Registration and $1000 installment (see golden ticket for deadline - golden ticket is given to previous years coach when they leave Cooperstown)
$3000 2nd Installment due November 1st (include team # on cheque)
Remaining balance due March 1st
Umpire application due March 1st
Roster entry due April 1st
Coach Resume due April 1st
Umpire Resume due April 1st
Permission to play out of province:
Fill out ICBA form for permission to play in out of province tournament - OUT OF PROVINCE REQUEST
Get insurance through Baseball Ontario
What Players Need to Buy:
2 pairs of white knickers (no stripes or big logos)
A navy blue and a scarlet belt
Cooperstown has a package for this “Baseball Pants Set” for $50 US for the 2 pants and belts if you order at least 11 and you can pick it up there with the rest of the uniform
Mini fan for the end/side of their bunk
Hooks to hang on the end of bunk
What Coaches Need to Buy (or Bring):
Shorts / pants (we wore black golf shorts). Some just wore athletic shorts. They just need to be fairly plain.
The parents noted it looked nicer with all coaches wearing the same colour as we did.
Other Team Purchases (or Bring):
Box fans (2-4) for sleeping at night
A line to hang towels between the end bunks
Extension cords and power bars
Umpire - here is an umpire the 2022 Cooperstown team used: Mark Syracuse (602) 818-6976
PINS
What families need to bring or buy:
Ponchos and/or umbrellas. It rains a lot in Cooperstown. You can purchase items there.
A nice option is to have a family t-shirt designed that everyone wears to opening ceremonies.
What the Players Get:
UNIFORM: Home and Away hat, jerseys, and socks
WARM-UP SET: Tournament and mock Ts, batting practice jacket and hat
Personalized Player Baseball Cards
Induction into American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame
American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Tournament Ring
What the Coaches Get:
Hat, 2 Polos, Pullover and Jacket
Induction into American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame
American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Tournament Ring
Team Gets:
Scorebook, lineup cards, backpack and ball bucket
Cooperstown Forms:
Have the forms in alphabetical order and attach the Camper Information form, the physical form, the information form and the parental authorization form together for each player
Forms to Bring For Coaches:
Agreement to Participate with Waiver Release and Liability
Camper Information (Health History is partway down on Form)
Camper Examination and Medications
Forms to Bring For Players:
Agreement to Participate with Waiver Release and Liability
Camper Information (Health History is partway down on Form)
Camper Examination and Medications (need physical within 1 year of Cooperstown date)
Parental Authorization and Consent Form
Copy of Immunizations
Dreams Park App:
Download the Dreams Park App - it will have schedule updates, scores, etc.
Keep checking the app as the schedule will probably change a couple of times before you get there.
Families and coaches need to register vehicles on the app before you arrive.
Pins:
We used All Star Trading Pins (no fees, taxes, or shipping costs and they had the best price for add-ons).
Bring a list of teams for your week (you can get this off of the Dreams Park App) so players can cross off which pins they got
We did 95 regular pins and 10 special pins (we did a blackout version of our pin)
Tournament Roster T-shirts:
Tell parents to preorder tournament roster t-shirts about 2 months before you go to Cooperstown for anyone that wants one through the CDP shop.
They were no longer available for preorder about 6 weeks before we went and had such limited stock the week we were there, that no one was able to purchase one.
Tournaments Before Cooperstown:
We went in two tournaments in addition to Cooperstown. You will also need to host two tournaments, so lose those two weekends.
Fundraising
Yeti Cooler full of booze raffle
Fundraising Dance
CMBA Tournaments
Permits for the bbq’s for the Rookie Ball and Toyota Tyke tournaments from City of Cambridge
At least 1 parent that plans to be there all weekend needs to be Food Safe Certified
Freezies, ring pops sold well
Keep drink options to a few choices. Gatorade/Powerade sold well.
Chocolate bars not recommended
Cost - We did $5 for a burger/hotdog, chips and pop at the first tournament and it was too low. We charged $6 at the second tournament.
