Spring 2020 Season FAQ

1. 
   APB Division League Age Registration Fees*
   

*If anyone is in need of financial assistance, then please contact the league treasurer, Chris Bole ([email protected]), for more information. Any inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.

**To determine League Age, use the Division Age Calculator under Resources or it is the age of your child as of 8/31/2020.

***Price will increase $50 after January 5, 2020.  Family discount of $25 per additional player per family.
^The volunteer deposit is a fully refundable deposit that will be mailed out at the end of the season after completing one of the 2 following items (per player):
   - 4 hours (two, 2 hour shifts) of volunteer work at the fields. This generally consists of working in the snack shack and/or picking up trash, etc. (See Snack Shack tab, located under Forms/Resources on top of the page, for more details) or;
    - volunteering and serving as a uniformed manager or assistant coach for the whole season and attending all required coach meetings.

In addition to the registration fees, All teams (except Champions) must obtain a $500 Team Sponsor. Teams that are unable to obtain a sponsor may divide the cost among the parents ($35-$50 per player).  Payment options are listed HERE.

PONY AGE CHART (SPRING 2020)

SHETLAND   Sept 1, 2015-Aug 31, 2016 - 4U
                      Sept 1, 2014-Aug 31, 2015 - 5U
                      Sept 1, 2013-Aug 31, 2014 - 6U
   
PINTO       Sept 1, 2012-Aug 31, 2013 - 7U
                  Sept 1, 2011-Aug 31, 2012 - 8U

MUSTANG  Sept 1, 2010-Aug 31, 2011 - 9U
                    Sept 1, 2009-Aug 31, 2010 - 10U

BRONCO Sept 1, 2008-Aug 31, 2009 - 11U
                 Sept 1, 2007-Aug 31, 2008 - 12U

PONY      Sept 1, 2006-Aug 31, 2007 - 13U
                Sept 1, 2005-Aug 31, 2006 - 14U
                Sept 1, 2004-Aug 31, 2005 - 15U

Refund Policy 
The league incurs costs to process payments as well as up-front costs in advance of each season to plan for items such as uniforms, equipment, etc.  The following Refund Policy is in effect:

• Refund requests made prior to the registration deadline will be honored less a $25 processing fee.  
• Refunds requested after the registration deadline but before the player is placed on a team will be honored at a 50% rate.  
• No refund is available once the player has been placed on a team. No exceptions.

Check Return Policy
Any check payable to APB that is returned will incur a $25 fee. 

Notes:

• Playing "up" in a division - If a player wants to play up a division (e.g. Pinto age but wants to play in Mustang), then the player must rate in the top 10% of the "upper" division during tryouts. This policy is consistent with our neighboring leagues. In order to be considered for this, the player must be 1) registered in the proper division based on their age; 2) notify the Division Director BEFORE tryouts; 3) tryout in the division they should be playing in based on their age and; 4) tryout in the division they want to play in.
• Playing "down" in a division - Players are not permitted to play "down" in divisions unless there is a unique medical or physical reason. In these cases, parents must complete a Petition (found under Forms), and send to Executive Board for review. Each case will be considered on its own merits.
• Special Requests - Requests to play with friends, etc., are just that, requests. Where feasible, we will try to grant the request, but there are no guarantees whatsoever.  We do not take or review requests in American divisions. Teams are drafted by coaches and they cannot be restricted by requests to play with friends.  We can usually honor Shetland National requests though (first year players).
• The primary email address you list on your registration will be the email address we use to contact you. Please also list the email address for anyone else (e.g. another parent or guardian) you want to receive information from the league.
• Divisions can sell out quickly, sometimes even before the registration deadline, and players are taken on a first-come-first serve basis. Registration is not complete until payment has been made. Players still pending payment or completed registrations may lose their spots if not completed before a division is full. Don't wait until the last minute to register! Players will be turned away when divisions are full.

