Mountainside Softball and Baseball League Families,

This communication covers Spring Registration, changes to the Work Bond and our switch to TeamSnap.

2023 Spring Registration is now open:

  • Recreation Registration for all ages runs from October 28 – Jan 31
  • Travel Registration
    1. Baseball (New Spring 23’ criteria): 8U, 9U, 10U, 11U & 12U runs from October 28 – November 11
    2. Softball: 10U, 12Uruns from October 28 – November 11
    3. Baseball 7U and Softball 8U runs from October 28 – January 31

*We will be extending the registration for these age groups as team formation will take place in February*

We are opening registration for the following reasons:

  • It allows us to conduct placement evaluations on our fields for the Travel program while the weather and fields are still in playable condition.
  • Forming our Travel teams in the Fall will enable the players to participate in winter training/practices as a team.

Details on divisions, age ranges and play dates can be found below and on our website.  Families with financial hardships are welcome to contact the MSBL Board President to discuss options.

Work Bond:

Many youth sports organizations use a Work Bond to encourage volunteer participation from the community.  As a volunteer organization, MSBL relies on its member families to support its players through volunteering.  For the 2023 Spring Season, the MSBL Board has decided to suspend the Work Bond on a trial basis.  We feel that our community in Mountainside will “step up to the plate” and help in these areas without needing a monetary incentive. For this to be successful, each family will commit to volunteering as part of the Spring Registration.  We will continue to track attendance at our major volunteer events (Fall & Spring Cleanup), and gauge whether we can permanently eliminate the Work Bond beyond the Spring Season.

TeamSnap:

We’re pleased to announce that we have switched to TeamSnap for our league management platform and mobile app.  You’ll notice a brand-new website at http://www.msbl.us, where we’ve published a wealth of information about each of our programs, including but limited to:

  • Rostering details
  • Equipment & Safety information
  • Rules
  • End-of-Season Awards

The switch to TeamSnap means will no longer use SportsSignUp Play. Parents will need to set up TeamSnap accounts and take note that there are now unique registration links for each program & role.  Please make sure you click the correct link on our Registration page.  If you encounter any issues with registering, please email support@msbl.us for help. For more information about the switch to TeamSnap, read this news article on msbl.us.

Registration Details:

RECREATION PROGRAMS:

  1. Baseball:
    • Registration:  October 28, 2022 – January 31, 2023
    • Play Dates:  April – June
    • Leagues Summary:
      • T-ball (Pre-K 4 – Kindergarten) – $160; Instructional with practice/ games on Saturday mornings from Opening Day thru June.
      • American League (1st & 2nd grade) – $180; Instructional with practices/ games. Practices will be twice per week and Saturday games.
      • Minor League (3rd & 4th grade) – $200; Play against other surrounding town teams, 2 games per week + practices
      • Major League (5th & 6th grade) – $200; Play against other surrounding town teams, 2 games per week + practices.
      • Pony League (7th & 8th grade) – $200; Play against other surrounding town teams, games/ practices TBD.
  1. Softball
    • Registration:  October 28, 2022 – January 31, 2023
    • Play Dates:  April – June
    • Leagues Summary:
      • Junior League (PreK [age 4] – Kindergarten) – $160: 10-week program, Saturdays from Opening Day thru June
      • Division 3 (1st & 2nd grade) – $180: games 2x per week + practices
      • Division 2 (3rd – 5th grade) – $200: games 2x per week + practices
      • Division 1 (6th – 8th grade) – $200: games 2x per week + practices

 

TRAVEL PROGRAMS:

The Travel program is offered to players who wish to compete at the highest level of competition. Spring Travel players must register for the Recreation program in order to play Travel. Travel players possess the desire to hone their skills with like-minded peers. Players, parents, and coaches make a substantial commitment and investment to the team and the game. Players are expected to make baseball a priority, practicing on their own outside of the scheduled team practices. As such, while the Recreation program guarantees ALL registrants will play, the Travel program may limit the number of players on a team via a player evaluation process. Playing time is determined by merit and is a coach-by-coach decision. Check out our Travel Program page for complete details.

 

Please note: ALL travel participants require new uniforms for Spring 2023.  MSBL has chosen a new jersey design, including a mascot/logo. The Uniform fee will include a new jersey, socks, belt, visor (for softball), cap (for baseball).  Stay tuned for details on our new logo. Baseball players will continue to wear their white pants.  Softball players will continue to wear their black pants.

