Why it is important to Register Early.
Posted by Karen Tucker on Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Under: All Players
This year we are establishing a new feature of the Registration Season. We have an absolute cut-off date of April 12, after which no players can be added. This stems from the logistical problems we have had in the past with getting the teams drafted and uniforms ordered in time for the opening day, which for this year is April 19.
Registrations always begin on the first Saturday in February. One year a few years ago we had extremely bad weather on that first Saturday, and hardly anyone showed. So, we held a second chance on the next Saturday. This is the whole reason we now have two Saturday registration opportunities--and the reason the second day could go away. This takes extra time away from the board member's schedules, during a time when many of their kids are playing other sports, but we're happy to make it happen so we can gather as many players as possible, as early as possible.
In addition to the two registration dates in February, the sign-up form is available on the website which you can mail in, and you can pick one up at High-5 Sports in Highland Park and drop it off there as well.
We know some of you are lured by the option of that second Saturday, and it's fine to come on that day! Anyone who waits longer than that, though, is missing some opportunities.. First of all, you won't get to meet and greet all the new and veteran board members or your league commissioner if you don't come on Registration Day. You won't get to ask the questions or make the suggestions that have been burning a hole in your brain since last season. You won't get to try the jersey on your rapidly growing child. And you won't get a donut!
From the Board's perspective, registering early helps us by:
First, the guiding philosophy of SSYB is for all the kids to have a great time playing baseball, regardless of their skill level. In order to do that, there cannot be teams full of ringers, or teams who bring in kids from elsewhere so they can dominate the "rec" league. The only fair way to do this is to make the team selection process as fair and unbiased as possible.
Therefore, we draft good coaches first. Any person can put their name in the hat to be a coach in the league. How many coaches get selected in an age group depends on how many players register, which determines the number of teams. The Board considers all the coaches and then ranks them by secret ballot from top to bottom. Naturally, if there are 6 coaches and only enough players for 5 teams, the coach on the bottom of the list does not get a team.
Those coaches (which are selected in late February) then attend try-outs, where they watch the kids and rank them according to whatever system they choose to use. Some coaches develop an elaborate matrix, and some just go by intuition. This criteria is the coaches judgment, the criteria is theirs, and they don't have to share it with anyone.
You might think that most coaches are looking for the stand-out player, and it's true. But one stand-out does not make a team, so there are other non-baseball criteria that most coaches look for, as well. Like, how well does the player pay attention? Is he enthusiastic and teachable? Unfortunately, more than once I have heard a coach say, "I'd really like to have that kid on my team, but I heard his grandmother yell at the umpire last year." Yes, it's true. The way a family member behaves during games can have an effect on a coach's decision to draft a child. Since we can't know a particular coach's criteria, we have no control over that. But it's okay, because draft night evens it all out.
After try-outs, coaches and commissioners meet for a draft. It is run just like any major league sports draft, except the draft order is chosen by lottery, then the draft proceeds. Experienced coaches can tell you that draft night can make or break an entire season. Skilled coaches will know what to look for and how to strategically draft players. They gained that skill on the field, and that's why you will see successful coaches year after year. It's all related.
When drafts are completed, the Commissioner of each league makes a note of which coach drafted the last player. That's for when the inevitable late registration comes in. The team next in line on draft night will get that new player, and so it goes in draft order until all the teams are filled and/or all the late registrations are placed on a team. Occasionally we will get a big group of registrations at once after draft night, and then that 6th coach will get a team.
Once the drafts are made, practices begin. This is a really bad time for your child to be registered late. He missed try-outs, so the coach didn't get a chance to see the player in action. The coach has been denied the opportunity to strategically select your child and include him in part of his overall game plan. Your child might miss the information given out at the first practice. If it's late enough after that, the uniform he receives might be slightly different than his team's.
We know things happen. Those two Saturdays are booked up for you; you just moved here and baseball starts later where you came from; you don't get the paper or you don't have the internet at home. That's why there are so many options for getting the forms: in person, by mail and by internet.
It's doesn't only help the league for you to register early. It helps your child take full advantage of the system designed to provide the best baseball experience for all the kids, no matter what their experience or skill level.
Avoid the rush! Register now!.
Registrations always begin on the first Saturday in February. One year a few years ago we had extremely bad weather on that first Saturday, and hardly anyone showed. So, we held a second chance on the next Saturday. This is the whole reason we now have two Saturday registration opportunities--and the reason the second day could go away. This takes extra time away from the board member's schedules, during a time when many of their kids are playing other sports, but we're happy to make it happen so we can gather as many players as possible, as early as possible.
