URA 2022 Tournament Baseball Information   

URA Baseball Tournament Program Document  - 2022 (below)  11/21/2021
 
Mission Statement
- The mission of the URA Baseball Tournament Program is to develop our advanced athletes by teaching them the higher level skills of the game and ensuring that they are having fun while playing the game with the utmost respect and sportsmanship. Our goal is to empower and develop our athletes to be not only amazing baseball players, but to also be amazing members of our community. The success of our Program will be based solely on the retention rate of our athletes from year to year.

Timeline  
- There are no organized baseball activities from November until the new season begins in March. This excludes tryouts.

- November
- Coaching nominations are collected.
- December
- New head coaches will be voted on.
- January and February
- No organized baseball activities.
- March
- Tryouts can begin.
- April
- Tryouts continue, or mandatory team activities begin, if the team is chosen.
- May
- Final team roster must be picked by May 1st.
- Mandatory practices, scrimmages and local tournaments/leagues continue.
- Mandatory tournament weekends include Memorial Day.
- June
- Mandatory practices, scrimmages and local tournaments/leagues continue.
- The District Tournament is at the end of June.
- July
- Mandatory practices, scrimmages and local tournaments/leagues continue. - The State Tournament is in July.
- August
- August is free of baseball activities, with the possible exception of the Cooperstown Tournament for the 12U program.
- During August, the head coaches will develop their fall ball program.
- September and October
- Voluntary Fall Ball Program.

Events
- Mandatory Events
- These are defined as practices or games that full-time players must attend.
- Mandatory events are tracked towards a player’s District/State team eligibility % (see below for eligibility requirements).
- Coaches must hold a minimum of 10 mandatory events between April 1st and the start of the District tournament.

- Practice
- Practices will be no longer than 2 hours.
- Teams can hold mandatory practices one day per week, starting in April.
- During the rec season, no more than 1 mandatory practice per week can be held.
- At the conclusion of rec, and before Districts begin, teams may hold up to three mandatory practices per week.
- If a team qualifies for States, at the conclusion of Districts, and before States begin, teams may hold up to three mandatory practices per week. -

- SEPTBA/League Play
- Teams are strongly encouraged to play in the SEPTBA spring league. This is played on Sundays in April.
- Note, if the coach would like to play in a different league, they must present their idea to the board for approval.
- If a coach doesn’t want to play in any spring league, he must present this to the board for approval.
- These games will be mandatory events.

- Spring/Summer Tournaments
- Teams may play in up to 4 mandatory tournaments from the conclusion of the rec season until July 31t.
- There will be no tournaments played during the rec season or the SEPTBA spring season.
- It will be at the Head Coach’s discretion as to whether the team plays in any tournaments between the end of the rec season and the District tournament.
- If a team does not qualify for States, they will play in 2-3 tournaments during the time period between Districts and July 31st.
- If a team does qualify for States, it will be at the Head Coach’s discretion as to whether the team plays in any tournaments from the end of Districts until the start of States.
- If a team plays in States, it will be at the Head Coach’s discretion as to whether the team plays in any tournaments between States and July 31.

- District Tournament
- (8U up to 12U) teams are required to compete in the District Tournament.

- State Tournament
- All teams that qualify are required to compete in the State Tournament.

- Fall Ball
- During the month of August, the Head Coach will reach out to their team and determine how many of their players are interested in playing in the fall. If needed, they will invite Select Team or Practice Players to participate in order to field a fall ball team of 10-12 players.
- The fall season is included in the player’s registration.
- The fall season will be optional but highly encouraged.
- It will consist of up to one practice per week and one SEPTBA game each week.
- If a coach would like to play in a different league or enter additional tournaments, they should send their plan to the board for approval.

