Why does the season start so early?
There is a lot of planning and preparation that goes into properly setting up all the divisions. Tryouts in many divisions have to take place, then rosters have to be set, uniforms/equipment have to be ordered and schedules have to be made.
When does the season begin?
Please check the calendar on our website page for the exact league dates and events. Typically, the season begins on March 1st for practices and extends until end of May for league play and into June for playoffs and All-Star tournaments. Our Opening Day event kicks off the first game of the season.
How long will the season last?
Regular games usually last from March through May and may include the first week of June for the upper levels. Division playoffs or Tournaments (AA, AAA and Majors) begin as soon as the regular games end.
When will I find out what team my child will play on?
All teams should be formed by the end of February. Your childs' manager will receive his equipment, uniforms and schedule around the third week in February. At that time, he will contact his players to arrange a team meeting. If you don't hear from a team manager by then, please contact a league official. Just a reminder that we have many kids but too few volunteer manager/coaches. If we do not get enough volunteers, then we will be forced to turn away kids.
Can my child be placed on a team with one of their friends?
WINSDOR BASEBALL allows friends to request to be placed on the same team together only in Rookie Ball. In Minor A to Minor AA divisions, a request may be made but there is no guarantee that it will be approved. Players are distributed based on their age and ratings in a balanced process to form teams. In the AAA and Major divisions, there are absolutely NO requests due to the player selection process of the draft. The upper division teams are created using a balanced draft process that helps to promote even and competitive teams
When will practices begin?
WINDSOR BASEBALL targets March 1st for all teams to start practicing. The goal is for teams to be in a position to practice at least 3-4 weeks before regular season games begin, however, Opening Day can vary from year to year depending on Easter holiday and/or local school holidays.
Where are WINDSOR BASEBALL games played?
WINDSOR BASEBALL utilizes several town fields and one school location. Rookie level is played at Lakewood Park (behind Safeway), and at Uchytil field located in Keiser Park; Minor A is played at Esposti Park (small diamond), Minor AA is played at Bertozzi field in Keiser Park, Minor AAA is played at Mattie Washburn School, east field and Majors is played at Mattie Washburn school, west field named "Castillo" field. The large soccer field at Keiser park is available for practices weeknights as scheduled by the League Scheduler.
What days and times are the games played?
All teams are scheduled for at least one game per week and one game on Saturday, while the Majors level may have two games a week plus Saturday. Weekday games start at 5:30 for everyone. Saturday game times are based on the number of teams per division to ensure that every team has a game.
Who umpires WINDSOR BASEBALL games?
WINDSOR BASEBALL uses a combination of parent volunteers and paid umpires. In Rookie and Minor A, coaches manage the flow of the game. Parent volunteers are used exclusively in Minor AA and AAA; however, paid umpires may be used in AAA for end of season playoffs. As of 2009, paid umpire were used in Majors and we will continue this practice in 2010 however, parent volunteers will still be the backbone of umpiring our games. We recommend that a parent from each family attend at least the basic umpiring clinic as we have found that at some point in your child's baseball experience, you will be called upon to help umpire, particularly in the younger levels. So why not learn what it involved?
Click HERE if interested in umpiring
What equipment will my child need before the first practice or game?
Players should arrive at their first practice with a glove and rubber molded cleats (many young kids have soccer shoes which are acceptable for baseball). A baseball bag is recommended to transport bats, batting gloves, water bottles, hats, and other items. We recommend that younger players write their name and phone number on glove and equipment bag. Too often they have been left behind with no way to identify or return to owner. Also, the weather during March can change quickly when the sun goes down so layering clothing is recommended. A sweater or jacket is fine.
Are there any uniform supplies my child needs?
WINDSOR BASEBALL will provide each player a hat and jersey. Due to individual fittings, players need to provide their own pants, belt, and socks. The hat is the players to keep no matter what level of play. Jerseys may be kept in Rookie, Minor A and AA. Jersey's in AAA, Majors and Babe Ruth must be returned at the end of the season. These jerseys are more expensive as they were purchased for their longevity. The jerseys don't provide much warmth, so it is a good idea to purchase a long-sleeve baseball undershirt or under armor to match the color of your child's team. When your team meets for the first time, your manager will provide more specifics as to the shirt and pant colors. All players should bring a windbreaker, jacket or sweatshirt to every game and practice, especially early in the season.
A quality leather glove is a must for all players. We do not recommend purchasing vinyl or simulated leather gloves as they may be cheeper, but tend to cause the player a great deal of frustration. It is impossible to form a pocket so that the ball tends to pop out when the player attempts to catch it. (Click HERE for size recommendation.)
Rubber cleats are recommended for all Cal Ripken players. No steal spikes are allowed in Cal Ripken!
If my child is unhappy with the team they are placed on, can they switch teams?
Only in extreme cases does the league allow children to switch teams after the teams have been formed. Such requests must be made in writing (email is acceptable) to Player Rep. Approval requires extenuating circumstances, so any request is highly unlikely to be approved, and in most cases we will ask the player to remain with their team. Team balance is established early on, and changes of this type are difficult i fnot impossible to implement without upsetting the balance that has been established.
If my child decides to quit, is it possible to get a refund?
Please see our Fee Structure HERE which discusses refunds.
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Can I keep my child down in a lower division or bring him/her up a division a year early?
WINDSOR BASEBALL strongly supports age appropriate competition and development. WINDSOR BASEBALL does not allow players to move up a division early or to play down a division to develop additional skills wihtout approval from the VP or Director of Baseball and/or the division Player Agent. The only time an adjustment may be made is when there is a safety risk to the player playing in their age appropriate division. At that time, a parent request needs to be made to the Player Agent who will forward to the Director of Baseball. In most cases, moving up is dependent on available age openings and number of teams.
Are there rules about minimum playing time?
Rules will vary per division regarding playing time. In Rookies, all players will bat and play the field. In Minor A and AA, continuous batting is followed, however, rotation of players into and out of the game is also regulated. Please see Cal Ripken / Babe Ruth tab above for specific rules for each division.
Will I have to participate in any fundraising?
WINDSOR BASEBALL relies primarily on the generosity of our sponsors. Registration fees have been constant for many years due to the support of our sponsors. However, it is not unreasonable that in some years, a league-wide fundraiser may be necessary. At that time, all teams are expected to participate.
Who do I contact if I have a problem that needs to be resolved by the league?
If at any time you have a problem or just want information, you can e-mail the league. Please discuss concerns with your child's manager or coach first; then with the Player Rep if you still need satisfaction. Player Reps will contact the league Player Agent if the matter is of a serious nature. The BOD will not discuss these issues until they have first been reviewed by the Player Rep and Player Agent.
Contact information is on the WINDSOR BASEBALL website under the "League" tab. We meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at Round Table Pizza at 7:30pm. We follow an agenda so you will only be allowed 2-5 minutes at the start of the meeting to air any non-manager/coach issues. Please double-check the calendar as we do cut back to once a month once the season is underway.
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