Lake Travis Youth Association

Programs

Lake Travis Baseball / Softball All-Star Program Guidelines

 

• Lake Travis Baseball/Softball supports the formation of All-Star teams following the spring recreational season.
• The purpose of these teams is to represent the Lake Travis area in state or national tournament play.
• Players elected to participate in the All-Star program can expect 3-4 activities per week and considerable travel to game locations.
• The players choosing to take part in the All-Star program will incur additional costs above and beyond those already contributed for the spring recreational leagues.
• The All-Star programs begin in early June and typically continue through the middle of July, but can possibly continue until early August. (The season officially ends when the All-Star team is eliminated from the state or national tournament.)
• The All-Star program is geared towards building a team capable of representing Lake Travis to the best of its abilities. In constructing this team certain national league affiliation rules may be imposed on the selection process. Historically these rules concern geographic eligibility, age, and team pool size; however, other rules may apply.
• Players choosing to accept the opportunity to play on these teams are not guaranteed playing time, subject to tournament rules, when it comes to participating in the final state or national elimination tournament. However, team managers and coaches are strongly encouraged to play everyone equally in the evaluation games and tournaments leading up to this final state or national tournament.
• If you have any questions regarding All-Star teams please talk with your recreational team coach, league commissioner or other league official.

Below is an outline of the All-Star selection process that is followed by Lake Travis Baseball / Softball.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST:

• Some time before the end of the recreational season a recreational player (and his/her parents or guardian) needs to express an interest in playing All-Stars. This expression of interest is to be communicated to the recreational team manager.
• In some instances a rec. manager may distribute a general solicitation of interest to the entire team. Though this form of communication is desirable, it is not a requirement.
• If a notice is distributed, an estimate for the costs associated with this program should be given at that time as well.
• Based on the expressions of interest received from the team, the manager can choose to submit none or all of the names for consideration in the All-Star selection process.
• A submission of possible names may be requested from the league commissioner prior to the season being fully completed. This request is intended to form a list that then allows all other rec. managers to evaluate potential All-Stars throughout the remaining games in rec. league play.
• Alternatively, the league commissioner may request an early submission of possible All-Star names with the intent of holding a special player evaluation session prior to the All-Star election.
• No submission of player names is required before the All-Star selection process begins.

ALL-STAR TEAM SELECTION PROCESS:

• The League commissioner or other executive board member will call a "managers only" meeting for the express purpose of selecting All-Star team(s) to represent the league in a national tournament.
• Only the team manager or his/her single designate may attend this meeting.
• An unbiased board member, who is there to observe these proceedings, will also attend the meeting.
• If there are any league affiliation related restrictions regarding player selection the league commissioner will inform the team managers during this meeting.(i.e. "an All-Star team" may draw its players from no more than 10 rec. teams or All-Star players may not play on more than one team during the All-Star season)
• It is the responsibility of the manager to verify that all national tournament rules are followed regarding player eligibility.
• If there is to be a younger age team to represent the league this team will be chosen in advance of a general (i.e. Red, White & Gray teams) all age team(s). Other than an age-specific team there are no requirements designating number of players from any age group on any team.
• The commissioner will ask each manager to present their potential list of All-Star players from those whom have expressed interest. A coach is expected to give a brief synopsis of each player candidate's ability, and to provide a general order of these abilities within their own team.
• During this round table session other team managers are free to ask questions about the players being presented or to ask about players not being presented. Once each team has presented their player candidate list, the commissioner will call a vote on the players. Each manager may select up to 9 players from the list of those presented for consideration. Once the managers have selected their choices they will submit them to the league commissioner for tallying. The top 9 vote-getters will be placed on the team being formed.
• If the last position(s) on the team is a tie, the commissioner will call for a tiebreak (show of hands) vote, following a brief discussion of these limited choice players.The winner(s) of this vote will be placed on the team being formed. The remaining players, required to meet mandated team minimums, are to be placed on the All-Star roster by the All-Star team manager.
• If a second All-Star team is to be formed the team manager must notify the commissioner of his/her choices or proposed choices of player to fill in the remaining roster positions.