Coaches - Expectations, Nominations, Selection Process, and Term
- Expectations
- It is expected that our coaches follow and promote the mission of the Program.
- Our coaches must be the gold standard for what is expected out of our Program.
- It is expected that our coaches nurture the player’s love and respect for the game of baseball.
- It is expected that our coaches teach our athletes how to be great sportsmen, great members of our community, and great baseball players.
- All coaches must participate in a minimum of 3 hours of URA provided training and education.
- Head Coach Nominations
- Nominations can be submitted by any member of the URA baseball community.
- One nomination per age group per family will be honored.
- If the candidate declines your nomination, you may nominate another.
- Self-nominations are not allowed.
- Note, the coach does not have to be a URA rec coach to be nominated.
- Official nominations must be sent to the URA Tournament Program Director, [email protected], before November 15th.
- The URA Tournament Director will reach out to the nominated coach to confirm their nomination. Note, the nominee may decline the request.
- Head Coach Selection Process
- The following individuals will have a vote in the selection process.
- Each rec head coach for that age group.
- Families of players on the prior year’s age group team (1 vote per family).
- Each member of the URA Tournament Program Board.
- The nominee with the most votes earns the position.
- Assistant Coaches
- The head coach may select their assistant coaches, as they see fit, upon completion of team selection. Note, assistant coaches do not need to have a player on the team.
- Each team will carry at least 1 but no more than 3 assistant coaches.
- Term
- The term of all of the coaches will run from December 15th through October 31st of the following calendar year.
- Note, a coach may elect to step down after July 31st and appoint a new head coach for the fall season. The new head coach must be approved by the board.

Players - Age, Expectations, Selection Process, and Term
- Age Requirements
- URA follows the Cal Ripken Baseball age requirements.
- Player’s may tryout for a team older than their age group.
- If they do so and make the team, they may only play on that team.
- If they do not make the team, they may play on the age-appropriate team, provided that they attend at least one of the tryout dates for that team and they were selected by the coach.
- Expectations
- It is expected that our players love and respect the game of baseball.
- It is expected that our players will hustle and give their best and full effort at every URA Tournament Team event.
- It is expected that our players follow and promote the mission of the program.
- We are looking for the top 10-12 players per team at each age level in skill, attitude, and effort.
- It is expected that our players show up to events with the proper uniform and equipment. If they do not, they will not be allowed to participate. - Example. If a player shows up to a tournament without his team issued hat, he will not play.
- Roster Selection Process
- If applicable, the child of the Head Coach is granted a full time roster spot.
- Each age group must hold two official tryouts before April 20th.
- Both tryout dates must be published to the entire URA Baseball community.
- Players must attend at least one of the tryouts to be considered for the team. They may attend both.
- The Head Coach must attend each tryout. URA will provide at least one other evaluator.
- An evaluation of each player must be conducted and recorded at both tryouts.
- The Head Coach is responsible for managing evaluations at all levels and sending results to the Tournament Team Director.
- The Head Coach will submit a recommended roster to the Tournament Program Board, along with the evaluation results.
- The Tournament Program Board will review the recommendations and following discussion with the Head Coach, approve the roster by majority vote.
- The Head Coach will contact each family that did not make the team and provide them with feedback on why they didn’t make the team along with suggestions for improvements. A player’s evaluation scores will be provided to his/her family upon request.
- A fee may be required from each player to cover the costs of the tryout.
- The final roster must be confirmed by May 1st.
- Term
- The term of each player will be from May 1st to October 31st.

Rosters
- Full Time Players
- Each team will carry up to 10-12 full time players.
- Full time players must attend every practice, game, tournament, district and state event.
- Full time players must play in at least 2 innings defensively and be included in the starting batting lineup for every non-district and non-state game.
- For district and state games, playing time will be solely at the coaches’ discretion.
- The cost for full time players will be $460. This includes the above-mentioned practices, games, tournaments, district games, state games, fall practices, fall league, a jersey, and a hat.

- Select Team & Practice Players
- If numbers allow, every effort will be made to develop a Select Team
- In the event that there are not enough players to form a Select Team, each Head Coach may carry an additional 8 practice players. This is strongly encouraged. - Practice players will be invited to every team practice.
- At the discretion of the coach, Select Team or practice players may be invited to additional games, tournaments, district and state events.
- The cost for Select Team players will be $460. This includes everything that is included for Full Time players.
- The cost for practice players will be $150. This includes only practice time. If practice players want to purchase a jersey and a hat, that will be separate and optional. But note, if they do not purchase a jersey and a hat, they will not be allowed to play in any games or tournaments.

District/State Team Eligibility
- In order for a player to be eligible for the District/State team, a player must play in at least 50% of the games during the rec season.
- In order for a player to be eligible for the District/State team, they must have attended at least 70% of the team’s mandatory events.
- Note, this will go up to 90% in 2023.
- This means that coaches must be tracking attendance.
- It is recommended that the coach appoint someone on the team to help with this.
- The coach must report any potential ineligible players to the Tournament Team Director at least 15 days before the district tournament.

