Tournament Teams are offered as an opportunity to play additional competitive baseball beyond the regular recreation league season.  All age groups will compete in 4 weekend tournaments during May and June.  Teams are selected based on evaluations which occur over the scheduled evaluation weekend are are mandatory to participate on a team.  Players must register and play in their age as of April 30th, 2010.  Birth certificates will be verified at check-in.  8-year olds players are eligible if they are in the Rookies division based on grade, but will play two years on the 9-year old team. 

2010 Chanhassen Inaugural Baseball Tournament

This event consists of six baseball tournaments spread across two weekends in June; 11-13 and 18-20.  Please see the matrix below for ages and dates.  This is the first time Chanhassen has hosted an event like this.  We plan to make full use of the Lake Ann field complex.  What is even more exciting -  these tournaments have been granted the status of "State Qualifier" which is an endorsement of our association and especially the youth baseball program.  Each tournament will host 8 teams and provide at least 3 games per team.  The winner of each event will be granted a qualifying bid to the state tournament held in July.  

The event will need dozens of volunteers to be a success.  Every parent of a tournament baseball player will be expected to contribute at least 3 hours of volunteer time during one of the weekends.   This volunteer time is seperate from required Little League volunteer hours.  Please look to the website and the CAA leadership for more communication on this exciting opportunity for our community. 
 

In House/Tournament play conflict resolution process

The Chanhassen Youth Baseball program has grown significantly for both in house and tournament play. The league has added more teams at every level of In House and Tournament play. The Board has decided to put additional organizational structure in place to ensure balance the between In house and Tourney baseball.  The structure leverages the existing communication and "Play Up" processes to ensure that players are given opportunities to play competitive baseball.

Our league is based on providing over 800 Children the opportunity to play.  Our foundation is In house play and the balanced structure ensures that In House play takes the ultimate priority.  Leveraging and formalizing the Play-Up process when possible provides players the chance to "play-up" into a higher level of competition in house.  To attract and retain top competitive talent the program has developed a Traveling Tournament Baseball program as an enhancement to the In House program.  Players that participate on the Tournament teams MUST participate on In House teams.  This is a key difference between our program and others in the area.  Tournament Baseball program is self funding and the families of the players pay an extra fee to participate.  The tournaments are held in cities across the metro area and some out state.  There are times when Tournament Play and In House games are scheduled at the same time and a playing conflict exists.

For the 3-4 nights per year where the In house playing record can be effected and that this conflict is possible the board has developed a simple decision tree to guide coaches and parents on player participation.  The decision process involves proactive communication between the In-House and Tourney coaches, with the obligation for the first contact on the Tourney coach.  In almost every case the playing time balance can be reached at this time.  In house teams with multiple tournament players normally make arrangements with the Tournament coach for a player rotation.  This is done in much the same manner as managing pitch counts.  This communication has been ongoing and is effective for most every situation.  This communication between coaches is the primary solution influence for the play conflict.  There is, however,  the possibility that the situation can go unresolved due to coach conflict or parental involvement in the decisions.

If unresolved by the two coaches, or otherwise influenced, and the tourney player will be unavailable for in house play, the In house coach will need to contact the age coordinator for their level of play.  If the player has gone to or participated in tournament games 2 times in the current season over in house player will not be eligible to miss any further in house games for the sake of tournament play.  If not, the age coordinator manages a list of players who are eligible to "play-up" to the next level.  These eligible players are nominated by the in house coach and are normally the most skilled 1-3 players on the team.  The list is continuous and the age coordinator will work down the list to locate an eligible and available player.  The in house coach can not choose the player to play-up.  

If an available and eligible player is located to "play-up" by the age coordinator the in house coach will be notified of the solution.  The tourney coach will be notified that his player is cleared to play in the tournament game.  The "Play Up" process will place a replacement(s) on the in-house squad for that game.  This will provide an excellent experience for the child being called up as well as ensure that the In House team will field a team of at least 9 players.

If an available and eligible player(s) is not available for "play-up" opportunities, and if the In House team is facing a forfeit situation for lack of players, both coaches will be notified that the tourney player(s) must play in house for that event.

At no point will Tourney play be permitted to put the In House team in a position of forfeit.

The league age coordinators will ensure that the process is fairly administered and teams have enough players to fulfill in house obligations.  If the age coordinators have questions the league player agent will assist.  

If the parent of the tourney player decides to ignore the decision process of the league and takes their player to the tourney game despite being advised to the contrary, the first circumstance will mean that player will not play in the event whatsoever.  The second incident will result in the player being asked to leave the team for the balance of the season.  

Tournament Coaches that disregard the policy and play the ineligible tournament player will be relieved for the rest of the tournament season.

(Board approved 5/23/10)