Around the Horn Volume 18

In this edition of Around the Horn, you will find reminders and/or details for the following:

Spring Break Tune-Up Clinic
Opening Day Sign-Ups
Why Does Hardball Have Private Coaches
Sponsorship Opportunities
Registration Update… Going…Going…Gone
Last Remaining Free Agent Assignments
Team To-Do Lists

Important Links:

FAQs

Team Rosters

Rookie Ball

A – Coach Pitch (6U MTB)

AA – Coach Pitch (7U)

AAA – Coach Pitch (8U)

Majors – Player Pitch (9U)

Spring Break Tune-Up Clinic

There are still some spots in the tune-up clinics this week. If you are in town, and you need your boys out of the house for a bit, kill two birds with one stone by getting them some great practice time.

The clinic will consist of a practice style opening followed by a fast-paced scrimmage to maximize exposure to as many game-like baseball situations as possible. Age specific Dallas Hardball rules will be used to ensure the players will be aware of what to expect on game days this spring.

7U Tues 3/14 1:30-3:30 $65

8U Wed 3/15 1:30-4:00 $80

9u/10u Thurs 3/16 1:30-4:00 $80

Greg Good is a former division-1 baseball player who played for a Top-25 team at UCF. He was a first baseman and pitcher for the Knights. His 2 sons, Elliot (9U) and Oliver (7U) are excited about their upcoming Hardball seasons.

What to bring/wear: Water, hat, helmet, bat, and glove. Baseball pants are recommended. We will have extra bats and helmets on hand in case a player does not yet have one or forgets one.

Drop off up to 15 minutes before scheduled start time. Pickup no later than 10 minutes after scheduled end time. Meet in the third base dugout for drop off and pick up.

Email jeremy@dallashardball.com and Venmo to @jeremycade to snag a spot.

It’s Baseball Time in Texas!

Opening Day Signups

Here it is Parents and Coaches… 3 really important signups for opening day: 1) Team Competitions; 2) Teams/Players/Coaches Photo Call Times; and 3) Parent Volunteer signups. Please pay close attention to each and be sure that your times do not overlap or conflict. Using the following links, your team representative will be able to pick the exact time that your team will set the bar in the team events, compete head-to-head in the exhibitions, and smile for the cameras. And Parents can sign-up to volunteer for small pockets of time to help the day run smoothly!

Grab the spots that are most convenient for you before they disappear:

To Sign Up for a Team Photo Call Time:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DADAE2EA3F9CE9-team1

Every team must get their team, individual player, and at least one coach’s photos shot so please coordinate with coaches/team representatives and have someone sign your team up. A lot of teams have other sports conflicts that day so the photographers will be there nearly the entire day so that every team can get theirs done. These are very important so please get these done.

Team Events and Exhibition Games:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DADAE2EA3F9CE9-team2

The Team competitions are very fast so long as the teams are ready to go and are on time. These are really fun for the kids and they can win some hardware so get your team signed up.

Parent Volunteer Signups:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DADAE2EA3F9CE9-parent

Opening Day runs way better with the help of our awesome parent volunteers! Please sign up for a half hour slot or two. No experience needed for any of the spots. Who doesn’t love making a few snow cones and directing kids to the bounce house?

Why Does Hardball Have Private Coaches

Parents ask all the time for recommendations on private coaches or where to get private lessons, especially for beginning players or those jumping up age divisions. The problem is that most of the “private coaches” out there are untrained former high school or college players with very limited or questionable player experience. Read More

Sponsorship Opportunities

This season there will be opportunities to have your company logos displayed on the scoreboard, and dugout banners. Email jeremy@dallashardball.com for more details.

Trading Pins

Check out the FAQs page for more info.

A lot of teams have asked if they should participate in the trading pins. The answer is YES. You should. Without a doubt. The kids love it. A lot of parents really get into it too. We have never had a team come back and say they were glad they didn’t participate. Quite the opposite. Tomorrow, March 14th is 11 days from the opening day, and most trading pins companies will tell you that you need 10 days to guarantee your pins will arrive in time. So there you go, tomorrow is the last day to get them ordered without having to rush them. So get them in!

Registration Update

The Hardball Spring Season team lineup is full. Please get your remaining players registered. Please check rosters online to see if any are missing.

You can also follow the links below:

Rookie Ball

Single A – Coach Pitch (6U MTB)

Double A – Coach Pitch (7U)

Triple A – Coach Pitch (8U)

Majors – Player Pitch (9U)

If your player is registered as a Free Agent, and you have not been contacted yet, you will be in the next day or two.

REMINDERS

Opening Day Ceremony – March 25th

The opening day event is mandatory for all teams this season. Exact timing is still being planned but refer back to the ATH Volume 14 for the general gameplan for the day (see archived email links below). Check out the FAQs for more info:

FAQs

When Will Schedules Be Up?

The following Sunday after the Opening Day ceremony, teams will be placed in divisions based on competition level. Schedules will be released on Monday, March 27, 2023.

Games Start Friday March 31st

Game times per age division will vary Saturday and Sunday, and will include a few Friday night games (by special request). As of now, registration is still open and a few teams are still registering. Schedules will be made right after the Opening Day event leveling is completed and should be circulated to coaches by Sunday, March 26, 2023.

Blackout Dates/Times Due March 20th

Each head coach can request up to 2 blackout dates for the Spring Season as well as 1 blanket blackout time for the entire season. These special requests must be received no later than 3/20/23 to be considered. No late requests can be accommodated, so please get them in sooner rather than later.

Regular Season Ends June 4th

Playoffs – June 9th – 11th

The format of the playoffs will depend on a number of variables such as final number of teams, and divisions, but they will take place June 9th through the 11th.

All-Stars Week and Games

All-Stars will be based on participation. The cost per player will be approximately $150 and will include an All-Stars jersey. Registration and Tryouts will take place the week between June 4th and June 11th and all games will be played June 16th -18th.