Important Dates

November 1 – Spring 2020 Registration Opens

November 17 – Last day of Fall Ball

January 4 (Sat) – Walk in registration @ Cronies, 9am-11am
January 5 (Sun) – Early Bird Registration ends; $50 price increase for registration after this date

January 7 (Tue) – Mandatory Coaches Meeting at Willow Elementary at 7PM
January 8 (Wed)  – First Umpire training session

January 11-12 (Sat/Sun) – Player Assessments at Lupin Elementary (Schedule is HERE)

January 13-15 – Manager selection

January 13-19 – Make-up Assessments (All Divisions)

January 20-21 – American Drafts

January 23 (Thu) – National Draft-A-Palooza at Willow Elementary at 7:30PM

January 27 (Mon) – Practices can start
Feb 9 (Sun) at 10:30AM - Mandatory Shetland Nat'l/American Coaches Rules and Skills Clinic at the Lupin Shetland Field
Feb 9 (Sun) at 11:15AM - Mandatory Pinto Nat'l Coaches Rules and Skills Clinic at the Lupin Pinto Field
Feb 20 (Thu) at 7:00PM - Interleague Coaches Meeting at location TBD (All Divisions by Shetland National, Pinto National and Mustang National)

Feb 22 (Sat) – Opening Day (9AM - HR Derby, Ceremonies - 10AM to 11:30AM)

Feb 22-23 (Sat/Sun) – Scrimmages for all teams with umpires
Feb 29 (Sat) - First Official Games

March 22 (Sun) – Picture Day at Lupin
March 30 (Mon) - Make Up Picture Day at Lupin (exact date TBD)

April 11 – 19 – Spring Break - NO GAMES (LVUSD/OPUSD/CVUSD)
April 19 (Sun) - Dodger Day at Dodger Stadium vs Pittsburgh Pirates
May 3 (Sun) – National All Star Games

May 14 (Thu) - Open House at Lupin (no games/practices)
May 4 (Mon) to May 29 - Playoffs (except Shetland National)

Season Questions

How often are practices?
Generally speaking, until games start, most teams will practice twice a week (once during the week and once on the weekend, Sat or Sun). After games start in March, most teams practice once a week in between games.

How often are games?
Two games a week. Teams will play one game during the week and one game on the weekend (Sat or Sun).  If there are rainouts early in the season there may be weeks with 3 games in a week later in the season.

What day/times are practices?
Your team manager will determine which day(s) and times practices will be based on the team's availability. Practice days will fluctuate once games begin due to field availability and game conflicts.

What day/times are games?
Games are played 7 days a week. We try to avoid Sunday games, but on occasion, teams might have to play a Sunday game here and there.  Weekday games generally start at 5pm, though vary by location. Games may start as early as 4:30 p.m. early in the season, before Daylight Savings time ends. Some Interleague games, at other fields, may start as late as 6:00 p.m. Weekend times will vary throughout the day. Teams will rotate between different days and times each week.

What division will my child be in?
See the Division Age Calculator to determine your child's League age and division. It is located under Forms/Resources on top of the page.  Otherwise it is the age of your child as of 8/31/20.

Where are the games/practices? 
See "Fields" tab on top, located under Forms/Resources on top of the page, for field locations by division. 

When/Where are player assessment/tryouts?
Assessments will be held at Lupin Elementary School on January 11-12, 2020, with a make-up the following week (TBD).

When will I hear from my coach?
All teams will be selected by the end of January. If you do not hear from anyone by then, then please contact the Division Director.

When do practices start?
Early February

When do games start?
Opening Day is scheduled for February 22, 2020 with the Home Run Derby at 9AM and the ceremonies from 10 AM to 11:30 AM.

When do games end?
Teams can play as late as late May should they continue win throughout the play-offs.

Are trophies given?
All Shetland (both National and American) players will receive a participation trophy. 1st place and 2nd place trophies will be awarded to the tournament finalists in Shetland American, Pinto, Mustang, Bronco and Pony. Additionally, 1st and 2nd place trophies will be awarded to the top two teams during the regular season where standings are kept (Shetland American, Pinto, Mustang, Bronco and Pony)

What is included in my registration fee?
Players will receive a jersey, hat and belt. Parents must provide baseball pants, cleats, glove, helmet, bat, socks, etc.