Hawk and Raptor Selection, Rules and Costs
1. "Summer Tournament teams" are the teams selected at the end of the regular in house
season. The teams are announced no later than August 1st. The teams are constituted
from the announcement of the team until the end of the following seasons tournament
play. Each division will have a "Raptor" team and a "Hawk" team. This will be
called Summer Ball.
2. Raptor/Hawk teams will begin practice in January following the prior year's
"Summer Tournament teams" season. The league allows travel teams to play two non-tournament games a week, one on Sunday and one on another day, home or away, slected by the board and not to conflict with the league in house season. This will be called Spring Ball.
3. "Raptors" will be the top twelve players voted on by division managers at the end of
the regular in house season. "The Hawks are the 13* -24th highest voted on players
by division managers at the end of the regular in house season. These players will be
used as alternative players to the Raptor team who may need additional players.
4. The Hawk/Raptor season begins in January and ends in August.
5. The "Alternate Players" - are the players rated 13th, 14th, and 15th from a tryout or
players receiving the 13th 14th and 15th most votes per age group who will be playing
on the Hawk team
6. At nomination time, all teams will have a minimum roster of 12 players for 12 and
under teams. If, after nominations, teams drop below 12 players, a try out will be
held and will be open to anyone.
7. The "Raptor/Hawk Coordinator" is a senior board member, who in addition to their
regular board position will oversee the Raptor/Hawk teams and may also be referred
to as the Tournament Baseball player agent.
8. Raptor/Hawk players, including the 13 and 14 year-old full-time travel players
representing FSBL, are prohibited from playing on any other full-time travel teams
during the season.
Procedures for team selection
8-year-old team
1. A multiple-day try out will be held to determine the team. Try outs should be held in
mid-May to allow the team to be formed and practice in advance of a July schedule of
games.
2. Pinto managers will nominate players they believe have the skills and commitment to
play competitive baseball. Any child who was not nominated will be allowed to try
out if his/her parent deems appropriate.
3. A Raptor/Hawk selection letter from FSBL will be given to each child nominated by
his/her manager explaining all aspects of the Tournament Baseball selection.
4. Mustang managers and league officials will evaluate the players. The Pinto player
agent, Tournament team player agent, and Vice President of Operations with tally the
results and determine the team.
5. The top twelve rated players will be placed on the Raptor team. Players rated 13 - 15
will be alternate players for the team. Only the player agent, Raptor player agent and
VP of Operations will know who these players are and their order of rank. Players
receiving the 13th - 24th highest vote will play on the Hawk team.
6. The Raptor and Hawk team managers will be selected by the FSBL board. If a manager that fits this category is not selected, the Raptor Player agent and VP of Operations will elect a manager from a pool of interested player's parents.
7. The manager will immediately meet with his team, review the schedule of
tournaments and determine if any alternate players are needed. Depending upon the
roster requirements of the tournaments the manger, player agent, Raptor player agent
and VP of Operations will determine the need for alternate players. If a Raptor team
uses more than two Hawk players the league needs to decide how deep into the
league we want to go filling in these teams for Summer and Spring ball.
8. Alternative players will be notified and practice with the team only if a need exists.
9 - 12 year old teams
1. Managers will nominate players at each age level based on skills, ability and
commitment of the players. Nominated players will attend a mandatory exposure
camp.
2. Players will be elected to the team by a vote of the managers of the division in which
they play. The games played during the season will be the basis upon which players
are evaluated.
3. A Tournament Baseball letter will be given to each child nominated by his/her
manager explaining all aspects of "Hawk" and "Raptor" teams.
4. Managers will submit, to the player agent or other designated league official, their
nominations at each age group. All managers must attend the all star selection
meeting. Any manager not being able to make the meeting will vote by:
a. Absentee ballot
b. Substitute who is usually a team coach. The manager is required to verbally
inform the division player agent of his choices if a substitute is acting in his stead.
5. The division player agent, Tournament Baseball player agent, and Vice President of
Operations will tally the results and determine the team.
6. The top twelve players receiving the most votes will be placed on the Raptor Team.
7. Players receiving the 13th, 14th, and 15th most votes will be the alternate players. Only
the player agent, Tournament Baseball player agent and VP of Operations will know
the names of these players and their ranking. In order to be considered an alternate
player, the player must receive more than one vote.
8. The Raptor/Hawk Manager will be selected by the FSBL board. If a manager that fits
this category is not selected, the player agent, Raptor Player agent and VP of
Operations will elect a manager from a pool of interested player's parents
9. The manager will immediately meet with his team, review the schedule of all-star
tournaments and determine if any alternate players are needed. Depending on the
roster requirements of the tournaments the manger, player agent, Tournament
Baseball player agent and VP of Operations will determine the need for alternate
players.
