How do I sign my child up for baseball?
We
hold a Registration day on the 1st Saturday in February each year,
usually at a Community Room. The site and exact
date will be posted on the website and published in the Herald Leader.
You just complete the registration form (available there), provide a
copy of your child's birth certificate, and pay your registration fee.
If you prefer, you may download the form on our website and mail it,
along with your fee, to PO Box 942. We need to receive the form by the
end of February, but sooner is better.
What does the registration fee cover?
All
fees are deposited in the SSYB General Fund. Each player will receive
a uniform shirt & hat, and will be responsible for his own pants,
socks, shoes, and glove. The balance is used to pay umpires, field
maintenance and mowing, trophies, playing equipment and baseballs, and
to make improvements to the complex.
If I cannot afford the entry fee, can my child still play?
Talk
to a Board member at registration, or use the "contact us" form on the
website, to discuss a scholarship application to be filed with Pagnozzi Charities to help cover your child's registration fee. These
are available on a limited basis.
Is there a cut-off date for registration?
All
players must be registered before games begin the 2nd week of April. We prefer that all kids are registered before
tryouts to make the drafting of teams as fair as possible.
When are Try-outs?
We
hold Try-outs on the 1st Saturday in March, from 1:00pm until 4:00pm .
In case of rain, it will be held the following Monday evening beginning
at 5:30pm. If that one is rained out, it will be the following
Saturday. All rain out information will be posted on the website.
Once your child has gone through the skills test you are free to leave.
When will I know what team my child is on?
The
player drafts are held during the 1st full week of March following
try-outs. Your child's coach should contact you by the end of the
following week, around the middle of March.
What if I want to coach?
We
will have a coaches meeting following the player registration each
year. Anyone interested in coaching should attend and register at this
meeting. The site and exact date will be posted on the website and
published in the Herald Leader.
What are the age limits for each league?
The six divisions in our league are:
T-ball Minor for 4 & 5 year old beginning players
T-ball Major for 5 & 6 year old more experienced players
Rookie for 7 & 8 year olds
Minor for 9 & 10 year olds
Major for 11 & 12 year olds
Babe Ruth for 13, 14, and 15 year olds
The
age cutoff date is April 30th of each year, so the age your child is on
April 30th of that year is the age division he/she will play in. If
your child turns 9 on or before April 30th he would be eligible for
Minor League. If your child turns 9 on May 1st or later, he would be
eligible for Rookie League. We do allow players to play up a division
if their skills warrant it. We don't allow playing down a division, except on a
case by case basis with Board approval, as we have found most kids
still do fine at their age level. No player is allowed to play down during post-season play (all-star team).
How long does the season last?
Practices
usually begin shortly after the players are drafted in March and the
regular season will end around the first week of June. The all star
teams will play in the District Tournament around the end of June, and
could qualify for State or Regional Tournaments, which could last until
late July.
Are All Star uniforms provided by the League?
All
Star uniforms are the responsibility of the player and his family.
SSYB does try to provide a shirt and hat, and help with expenses, if
that years budget allows.
How are All Star players and coaches selected?
Each
League Commissioner will hold a meeting with all the coaches of that
league toward the end of May. They will select the players and coaches
at that meeting.
How do I become an umpire in the League?
You
may attend the player registration or the coaches meeting and register
there, or you may download the Volunteer registration form and mail it
to our PO Box. You will then be contacted by us.
How much are umpires paid?
The pay ranges from $10 to $25 per game depending on the age level and duty performed. You may also umpire as a volunteer.
Is SSYB a part of the Siloam Springs Parks & Recreation Dept.?
No;
SSYB is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Corporation that operates the youth
baseball program in Siloam Springs. We are responsible for league
management, uniforms, umpires, insurance, advertising, affiliation
fees, concessions, field repair & maintenance, mowing, equipment
purchases, and capital improvements to the James Butts Baseball Complex
at La-Z-Boy Park; which is owned by the City of Siloam Springs and
leased to us. However; many things are coordinated with the Parks
& Rec Dept and the City of Siloam Springs, and without them we
could not have youth baseball.
Are SSYB and Siloam Springs Girls Softball run by the same people?
No. Girls Softball is run by a completely different organization.
How is SSYB funded?
SSYB
is funded through registration fees,
team sponsor fees, outfield sign sponsor fees, concession profits, and
tournament fund raising efforts. Our utility costs and some capital
improvement projects are provided by the City. We also receive
occasional donations from charities like the Walton Family Foundation
and private individuals like the Bump Younger family who have helped us
greatly over the years. Our total funding level fluctuates a little
each year depending on fund raising efforts and charitable contributions. Every minute of time donated by a volunteer is equivalent to a service or product that we don't have to purchase with cash Volunteers are the backbone of our league.
What does it cost to operate the League each year?
Basic
operation expenses of the League, without capital improvements, are
generally $50,000 - $60,000 per year. We usually have around 400
players, so that works out to $125 - $150 per player each year.
Who runs Siloam Springs Youth Baseball?
SSYB
is managed by a 12 person Board of Directors that meets at least one
time per month. The Board of Directors are elected annually, during
elections usually held the first week of June. Six new members are
elected each year, and each Director has a 2 year term beginning on
August 1st of the year you are elected.
How do I run for election to the Board of Directors?
At
anytime during the season you may submit your name and contact
information, in writing, to a current Board member, sign up at the
concession stand, or use the "Contact Us" form on the website to have
your name added to the ballot. All Parents of players are considered General
Members and you must be a General Member to be eligible for election,
or to vote in the election. If you do not have a child in the League
you may apply for General Member privileges by a vote of the acting
Board of Directors.
Are the Board of Directors compensated?
No,
the Board members are volunteers who donate all of their time, usually
because they love baseball and enjoy providing kids a quality baseball
experience. SSYB By-Laws state that no Board Member shall profit materially or commercially from their involvement in the league.
