Dear SYC Baseball Parents and Players,
Over the past several years we have seen the number of teams in the
Susquehanna Travel league decline steadily. This is due to the rapid increase of
tournament baseball teams in local areas, AAU teams other sports options for
kids.
To encourage Southern York County youth to play baseball for their local district
a new policy will be put in place for the 2011 – 2012 Baseball Season.
1. Any player who has played with any travel or tournament team other than
SYC or Ruffnecks may not be eligible to return to SYC Travel or Fall Baseball for
1 year upon their leaving their other team. They will be welcome to play in the
SYC intramural division.
2. Parents involved with any team other than SYC or Ruffnecks will forfeit any
rights to coach or assist for SYC baseball, either intramural, Fall ball, or in the
Travel division.
3. Players returning to SYC in the 13 – 16 age group will be allowed to come to
evaluations for an SYC team, however, they will only be placed on a team if
spots are not taken by players who have been committed to SYC baseball the
previous season.
Our hope is that this policy encourages our youth to remain loyal to SYC so that
we can continue to meet the needs of all our athletes in the future.
All parents are welcome to come to a baseball committee meeting to ask
for early reinstatement.
SYC Baseball Committee meetings are held on the 2nd Sunday of every month at
the Windy Hill Building
Southern York County (SYC) Baseball has always been committed to providing
an environment of competitive baseball while teaching the values and respect
required for team sports. Baseball players in the SYC program are afforded the
opportunity to compete at several different levels that match their development
and age. SYC will select teams based on a tryout format to ensure the fair
selection of teams, and to create teams that can compete as a representative of
SYC in the York County Travel League.
York County Travel Teams – The teams participating in the York Country
Susquehanna Travel Baseball League will represent the SYC Organization while
playing teams from towns around York County. The concept of the travel league
is to match the higher skilled and committed players in a higher level of
competition. This is a 16 game schedule with eight games on SYC fields, eight
games at fields around York County, and a one week end of season
Championship Tournament. Teams will be selected after tryouts are held in early
March. A travel team committee will select the players who demonstrate a skill
level appropriate for the travel league. Fees for the travel teams are the same
as the in-house team fees.
See attached list of rules, expectations, and responsibilities for Travel Baseball.
SYC In-house League – (age 12 and under) Teams participating in the SYC Inhouse League will play a 10 game schedule against other SYC in-house teams
played on SYC fields. In addition, an end of season round-robin playoff for all
teams that will involve as many as 5 games. Teams will be selected by coaches
in a draft format from the remaining players after the selection of the travel
teams.
There is no in-house league for players 13 years or older. Only travel teams are
available.
Ruffnecks Tournament Baseball – The Mason Dixon Ruffnecks is a
tournament team that consists of players from around York County and Northern
Maryland. There will be teams formed in several age groups including 14u, 13u,
12u, 11u, 10u, and 9u. This is an optional team outside the SYC In-house/Travel
programs for players interested in playing additional games in weekend
tournaments and a Sunday only league in Maryland. For interested players
around the area, tryouts are held to select players qualified to play at a higher
level of baseball. The 12u team will participate in a week long tournament at AllStar Village in Cooperstown, NY. For information regarding Ruffneck Baseball,
see attached handout or contact Chad Farmer via email at CDF1296@aol.com.
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The Ruffneck budget will be a separate budget under the SYC organization. Costs for
players to play Ruffnecks will vary for each age group.
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Tryouts for all Ruffneck teams will be advertised in the local newspaper. Players from
SYC and other organizations are eligible to tryout for this SYC teams.
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Non-SYC players who play on the Ruffnecks will be charged a fee to cover insurance and
field maintenance costs.
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All teams will be selected based on the best available players.
Below describes, by age group, how SYC Spring/Summer Baseball is structured
and the opportunities available to any player interested in competing:
Age 9 to 10 (can not turn 11 before May 1st)
Two teams will be formed that will participate in the York County Susquehanna
Travel Baseball League. Both teams will be selected by the Travel Baseball
Selection Committee after a tryout of all eligible SYC baseball players. Both
teams will be placed in a travel league division appropriate for their age and skill
level. Alternates will be selected who will play in the in-house league and can be
“called up” to play for a travel team if players are needed from time to time.
