What is the age cutoff date and how much is the Registration Fee for the Midget Baseball Division?
The age cutoff date is May 1. The player's age as of April 30, is the division they should play in.
What clothing will my child receive as part of the registration fee?
Each player registered will receive the following:
What equipment will be provided by the league for use during games and practices?
The following equipment will be available for use during games and practices - Batting Helmets, Bases, Baseballs, Catcher’s gear
Is there any other equipment I should consider purchasing for my child?
Yes. Players should be equipped with an appropriate sized baseball glove. All male players should have and wear a protective cup. Appropriate sized baseball bat, batting gloves, and a water bottle are recommended, but not required.
What guidelines should I use when determining what size/type bat to buy?
If purchasing a bat, it should be aluminum for use in our league. The weight of a bat can vary. The lighter a bat is, the easier it will be for your child to control the bat and swing it effectively. As a test, have your child hold the bat directly out from their side without bending their elbow. If they can hold it for 30 seconds without having it rise higher or lower, than it’s an appropriate weight.
What guidelines should I use in determining what size baseball glove to purchase for my child?
Kids 9 and 10 years of age should consider gloves in the 11 to 11.5 inch range. Especially search for a flexible glove. Young players not able to close their glove well can be frustrating for them. There are a variety of methods to soften or break-in a glove. Your player's hand should fit comfortably into the glove as well. Cost of a baseball glove can very widely based on manufacturer, size, style, and material.
When does the Baseball Season Begin and end? And where are the games played?
Practices for the season normally begin in early April and the regular season runs through June. Normally there will be 6-8 practices, and approximately 12-14 games played during this time period. Midget Baseball Games and Practices will take place at Northwest Elementary which is located at 1233 Bower Street in Howell.
Field Maps and Addresses can be found at
http://www.howellbaseball.org/page/show/660497-field-maps
How important is it that my child attends practices?
It is very important for your child to arrive at practices on time and attend as many as they can. It is during the practices that the skills needed to become a good ball player and enjoy the games are learned. At this age, repetition of specific drills will help to build their confidence and understanding of the game.
Do we keep score?
Yes. Midget game scores and standings are recorded. You can view what place your team is in by going to the HAJBA website. Many of the umpires at this age range only have one or two seasons of experience. They are usually kids and somewhat learning on the job. We ask all parents to be patient and understanding of this. As a spectator, all questions on calls made by umpires should be directed to your team manager. At no time should a spectator directly approach an umpire during the game. The umpires are doing the best they can, and deserve to be left to do their job without harassment from anyone.
What is the HAJBA In House Tournament?
Midget players get to participate in the end of the season HAJBA tournament. Shortly after the the end of the season. Teams are seeded based on regular season standings to play in the tournament held at Northwest Elementary. The winner of the tournament and the runner up team both receive trophies and play the championship game. It’s important to plan summer vacations around this tournament so your child can participate. A shortage of more than 3 players per team leads to a forfeit and can disappoint other teammates looking forward to the tournament.
How does pitching work in the Midget Baseball Division?
The Midget Baseball Division is where kid pitching for complete games is introduced. All kids are taught how to pitch in this league. There are limits as to how many innings a particular player can pitch per game, and per week. Your coach can answer any questions you have in reference to this and the rulebook is available for download from the website. These pitching rules are put into place to ensure that we are looking out for our children’s future where pitching is concerned. While instruction is given on how to pitch, it’s important that follow up practice happens at home. This practice will straighten the players arm and give them confidence to throw pitches around the strike zone. After warming up with stretching and long toss, please limit the amount of pitches thrown to 60.
Can I assist the managers and coaches during games and practices?
HAJBA is an all-volunteer organization. The league relies heavily on the involvement of parents during games and practices. From our experience, managers/coaches at this age level welcome the involvement of parents at many different levels. They may ask you to assist with coaching a base, managing the dugout or keeping score. Don’t hesitate to ask the manager/coach to assist them when you’re available to do so. Also understand that there may be situations where the coach has enough helpers for a specific game or practice. But by offering to assist, you are letting the coach know that for future needs, you would be more than willing to help. If your schedule allows, you should consider managing a team yourself next year. It’s a wonderful experience and allows you to give back to the community in a way that words can’t describe.
Will my child’s games and practices be on the same day each week? And will there be weekend games?
Due to the number of registrants in our programs, your child will not have practices and/or games on the same day each week. At the beginning of the season, you will be provided with a practice/game schedule for your child’s team. We get this posted as soon as we have a good feel for the number of teams we will have for a particular season. Your child may have regularly schedules games or practices on any weekday or Saturday.
If I have a problem with the way that my child is being treated by our manager/coach/teammates, what should I do?
If you have concerns where your child’s role in the team is concerned, your child’s team manager and/or coach should be given the opportunity to hear your concern first. They are the person most likely able to ease your concern and make any changes that may need to be made. Our team managers are all volunteers, and they do their best to make the baseball experience enjoyable and educational as possible for all players. The best time to approach a manager/coach with a concern is after practices and/or prior to games. These times are likely to be the least busy for the manager/coach and will allow them to give you the needed time to listen to your concern. Should your concerns not be adequately addressed to your satisfaction by your manager/coach, you do have the option of contacting the Midget Commissioner as well.
The commissioner contact info can be found at www.howellbaseball.org.
Be aware that the commissioner’s first action will be to contact the manager and discuss the situation with them. That’s why it is important that you give your manager an opportunity to hear your concern prior to contacting the bantam Commissioner. If you believe you need further support, please contact the HAJBA Board (President, Vice President, or Director of Baseball)