Conduct and Penalties
- We will hold our coaches, players, and parents/guardians to the highest standards of respect and sportsmanship both on and off of the field.
- At its sole discretion, the Tournament Board may use a Board vote at any time to alter or amend the below penalties.
- Coaches
- Conduct
- Coaches MUST demonstrate behavior that upholds the mission of the program.
- Coaches are required to wear team issued attire to all URA tournaments and games.
- At no time on or off of the field should a coach verbally confront or assault an umpire, another coach, spectator, player, or parent.
- At no time should a coach knowingly break any league or tournament rule.
- At no time, unless due to an injury or emergency, should a coach ever leave a game or tournament.
- At no time should a coach put a player at injury risk.
- At no time should a coach ever be ejected from a game.
 - Penalties
- If a coach is ejected from any game in which they represent URA Baseball (rec, tournaments, SEPTBA districts, Cooperstown, etc) they will immediately lose their position as a tournament team coach. In addition, if applicable, their child will be disqualified from playing in the next game. The coach will be placed on a one-year probationary period from all URA baseball activities. They then must go in front of the URA Baseball Tournament Board to request reinstatement.
- If a coach in any way demonstrates behavior that does not uphold the mission or conduct policy of the URA Baseball Tournament Program on or off of the field, the coach will go in front of the board. The board will determine if the coach is to be suspended for a minimum of one game and maximum of one year. If so, their child, if applicable, will be suspended for one game. At the end of the suspension, the coach will go in front of the board to request reinstatement.
- Players
- Conduct
- Players MUST demonstrate behavior that upholds the mission of the program.
- At no time on or off of the field should a player verbally confront or assault an umpire, coach, spectator, player, or parent.
- At no time should a player ever use derogatory language. - At no time should a player ever throw equipment.
- At no time, unless due to an injury or emergency, should a player ever leave a game or tournament.
- Players are required to wear their team issued hat and jersey to all URA tournaments and games.
- Penalties
- If a player is ejected from any game in which they represent URA baseball, the player will be suspended from a minimum of his next 1 tournament game and immediately put on probation from all URA baseball activities. The player and his parents will then go in front of the board to request reinstatement. The board will determine if the player is allowed to rejoin his team, or if their season is over.
- If a player in any way demonstrates behavior on or off of the field that does not uphold the mission or conduct policy of the URA Baseball Tournament Program, the player and their parents will go in front of the URA Baseball Tournament Board. The URA Baseball Tournament Board will make the decision if the player should be suspended for a minimum of 1 tournament game, or if their season is over.
- Parents/Guardians
- Conduct
- Parents/Guardians MUST demonstrate behavior that upholds the mission of the program.
- At no time on or off of the field should a parent/guardian verbally confront or assault an umpire, coach, spectator, player, or parent.
- At no time should a parent ever be ejected from a game.
- Penalties
- If a parent is ejected from any game in which they represent URA Baseball (rec, tournaments, districts, Cooperstown, etc) they will immediately be suspended from attending any additional URA sanctioned events . In addition, if applicable, their child will be disqualified from playing in the next tournament game. The parent will be placed on a one-year probationary period from all URA baseball activities. They then must go in front of the URA Baseball Tournament Board to request reinstatement.
- If a parent in any way demonstrates behavior that does not uphold the mission or conduct policy of the URA Baseball Tournament Program on or off of the field, the parent will go in front of the board. The board will determine if the parent is to be suspended for a minimum of 1 tournament game. If so, their child, if applicable, will be suspended for one game. At the end of the suspension, the parent will go in front of the board to request reinstatement.
- Conflict Resolution
- Chain of Escalation
- The player or parent should first talk to the Head Coach about the issue.
- If a satisfactory result is not obtained, the player or parent should email the Tournament Program Director, [email protected].
 - Reporting
- If a player, parent or coach would like to report any issues that violate the mission or conduct policy of the program, they should email the Tournament Program Director, [email protected].
- Documentation
- When filing a complaint of violation, documentation is critical.
- Video is the best method of documentation.
- Eyewitness accounts would be the next best means of support.
- It is difficult for the board to help remedy any situation without understanding the full picture of what occurred.
- 24 Hour Rule
- If a parent has a problem with something that happened in a game, they must wait 24 hours before contacting the coach about it. If this is not followed, the head coach does not need to respond.
- Financial Operation
- All players will pay their registration fee directly to URA Baseball. Coaches and parents will NOT collect any income.
- Coaches will submit expense or reimbursement requests to the URA Treasurer. The only allowable requests must fall within a budget item listed above.
- Coaches may submit a budget change or additional request for something not on the current budget. The board will vote on all such requests.