“BLUE SANTA BASH”
November 11th and 12th
GYBA and GYGSA are excited to partner with “Blue Santa” for 7th annual fundraising baseball/softball tournament. Please help us spread the joy of Christmas this holiday season!
Blue Santa Coaches, Players and Spectators,
Thank you for the interest and participating in the 7th annual Blue Santa tournament presented by Georgetown Youth Baseball Association and Georgetown Youth Girls Softball Association. We hope this will be our largest tournament to date with over 60 baseball and softball teams participating and we are very excited about the opportunity to make a big impact for this wonderful charity.
As we get closer to the tournament weekend we wanted to make sure a few of the rules exceptions/clarifications, and the facility rules are passed on to coaches, players, and spectators. Here are a few items for you to note:
1. Please bring a hard copy print out of your Blue Santa roster and team insurance. (Some of you will have sent this to me via email. Please print out the forms and bring the completed hard copy with you to the check-in tent located near Field 4 batting cages.)
2. For teams with the first games of the day, you may begin checking in approximately one hour before game time. (Have a team parent bring the information if you can to avoid missing warm-ups with your team) All teams must check-in prior to playing their first game and please bring your cash or check for $225 payable to GYBA. Toys are the key part of this benefit so please ensure that every player has a $20 value toy. We will check in all toys for your team at one time so please plan on having them assembled prior to coming to the tent. We have found that bringing your team to the tent as a group allows for the kids to experience the act of giving as a team and provides an opportunity for some photos. Please consider bringing the kids as a group before or after your games.
3. We will post the pairings for Sunday to the GYBA website as soon as possible on Saturday evening once we have assembled the results. Results from pool play will be determined based on standard rules. (In the following order - W/L, Head to Head (thrown out if more than 2 teams involved), Run Differential, Runs Given Up, Runs Scored, Coin Flip)
4. Games for baseball are being played under USSSA 2017 Rules, with a few locals rules provided to coaches regarding game lengths and tie breakers.
5. A coin toss will determine visitor and home play in Saturday’s pool play games. On Sunday, the team with the higher seed will be the home team. Highest seed being #1. Dugout placement will be posted on the game schedule to avoid conflicts and confusion.
6. Pool play games can end in a tie. Sunday bracket games will be played out in accordance with USSSA rules until the time/innings limit and there is a winner or the mercy rule goes into effect. Texas tie breakers will be used.
7. All games will have inning and/or time limits, unless the mercy rule goes into effect.
a. 6U will play 5 innings or one (1) hour games
b. 8U will play 6 innings or one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minute games
c. 10U will play 6 innings or one (1) hour and thirty (30) minute games
d. 12U will play 6 innings or one (1) hour and thirty (30) minute games
e. 14U will play 7 innings or one (1) hour and thirty (30) minute games
8. GYBA has one cage assigned per field. Batting cages have signs stating which field they are for, and they are to be utilized on an equitable basis. Please share the cage time with your competitor. Any complaints need to go to the Tournament Director.
9. Warm-up areas are limited in certain areas of the park facilities. Please keep your team’s warm-up exercises away from the spectator areas. There are park areas around and behind the fields that may be available for warm-up use and there should be some time between the games as well.
10. There are no warm-ups on the infields. Please keep your warm-ups to the outfield areas.
11. The GYBA Facility has a strict “No Tolerance Policy”, it as follows –
a. Arguing with an official, the use of profanity or the physical abuse of any one, on or off the field, by a player, parent, coach or fan may be cause for ejection from a game/park. Failure to leave the GYBA complex may result in forfeiture of the game by the team associated with the ejected party. No buckets or chairs, visible cell phones or other electronic devices are allowed on the field of play during the game. A coach or bat boy/girl 18 years of age or younger must wear a double eared helmet.
12. Only two (2) coaches are allowed outside the dugout except as noted in each respective age division. The Defensive coaches must remain on the “porch” and within arm’s reach of the dugout at all times except as noted in each age division.
a. 6U is also allowed the use of a batting coach at home plate.
b. 8U is also allowed a coach pitcher on the field.
13. During the tournament Santa will be making his rounds. As you can expect, he has a busy schedule to stick to so we ask that you be understanding of any interruptions to game play that may occur during the weekend. There will be opportunities during the games, hopefully in the middle of innings, for the teams to gather and get pictures with Santa and have him thank all of you for being here!
14. Trophies to 1st and 2nd Place after Championship Game is complete.
15. Refund Policy - No games played - Full Refund. One or more games started/played - No Refund. All proceeds are donated to the Blue Santa Program.
On behalf of the Georgetown Youth Baseball Association Board of Directors, Blue Santa, Georgetown Police Department, and the Georgetown community we would like to thank you for playing with us. While tournament baseball always brings a certain level of intensity, we ask that everyone remember that this is a unique opportunity to show uncommon sportsmanship by simply remembering the purpose is to help Blue Santa meet the needs of the surrounding community during the Christmas season.
Sincerely,
Drew Petersen, President
Click here for a copy of the Blue Santa information flyer! (USSSA Rules)
Click here for a copy of Tournament Rules Packet
Click here for a Coach's Checklist For those first time Blue Santa Coaches or a reminder)
Click here for copy of Roster for Submission (You do not have to use this, it is a helpful tool)
