2010 Lake Bluff Youth Baseball Association
Travel Try-out Information and Procedures


Dates: Sunday Feb. 21st, 2010 (12, 13 and 14 Year Olds)
12 Year Olds 4 PM- 5:30 PM
13 Year Olds 6 PM- 7:30 PM
14 Year Olds 7:30 PM- 9:00 PM

Sunday March 14, 2010 (9, 10, and 11 Year Olds)
9 Year Olds 4 PM- 5:30 PM
10 Year Olds 6 PM- 7:30 PM
11 Year Olds 7:30 PM- 9:00 PM

Location: Elite Fitness Institute
555 Corporate Woods Parkway
Vernon Hills, IL www.elitefitness555.com/
www.dreambigathletics.com/

Pre-Tryout Steps
It is important that your child is properly registered for Lake Bluff travel tryouts prior to the date of the tryout. This will allow us to properly gauge our staffing needs and allow the tryout process to be conducted without delay for last minute registration needs. The registration process includes three key steps:
1) Registering via email for returning players, filling out online registration form for new players.
2) Signing and sending in executed waiver form to LBYBA. This can be done via email or sending to LBYBA PO Box 222, Lake Bluff, IL 60044
3) Paying the $150 travel tryout fee. This will be applied to your child’s total travel fee for kids placed on a team. The fee will be refunded promptly for those children that are not placed on a team. This can be done via paying online at www.lakebluffbaseball.com or sending a check to the above address.

Procedures of the Tryout:
In order to promote as anonymous of a tryout process as possible, we ask that the players do not wear any clothing that identifies them by name or indicates their prior participation in Lake Bluff Travel Baseball. This would specifically extend to prohibiting the wearing of LBYBA travel uniforms, including team hats. Players will receive a number upon their arrival at Elite Fitness Institute. Each player will place this number on their shirt allowing LBYBA to conduct the tryout anonymously. The players will then be explained the specific stations to be evaluated in the tryout:

Hitting: Players will hit live pitches thrown by an evaluator.

Pitching: Players will throw from a mound to a catcher.

Fielding: Players will field groundballs and throw to an evaluator. Players will throw short and long.

Catchers: Players will receive live pitches from an evaluator.

Players will rotate station to station with two evaluators working each station scoring each player between a 1 and 10 for each station. In addition to the evaluators, stations may be staffed by volunteers to keep the process efficient. The scores assigned will take account of the successful completion of the basic task (i.e. fielding the groundball cleanly), but will also incorporate the mechanics employed and the relative speed, strength, accuracy and fluidity the player demonstrates in the overall skill being assessed. The evaluators will primarily be comprised of former collegiate players and area high school coaches. The four members of LBYBA’s board that are assigned to our travel program: Jon Mrowiec (Travel Commissioner), Danny Esplin (Mustang Travel Director), Corey Golde (Bronco Travel Director) and Dave Wick (Pony Travel Director), will also serve as evaluators as will LBYBA board member Brad Naughton, who is overseeing the entire tryout process. While not anticipated, last minute schedule changes may necessitate the addition of LBYBA board members to provide sufficient staffing for the tryout process. No person with a relation to a player will be involved with or present during the evaluation process of that age group. In order to play in the Lake Bluff travel program, a player must attend tryouts. If a player cannot attend a scheduled tryout, alternative dates will be provided.

Tryout Equipment: Glove, bat and gym shoes.

*PLEASE NOTE- All try-outs are closed. No parents will be allowed in the facility during the try-out. *

Selection of Travel Teams:
The LBYBA Travel Directors will select teams based on the compilation of information from various sources to build a comprehensive picture of a player’s relative skill. The results of the tryouts are an important part of the selection process and are a good indication of the player’s current skill level and how such has progressed for players that were participants in LBYBA in 2009. In addition to the tryout evaluations, Travel Directors will use evaluations provided by a player’s coach from the previous season and discussions with those coaches. If a player did not play travel baseball in Lake Bluff last year, the tryout evaluations will be the primary factor in determining team placement. Potential team needs, such as pitching or catching, will also be factored into the decision. Team selections are expected to be made and communicated within 2 weeks of the tryout date.

Uniforms
Families will need to go to Kiddles to get fitted for uniforms. This can be done in advance of tryouts with no obligation. LBYBA will coordinate with Kiddles to ensure uniforms are only ordered for rostered players.