14s) in fall - NOTE the larger field dimensions for 13U (60/90) in both summer and fall
- 11-year-olds as of April 30 will be able to try out for the 11 U or 12U summer team, 11U (rising 12s) or 12U (rising 13s) in fall - NOTE the larger field dimensions for 13U (60/90) in fall only
- 10-year-olds as of April 30 will be able to try out for the 10U or 11U team in summer / 10U (rising 11s) or 11U (rising 12s) in fall
- 9-year-olds as of April 30 will be able to try out for the 9U or 10U summer team, 9U (rising 10s) or 10U (rising 11s) in fall
- 8-year-olds as of April 30 will be able to try out for the 8U or 9U summer team, 8U (rising 9Us) or 9U (rising 10s) in fall
- 7-year-olds as of April 30 will be able to try out for the 8U summer team, 8U (rising 9s) in fall
- 6-year-olds as of April 30 will be able to try out for the 8U summer team, if there are enough players to fill a team, the MSHYB Board will consider a 7U (rising 8s) team in the fall
Try Out Process:
Signups: MSHYB will post signups for tryouts on the website as soon as possible.
Evaluations: Evaluations will allow participants to show their skills across fielding (infield and outfield), throwing (power and accuracy) and hitting (power and contact). Most participants will take between 5-10 swings during batting practice, 5 ground balls and throw across the diamond, and 3-5 fly balls.
Evaluators: 2 or 3 per age group - an evaluator for an age group cannot have their child trying out at that age group. Evaluators will be looking at overall outcome, but also incorporate mechanics into their scoring. Qualitative characteristics can also be taken into consideration.
Selection Process:
Selection to a team will be based primarily on the player’s tryout (both their initial and any call back that is requested). MSHYB has the right to solicit feedback from MSHYB coaches to achieve a more holistic view of a specific player. Please keep in mind that the role of the committee is to put together a competitive team with the appropriate balance of skills (which means a roster may not include all of the top players at a particular position). All rosters will be approved by the MSHYB Board of Directors.
Communication Protocols:
Primary communication via email
Please contact Tr****@ms***.com with any questions
