TRYOUT DETAILS

HYAA has 2 days of tryouts as part of the process. HYAA brings in outside evaluators (Hastings Hawks and Hastings High School Coaching Staff) to rate skillsets of the participants.  The list of tryout drills is provided below.

• Hitting
• Infield(Fielding, Throwing, Mechanics)
• Outfield(Fielding, Throwing, Mechanics)

HYAA ask coaches to participate in tryouts to help with the drills and to see skillsets of potential bubble players.  We allow coaches to take notes as they see players but they are not part of the overall evaluation score. 

If for any reason we are limited to 1 day of tryouts, it is up to the Travel Baseball Director to make team decisions based on 1 day of scores if needed due to MBL Team Formation deadline.

INJURY / ILLNESS ABSENCE

A player who has registered for tryouts and cannot participate due to an injury or illness will be excused, prior to the start of the tryout session, upon delivery of a doctor's note describing the player's limitations.  A player excused due to injury or illness must present a signed doctor's release indicating that the player is medically fit before he/she will be allowed to participate in any HYAA activity.  A player who misses the scheduled tryout due to injury/illness is still eligible to be selected to a team, but not guaranteed a spot.  A player must register and present a medical waiver to the Director prior to tryouts.

Waivers due to injury, Illness or other:  The travel director will acknowledge a waiver of player to be placed on a travel team due to injury, illness or other verifiable reason.  The waiver process will consist of previous evaluations and the discussion with the player's former coaches for a suggested level of play for the upcoming.

PLAYER IDENTIFICATION

Each player will be identified by a number assigned at the tryout sessions. Players must not wear ANY clothing from a Club team. Failure to comply will result in the player not being evaluated.

PLAYER EVALUATION

Every players baseball skills will be evaluated by a team of impartial evaluators provided by HYAA. The evaluators will be people who are known to possess the knowledge necessary to evaluate a players skill at a particular level.  The evaluation scores will be the primary basis used to select the players for each traveling team.  Age level coaches will act as tryout assistants however will be instructed NOT to talk to the players or the evaluators during the tryout.

PLAYER SELECTION

Players will be placed on a team based upon their own merits (skills, athletic ability, hustle, enthusiasm, and coach ability)  If players have played on a previous years team, their prior commitment, character and parent issues may also be considered. No player will be placed on a team over a more deserving candidate because he/she has previously played on a traveling team. Each team will consist of 10-14 players.  The highest ranking 8 players based on the evaluators scores and their own merit will qualify for the AAA team.  The Provisional Coach then has the discretion to fill out the roster from the remaining top 6 ranked players. 

AA and A teams be will selected equally based on the evaluators scores and player histories in a player “draft” format so if we have 2 A teams, we want to ensure they are even like ability teams.

Metro Baseball is the organization that the Traveling Baseball program plays under. There are rules that must be followed for each age group as determined by the league. These rules can be found on their website here. More information can be found on Metro Baseball's website.

Players must be in the 3rd grade to play Traveling Baseball. Traveling Baseball has divisions for 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U, 13U, 14U, 15U, 16U(VFW), and 18U (Legion). Players will try-out with other players in their grade or birth year unless they are too old to play with that age group and must play the level they registered for unless approved by Travel Director. See the Traveling Baseball Age Requirements table below for exceptions. The exception are 2nd graders who play at the 9AA level.

The Traveling Director has the final approval on kids playing at all levels and may ask kids to move up in order to make numbers work.

EXCEPTIONS:

a) Players in their respective age groups must not reach the next age before May 1.

Example ... If a player in 7th grade is 14 years old on or before May 1, that player must play in the 14U division.

b) Players born after May 1st may choose between playing with their grade or playing with their birth year.

Example... If a player in 7th grader turns 13 after May 1st he may elect to play at the 12U level or with his grade which would be the 13U level.

Teams are divided into three classes: AAA, AA, and A. The AAA class competes at the highest possible level of play. Players selected to play at the AAA level are focused, have good attitudes, already have good knowledge of the game, and can compete with other players at this level. Players selected to play the the AA level should also be focused and have good attitudes, but could benefit by not playing at the AAA level at this time. Players in the A level still compete to the best of their abilities, but are not ready to compete at the higher levels.

Coaches for the AAA teams may be picked before the try-outs, pending on their player making that team but not guarenteed as its all based on the players past team selections. Coaches for the AA and A teams may be selected prior to try-outs, if the coach does not have a player trying out for that age group. Otherwise, coaches are selected after the try-outs with Head Coaches picked. HYAA then lets the head coach pick his staff to ensure all coaches get along. If you are interesting in coaching, please fill out the coaching forms and disclosure form at registration.

Players that drop after March 1st WILL NOT be eligible for a refund if they are not injured. Players that get hurt after March 1st and cant compete in the upcoming season will be given a refund based on what percentage of the season is left(less than 50% than no refund) is left minus the program fee and uniform cost. 

The coach will determine when and how often the team will practice. Players are expected to make practices. Players need to contact their coach when they cannot make a practice or game.

Coaches will provide a game schedule. Game schedules and results are also kept on the web at Metro Baseball Leagues website. Follow the links on the page.

Parents are responsible for getting players to the games. Try to carpool with other families when you cannot get your child to the game. Please don't rely on the coach to get your player to the game.

Each team will be reimbursed one tournament, up to $400,  included in the HYAA fee. Additional tournaments will be scheduled at the teams expense. Tournament plans will be posted as soon as available. Teams that qualify for MBT state tournament will also have the tournament fee paid for by HYAA. Gate fees are an additional team fee. Please note HYAA does not pay for MBT if the team does not qualify and all fees for Gopher and MSF are the responsibility of the team even with an earned bid.

Every team makes the play-offs at the end of the season. Please try to schedule your vacations after the play-off season, so that there are enough players to participate in playoffs.

Players, coaches, parents, and spectators are expected to follow the HYAA Code Of Conduct. If any issues arise, please inform the traveling director during the season.