THE BASEBALL CLUB OF CHATHAM, N.J., INC.
2020 Travel Baseball Team Tryouts For U8-U14
The Baseball Club of Chatham, N.J., Inc. (“BCC”) will hold tryout sessions for all U8-U14 baseball players who are interested in qualifying for a position on a travel baseball team for the 2020 Spring and Summer Travel Baseball seasons on Saturday October 26th (“Travel Tryouts”).
The Travel Tryouts will be administered, and participants will be evaluated by the head coach of Drew University’s baseball program, John Fugett, and his coaching staff. Candidates will be evaluated on hitting, throwing and fielding. The Travel Tryouts will be held at the Shunpike & Nash Complexes.
Participants must register for the Travel Tryouts by clicking this Online Registration link (this link is also available on the Baseball Club of Chatham website www.chathambaseball.com). A $30 participation fee will be charged at registration. Registration will close on Monday, October 21st. During the registration process, registrants must declare whether they want to be considered for a Spring Travel Team, a Summer Travel Team, or both.
Age eligibility
In 2020, The Baseball Club of Chatham will continue the transition to an age based program (vs grade based) using the April 30th cutoff. Therefore your “baseball age” is your age on May 1st.
Example:
- If you were born on April 30th, 2009 then you are U11 in 2020
- If you were born May 1st, 2009 then you are U10 in 2020
U12-U14
Returning U12-U14 players will be permitted to try out for their grade appropriate team.
For example if you played U11 in 2019 then you are permitted to try out for U12 even if you are born after May 1st.
All new travel candidates will be required to try out for the correct age based team.
U8-U11
U8-U11 teams will be created exclusively with candidates according to their baseball age.
Second graders born after April 30th 2012 will be eligible to play U7 baseball in 2020.
U7
U7 is a Summer only program. There will be a separate registration and player evaluation for U7 in the spring of 2020.
Team Formation
A candidate’s tryout score along with their 2019 coach’s evaluation and attendance record will be taken into consideration for placement on a 2020 travel team. In most cases a White (A level), Blue (B) and even a Red (C) team may be formed. If the BCC decides that it is in the best interest of an age group to use an alternative breakdown of the talent (i.e. Two B teams and a C) we will inform the candidates prior to team announcement.
Please note that by selecting "Spring Only" or "Summer Only", a candidate MAY be placed on a team with players acrosss a wide range of abilities. Those players selecting on Spring AND Summer will LIKELY be placed on a similar team across both seasons.
The BCC will do our best to form up to three teams per age group. Due to field limitations, it is possible that no more than three teams per grade will be considered.
All tryout participants must review the Travel Team Policy for important information concerning the relevant factors considered by BCC when extending invitations to join a Travel Team and the commitment expected of those who participate in tryouts and those who accept a position on a Travel Team. BCC expects to extend invitations in early November.
Cuts
Teams will be formed using a roster size that promotes player development and significant playing time.
All candidates should enter this process knowing that roster space is limited and cuts are likely.
Especially at the younger age levels.
In an ideal situation, we will have the perfect number of candidates for three teams. In the past, we have gone to great lengths to limit the number of cuts. However, every year there are a small number of candidates we are unable to place on teams.
Please ensure anyone trying out understands cuts are likely.
Parent Meeting
There will be an informational meeting for parents interested in the Chatham youth travel baseball program announced soon.
The schedule for the Travel Tryouts is as follows. All participants must arrive fifteen (15) minutes prior.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1:00 – 2:30 PM: U13/U14 Shunpike 1
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2:30 – 4:00 PM: U12 Shunpike 2
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 4:00 – 5:30 PM: U11 Shunpike 2
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1:00 – 2:30 PM: U8 Nash 1
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2:30 – 4:00 PM: U9 Nash 1
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 4:00 – 5:30 PM: U10 Nash 1
Please contact chathamtravelbaseball@gmail.com if you have any questions concerning the Travel Baseball Program.
