Help in organizing a New Chamber Baseball Team for Spring 2012

   Please contact the office for a Spring information packet
   jprager@sbcglobal.net or call cell 214 538-5863 

   Chamber Baseball, Inc allows you to build your team with players
   you choose. The League office and Chairmen are available to
   refer players of the correct age for your team, help you with
   practice and fields, and direct you to the various sporting
   goods suppliers and stores to purchase uniforms and equipment.
   You may hold tryouts or just take anyone who calls wanting to
   play. You choose the team. 
   
   You should never consider coaching or playing in a league that does not
   offer coaches and officials background checks, enhanced safety rules
   for the protection of younger players, and supplemental accident and
   general liability insurance coverage. All of these are included in the
   Chamber team fees.  
   
   The “team” begins with the person willing to organize and coach
   the thirteen to sixteen youth players and their parents. You
   will not be assigned players, but are required to have the
   minimum number of thirteen for all age teams. Your contacts
   with friends, school, church, etc. are a great place to start
   recruiting players. If your group has been playing in another
   program, all of your team’s players are eligible as long as they
   meet the age requirements. 

   The player is only as "good" as the parental commitment to have
   the player to the games and practices. You should detail to the
   parents your practice, game participation (playing time and
   positions), and your expectations that they will be available
   for the entire season. Final games may be as late as the end of
   June. Is the player scheduled for camps, school trips, or family
   vacations before the end of the season? All of these should be
   factors in you deciding which players should be on your Chamber
   team. You must have nine players to start and finish a game. The
   League gives you the opportunity to tell us dates you can not
   play before a schedule is prepared. We also allow you (with
   about a week’s notice) to play games ahead of the regular
   scheduled dates should unavoidable conflicts occur after the
   schedule is out. The rulebook mandates rather strict penalties
   for forfeits except in the youngest League. 

   You are going to need parents to help coach, organize, and
   collect paperwork and fees. Most are just waiting to be asked.
   Do not be bashful. The more people you have involved, the better
   the team works. If you wish, we have various Board Members that
   coach, and will come to your early practices to assist you in
   getting started. A well organized practice that has all players
   involved is one of the most important aspects of any youth sport.
 
   The league webpage offers links to various Baseball sites where
   you can find information on coaching philosophies, drills, and
   other tips to keep all the players occupied during your
   practices. 

   The website is also used to display schedules, standings, 
   tournament brackets and results, makeup game schedules, and other
   information that you will find helpful during the season. We will
   post all of the team names and phone numbers for each League (age
   group) to assist you in scheduling practice games or for any
   reason that you need to contact the other coach. Most of the
   league contact will be by email, but all of the office numbers
   and numbers for the various chairmen will be posted. A rainout
   number will be provided for all parents and coaches to call to
   relay information regarding weather situations that might impact
   games.

   Chamber Baseball emphasizes safety including protective equipment
   and limits on bat size. We penalize for intentional collisions,
   thrown bats, and anyone participating in unsafe activities at the
   parks. Team managers and coaches are required to assist in
   controlling inappropriate behavior of players, assistant coaches,
   and spectators from their team. 

   Teams are now forming. If you think this program is for you,
   please contact 

   Jerold Prager 
   Director of Operations
   email   jprager@sbcglobal.net
   or call 214 538-5863