BASEBALL GUIDELINES 

 

The Forks Township baseball league is governed by the Greater Easton Area Baseball Association league by-laws.  Further information can be found by contacting the Forks Township Baseball Commissioner.

 

  • CODE OF CONDUCT
    • A copy of Article 16 of the FTAA By-laws shall be signed by each parent/guardian on or before the date the players receive their uniforms.  It is imperative that the players/parents/guardians and coaches adhere to the code of conduct.  A zero-tolerance rule will be in effect before, during and after practices and games.
  • EQUIPMENT/UNIFORM POLICY
    • All equipment and uniforms are owned by Forks Township.  Any equipment or uniforms you receive must be returned within two weeks of the return date and should be in the condition it was presented to you.  If you do not return equipment and uniforms within two weeks of the return date, you will be subject to a late fee assessed by the equipment manager.  If the equipment/uniforms are not returned, you will be billed for the replacement value of the equipment/uniforms not returned.
    • Some sports require a refundable deposit for equipment/uniforms.  If the equipment/uniforms are not returned, the deposit will not be refunded.
    • Once a player receives a uniform for a sport, the player is responsible for returning it on time.  If a uniform is not returned within two weeks of the return date specified by the equipment manager, a late fee will be assessed and the child is now allowed to register for the next sport until all previously issued uniforms have been returned or replaced (replacement fee).
  • PLAYING TIME
    • Playing time is governed by the rules of the leagues
      • League rules state each child must play a minimum of 2 innings in the field or the team will forfeit the game.
  • “PLAYING UP”
    • If a coach is in need of a substitute player; that coach may request a player from one level down to “play up”. 
    • The coach in need of a player must request a player from a coach and should not contact any player directly until approval is given from that player’s coach. 

 

  • PARENT BEHAVIOR DURING PRACTICES AND GAMES
    • Parents are asked to refrain from coaching or voicing concern to referees from the sidelines at any time.  This causes confusion for both coaches and players and distracts the players from their position and could result in injury to a child.
    • Referees do have the authority to discipline a team for a spectator’s conduct by issuing a penalty and can also request that a spectator be removed from the field.  Police will be called if necessary. 

 

  • TOURNAMENT AND ALL-STAR SELECTION PROCESS
    • 7/8 year old (coach pitch)
      • All players are invited to play in a tournament.  Currently, there are no all-star games at the 7/8 year old level.
    • One team of all-stars will be formed at each age group.
      • Each team shall consist of 12 players plus three alternates for a total of 15 for a full roster.
      • “Playing up” will not be permitted on any team.  For instance, an eight year old who is an outstanding player cannot play on a 9/10 year old all-star team.
      • All-star selection process
        • Coaches will meet with their stat books available and, as a group, pick the kids who will be given the opportunity to play on an all-star team.  The Commissioner should attend this meeting and keep notes should any issues arise at the FTAA level.  Additional players should be picked (in addition to alternates) in cases where an all-star player or alternate turns down the opportunity for play. (i.e. vacations, moving, injury)
      • The Baseball Commissioner shall select the head coach for all all-star teams.
      • No try-outs will be necessary for tournament and all-star team selection as scorebook keeping records show abilities of the players and coaches should be familiar with all players.

o        If a child is selected to a baseball all-star or a tournament team, one parent/guardian will be required to attend a mandatory meeting and complete additional hours of volunteer time working a snack bar tour of at least 3 hours.  This is in addition to volunteer time required during the regular season.

    • If a full team cannot be fielded, then no team shall be entered into a tournament.   A full team must consist of all Fork Township residents.

 

  • FORMING A TEAM – TEE BALL AND 7/8 YEAR OLD LEVELS
    • Forming a team should continue to be done by neighborhood.   A player may request to be on a certain team for transportation or other special needs but this is not a guarantee.
    • All players must be Forks Township residents unless specific approval is given by the Forks Township Recreation Board.
      • The approval process is to sign up during regular registration and fill out the “Out Of Town Residents” section and bring to the following Recreation Board Meeting where the Board will hear the circumstances as to why the player should be allowed to play in Forks Twp.  If approved, they will be notified at that meeting and placed into the pool of players.

 

  • FORMING A TEAM  - 9/10 AND 11/12 YEAR OLD LEVELS
    • All players must be Forks Township residents unless specific approval is given by the Forks Township Recreation Board.
      • The approval process is to sign up during regular registration and fill out the “Out Of Town Residents” section and bring it to the following Recreation Board Meeting where the Board will hear the circumstances as to why the player should be allowed to play in Forks Twp.  If approved, they will be notified at that meeting and placed into the pool of players.
    • Each player is rated by the coaching staff at the end of the year from the previous level. 
      • Rating should be done discreetly and each child is to be given a rating from one – five; five being the highest.  These ratings are to be turned in to the baseball commissioner.
    • Each player then goes in to a draft and coaching staffs pick an even amount of players at each rating. 
    • If a coach has a son on their team that was rated, that child counts as a pick for that coach at whatever rating he was given.
    • All new players are required to attend an evaluation.  Each of these players are rated by an independent group and then distributed evenly among the teams.  New players are determined as never having played Forks baseball or have skipped a season and are returning.
  • FORMING A TEAM – 13-15 YEAR OLD (JR. LEGION)
    • Evaluations shall be held for kids moving up to the Jr. Legion.  These evaluations should take place at the end of the baseball season and not wait until the following year. 
    • At least 3 evaluation dates shall be held to accurately evaluate the kids.
    • Evaluations are to be done by an independent, qualified group of at least 5 people.  The Commissioner will have final say over the selection of these evaluators.
    • Coaches may be present but cannot pick their team or influence any decision of any evaluator.

 

 

 

  • AGE BRACKETS

 

AGE GROUP MUST BE AGE                                 BEFORE

T-ball

6

May 1st

7/8’s (Coach Pitch)

7

May 1st

9/10’s (Kid Pitch)

9

May 1st

11/12’s (Babe Ruth)

11

May 1st

13 - 15’s (Jr. Legion)

13

May 1st

16 – 18 (Sr. Babe Ruth)

16

May 1st