XI CLASSIC RULES AND EXCEPTIONS
A. Classic Baseball – Definition
1. Classic baseball is a highly competitive level of competition designed for the most dedicated and serious baseball players.
2. SBA Classic teams will interlock with other Classic and Select teams in the DFW metroplex via the North Texas Interlock (NTI) and/or tournament play. For more information about the North Texas Interlock visit their website at www.ntibaseball.org.
3. The NTI and various other leagues are non-profit organizations whose objective is to provide competitive community-based baseball in North Texas. The NTI league offers the most competitive level of baseball in its “Elite” and “Classic” Divisions (equivalent to “Major and AAA”)and also offers competitive baseball classified as “AA” or “All-Star” division of play. Our normal recreational league at Southlake Baseball is classified as “A” division of play.
4. Coaches, parents and players will be expected to have a very high commitment level to the classic team and will be required to sign a Spring/Summer “Player Agreement”.
5. Classic baseball has a rigorous schedule of regular season games and post season tournaments. Travel is expected with classic teams; only a fraction of the regular season games will be played at Bicentennial Park. Away games will be played at various parks in the DFW metroplex. Tournaments could require travel to areas beyond the Metroplex and/or state.
B. Coach Selection
1. Potential Classic coaches will be required to submit a Coach Application to the SBA board by the date and time chosen by the Board.
2. All Classic coaches will be nominated by the SBA Coach Selection committee based on criteria such as coaching experience, baseball knowledge, and communication ability with the players, positive behavior on the field, etc. The Coach Selection Committee’s nomination of coaches must be approved by a majority vote from the SBA Board of Directors.
3. Once a coach has been selected, the coach(s) will be required to host and attend a “Classic Tryout” and then complete the team’s player roster.
4. The coach may have no more than 10 “Player Agreements” completed at the time of the Classic Try-out.
5. The coach will be held to a high level of sportsmanship, coaching ethics and honesty with his players and player parents.
6. SBA Classic Coaches will be required to attend the Coaches Clinic and Rules Clinic sponsored by the NTI and other baseball associations, should they participate in those leagues.
7. Classic coaches are subject to SBA code of ethics, review and background check.
8. The coach will be required to submit a team name and roster, all player agreements and registration fees to the SBA Classic Commissioner by the last SBA Spring or Fall registration dates. Rosters will be subject to the review and approval of the SBA Classic Commissioner, the executive committee of the SBA Board of Directors and/or the entire SBA Board of Directors at the beginning of each season. Coaches are not permitted to remove any player from a classic team roster without the prior and express approval of the SBA Board of Directors. Coaches are encouraged to notify the SBA Classic Commissioner of any other roster changes made during the season; however, it is the responsibility of the coach to ensure that his team is fully compliant with the SBA General Rules and Exceptions and any other league or tournament rules in which the team chooses to play.
9. The Classic coaches are elected for 1 full year and must field a Spring and Summer team. The coach or assistant coach must attempt to make a “good faith” effort to field a fall Classic team.
C. Teams
1. The SBA Classic teams will consist of a minimum of 10 players per team.
2. Up to two NTI teams can be formed from each age group beginning at age 9U. No Classic teams will be formed from the 7U and 8U age divisions. Any deviations from this require the express approval of the SBA Board of Directors.
3. All SBA Classic Teams are governed by the SBA Rules and Regulations along with the Classic Rules provided by NTI or the sanctioning organizations of the tournaments played in by the team.
4. A maximum of 2 non-Southlake residents or non-CISD players can participate on each SBA Classic team.
5. Classic teams will be allowed to have a maximum of 2 players from the next lower age group on the roster.
6. All Classic teams will hold published “try outs” no later than November 15th of each calendar year.
7. Team names are subject to SBA board review and revision.
D. Players
1. Each player will sign a “Player Agreement” at the beginning of each calendar year terminating on July 31st of the same year.
2. The “Player Agreement” may be signed no earlier than the coach selection date and no later than the last day of the SBA Spring registration.
3. It is the sole discretion of the Coaching Staff to select players for their Classic roster based on the player’s skill set, game experience/ knowledge, attitude, commitment and the team’s need for positional players.
4. The fee for the SBA classic registration is $225.00 per player in the Spring and $200.00 in the Fall Seasons. Spring Fee breakdown: $125.00 (NTI) and $100.00 (SBA). Coaches are personally responsible for collecting additional funds to purchase their uniforms, fees for tournaments, other equipment, etc. No portion of the SBA classic registration fee shall be used for the purchase of uniforms.
5. Parents can expect to provide additional funding through personal or corporate sponsorship when team expenses go beyond the initial fees collected at registration.
The average expenditure for each Classic player typically ranges between $1,000 - $3,000 during the Spring/Summer season.
6. If a player is selected by a “Classic” team and later decides not to play “classic” baseball before the commencement of the SBA Spring Draft, he may then become eligible to play for a SBA non-classic team. This player may not enter the SBA Classic program until the next annual Classic Try-out date.
7. If a player quits a Classic team at any time in the season, he will not be eligible to join any SBA team until the upcoming coach-look or try-out is scheduled.
8. If a player on a classic team is injured, moves or otherwise cannot participate in the team’s scheduled games for a significant period of time (to be determined by the Classic Commissioner, League Commissioner and League President on a case by case basis), the team will be allowed to add a substitute player. No refund of SBA registration fees will be returned to the departing player. At the end of the classic year, the player will be allowed to re-enter in the Fall of the same year. The substitute player will be required to provide a full entry fee to the SBA prior to being placed on the team roster.
Note: The substitute player may not come from the current or original roster of any other SBA team, unless has completed their entire season.
9. Players understand they will be placed on their Classic teams official rosters with sanctioning organizations like the NTI, USSSA, Super Series, etc. As such, players are not permitted to play in an SBA league game, for any other Classic team sanctioned by the SBA or NTI, or in tournament play for a team other than the Classic team they are committed to without the prior approval of, and at the discretion of, their Classic team head coach. As the rules vary greatly by league and sanctioning organizations, head coaches granting permission for their players to guest play or seeking guest players must be careful to insure their rosters are legal and that the use of guest players does not jeopardize the status of their teams for that particular league, tournament, or for qualification to future tournaments. SBA Coaches seeking guest players from other teams should obtain the approval of the head coaches of those teams in advance of using these players.
E. Sponsorships, Uniforms, Equipment, and Tournament Fees
1. Sponsorship monies collected by the SBA Classic team will be designated directly to the team collecting the funds. All expenditures incurred by the Classic teams are subject to review by the SBA board of directors.
2. Classic teams will be required to purchase their own team uniforms. The SBA will not be responsible for sizing, ordering or purchasing any part of the uniforms for Classic teams.
3. Classic teams will receive 2 dozen game balls, 2 dozen practice balls and 1 scorebook. Upon request, a Classic team will be provided 1 standard equipment bag and set of equipment. Classic teams must make arrangements with the SBA Equipment Manager for balls and equipment.
4. Classic teams will be responsible to pay their own entry and gate fees for any tournaments entered, and any travel expenses if applicable. The SBA will not be responsible for any expenses associated with Classic team’s participation in tournaments.