ALL-STAR MANAGER SELECTION PROCESS:

• Once the players have been selected the rec. team managers will nominate individuals to be the All-Star team manager. Note: the All-Star team manager is not required to have managed or even coached in the league forming the all-star team.
• Managers should be selected based on their abilities to develop players into a successful and cohesive team, and their ability to organize a team and complete all paperwork needed to place a team in the national tournament.
• All-Star team managers and coaches must have completed all certification and training processes that were required of regular season managers prior to playing in their first game.
• Nominated Managers (if present) may be asked to present their case as to why they are the best candidates for the assignment. Rec. team managers may question each candidate as desired. Nominated managers may not directly question other nominated managers during this process.
• The commissioner will hold a vote for All-Star manager. The highest vote-getter is elected All-Star team manager for the current team being formed. Nominated managers will be asked to leave the room during the vote.
• It is solely the responsibility of the elected manager to decide on the coaching and support staff for the All-Star team. Named coaches need not have a child on the All-Star team.
• The general baseball board in the next regularly scheduled meeting must approve all Managers and All-Star team coaches.

TEAM PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS:

• If there are multiple teams being formed by the league then the subsequent teams are picked in the same manner as listed above. Note: alternate players from an earlier team selection process are still available to be voted on for the subsequent team(s).Because of the competitive nature of national tournaments it is recommended that the following quantity of All-Star teams be selected based on league size; however, team numbers are only a guideline--the actual team numbers of teams should be based on participation/desire levels.
  • 7 teams or less--1 All-Star entry
  • 8-12 teams--2 All-Star entries
  • 12 teams--3 All-Star entries
• Managers must then confirm their rosters. Players unable to commit when asked will forfeit their spots on the team and be replaced by a manager's selection.
• All team managers will submit their official rosters to the league commissioner before playing their first organized game as a team. Any subsequent change in this submitted roster must be updated to the league commissioner.
• The League will help cover the costs associated with each All-Star team by providing the following:
  1. Two dozen (24) game balls will be provided to each team.
  2. An equipment bag including catcher's gear and bats.
  3. Approved All-Star teams are automatically covered under the league insurance policy.
  4. Cost and fees associated with entering the national tournament (entry fee, patch costs, etc.)
  5. Cost to enter 1 "warm-up" tournament prior to playing in the national tournament. (Note: if multiple warm-up tournaments are entered and played in by the All-Star team, then either the least expensive or the warm-up tournament run by the national tournament league will be covered.
• The players and their families must cover additional cost including, but not limited to, the list below:
  1. Uniform Costs (hat, shirts, socks, pants, belt, etc). LT Baseball has the option of requiring each team representing the league to adhere to a specific uniform style or color palette. If this requirement is made prior to the All-Star season starting then all teams must follow the uniform guideline.The league may pre-order uniforms for All-Stars, which will be provided to players at cost from the league. If uniforms are pre-ordered then All-Star team must accept and use these uniforms in the extended All-Star season.
  2. Additional equipment costs if desired by the team.
  3. Banners and other promotional materials.
  4. Additional game and tournament entry fees (including Umpire costs).
  5. All travel expenses to and from tournaments, games, etc.
  6. Player fees for the "All Star season" will be estimated once the teams are selected, and will be communicated to the players when they are told of their election to the All-Star team. Each player must have all fees paid prior to playing in any games for the All-Star team. The team manager is responsible for all finances associated with the All-Star teams.All- Star teams will keep funds separate from any league accounts. At the end of the All-Star season the manager must return all unused funds back to parents or to the league.All- Star teams may help defray costs by any of the following methods:
     • Fund raisers (Car Wash, Bake Sale, etc.)
     • Sponsorships (subject to tournament rules)
     • Donations
  7. Teams must have all cost defrayment (fund raising) activities approved by the baseball/softball board prior to them taking place. Note: All-Star teams will not be able to provide sponsors or donors with any charitable contribution tax relief.
  8. League commissioners will designate field times and availabilities for all All-Star teams with-in their league.

ALL-STAR PLAYING TIME AND OTHER EXPECTATIONS:

• Everyone associated with the All-Star teams is expected at all times to adhere to the LTYA and LT Baseball/Softball codes of conduct. Failure to adhere to the codes of conduct will be dealt with by the team manager first and then subject to the baseball board's review.
• All players are expected to attend every practice and every game while the All-Star season is underway. If for some reason a player cannot meet the above expectation then the team manager needs to be informed prior to committing to the team.
• Managers and coaches are under no obligation to practice or play any individual at any position. It is solely at their discretion that they will decide who plays where and when. Managers should, however, explain during the commitment process and definitely no later than the first practice just what their philosophy will be regarding the team, player placement, and playing time during games throughout the season so that expectations can be established early on in this extended season. Ideally this philosophy will be communicated via an informational hand-out provided to players/parents at the start of the season.
• The league will not step in and require managers to manage in any specific way relative to team decisions on playing time and position. It is the expectation of the league that all participants (player, parents, and coaches) who committed to All-Star teams represent the Lake Travis Youth Association and LT Baseball/Softball in only the most positive manner, at all times.