In addition to the two registration dates in February, the sign-up form is available on the website which you can mail in, and you can pick one up at High-5 Sports in Highland Park and drop it off there as well.
We know some of you are lured by the option of that second Saturday, and it's fine to come on that day! Anyone who waits longer than that, though, is missing some opportunities.. First of all, you won't get to meet and greet all the new and veteran board members or your league commissioner if you don't come on Registration Day. You won't get to ask the questions or make the suggestions that have been burning a hole in your brain since last season. You won't get to try the jersey on your rapidly growing child. And you won't get a donut!
From the Board's perspective, registering early helps us by:
- Providing accurate numbers for proper planning of teams, equipment, photo schedules, etc.
- Gives us a chance to meet prospective coaches more than once (the other time is at the coaches meeting).
- It gives us a chance to make modifications to our budget numbers to allow for lower or higher participation.
- It makes the uniform order more accurate..
First, the guiding philosophy of SSYB is for all the kids to have a great time playing baseball, regardless of their skill level. In order to do that, there cannot be teams full of ringers, or teams who bring in kids from elsewhere so they can dominate the "rec" league. The only fair way to do this is to make the team selection process as fair and unbiased as possible.
Therefore, we draft good coaches first. Any person can put their name in the hat to be a coach in the league. How many coaches get selected in an age group depends on how many players register, which determines the number of teams. The Board considers all the coaches and then ranks them by secret ballot from top to bottom. Naturally, if there are 6 coaches and only enough players for 5 teams, the coach on the bottom of the list does not get a team.
Those coaches (which are selected in late February) then attend try-outs, where they watch the kids and rank them according to whatever system they choose to use. Some coaches develop an elaborate matrix, and some just go by intuition. This criteria is the coaches judgment, the criteria is theirs, and they don't have to share it with anyone.
You might think that most coaches are looking for the stand-out player, and it's true. But one stand-out does not make a team, so there are other non-baseball criteria that most coaches look for, as well. Like, how well does the player pay attention? Is he enthusiastic and teachable? Unfortunately, more than once I have heard a coach say, "I'd really like to have that kid on my team, but I heard his grandmother yell at the umpire last year." Yes, it's true. The way a family member behaves during games can have an effect on a coach's decision to draft a child. Since we can't know a particular coach's criteria, we have no control over that. But it's okay, because draft night evens it all out.
After try-outs, coaches and commissioners meet for a draft. It is run just like any major league sports draft, except the draft order is chosen by lottery, then the draft proceeds. Experienced coaches can tell you that draft night can make or break an entire season. Skilled coaches will know what to look for and how to strategically draft players. They gained that skill on the field, and that's why you will see successful coaches year after year. It's all related.
When drafts are completed, the Commissioner of each league makes a note of which coach drafted the last player. That's for when the inevitable late registration comes in. The team next in line on draft night will get that new player, and so it goes in draft order until all the teams are filled and/or all the late registrations are placed on a team. Occasionally we will get a big group of registrations at once after draft night, and then that 6th coach will get a team.
Once the drafts are made, practices begin. This is a really bad time for your child to be registered late. He missed try-outs, so the coach didn't get a chance to see the player in action. The coach has been denied the opportunity to strategically select your child and include him in part of his overall game plan. Your child might miss the information given out at the first practice. If it's late enough after that, the uniform he receives might be slightly different than his team's.
We know things happen. Those two Saturdays are booked up for you; you just moved here and baseball starts later where you came from; you don't get the paper or you don't have the internet at home. That's why there are so many options for getting the forms: in person, by mail and by internet.
It's doesn't only help the league for you to register early. It helps your child take full advantage of the system designed to provide the best baseball experience for all the kids, no matter what their experience or skill level.
Avoid the rush! Register now!.
In : All Players
Tags: registration sign-ups drafts try-outs uniforms history register
Mostly this blog will be written by me, former president of Siloam Springs Youth Baseball and baseball mom for 20 years and counting. Currently I serve the board of directors as the treasurer, but most of the time I'm just a parent like you.
That's a picture of me in the concession stand with the kid who got me into all this 20 years ago. (This could be you!) He had just told me that there's going to be a second little ball player in his family. That's why we're smiling so wide.
As time goes on, perhaps the new President will start posting stuff on this blog-like page. Mostly we want to make sure you get the information you need. This page will just be a little something extra to go with the new website!
