Resources & FAQ

The Bombers Baseball Academy is an independent, competitive youth travel baseball program that: Focuses on player development (skills, character, discipline) Primarily funds coaching and player development, not program overhead or profit Enables professional coaches to lead all baseball functions while parents administer the team and enjoy the games Strives to maintain a continuity of players and coaches for the regular season and Fall Ball The BBA program’s focus is to develop the baseball skills, discipline, and character of the players, to prepare these young athletes for the challenge of playing high school baseball and beyond. The players receive professional instruction on all facets of the game from both our program coaches as well as visiting experts. Additional player development comes from competing with and against other All Star caliber players and teams. BBA focuses on player development, not win at all costs.

All players, parents/guardians, coaches and staff are expected to behave in a manner above reproach. This code of conduct applies to games and practices, as well as in hotels and restaurants when a team is traveling. Players, parents/guardians, coaches and staff are expected to: Be on time for all practices and games Be cooperative at all times and share team duties Be respectful to others and themselves Be positive with teammates at all times Never criticize any player, coach or umpire Never throw any equipment in anger Never use inappropriate language Any player, parent/guardian, or coach, who is involved in a verbal or physical altercation, or an incident of unsportsmanlike conduct, is subject to disciplinary action.

The BBA is administered by the Board of Directors of the Bombers Baseball Academy, a California 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that sponsors youth sports in Marin County. The Board is responsible for over- seeing all activities of the program, including hiring of coaches and instructional personnel, running tryouts, selecting players in conjunction with the team coaches, scheduling tournament, finances, etc. Questions about the BBA can be directed to bombersbbacademy@gmail.com

The BBA has teams at the 9U through 14U age levels. A player’s age is based on the player’s age on April 30th of each year.

The BBA attracts players from Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco and the East Bay. The inclusion of players from outside Marin has improved our teams by helping the BBA form full teams comprised of ability- appropriate players, each of whom can experience success and benefit from and contribute to the developmental opportunities of our program. Players from outside Marin must commit to coming to practice.

BBA teams are made up of focused, motivated, talented players who want to compete at the top level of youth travel baseball. The goal is for BBA teams compete at the high AAA or Majors level as defined by the USSSA.

The BBA regular season runs from February through July (mid-August for 12U teams). Our 9U and 10U teams typically practice 2 times a week and our 11U-14U teams practice 3 times a week. The 9U through 12U teams play in local tournaments (greater Bay Area) scheduled, when possible, to avoid conflict with Little League. The 9U team plays in 6 - 7 local tournaments and the 10U through 12U teams play in 6 - 8 local tournaments as well as a national tournament at the end of the season. The 12U team concludes their season with a trip to Cooperstown. The 13U and 14U teams will play about 8 - 10 local tournaments as well as a national tournament at the end of the season.

The BBA offers a fall program that focuses on instruction and player development. The season runs from September to early November. Our Fall Ball program is available for players league age 8 through 14. The Bombers believe that boys should be allowed the opportunity to play other sports during the “off season”. Accordingly, we carry a larger roster size for each team during the fall season to accommodate players’ commitments to other fall sports. The fall teams will be comprised of players from the spring teams as well as interested players who have the potential to compete at a high level in travel baseball. We will have a tournament roster of 12 – 13 for players who are primarily playing baseball in the fall and will attend the tournaments. We will also have 3 – 4 practice players who will practice with the team to maintain their baseball skills, but not attend tournaments unless we need a fill-in player. Fall tryouts are typically the 2nd weekend of June.

The 9U through 12U teams are designed to work with local Little Leagues, but there will be conflicts between BBA tournaments and LL games (see question 11 below). Our national tournaments are scheduled in late-July or early-August to allow the players to play All Stars. If there is a conflict with LL All Stars, we attempt to make it work for both programs, but ultimately BBA has priority over LL All Stars. The 13U and 14U programs are designed to have a full schedule and therefore, the players should not play in another youth baseball program (e.g., Juniors or Babe Ruth). Given the need to protect young arms, communication with the coaches is critical for players that pitch in both BBA tournaments and Little League.

North Coast Section rules prevent kids from playing on a travel team while playing high school baseball. Accordingly, our 14U team is made up primarily of 8th graders. We may add high school freshman and the freshman baseball season is over in mid-May.

