Travelling
Program Structure and Philosophy
Traveling Baseball/Softball is offered for those individuals who are interested in competing at a higher level. It requires a greater commitment, in that each participant is expected to attend all practices and weekend tournaments. Teams will typically have two practices per week, and play in 30 or more games during the season. The Chanhassen Baseball/Softball travelling programs utilize the following associations for travelling purposes.
www.mbl.bz/ www.suburbanleaguemn.com/
Baseball:
In ages 13-15, we offer a Metro travelling program where we bring more focus on competition and developing skills. Traveling teams are formed of our best players to compete with the best players from other communities in the metro area. Our goals are improvement in team and individual skills, emphasizing teamwork, equitable participation required, and exemplary sportsmanship. If number of participants dictates, we form multiple teams per age level, with an A-B-C.
Softball:
In ages 10-16, we offer a travelling program through the Suburban League. A focus on competition and developing skills will be strongly emphasized. Traveling teams are formed of our best players to compete with the best players from other communities in the metro area. Our goals are improvement in team and individual skills, emphasizing teamwork, equitable participation required, and exemplary sportsmanship. If number of participants dictates, we form multiple teams per age level, with an A-B-C.
Tryouts
Tryouts for Traveling Teams are held in late September/early October. Independent evaluators from .................. will conduct tryouts. Each tryout group will be evaluated in two sessions – please plan to attend both sessions for your group. Tryouts are mandatory. Not attending all of the scheduled tryouts could affect your placement. Failure to attend any of the tryouts will eliminate you from taking part in the Traveling Program. All teams are final once they are posted. Players are assigned to a team based on the skill and performance level determined by the tryout staff, as well as evaluations from previous seasons. All decisions by the tryout staff are final. All players who try out may not be selected to a traveling team. We may need to cut players to obtain the proper roster size. Players cut will have the opportunity to play in-house programs within Chanhassen Baseball/Softball or Chaska Area Youth Baseball.
Players who have registered for tryouts and cannot participate due to an injury or illness will be excused upon delivery of a doctor's note describing the player's limitations. Players excused due to injury or illness must present a signed doctor's release indicating that the player is medically fit before they will be allowed to participate in any Chanhassen Athletic Association activities. Players who miss the scheduled tryout sessions due to illness or injury will be assigned to a team based on the player's past playing experience. The tryout staff and the Chanhassen Athletic Association Baseball/Softball Board will determine this, with input from past coaches.
Teams
Each team will play a regular season schedule. Additionally, approximately 4 weekend tournaments will be played in. Recognizing that individuals will have different skills and needs, a positive environment will be created to foster contribution, accomplishment, confidence and a feeling of self-worth in all players. Each participant will be treated fairly and know they are an important part of the team. All contributions are valued. In turn, players must make the Chanhassen Baseball/Softball team they are placed on their sports priority for the season. Equal playing time is required and enforced, however coaches are afforded a degree of latitude to temporarily reduce time for players who display a distinct lack of commitment to the team. Coaches are required to communicate the specific reasons for time reduction to the player and parents in a respectful manner, and to work with the player to help rectify the situation quickly. Coaches must keep the respective Baseballl/Softball Director of Traveling informed of any reduced time situations.
Emphasis is on skill development, teamwork, cooperation, sportsmanship and respect for others. Winning is not the primary focus, however, competing and striving to win are emphasized at a minimum the following travel team opportunities:
Travelling Association Policy
In order to remain a traveling baseball association in good standing in the state of Minnesota, CAA Baseball/Softball adheres to Metro Baseball (MBL) Traveling Baseball Guidelines and Suburban League. These guidelines can be found by visiting www.mbl.bz and ........
Renegade Teams Policy
Chanhassen Baseball/Softball will not support Renegade Teams with equipment or field time, nor approve or support Renegade Teams in any State Tournament. A Renegade Team as defined by Chanhassen Baseball/Softball is a person or team that did not initially try out for a Chanhassen Baseball/Softball Travelling Team, or is not playing on an In-House team. This policy pertains to participants in ages 13-15 for Baseball and 10-16 for Softball.
Program Goals
• Provide effective, high quality training for players and coaches at all levels.
• Provide programs that are cooperative with, and respected by, other community programs.
• Strive to create a fun and entertaining environment for the players, families, coaches and community.
• Seek to maximize the potential of every player in the program.
• Develop players and teams that are able to compete at a top level.
• Encourage and foster player participation for the full length of a player's youth sports career.
• Foster the importance of teamwork and the understanding that all team members play an integral part in the success of the team.
• Promote skill development and create a positive self-esteem for every player.
• Display exemplary sportsmanship always.
• Provide effective, high quality training for players and coaches at all levels.
• Provide programs that are cooperative with, and respected by, other community programs.
• Strive to create a fun and entertaining environment for the players, families, coaches and community.
• Seek to maximize the potential of every player in the program.
• Develop players and teams that are able to compete at a top level.
• Encourage and foster player participation for the full length of a player's youth sports career.
• Foster the importance of teamwork and the understanding that all team members play an integral part in the success of the team.
• Promote skill development and create a positive self-esteem for every player.
• Display exemplary sportsmanship always.
Extra Player
If a team needs an extra player due to a schedule conflict, sickness or injury, the player must come from within the Chanhassen Baseball/Softball Association. The head coach has the option to select the player, pending the approval of the Director of Traveling and Director of Baseball or Softball. The coach will select from the next level down in the same age group. If no one is available, they are then allowed to proceed to the next age group down, or to Chanhassen Baseball/Softball In-House. The Chanhassen Baseball/Softball Board must be notified when any use of this policy is put in place.
Fees & Expenses
The registration fee is $395 for traveling. It must be paid in full before trying out for a team. A refund will be made if you do not make a team. Additional expenses may include extra tournament fees, and travel costs to and from games.
Registration
Registration for youth baseball is held between December and March. The preferred registration method is online at www.chanhassenathleticassociation.com. Flyers are available through the schools and the Chanhassen Recreation Center.
Refunds
Refunds if necessary can be obtained by contacting the program coordinator.
• Full refund prior to first tryout.
• If you attend any or all of the tryouts and then decide not to participate, you will be charged a $30 administrative fee.
• No refunds if program has started (once tryouts are completed and teams are posted), due to uniform and administration costs.
• Full refund prior to first tryout.
• If you attend any or all of the tryouts and then decide not to participate, you will be charged a $30 administrative fee.
• No refunds if program has started (once tryouts are completed and teams are posted), due to uniform and administration costs.
Travelling Coach Selection Process
Anyone interested in coaching a team must check the appropriate area on the registration form. In the event that there are multiple people interested in being the head coach, the CAA Baseball/Softball Board will evaluate the candidates on their commitment to coaching, previous coaching experience, knowledge of the game, and coaching philosophy to select the head coach. The head coach and Chanhassen Baseball/Softball Board will select assistant coaches based on the same criteria. Selection criteria includes at a minimum the following items:
• Previous youth coaching experience, including feedback from prior seasons.
• Knowledge of the game of baseball
• Ability to teach players of all skill levels.
• Attendance and active participation in coach and player clinics.
• Ability to represent CAA with the utmost respect and sportsmanship.
• Ability to provide positive reinforcement to players in both practices and game situations.
• This must be the coaches’ top priority and only traveling team.
• Attendance and active participation in coach and player clinics.
• Ability to represent CAA with the utmost respect and sportsmanship.
• Ability to provide positive reinforcement to players in both practices and game situations.
• This must be the coaches’ top priority and only traveling team.