Hoover Baseball Club Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Will there be a tryout in the Fall?
A. No, we encourage teams to build from within a current core base of players most likely American or National Metro teams at SMP seeking additional competition and formal instruction.
Q. How many games will each team play?
A. All teams will focus on the fundamentals with new team concepts being introduced. Individual progression at skill positions will be encouraged. Target # games 40-45 during this upcoming Spring. Schedules will be made with every effort to prevent 3 straight weekends of play. We will take Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Spring Break off from practice and games. Additional Sunday DH play is also an occasional option.
Q. How much does it cost?
A. For the Spring 201 season, total player costs were estimated to be $1,100. This fee includes team sanction & insurance fees (~$20/player), 7 tournaments per spring/summer (~$350/player), access to ALL Hoover High camps during a calendar year (~$400/player), game and practice uniforms (~$150/player), and park registration fees (~$100/player). Fees can vary based on (a) number of tournaments played in, (b) quality/cost of uniforms for new teams and (c) park affiliation/cost of field space, but we believe this estimation to be very close. Our current uniform system allows for consistency from year to year thus decrease uniform cost if applicable. Our hopes are to offset costs by providing infrastructure to host tournaments, begin fundraising ventures and offer sponsorship opportunities thus lowering the financial burden on each family. Any money raised by individual families will be allocated directly to that player’s account. Payment of fees will be made with set plan for each team based on number of players beginning in Nov. 2010.
Q. What is included in the player cost?
New teams will receive the following:
- 2 Uniforms- 2 mesh jerseys and 2 pants
- 2 practice tops
- 1 pair practice pants
- 1 Black Helmet
- 1 Hat
- Field Utilization
- Sanction and Insurance
- Tournament Registration and Administrative assistance
- Formal Instruction
- Coaching Clinic
- Playbook
- Discounted registration to Young Guns Baseball clinics
- Team equipment and training
Q. Why do the kids need to attend the HHS camps?
A. Our long term vision is that these camps will become an extension program of HBC. We have our own playbook and I know Coach Davis has his own and it’s 5 times bigger than HBC, and one of the big points of HBC will be to teach our kids “the Hoover Way”. Coach Davis and I have met several times to merge our content into one. So the thinking is that the camps will be another way to reinforce the information from our excellent high school staff.
Q. How often will we practice?
A. Typically, twice weekly until tournaments begin then once weekly based on fields available at Hoover East Recreational park. We may have some team hitting practices as well on as needed bases.
Q. Are individual hitting, pitching or defensive lessons included in the cost?
A. No. Individual hitting lessons are an invaluable concept and very important part of our development and allows for best use of field time to instruct team play during practices. It is highly recommended that all players have formal hitting instruction on a weekly basis. Please see Coach Gage for suggestions as we would like the lessons to be provided by an instructor familiar to our terminology and philosophy.
Defensive Skills Series will be offered twice yearly to teach fundamental play in smaller group settings through HBC.
Q. What are the differences in park/rec ball vs. tournament baseball?
A. The biggest difference is TIME INVOLVED. We start practicing as early as February with games starting in late March through June. Arriving for a game can be as much as 1 ½ hours prior to game time. All rainouts are made up, setting up the possibility of several games during a weekend tourney. All are meaningful differences that add up to a substantial time commitment.
- It’s different because of COST. It can be expensive to run a tournament baseball team and organization. It requires the teamwork of all parents to work to secure sponsorships and participate in all fundraising activities but can be opted out with work completed verification or payment.
- It’s different because of PLAYING TIME. Regular baseball rules apply to batting order and substitutions so your player could sit part or all of a game(s). Playing time is not guaranteed however all effort is made to insure balance in the context of the defined role of each player and how they contribute to the team.
- It’s different because of POSITION PLAYED. Practices, skill sets, additional training, experience, versatility and game knowledge all have a role in determining the position of all players to best help the team and to best develop the player.
Q. Will we miss church on Sundays in which we play?
A. It is likely. We will assist teams with administrative guidance in not playing 3 consecutive weeks during the season. Our hopes are to provide daily Christian living examples through our actions and words to assist each player with life skills.
Q. Will the indoor facility be made available for teams under the HBC?
A. Yes, with best efforts scheduling on a team by team basis. Coach Davis has reminded us that the indoor facility has always been available and therefore will continue to be, if there is a high school staff member on site during the usage.
Q. Will ages be practicing together?
A. Yes. Teams will practice together based on age.
Q. Where and when will registration be held?
A. Registration will be held in early November at a location TBD for teams who are interested but not currently affiliated with HBC.
Q. What are the benefits of having a team in HBC?
- Players exposed to elements of the high school system early
- Players AND coaches get to learn the benefits of following a system and how it can influence every part of the game
- Players get the benefit of our years of player development at the collegiate and teenage level ie specific skills/drills: middle infielders, outfielders, catchers, etc.)
- We are a new “set of eyes” to evaluate each player in terms of their skills, how they’re being used, what they need to work on to improve, potentially leading to lineup & positioning suggestions
- HBC brings a different yet proven approach to methods that keep kids from committing the same mistakes over and over.
- HBC provides more coaching structure that allows for stronger game day preparation with less constant effort by coaching staff. Ultimately it will provide more time for coaches to spend away from the team if necessary (family time, spend time with other kids, etc.)