Players not selected for an SYC Travel Team will be placed in a draft pool for
selection by the coaches of the in-house teams. The number of teams in the Inhouse League will be determined by the number of players available. Players
may not play in the in-house league if they are selected for a travel team.
Players may try out for the 10u and/or 9u Ruffnecks Tournament Teams which
are separate from the SYC Travel/In-house Leagues.
Age 11 to 12 (can not turn 13 before May 1st) – Two teams will be formed that
will participate in the York County Susquehanna Travel Baseball League. Both
teams will be selected by the Travel Baseball Selection Committee after a tryout
of all eligible SYC baseball players. Both teams will be placed in a travel league
division appropriate for their age and skill level. Alternates will be selected who
will play in the in-house league and can be “called up” to play for a travel team if
players are needed from time to time.
Players not selected for an SYC Travel Team will be placed in a draft pool for
selection by the coaches of the in-house teams. The number of teams in the Inhouse League will be determined by the number of players available. Players
may not play in the In-house League if they are selected for a travel team.
Players may try out for the 12u, or 11u Ruffnecks Tournament Team which is
separate from the SYC Travel/In-house Leagues.
Age 13 to 16 (can not turn 17 before May 1st) – Tryouts are held for players 13
to 16 years of age to play in the York County Susquehanna Travel Baseball
League. The number of teams formed will depend on the number of players who
register. The team coaches will select their players based on skill level. Teams
are placed in divisions one through eight with eight being the highest level of
competition. After the tryouts have concluded, the coaches of the “A” team will
select their players, followed by the selection of the “B” Team, then “C” team, and
so on depending on the number of teams needed. Each team will be placed in
the appropriate division in the York County Travel League to match the skill level
of that team.
It is important to note, this league does not begin until the conclusion of the High
School Baseball season in late May. Tryouts will occur in mid April so teams can
be selected and practices can begin by the beginning of May.
Players who are 13 may try out for the 13u Ruffnecks Tournament Team. This
team will play in select weekend tournaments throughout the spring and summer.
Southern York County (SYC) Travel Baseball
Rules, Expectations, and Responsibilities
The following rules, expectations, and responsibilities have been put in place to
allow all travel teams to be competitive and maintain the spirit of team throughout
the baseball season:
1. All SYC Travel Teams will play in the York County Susquehanna Travel
Baseball League.
2. League play consists of 16 games and an end of season championship
tournament. Eight games are played on SYC fields and eight games are
played on fields around York County.
3. All travel teams will be selected from a player tryout by a Travel Team
Selection Committee. Players (12 and under) not selected for a travel team
will be drafted by a coach and play on an SYC in-house team.
4. Players are expected to show up and be on time for all games.
Arrangements can be made with coaches and other players/parents to
accomplish on time arrivals.
5. If a game or practice will be missed for a school related activity, the coach
must be notified in advance. Other activities should be limited to avoid
conflicts.
6. Family vacations should be scheduled after the baseball season to avoid
missing games and practices. For ages 13 and under, the season concludes
by the end of June. In the 13-16 age group, the season ends by the middle of
July.
7. Travel players are not guaranteed playing time. Team line-ups are created to
allow the best possible team to be fielded. Travel players are not selected if
they are not deemed capable of playing at that level. Because of substitution
rules that are more strict, travel coaches have limitations which can create a
situation of less playing time for any given player.
8. Players, parents, and coaches are representing the SYC Organization in the
York County Baseball League. Inappropriate behavior or poor sportsmanship
will not be tolerated.
9. All coaches are volunteering their time. Players and parents are expected to
respect their time during practices and games. Any disputes a player or
parent may have with a coach must be handled privately and professionally.
In other words, everyone must avoid “making a scene” during practices or
games.
10. Players must remain with their team at all times during games. Sitting with
family or friends who are watching the game is not permitted.
11. Parents or other family members are not permitted in the team dugout during
games.