10. Alternative players will be notified and practice with the team only if a need exists.
Players receiving the 13th - 24th highest vote totals will play on the "Hawk Team".
The league will need to determine how deep into the league it will go to fully staff
these teams for both Summer and Spring ball.
11. Players vote to the Raptor/Hawk teams will be asked to sign a commitment letter and
provide a nonrefundable Raptor/Hawk fee within 14 days of announcement of the
teams. If a player fails to sign the letter or pay the fee, their spot will be forfeited and
the next alternate will be added to the team.
12. If all alternates (all players receiving more than one vote) are exhausted, a tryout for
the specific level will be held within 30 days of the original announcement of the
team. The players making the team from the tryout will be required to sign the
commitment letter and pay the nonrefundable fee. All teams must have 12 players at
this point.
13. All Raptor and Hawk players must pay a $275 commitment fee in August to
guarantee their spot on the team (otherwise known as the commitment fee). The fee
is based on the level and is determined by the board. If a player does not pay the fee
in the prescribed time, their spot on the Raptor or Hawk team will be forfeited.
13 year old and above
1. Tournament teams at 13 year old and older will have an annual tryout for all
incumbent and new players in late July or early August to determine the next season's
Raptor and Hawk teams. The Raptor team will play a full time travel schedule. The
Hawk teams will play in house and play a part time travel schedule as determined by
the league.
2. There will be 12 players per travel baseball team. Teams needing players after the
fall tryout will have a tryout as needed. Players trying out for Travel Baseball must
be registered in FSBL. In addition to the loss of the candy fee any player who tries
out for a Travel team, does not make the team and then quits the in house league
before 1/2 of the in house schedule is complete will lose 50% of their registration fee.
If they quit after 1/2 of the season the entire registration fee is forfeited.
3. The league recommends that all Raptors at 13 y/o and older teams play at 60/90 when
available.
4. In house play will receive field priority.
5. All Raptor and Hawk players must pay a fee in August to guarantee their spot on the
team (otherwise known as the commitment fee). The fee is based on the level and is
determined by the board. If a player does not pay the fee in the prescribed time, their
spot on the Raptor or Hawk team will be forfeited.
Summer Ball Tournaments
Teams will play in the following number of June/July/August tournaments
|
Age
|
No. of local tournaments
|
|
8
|
Raptors 3/Hawks 3
|
|
9
|
Raptors 3/Hawks 3
|
|
10
|
Raptors 3/Hawks 3
|
|
11
|
Raptors 3/Hawks 3
|
|
12
|
Raptors 3/Hawks 3
|
|
13 and up
|
Raptors 3/Hawks 3
|
Spring Ball and Games played
The teams will play the following number of games based on their age and
division as outlined below.
|
Age
|
League
|
|
9
|
Play in a local league, subject to board approval. Usually a league fee
exists to be paid by the players on the team.
|
|
10
|
Play in a local league, usually with no league fee, subject to board
approval. Usually a league fee exists to be paid by the players on the
team.
|
|
11
|
Play in a local league, join NIML or similar organization, subject to
board approval. Usually a league fee exists to be paid by the players
on the team.
|
|
12
|
Play in a local league, join NIML or similar organization, subject to
board approval. Usually a league fee exists to be paid by the players
on the team.
|
|
13 & 14
|
Raptor teams play full-time travel with no in house commitment.
Hawk teams play an in house schedule and may play additional
games during the week.
|
House league games will take precedent over Raptor games. Thus, Raptor
schedules should not conflict with house league game schedules.
Uniforms
Uniforms for all teams will be purchased through the league and conform to league
chosen color scheme and design as follows.
Age Uniform
8 and up Players are responsible for the cost of their uniforms. The uniform
will consist of a shirt where the number is required and name is
optional, pants, socks, hat, belt and helmet.
Tournament Team Costs
1. The league will pay all of the July/August, All Star tournament entry fees and costs
for all teams, based on the schedule listed above.
2. Uniform cost to be determined on an annual basis and paid by each player.
3. Hawk/Raptor fundraising to be determined by league as needed.
4. Other than the July/August All Star tournaments, Raptor/Hawk team costs are the
responsibility of each team's players. This would include league entry fees, umpires,
jackets, bat bags and tournament fees.
Tournament Team Fundraising
1. Any fundraising requested by Tournament teams will be submitted to the
Hawk/Raptor coordinator for consideration. Team manager must submit budget of proposed baseball fees.
Any fundraising projects that seek to raise funds exceeding the player fees and costs must be presented to the
board of directors for consideration by Hawk/Raptor coordinator.
2. No Tournament team fundraising shall conflict with the league's general fundraising
and no Tournament team player will be excused from the league's general fundraising.
