FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Travel Baseball Program?

SOM Baseball provides an opportunity for interested baseball players, ages 7 – 13 to participate in primarily summer travel leagues and tournaments. Teams are selected following a competitive tryout process during April, and begin practicing shortly after. Teams may also play in a Memorial Day Weekend tournament. Teams will compete in league play and tournaments during June and July. Once the Recreation season ends, these teams will play approximately 12-18 games and will practice 2-4 times a week. Most games are in Essex, Union and Morris counties.

Who do I contact for more questions or information?

Inquiries may be submitted regarding the program to Dave Amerikaner or Paul Hastings at the main program email travelteam.sombaseball@gmail.com or the main Rec program email at  recreation@southorange.org

What is the difference between the Travel Baseball program and the spring recreation league?

The spring recreation program is open to all children, regardless of ability. Teams for the travel program are selected following separate tryouts. Players are expected to have an above average level of proficiency in order to participate. Players are expected to attend nearly all games and practices. With the higher level of competition, playing time is solely at the discretion of the coach based on a player’s ability, attitude, attendance and game conditions.

How many teams will there be?

The number of teams at each age group depends on the number of qualified players who tryout and coaching volunteers in each age category.

How will the teams be selected?

Teams will be selected by considering performance at the workouts and tryouts. Other factors to be considered are the evaluations for the recreation program, a player’s performance during past travel sessions, and a player’s demonstrated commitment to baseball and the travel program. Generally, a team’s roster will include 12-15 players from the same age group.

When there are enough qualified players in any age group for multiple teams the travel committee will determine how the players should be divided. The objective being to try to make both teams competitive in games they play in.

To increase the number of players participating in summer travel baseball, depending on the number of players trying out at the different age groups, it is possible that an additional team may be created combining players from two age groups.

Where will they play?

All teams in each age group will participate in league play locally, in a league selected based upon level of competition. Some teams will play in the Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth tournaments. All teams will play in other tournaments as well.

What are the eligibility requirements?

Team Eligibility is based on the child's age on April 30 - See: Rec Age Levels. Players are required to participate in the SOM Baseball spring recreation league in order to play summer ball.

When are the tryouts and when are the teams selected?

SOM Baseball will hold tryouts in late March or early April for ages 8-13. Tryouts for 7 year old players are typically held in late April/eary May mid-May. Final dates and times will be posted here when determined. Within 2 days of the completion of tryouts, team rosters will also be posted on www.sombaseball.org.

What can I expect if my child makes a team?

The travel baseball program was formed to allow a child who has a real desire to play baseball, to learn and improve at the next level. Coaches will focus on improving your child’s skills, reinforcing sound fundamentals, teaching sportsmanship, and stressing the importance of teamwork and commitment. Our goal is for all children participating in the travel program to come away from the experience as better players while having fun in the process.

What is the time commitment required?

Practices will begin following selection most frequently on Sunday. Once the recreation season ends practices will be held 2-4 nights a week in addition to league games which begin in mid-June. Travel Leagues typically schedule three games per week. All games including playoff games are completed by July 31. Weeknight games generally start at 6:00. Tournament games and make up games may be scheduled at any time.

Players are expected to attend nearly all practices and games as well as to commit for the entire season. If you are planning vacation in June or July, you must make the coach aware of this at tryouts. Players who fail to comply with this request will be ineligible for travel play the following year.

What is the fee for the Travel Baseball program?

Fees are determined per year, but on average have been approximately between $300 and $350 for the summer season, toward the lower end for younger players and higher end for older players.

Registration fees cover all league fees, umpire costs, uniform costs and one team tournament. Fees for additional tournament play is the responsibility of the individual team and its players. This fee includes a $20.00 per player fee dedicated to future field restoration and improvements.

My child goes to sleepaway camp all summer. Can we still participate?

The travel baseball program is a three season commitment. This includes winter training from
January - March, a spring season from April to early June, and a summer season from early
June to late July. We expect families to commit to all three seasons. However, on a case by
case basis it may be possible for families whose children go to sleepaway camp for most of the
summer season to still participate. We recommend speaking with the head coach of your child’s
age level and the travel coordinators to learn more.

Does my child need to participate in the SOM recreational baseball league in order to participate in the travel program?

Yes! Over 700 children participate in rec baseball in SOM each spring. It is a wonderful
community program, and our travel baseball players have all developed and grown up playing
rec. One of the core values of our program is that the rec baseball program thrives with the
involvement of its most committed players, who are often the players who play travel baseball
as well. Participation in the rec baseball program is a requirement for participation in travel
baseball.

I’m not sure I can afford to participate. Is there any financial aid available?

The SOM Baseball Boosters, a local non-profit organization, raises money to ensure that
everyone within our community has the opportunity to play baseball. We recommend reaching
out to Ed Matthews with the SOM Baseball Boosters (ematthews@bournenoll.com) directly to
learn more if the costs involved in this program would be a hardship for your family.

How will tryouts work with the expanded travel program?

Tryouts will be held in early December to form a group of approximately 25 players at each age
level. Tryouts will include fielding, hitting, and pitching for those interested. Tryouts will be held
over two days per age level at both The Armory in West Orange and at Dingers in Maplewood.
Tryouts will be evaluated by independent evaluators who have no direct connection with the age
group being evaluated. At the conclusion of the tryouts, approximately 25 players per age level
will be selected for the travel program at each age level. Those 25 kids will train together in the
winter, giving players an even longer period of time to hone their skills and show what they can
do. At the conclusion of the winter workouts, Red (A) and Black (B) teams will be formed in
March.

What is the role of the parent and professional coaches?

Each age level will have two or more lead parent coaches. In consultation with the travel
coordinators, the lead parent coaches will be responsible for designing the winter training, and

the plans for the spring and summer seasons. This includes deciding on the professional coach
to work with for winter training, and whether or not to utilize a professional coach in the spring. It
is expected that at the older age levels (10U and up), professional coaches will play a bigger
role in the spring season, including serving as head coaches for some teams.

Can my child still participate if they cannot attend all training sessions during the winter or if they have other commitments during the spring?

We recommend speaking with the travel coordinators and the lead parent coaches at your age
level to find alternate arrangements. It may be possible to have your player attend workouts with
another age group where there are direct conflicts during the winter. In the spring, please reach
out with your specific scheduling concerns. Similar to the summer, we will work with each family
on a case by case basis.

Will the travel program be offered during the fall?

The travel program is not planning to expand to the fall for now. We believe that it is important to
allow athletes to play other sports and do other activities, and to take some time off from
baseball. While we know that some of our travel players will still play on baseball teams during
the fall season, the SOM Baseball Travel program will not operate in the fall and do not expect
families to make a full year commitment to baseball.

How does payment work? Will winter and spring travel be one payment and due when?

Payment for winter workouts will be due when teams are formed in December, before winter
workouts begin in January. Payment for the spring season will be collected at some point in
February or March, before the spring season begins. Payment will be collected through
GiveButter; a link will be provided to families whose players are participating.