50/50 draw was successful at the first tournament, not much interest at the second
At Cooperstown
Day 1 at Cooperstown:
The head coach needs to collect all the passports/birth certificates before checking in so a great suggestion is to meet in the plaza parking lot just before the Dreams Park (McDonalds and Grand Union Grocery Store) around 1:00/1:30pm
Be in line to get in before 2pm (they won’t open before this).
Have the head coach go straight to registration while everyone else sets up the bunks
Then have someone bring a cart to meet the coach to get the uniforms. You will need to change sizes for coach uniforms and player items. An adult small was the smallest shirt/jacket size for coaches and players.
At Check-In:
Head coach goes to hand in registration forms and passports
You get a package that has to be signed off of in order
My wife set up my bunk while I registered the team
Parents can come to the bunk and help get their kids organized
A lot of the sizes we received were too big and we had to do a lot of exchanges. Have players label their pants and jackets right away.
Laundry:
Cooperstown has individual mesh bags for uniform items for players and coaches. The players pants go in a separate bag all together so make sure they are labeled.
Make sure all the players items are labeled and If you are buying the pants through Cooperstown bring some sharpies for labeling.
Batting Cages:
Batting cages at Cooperstown are asphalt at the end of some and all of them have asphalt under the astroturf so bring old baseballs.
Lunch:
Have parents bring in lunch items and snacks that the players will like if they don’t like sandwiches.
An apple at breakfast was the only fruit option for players and coaches and a banana was the only fruit option to purchase in the park and it was expensive.
Lunch for families - costs have gone up and our families said the food was not good that was being served at the concessions. It is recommended that families bring their own food in for lunch (no one checks bags upon entry).
Games:
If you have the late game on the first day, have the players rest in their bunks in the afternoon. We had the late game and it got delayed due to rain and the games before us going long. We got to bed at 1:15 am after playing until 12:25 am in the rain.
The day we lost out we had the players sign out for the night so they could all be with their families and give the coaches a break.
Pin books and towels can be purchased the first day at the Cooperstown shop, or there are many options online before you go.
If you are purchasing photos, or engraved souvenirs try and do so early on, as you can pick them up at the Dreams park, otherwise you will have to pay for shipping.
There are many options of similar and different souvenirs in Cooperstown.
Cooperstown Rules and Info for Coaches
Everyone must wear their wristband at all times (put it on non-throwing hand)
Absolutely no wearing your baseball caps backwards
Equipment to bring: Equipment bag, balls, hopper, warm-up balls, Bownet, measuring tape and plate
Batting cages are first come, first serve
Can use grass areas to warm-up (no concrete areas)
Coaches use shower station E
Escort players to showers but stay outside
Coaches need to sign players out
Air horn means evacuate
Need 2 coaches in the park at all times that a player is there
Coaches must have their team roster and Emergency Information sheet with them at all times
Hand in all medications to the Camp Health Director on day of registration.
Bring lots of sunscreen
Players have to be in sight of a coach at all times
6 inning games, 12 run mercy after 4 innings, no time limits
50 foot pitching distance and 70 foot bases, 200 foot fences 8’ high
A pitcher can re-enter as a pitcher as long as he has remained in the game defensively
One warning on balks per pitcher per game until the elimination tournament then no warnings
A courtesy runner can be used for the catcher and pitcher but the runner can’t be in the lineup
Players must slide or attempt to avoid contact on all close plays
No headfirst sliding into home
No slash bunting (can’t fake bunt then swing)
No infield/outfield practice on fields 1-22 at anytime
No team equipment or chairs outside the dugout
All pitchers must warm up outside of each field
No digging cleats into infield or outfield (batting and pitching is ok)
No jewelry (necklaces, rings, etc)
Jerseys must be tucked in
Home team wears scarlet, away wears navy
No noise or cheering once the pitcher sets on the rubber
No walk up music
Coaches will receive their game schedule during registration
Need to be at field and ready to play 15 minutes before game time
Any player ejected with be suspended for the next 2 games
Any coach ejected won’t be allowed back in as a coach or spectator
We can bat everyone (EHs at bottom of order) and move around defensively after the first inning
Extra Hitters (EH) cannot be substituted for (only players 1-9)
Extra Hitters can be dropped out of the game at any time but cannot reenter
