1. What should my child bring to the skills review?
Your child should wear tennis shoes (NO CLEATS), comfortable clothes and should bring his or her glove to the skills assessment and registration for Cal Ripken baseball and Babe Ruth 10U and 12U softball. We will be outdoors for Babe Ruth 15U baseball and 14U softball skills assessments so cleats are ok. You will also need to bring your child's birth certificate if he or she is new to the league.
2. How are teams chosen?
The North Side Board sets teams for the league season based upon the skill assessments that are done at registration. Every effort is made to ensure that teams are as balanced as possible to make for a competitive season. ALL players will be placed on a team.
3. When will I find out which team my child in on?
Teams will be set within a few weeks of registration. Your coach will contact you but the quickest way to find out which team you are on is to start checking the website for updates in early March.
4. How often do teams practice and when do they practice?
This is up to your coach. At the start of the season coaches often practice several nights a week in order to get their teams ready for the Jamboree. Once the season is going, most coaches hold 1-2 practices per week, depending on how many games they are playing that week.
5. When does the season begin and end? Which nights do teams play?
The season beigns at the beginning of April and ends the Saturday after Memorial Day. We are still working on getting schedules put together for this year and we will get game day information posted on the website as soon as possible after registration. In general, games are played on weeknights, rather than on weekends.
6. It costs between $60 and $75 to register plus $10-12 for a new pair of pants. There is also a mandatory fundraiser in which players MUST participate. Where does all of that money go?
North Side Baseball and Softball works hard to make the sport accessible to all who want to play. Your $60 or $75 fee plus your money for pants gets you a whole uniform that you get to keep after the season. You will get a shirt, hat, pants, belt, and socks. Additionally, your child gets guaranteed playing time in approximately 12 league games, a Jamboree and an end of the year tournament. He or she also gets quality coaching from Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth Certified coaches who donate their time to the league and your fees ensure that games are officiated by trained umpires each night. It also goes toward the fields being prepped and ready for games. It's a great investment in your child's future!
7. How does the fundraiser work?
Participation in the fundraiser is required in order to play in the league. We will have more information about this at registration.
8. Can both girls and boys play Cal Ripken Baseball?
Because Cal Ripken Baseball and Babe Ruth Softball happen at the same time it necessitates that boys play Cal Ripken Baseball and girls play Babe Ruth Softball.
9. What is the cut-off date for ages in Cal Ripken Baseball?
Your child's age will be determined based upon how old he will be on April 30 of the playing year.
10. What is the cut-off date for ages in Babe Ruth Softball?
Your child's age will be determined based upon how old she was on December 31 the previous year.