FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’s)

17) Does the B - W perform background checks on its volunteers?

18) Does B - W have its own Babe Ruth Program?

Answers:

1) I am new to Woodbridge, so can you give me some details and insight on the League Divisions within Beth - Wood Baseball and how the League is made up?

The Beth - Wood Baseball League (formerly the Woodbridge Fathers Baseball League and Bethany BSL) was established back in 1972 and is currently chartered with Babe Ruth League Inc., headquartered in Trenton, NJ. We are comprised of the following League Divisions :

Division                       Ages (as of *April 30th of the current year)

Instructional Tee Ball    4 (Girls and Boys)
Tee Ball                       5 & 6 (Girls and Boys)
Rookies                       7 & 8 (Girls 7 and Boys, 7 & 8)
Boys Minors                9 & 10 
Boys Majors                11 & 12
Babe Ruth Prep           13
Babe Ruth                   14 & 15
 

Tee Ball is an instructional Division that normally plays on Wednesday evenings (games) and Saturday mornings (practices).  The basics of the game are taught with Coaches in the field closely instructing the players.  Games last only about an hour or so and are extremely low key ; no scores are kept, so everyone goes home a winner !!

Rookies is an instructional Division that plays games twice during the week and practices once on Saturday; pitching is done via a manual pitching machine.  This is a step up from Tee Ball where catchers are used and fundamental baseball rules are applied during the course of each game.  Coaches again are on the field to offer instruction and like Tee Ball, no scores are kept and all games end up in a tie !!

Boys Minors and Majors Divisions play games twice (at times three times) during the week and practice once.  If games are rained out during the week, they are made up on Saturday during the designated practice time slots.  Players pitch in both these Divisions and there are trophies for League Division winners.

Last year, the Beth - Wood had a total of {42} Teams comprising of Players from the Towns of Bethany and Woodbridge.

2) Do you have a Girls Softball program?

We did have a Girls Softball program for many years but no longer administer it through the Beth - Wood. The new Beth – Wood Softball Little League administers Girls Softball for Players between the ages of 7 – 15. You may contact them directly to obtain further information : John Cologgi (Beth – Wood Softball) at jcologgi@sbcglobal.net.

3) Who can sign up to participate in Beth - Wood ; do I have to be a resident of Woodbridge or Bethany?

You MUST be a resident of Woodbridge and/or Bethany and have a legal address to register in Beth - Wood. If you go to school at Ezra Academy in Woodbridge but reside in New Haven or a surrounding Town, you are NOT eligible to participate.

4) When does the Season begin and when does it end?

The B - W Season begins the first week in April with practices, once all the Teams are formed. Official games start the last weekend in April with Opening Day Ceremonies held at the Woodbridge Town Green and extends through the third week of June or so, when school ends. For those Players interested and talented enough, All Star play then begins and runs through the early part of August.

5) When is Registration ; when are games and practices scheduled?

Registration for the Beth - Wood will be held on January 27th & 30th and February 4th & 6th – go to the B - W Registration icon on our Web Site to obtain further information and download the necessary Registration forms!!

Games are normally scheduled during the week (Monday – Friday), with a few games but mainly practices held on Saturdays. There is no schedule for games or practices on Sundays. In case of rain-outs for the Boys Minors / Majors, there will be mandatory make-up games that following Saturday in the time slots designated for practices (no make-ups however for Tee Ball and Rookies).

6) What is the Registration cost for each League Division in the Spring and when is it due?

Registration costs are as follows, for the Spring Season of 2010:

4's Tee Ball          $   80.00
Tee Ball               $   85.00
Rookies               $ 120.00
Boys Minors         $ 155.00
Boys Majors         $ 170.00

Payment is due immediately at Registration.

7) How does the League determine where my son / daughter will play this year ; what is the age cut-off date and can it be waived?

Your son or daughter will be placed in a respective League Division based on his / her age as of APRIL 30th of that calendar year, which has been set and established by Babe Ruth League (for a description of the League Divisions, refer to Item No. 1 above).

This cut-off date cannot be waived as we must abide by League policies, especially when it comes to insurance purposes. Unless there is an extenuating circumstance to keep a Player down a year (which can only be approved by the B - W Board of Directors), all Players MUST play with their peers on the same age level, without exception.

8) I have heard that my son / daughter may have to attend a try-out or screening this year – what is this, why is it done and what should we expect?

Every child who registers gets placed on a Team / no child will get left behind!!  To form our Teams, we hold Evaluations / Screenings that provide a one-time opportunity for Team Managers to evaluate the talent of new Players (throwing, catching and hitting) so they may draft them accordingly as to their ability. These screenings are normally held inside a batting cage facility or a gym during the month of February on various dates during the week and on the weekends.

For Boys Minors and Majors, these Division will again be totally re-drafted as in years past, which established a sense of equality and parity for all the teams.  It is MANDATORY for all Players ages 9 & 10 to attend this screening.. 

For the Rookies program in 2010 (ages 7 & 8), the Board has decided to merge the children from Bethany and Woodbridge and draft Teams; evaluations / screenings will be held prior to the draft to allow the Coaches to carefully evaluate the talent to ensure these Teams are equal in ability.

For Tee Ball (ages 4 and 5 / 6) there are no screenings for these Divisions.

9) Do I need to bring my child’s Birth Certificate to Registration?

If your child is registering in the B - W for the first time, you must bring a copy of his / her Birth Certificate to Registration so it may be verified with the date on the Registration form. We do not have to keep a copy once it is checked.

10) What is All Stars and how long does this last?