  1. Baseball
    • Registration for 8U, 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U: October 28, 2022 – November 11, 2022. Deadlines will be enforced.
      • Player Evaluations for the above age levels: Tuesday November 15th and Thursday November 17th
      • All players who attended the November 15th evaluation need to come back on Thursday, Nov 17th to complete the evaluation from 5:30pm – 6:30pm at Major League Field
      • Players who did NOT attend the 11/15 evaluation will have their evaluation on 11/17 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm at Major League Field
    • Registration for Baseball 7U will run from October 28th – January 31st. We will be extending the registration for this age group as team formation/player evaluations will take place in February.
    • Important – The goal of Spring players evaluations is to create teams that will play together in Spring, Summer/Districts, Fall. Please note, there will no longer be tryouts for the District Tournament.
    • Participant Fee: $200
    • Play Dates:  Mid-March- June
    • For registration, please use the following age range requirements:
      • Age ranges for the 2023 Season will follow the Babe Ruth Age Chart:
        • 7U (7 & under): Players born on or after May 1, 2015.
        • 8U (8 & under): Players born on or after May 1, 2014.
        • 9U (9 & under): Players born on or after May 1, 2013.
        • 10U (10 & under): Players born on or after May 1, 2012.
        • 11U (10 & under): Players born on or after May 1, 2011.
        • 12U (12 & under): Players born on or after May 1, 2010.
        • 14U (14 & under): Players born on or after May 1, 2008.
      • Players have the opportunity to play up in age level but are not eligible to play down    
  1. Softball
    • Registration Information:
      • Registration for 10U and 12U will run from October 28th – November 11th .* Deadlines will be enforced.
      • Registration for 8U will run from October 28th – January 31st. We will be extending the registration for this age groups as team formation will take place in February.
      • Participant Fee: $200
      • Play Dates:  April – June
      • For registration, please use the following age range guidelines:
        • Age Ranges for the 2023 Season:
          • 8U (8 & under): Players born on or after 2014
          • 10U (10 & under): Players born on or after 2012
          • 12U (12 & under): Players born on or after 2010
          • 14U (14 & under): Players born on or after 2008
        • Players have the opportunity to play up in age level but are not eligible to play down
        • Please note: Eligibility by age range for travel softball is also set forth by the League(s) in which we enter. Some adjustments may need to be made once a League decision is made. The Travel program may limit the number of players on a team, thus requiring a player evaluation.  Our goal, based on registration outcomes, is to do our best to place every registered child on a team.
    • Evaluation Information:
      • What you need to know:
        • Date: Player Evaluations will occur Monday November 14th
        • Time: 4:30p – 5:30/6p
        • Location: Deerfield Senior Field
        • Who: 10U age level only – This evaluation is for those who registered for 10U only.
        • Check IN/drop off and pickup will be at the Senior Field. No parents are permitted to observe the evaluation.
      • Evaluations:
        • The evaluations of the tryouts will be supervised by Governor Livingston’s Head Softball Coach Erin Lanigan and her Assistant Coaches
        • Tryouts will consist of evaluation of speed, hitting, fielding, arm-strength, and pitching***
        • ***Those interested in Pitching will need to indicate that at check-in and will be evaluated towards the end of the evaluation
      • What to Bring:
        • Players should bring their own equipment to the evaluation (gloves, facemasks, chest guard, bat, helmet). Players should also bring plenty of water!
      • Reminders:
        • The MSBL board will take the following steps to ensure the evaluation process is as fair and independent as possible through the following actions:
          • Try-out evaluations will be conducted by independent, unbiased resources.
          • Parents will not be permitted to observe the evaluation.
          • Coaches will be named after the try-out results have been completed and rosters have been selected.
          • By no means will individual scoring be shared with any individual, including the parents of their own child.
          • Evaluation Results, Roster Size and Cuts: Our goal is to place every registered child on a team. However, not every participant is guaranteed to make a team which will be based on factors including but not limited to the ultimate number of players who are registered and participate in the evaluation, the individual skill set of the player, and their relative performance as compared to the other players. When possible, multiple teams per level will be formed in the effort to provide all players an opportune home and not have to make any cuts.

*More information on our Travel Program can be found on our website, including how placement evaluations are conducted.

Questions?

 

Posted in News