Travel Baseball
The Three Village Baseball & Softball League Travel Program is designed to provide a positive experience for any player capable and interested in an advanced level of play. This brochure is intended to inform the parents about the program and of the financial and time commitments involved in travel baseball.
TRYOUTS
Tryouts are held at the end of the fall season, usually around the end of September, for all existing teams. Tryouts are advertised in the newspapers, via handouts as well as email blasts. The Coaches chosen for those travel teams and a panel of travel commissioners will conduct the tryouts. The Three Village Baseball Board of Directors must approve all travel committee members and travel coaches.
TRAVEL POLICY
Travel baseball is not for all players. Only those players serious enough to make the commitment, should consider trying out for a team. The league is committed to improving the skills of all players to their maximum capability. The league also makes the commitment to the players that they will play as long as the player/parent lives up to the rules stated by the coaches at the beginning of the season (attending practices, proper attitude, on time for games and practices…) Playing time, and how it is distributed, is decided by the head coach. Playing time is not guaranteed to be fair and equal to all players.
In addition circumstances occur that cannot always be anticipated from game to game. For example, games are sometimes shortened due to inclement weather, the mercy rule, or teams being short players etc.). In these circumstances, the parents and players must understand the situation that the team and coach are in. These instances occur on occasion.
Although it is the intention of the teams to win the games, winning at all costs is not the leagues mandate. Our philosophy is to build championship caliber players, not necessarily championship teams. Hopefully, by developing the players, the winning will take care of itself. However, because of the attempt to win games, this is why all the players are not guaranteed an equal amount of time. The coaching staff has the prerogative to play the players the number of innings they chose as well as in the position(s) best suited for the players and the team.
MANDATORY TRAVEL SEASONS
A player that makes a team is required to play our "Season" which runs from April through August. They are encouraged, but not required (in order to continue to be a member in good standing with that team), to participate in the fall season which includes September and October.
Once a player makes the travel team, he or she cannot be removed from that team until the following year’s tryouts; however, extenuating circumstances may exist however, such as extraordinarily bad behavioral reasons on the part of the parent or player, which could faciliate the removal of the player. In contrast, should a shortage of players occur in the fall season, the coach, with board approval, is permitted to add additional players to the roster without holding a formal tryout, and must have a travel commissioner approve the player.
SEASONS
The travel season runs over the course of two seasons (yearly season
and fall). However, not all teams play in all three seasons.
Main Season
This season is mandatory if the player decides to play travel baseball. The season runs from approximately April 1 through early August, with Winter Clinics starting in early January at an additional fee. They play approximately (17-24) weekend doubleheaders. Game days and practice days will depend on the team, league and division entered and your coaches availability.
Fall (Optional)
The fall season runs from approximately September through the late part of October. They play approximately (7) weekend doubleheaders. Game days and practice days will depend on the team, league and division entered and your coaches availability.
HOW MUCH TRAVEL???
Approximately one-half of the games are played at our home fields:
• Oxhead Road Park, also known as Tom Moody Park
• Murphy JHS
• Gelinas JHS
• North Country Elementary School
• Arrowhead Elementary School
• Percy Raynor Park
• Nicolls Road Field
Approximately half of your games are away. Depending on the league, the away games are usually within Suffolk County or eastern Nassau County. The approximate number of games played for the season depends on the age of the player and the league entered, as follows:
• 8 year-olds play 10-12 games on 60 foot bases with a 42 foot pitchers mound.
• 9 & 10 year-old teams play 14-16 games on 60 foot bases with a 46 foot pitchers mound.
• 11& 12 year old teams play 14-16 games on 75 foot bases with a 51 foot pitchers mound.
• 13 and older teams play approximately 18 to 24 games per season on 90 foot bases on 60’ 6” pitchers mound.
LEAGUES WE PARTICIPATE IN
The Three Village Baseball & Softball League participates in the following travel leagues:
• PAL
• NJBL
• FAB
• Baseball Heaven
• Central Brookhaven Sports Association
• Town of Brookhaven.
ELIGIBILITY
Travel starts with the 8-year-old team (primarily 2nd/3rd graders). When playing in-house baseball we encourage players to play with their grade (with their classmates), however, given the universal birthday rule; when playing travel baseball they must play with the team at their AGE, with the date of attainment of 4/30. There may be some rare circumstances when a player may be able to play “up” with an older age group, but NEVER down” with a younger age group.