All Stars is made up of separate 'A' Teams with ages of 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12.  This is extremely competitive and involves total commitment from the middle of June through the first week in August or so, where each All Star Team may play in excess of 25 games (not including practices). If your son / daughter is of All Star caliber and you agree to abide by the criteria set forth by the B - W in our All Star Policies, they may be nominated to play on that Team (note that not all Players who are nominated are selected, as there may be try-outs if the Players nominated exceed the amount of Players a Team will carry). Note there are specific restrictions pertaining to the commitment All Stars require, so if you are seriously considering this, please make sure you plan your vacations in mid to late August to avoid problems.

We also have  'B' All Star Teams that allows Players who cannot make the total commitment to play on the 'A' Teams an opportunity to play competitive baseball during the summer due to vacations or camp.  This has met with much success in past years and we plan to continue it, as long as there is enough interest to form these Teams and we have adequate coaching.

11) What is the difference between a Team Manager and a Coach?

In addition to coaching the Team, the Manager is also responsible for scheduling practices, establishing the line-up for each game, Player substitutions during the game, his / her Team’s equipment, drafting his / her Team Players, make Player nominations for All Stars and is the main Team point of contact between League Officials and his / her Team. He / she is also responsible for the conduct of not only his / her Players and Coaches but the spectators for his Team as well.

The Coaches take their direction from the Team Manager and may be asked to manage the Team in his / her absence.

12) How can I become involved in managing, coaching or just volunteering within the Beth - Wood?

If you are interested in Managing and / or Coaching your son’s / daughter’s Team, so note this on the Player Registration forms when you submit same during physical Registrations that will be taking place during the month of January. 

We are always looking for volunteers, whether it be a Team Parent or scorekeeper; Beth - Wood would not be as successful without your help!!

If you are interested in becoming either a Team Manger or Coach, you MUST complete the on-line Coaches Certification Course being offered by Babe Ruth League prior to the start of 2010, in accordance with League regulations.  Documents pertaining to this Certification will be available at physical Registration and on the Beth - Wood Web Site.

13) What is a Team Sponsor and how can obtain a form ; can I sponsor my son’s / daughter’s Team?

You can become a Team Sponsor by clicking on the icon B - W League Team Sponsors, download the appropriate Team Sponsor form and send it in with your check by the end of March, 2010 (the earlier the better, as Teams tend to fill up with Sponsors very quickly). As a Sponsor, not only does your Sponsorship help outfit that Team, you also get your Company Name printed on the Team hats, get a free ½ page AD in our 2010 Program Book and receive a Team photo at the end of the year.

Note that preference will be given to those Team Sponsors who have sponsored Teams in the past over those doing it for the first time. If there is already a Sponsor for the Team you would like to sponsor, you can either opt to sponsor another Team in the B - W or as some have done in past years, opt to have a sign erected on the outfield fending at the Acorn Hill ballfields (or you can do both, if you so desire). For the Sponsor Fence Signs, click on the B - W Sponsor Fence Signs icon, download the appropriate form and send it in with your artwork / check accordingly. It’s just that simple …

 

14) Can I request that my son / daughter be placed on a Team with a specific Manager / Coach or with a friend of theirs?

For the Tee Ball League Divisions, if you would like your son / daughter to play with a friend due to car-pooling purposes or whatever the reason may be, the B - W can accommodate most requests (as these are not competitive Leagues and we try to keep the children together with their friends). We request that when you turn in your son’s / daughter’s Registration form, you clearly note your desire of the children you would like them to be with ; when the Teams are formed, the League Officials will then attempt to accommodate most requests accordingly. We cannot promise every request will be granted however …

However, for Rookies, Minors and Majors, as these are competitive Divisions, the B - W can NOT accommodate any requests as these Teams are selected during a League Division a Draft that is held during the early part of March, following the try-out / screening process. 
 

15) What equipment do I need to purchase for my son / daughter?

The B - W provides batting helmets, baseballs, Team jerseys / hats, stirrup socks (for Boys Minors Division and up), catcher’s equipment (shin pads, face mask, chest protector and catcher’s mitt for Rookies Division and up), medical kit with ice packs as well as Tees for the Tee Ball League Division. 

Parents are responsible for providing baseball gloves, baseball shoes (no metal spikes), bats and baseball pants for their children.

16) Does the B - W have a Fall Ball Season ; if not, who can I contact?

The B - W will be sponsoring Fall Ball Teams, which Season occurs from September through October. If your son / daughter is interested in playing Fall Ball in 2010, the B - W will have a spot on the Registration form so you may indicate your interest at that time. The B - W will then contact you and will hold a physical sign-up during the month of June (before the regular Season ends) so you may register your children to participate.

17) Does the B - W perform background checks on its volunteers.

Yes, the B - W performs background checks on an annual basis on all of its volunteers, Coaches, Managers, etc. who participate in the B - W. This Volunteer Form is available both at physical Registration and on the B - W Web Site.

 

18) Does the B - W have its own Babe Ruth Program?

The Babe Ruth program is run by the Amity Babe Ruth, which is part of Beth - Wood Baseball.  B - W had its own Babe Ruth program until a few years ago when it merged with Orange (Amity Babe Ruth is now comprised of Players from Bethany, Woodbridge, and Orange).

Babe Ruth Divisions                Ages
Babe Ruth Prep                        13
Babe Ruth                                14 & 15
Senior Babe Ruth                      16 - 18

The Babe Ruth Division is a major step up from Boys Majors as it is played on a 90' diamond, up from the 60' / 70' diamonds, and it is much more competitive.  It is for the serious Player only.  There is a separate 13 year-old Prep Division that allows the Players to become acclimated to the larger field.  For additional information or if you have any questions pertaining to Amity Babe Ruth, feel free to contact Bob Hill via email at bobh@praetoriangroup.net ...