FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

A new bat standard for 2018 (USABat) was announced this year(2017) and our sanctioning body, Dizzy Dean, has decided to adopt it beginning in January 2018. As a result, the AYBA Rec and Select programs will be adopting the new standard. Older BPF 1.15 bats bearing the USSSA stamp will NO LONGER be legal in league play.

The NEW Bat Rules are as follows:

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2018, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE -3 BAT (BBCOR CERTIFIED), ALL OTHER 2 5/8 IN MINUS FACTOR BATS (-5, -7,-9, ETC.) MUST BE YBBCOR CERTIFIED WITH THE USABat LICENSING STAMP ON THE BAT IN ORDER TO BE USED FOR LEAGUE AND TOURNAMENT PLAY. 2 5/8 INCH MINUS FACTOR BATS -5, -7, -9, ETC., USED IN 2017 WILL BE ILLEGAL TO USE IN 2018.

Here is a link to more information on the USABat standard: https://usabat.com/about/

The new bats are now in the stores and available online. Be aware when shopping for new bats as there are probably great deals out there on 2017 and older model bats that will no longer be legal in AYBA league play in 2018.

Note: the new bat rules do not apply to AYBA Travel teams as they do not play under the Dizzy Dean jurisdiction.

Q: What equipment do I need for evaluations?

Baseball Mitt
Baseball Helmet
Baseball Bat (That meets requirements, found on AYBA’s website)

They can wear baseball gear or just shorts/sweats/jeans and a t-shirt and of course rubber cleats or regular tennis shoes (running shoes, which ever you have)
All of these items can be purchased at Dick’s sporting goods (AYBA Sponsor) or other sporting goods stores.

Registration

Q: What is your refund policy?

Full refunds less administrative / processing charges will be granted upon written request made to the Director of Registration for all registered players that make such request before midnight Friday preceding evaluations. Refund requests made after midnight Friday preceding evaluations but before a player is drafted / placed on a team will be refunded at 50% of registration fee. Once a player has been drafted / placed on a team, refund requests will not be granted with the following exceptions:

A player makes his/her high school, high school junior varsity or high school freshman baseball team;
A player has or is moving from his/her current address to a location that potentially reasonably prohibits playing at Wills Park;
Medical hardship;
Financial hardship.

Appeals beyond the aforementioned must be made in writing to the Director of Registration. The appeal must include name, age group and reasons for the refund request. All appeals will be presented by the Director of Registration to the full AYBA board of directors for vote.

Rules and Code of Conduct

Q: Where are your rules and/or Code of Conduct?

The rules for each age group and our Code of Conduct are listed on the Rules page. AYBA has a strict Player, Parent and Coach Codes of Conduct that ALL participants and Parents MUST abide by.

Seasons

Q: Fall Season - What's different than Spring season?

The Fall Season is more of an instructional season because the kids are the youngest in the divisions because the birthday qualification date is April 30th of the next year so many kids won’t even turn the age of the division before the season ends. We work with the coaches to have them focus on mechanics, drills and fundamentals of baseball.

Travel Baseball

Q: My son would like to tryout for a travel team. Whom should I contact?

Bo Lanier

Umpires

Q: Who would I contact about becoming an umpire at the park?

Patrick Farber

www.youthleagueofficials.com

Weather

Q: What is the weather policy?

Wills Park has a weather threshold for cold weather. This is especially important for young arms and out-of-shape arms in the beginning of the season. If the “Feels like” weather is 40 degrees or below, you should not have your players out on the field. This is too cold for players and more importantly the players’ arms. There is also the risk that they can crack their $250+ bat which would not please the parents either.

We will use the information on Weather.Com to monitor the “Feels like” weather for the park:

Check this link
Look for the "Feels like" weather under the current temperature.

Check the Field Status page for updates.

Quick Links

Follow @alphabaseball