LAA Travel Teams

LAA Travel Baseball Player Age Policy

Introduction

The recently revised Cal Ripken Age Determination Date will affect those participating in Langhorne Athletic Association's (LAA) Baseball Program. Coupled with this date, it is the intent of the Board to address LAA players 'playing up' (outside his/her age group) within the Suburban Travel Baseball Program, in which LAA Fields these teams.

Currently LAA fields teams to participate in the Suburban Travel Baseball League at the 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15-year old ages. Each year these teams can, and do, consist of players playing within their age group (age pure), and younger players playing outside their age group (playing up). Children play up for a variety of reasons. However, more times than not, a child will not be able to play at the same competitive level of baseball by playing up. And, therefore, will see less playing time than they would at the age-pure level.

The issues associated with Travel Players playing up are as follows:

  • A younger player's skills are 'watered down' by playing up in age against bigger, stronger, and more experienced players.
  • A younger player most likely will see less playing time when playing up.
  • A younger player most likely will have a less successful season.
  • The age-pure team would be missing out on the talent a player playing up could bring to, and strengthen, the team.
  • The team on which the player is playing up and the age-pure teams most likely will have their competitiveness compromised.
  • A younger player could take a roster spot from an eligible age-pure player.

The benefits of Age Pure Travel teams are:

  • A younger player will play, have the opportunity to showcase his skills, and stand out in his own age group.
  • Age-pure teams will have a better chance at fielding a more competitive team, an LAA goal.
  • A player will more likely retain their competitive spirit in an atmosphere with greater potential for success.

The purpose of instituting a Travel Player Age Pure Participation Policy is to address the issues noted above with an emphasis on the safety and well being of the LAA Baseball Player. This policy is intended to provide a playing atmosphere that will maintain the competitive spirit of the player, as well as the team as a whole. Not mentioned above are the benefits to the parents of the LAA Players when the child looks forward to playing. These should speak for themselves.

TRAVEL PROGRAM POLICY

Starting in 2006 the Age determination date for Cal Ripken Baseball Leagues has been changed from August 1st to April 30th. That is, the age a player is on April 30th will determine the In-house age group for which that player will try out and play. In an effort to maintain consistency between LAA's Travel and In-house Baseball Programs, it is the intent of the Baseball Board to establish a policy addressing the age at which players can try out and play Travel Baseball.

All Langhorne Athletic Association (LAA) Baseball players (Players) who try out for LAA-fielded Suburban Travel Baseball Teams will try out for the team at their age level as determined by Cal Ripken Age Determination date.

For the 2006 LAA Baseball Season ONLY a Player will only be permitted to 'play up' as follows:

  1. A Player who played up in age during the 2005 Season on a Travel Team will be 'grandfathered' and permitted to try out, and continue to play, with that team should that player choose to do so, throughout his/her career with LAA. The 2006 season will be the one, and only, year that a player has this option. If a player decides to try out with the age pure team in 2006, they will not have the option to play up in the following years.
  2. A Player who has played at the age pure level, but is affected by the Cal Ripken Age Determination Rule will also be eligible for to be grandfathered as described in number 1 above.
  3. All players trying out for LAA Travel Baseball who have not played Travel Baseball previously, must try out for the age pure team in the Travel Baseball program.
  4. A player who has skipped a year in Travel Baseball must try out for the age pure team in the Travel Baseball program.
  5. In the event that a Travel Baseball Team is not fielded for a particular age group, players in that age group will be permitted to play up in age at the discretion of the LAA Baseball Director, the LAA Travel Baseball Coaching Staff, and the Player's parents. All players falling into this category must be brought to the attention of the LAA Baseball Board by the Travel Team Head Coach.

The intent of the option to play up is to minimize the potential disruption that this policy may have on the current LAA membership. Most of the LAA Travel Baseball Teams at this time have players who are playing outside their age groups. The reasons for this range from players playing for a familiar coach, to simply needing enough players to field a team.

This policy, however, will be in full effect for the 2006 season moving forward. New players to the Travel Program must play at their age group, which eventually will lead to age pure travel teams, and a more competitive LAA Travel Program.