The 2013 Baseball Season for Pinto and Shetland Divisions will begin in June.

The Mustang (9-10 year olds), Shetland (4-6 year olds), North Pole Pony (13-14 year olds), Fairbanks Bronco (11-12 year olds) and Pinto (7-8 year olds) Divisions are closed for registration

You can still register for the following divisions:

Fairbanks Pony (13-14 years old)

North Pole Bronco (11-12 years old)

If you would like to register for the Pinto Division (7-8), your child will be placed on a wait list.

Pinto (7-8 years old)

Tryouts for the 2013 Travel/Competitive teams

Updated Schedule for Mustangs and Broncos

 MUSTANGS:

Tuesday, May 21, 5:00 pm, at Franis Field (aka Lions), located on Wilbur Street, next to the hatchery

BRONCOS:

Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 5:00 pm, at the Optimist Field, located on 2nd Avenue

Tryouts for the 2013 Travel/Competitive teams

Who:

It is our intent to field two teams in each of the above noted divisions, so that more kids have an opportunity to play. All players must be registered with IBL for the 2013 season to be eligible for the Competitive teams. We can enter 2 teams in all tournaments except for the State Tournament, where we can field only one team. Selection for the state tournament team will be based on team needs, subject to skill sets and player availabilities.

Why:

Competitive teams provide an opportunity for players to advance the development of their individual and team related baseball skills. We have long recognized that the foundation of all youth baseball in Fairbanks is our Interior Baseball League, where we have our recreation/developmental teams. The competitive teams have become the “next level” for our youth.

Time Commitment:

Practice and game schedules have not been set, but typically practices are on weekends and/or weekday mornings, so that conflicts with our IBL teams are minimized. We will participate in several tournament events this summer. On the list so far are:

o Farthest North Open Invitational, Fairbanks, June 1 & 2

o Fathers Day Tournament, Wasilla, June 15 & 16

o Solstice Tournament, Anchorage, June 29 & 30

o State Tournament, Fairbanks, July 27 & 28

o Fall Ball tournament, Fairbanks, August date TBD, probably Aug. 10 & 11

o Fall Ball tournament, Anchorage, August date TBD, probably Aug 17 & 18

Financial Commitment:

Each player selected for these teams will pay a one time fee of $70 for their gear. For this fee, each player will receive a hat, sweatshirt, T-shirt, long sleeve undershirt, socks, belt. An additional cost of $30 per player per event will be charged to cover the cost of umpires, basebases, team tournament fees, etc. This fee does not include travel, lodging, food expenses for road trips. A first payment of $100 will be due no later than May 29. (This will cover the gear fee and the first event fee.)

Farthest North Open Invitational Tournament, June 1 & 2 in Fairbanks:

Historically this tournament has been over the Memorial day weekend. Due to the late arrival of Spring this year, we will be hosting the tournament the next weekend, June 1, 2. This tournament has not traditionally had a Mustang Division, but this year we will be hosting a “Mustang Jamboree”, to offer additional skills development for that age group with a focus on fun and fundamentals. Mustang games will be played in addition to the skills development activities.

Team Formation:

The number of players selected on each team varies somewhat each year depending on team needs and the make-up of individual skill sets. Generally no less than 11, and no more than 15. The players selected will be the ones whose composite skill set matches the needs of the team. Success at the Tryout is not strictly measured by well hit balls or cleanly fielded grounders, but by the coaching staff recognizing a players’ coachability, attitude, and work ethic.

Questions/Comments/Concerns:

Contact: David Soderlund

Telephone: 907.388.2099

Email: dsoderlund@hollandamerica-princess.com

Welcome to the 2013 Interior Baseball League Season!

General Information

The Interior Baseball League serves all youth baseball players ages 5-14 in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, including Ft. Wainwright and Eielson AFB. IBL plays under the ‘traditional’ PONY League program rules, for 5 Divisions of players (ages 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14). Player birthdays must be on or before April 30 for Division eligibility.
 

Registration

Players can register for the 2013 IBL season online, at Play-it-Again Sports, or in-person at the skill assessments.

Skill Assessments

Skill assessments are conducted for all Divisions except the Shetland Division (ages 5 – 6).The skills assessments are an evaluation of each players’ fundamental baseball skills, not a tryout.  All players will be placed on teams.  This year the skill assessments will be held on Sundays  April 7 and 14 at West Valley High School. Attendance at a skill assessment is required for all players, new and returning. 

Team Formation

Teams are formed immediately after the skill assessments with the goal of balanced accumulative skill sets for each team.

The Shetland (Tee ball) Division is traditionally ages 5-6, but IBL will allow players who are age 4 on or before April 30^th to play in the Shetland Division.

Parent Orientation

New for 2013 is a Parent Orientation for new and returning parents.  The orientation sessions will be held during the skill assessments at West Valley High School.  This brief orientation is highly recommended for all parents, and is an opportunity to gain greater insight into the league policies and procedures.

Coaches Continuing Education

The IBL recognizes that competent coaching is one of the keys to a successful program.  New for 2013 is our Coaches Continuing Education program that will be required for all coaches, new and returning.  Multiple classroom style workshops will be offered in April and May.

Season Schedule

The season will begin on Saturday, May 18^th with the one day ‘Dust-Off’ Tournament for ages 9-14.  The regular season for all Divisions will begin the week of May 20^th and end on July 13th.  The ‘end of season’ Tournament will be the week of July 15^th, also for ages 9-14.

Rules and Policies

We play baseball using three rules documents; official rules of Major League Baseball, PONY Internation rules, and our local IBL rules.  We update/revise our IBL rules annually.  New for 2013 are the IBL Policies that we encourage all parents and players to become familiar with. 

Competitive Baseball Teams

Fairbanks Northstar PONY Baseball offers competitive baseball for the Bronco (11-12) and the Pony (13-14) Divisions. Tryouts are conducted each Spring in early May.  The first tournament is Memorial Day weekend. More information will be available in early April.

Volunteer Opportunities

IBL is a strong organization with a long history of providing positive experiences for all involved.  We are always in need of adults with a positive volunteer spirit to fill roles such as a Coach, Division Coordinator, Board member, Fundraiser, Field Maintenance, scorekeeper….and we want to match your talents and interests with the needs of the league.  There is a place for everyone to help! It takes parent involvement to run a successful program!

For more information, please email: interiorbaseball@gmail.com

If you are interested in sponsoring a baseball team, here is the form to do so. We will proudly display your company and organization name on the back of our uniforms and add a link on our website. We appreciate the support we get from all our local sponsors!