BY ACCEPTING A ROSTER SPOT ON A BBA TEAM, YOU ARE AGREEING TO THE FOLLOWING: Playing on a BBA team requires a high level of commitment from both players and families. Players are expected to prioritize tournaments and doubleheaders over other sporting activities after the CYO basketball season is over. For the 9U through 12U teams, BBA tournaments and doubleheaders take priority over Little League games (including TOC and All Star games) and BBA practices take priority over Little League practices (including TOC and All Stars). For the 13U & 14U teams, players are expected to prioritize BBA games and practice over all other sporting activities.

Players will generally play at their own age level, but at the discretion of the Board, can play up if they are within the top 4-5 players of the higher level age group.

Coaches will be selected by the Board. Experienced, paid coaches coach all teams. Coaches may conduct individual paid lessons for players in the program but must make equal time available for all players on their team and in the program. Coaches are not allowed to let these individual lessons affect their decisions on playing time (e.g., giving more playing time to those players who take lessons from the coach).

There is no minimum play time rule in travel baseball and playing time is at the sole discretion of the coaches. It is expected that any player selected to the team can make a positive contribution to that team. While playing time is left up to the coaches and is based on the specific situation at the time (e.g., game situation, injuries, player behavior, financial delinquency, etc.), the BBA recognizes that families are making a significant time and financial commitment to be in the program. As such, an average guideline across a multi-game tournament is that players will play approximately half of all innings during Pool Play and innings during elimination brackets are at the coaches’ discretion. Coaches are encouraged to speak to players/families if a player does not warrant this average playing time.

Tryouts for the regular season are typically held in early to mid-November. Dates and times will be posted on the website. Parents and guardians must complete an Agreement to Participate, Waiver and Release of and from Liability, Covenant Not to Sue, Indemnification and Consent to Medical Treatment form before a child will be allowed to try out. Parents and guardians are not permitted on the playing field during tryouts.

Players should arrive 15 minutes prior to the start time of registration/warm-ups. Players should bring gloves and wear a shirt, baseball pants and non-metal cleats. Players that have previously played for the BBA can wear their practice t-shirts and caps. Catchers should bring their catching gear if available.

All players are required to tryout every year. If a player cannot attend tryouts, please email bombersbbacademy@gmail.comand you will advise you on how to proceed.

Players will be selected by the Bombers Board with input from the team coaches and evaluators. Players will be selected for the program based on a number of factors including the following: baseball skills, attitude and behavior, work effort, compatibility with the coaches and other players/families in the program, and previous experience in the program. BBA coaches and Board members attempt to watch numerous practices, tournaments, and Little League TOC/All Star games. The Bombers Board has the ultimate say on selecting players and will put together a team that has the best chance of competing at the Majors/AAA level.

There will typically be about 12-13 players for the 9U through 13U teams. The 14U summer team may take up to 15-16 players to provide the maximum possibility for kids to play. If we do not identify enough top quality players at tryouts, we may form a team with as few as 9 players and continue to recruit until we reach the 12-13 player level. No player will be cut after they join the team.

All teams will be selected by the end of November.

The BBA will notify selected players and extend an invitation to join the team. Players will be asked to give their answers to the BBA within 24 hours upon receiving their phone call or email. Parents and guardians can help expedite the decision-making process by talking with players ahead of time to determine if they will accept spots on teams if they are offered. A team meeting will be held in mid- December to further explain the program. An initial payment will be due at that time.

Each player/family will be assessed its equal share of team expenses (including their share of common expenses) for the season. Team investments and payment schedules are posted on the website. Injured players are still responsible for their share of team expenses. Players that join mid-season will be responsible for a prorated share of all team expenses beginning on the date they join the team. Players/families that are delinquent may be suspended from the team, which includes the player being prohibited from play. There are no refunds for fees paid if a player leaves the team. Needs-based financial assistance is available and is administered by a financial aid committee.

Parents and families are asked to provide positive encouragement to all players and coaches. Parents and families are precluded from participating in the day-to-day baseball operations of the program including: practices and game management, player evaluations and selection, and lineups. Parents are encouraged to participate in the non-baseball functions of the program, including the Board, Team Parent and fundraising activities. Parents may keep the team scorebook and team statistics. Team stats are to be used by the coaches and may be distributed solely at the coaches’ discretion. The team scorekeeper must keep all stats confidential.