Fort Bend
Texans Team Policies
rev. 12/10/08
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The objective of our organization is player
development, both in terms of baseball skills and character traits. In
order to provide the optimum player development experience, we have adopted
the following policies and procedures*.
Objectives
The Texans organization takes great pride in teaching your children the
great game of baseball and in developing your respective child’s baseball
skills. It is our pleasure to see your enthusiasm at each practice and game
as you watch your kids play and improve. Our primary objective is to focus
our energy into developing the Texans as an organization so that your child
might continue to improve as he progresses from one age level to the next.
To this end, our focus is not on a particular team or team’s record, but is
strategic in nature and includes all of the players, coaches, parents and
administrative staff that contribute to the organization’s success.
Because our goal is for organizational
success, you will probably not have the same coach or manager at each game
or tournament. However, because we have a distinguished and competent staff
of coaches, each team will have the opportunity to play with coaching
professionals that thoroughly understand the game of baseball and have the
knowledge and ability to be successful.
The Texans approach may be counter-intuitive
to other select teams. This means we choose not to follow the “my team” or
“daddy-ball” approach as many other select baseball teams do. Instead, the
Texans organization has made the development and instruction of each player
its main priority so that players are prepared to compete and play for their
respective high school teams when that time arrives.
Commitment
The Texans are committed to the development of your children, both as
baseball players and as young men (and women). We expect trustworthiness,
honesty, and commitment from all coaches, players, parents, and anyone
involved with the Texans. We expect that you will commit to the Texans and
NOT have your son playing on other teams while your son is on a Texans
roster.
Competitive Events
While we are playing to win, our primary focus is on player development,
which is to enhance and develop each child’s individual skills. The Texans
will offer a competitive environment. The organization understands that
while most skill development occurs during practice time, we will also use
sanctioned tournament games, as well as organizational scrimmages and
inter-squad scrimmages with other organizations to further develop players.
Playing Time
Players are put on the field on the basis of pursuing and achieving specific
goals developed with their coaches. While we always strive to win, this is
secondary to pursuing specific player objectives. We provide equal
opportunity for all players, but this does not generally translate to
precisely equal innings, at-bats, pitch count, etc.
Parents and Guardians Participation
We hire professional coaches to manage our teams and develop our players.
We have very limited needs or opportunities for participation in team
activities by parents other than support as a fan, and none that involve
contact with the players.
Parents and Guardians cannot:
1. Enter the dugout, playing or practice
fields, or any other area intended for the players.
2. Address the players or coaches on the
field or in the dugout during the game, other than non-instructional fan
support. Parents requiring communication with a player should contact the
team manager who will deliver the message or have the player leave the
dugout to receive the message directly.
3. Communicate with the coaches on matters
regarding the Fort Bend Texans other than by e-mail or by appointment. It
is not appropriate to discuss your player’s situation during informal
meetings with the coaches or when the coaches are involved in other
activities. This includes before games, between games, during games, or
immediately after games.
4. Communicate in a disrespectful manner
to a player, coach, another parent, team manager or tournament official.
5. Discuss any baseball related matters,
including playing time and tournament availability with the game coach.
These matters must be addressed with the General Manager, Head Pitching
Coordinator or Head Coordinator.
6. Behave in a confrontational, abusive,
or divisive manner including actions such as openly criticizing coaches,
players on other teams, or team or tournament officials. This includes
activities such as openly criticizing player performance and distributing
statistics without team permission.
Parents and/or Guardians who violate these
policies will be subject to reprimand with penalties including removal from
playing area, suspension, and expulsion of the Parent/Guardian/Player,
and/or removal of the player from the roster without refund.
Team Assignment
Players are assigned to teams and age divisions based on Coaches’
evaluations, relevant tournament and league rules, and the overall needs of
the program. Players develop by both competition and success, and we
attempt to develop the best plan possible in each individual case.
For all 8th graders (both 13U and
14U players), the Texans Policy is that these players will practice and play
on a 60’/90’ size field. The purpose of this rule is to prepare the boys for
their Mickey Mantle (or Babe Ruth) tryouts which will generally occur in
April of each year.
Guest Players
The Texans invite guest players to participate with our teams at the
discretion of the Head Coach. We do not routinely accept guest players
because the primary purpose of the program is to serve the player
development objectives of the players who plan to participate in the full
schedule of games. Guest players, however provide the capability to produce
a full roster when players (or player positions) in the program are not
available, provide exposure of their skills and abilities to Texan players
and coaches, and are exposed to the program as potential new players.
Availability
The Texans schedule their participation in tournaments and events based on
the projected availability and participation of players. Players are
required to submit their availability (i.e. projected attendance) to their
respective team coordinator or to the head coordinator in advance for all
scheduled games, practices, and team events. Availability should be
submitted by e-mail, and players
should provide availability updates as their personal schedule changes.
Players are encouraged to participate in
appropriate activities (school, church) other than baseball, and the
coaching staff understands when players are not available for selected games
or events.
Players who do not report their availability
and/or fail to report when expected are subject to reduced playing time,
suspension, or removal from the team without refund.
Refunds
The Fort Bend Texans do not offer refunds, rebates, or credits for any
reason including injury, ineligibility, disciplinary reasons,
suspension, expulsion, unavailability, change of plans, game cancellation,
or player relocation.
Costs and Payment Schedule
Seasonal fees vary by team, and are determined by the number, location, and
cost of tournaments, and primary coaching assignments. All players (and
their legal guardians) are considered committed and obligated to pay all
fees for the season. Payment terms are provided in the registration
process. Failure to pay any fees may be grounds for suspending a player from
practices and/or competitive events.
Invoices will be sent via email. Payments
can be made with the link provided in the invoice online or mailed to:
Fort Bend Texans Sports Association
8523 Old Quarry Drive
Sugar Land, TX 77479
Your cooperation and consideration is
appreciated with regard to these policies and the philosophy of the Fort
Bend Texans organization. We look forward to continued success this spring
and summer and are pleased to have the opportunity to work with your
children.
Note:
*Subject to change without notice.
Other
Issues
See
Frequently Asked Questions or
e-mail our General Manager.
