Next Season...

Now that the 2008 season has come to a close, it's time to start looking forward to 2009.

Any player who is interested in returning to the Warriors for next season should contact me (gnagel60@comcast.net or 708-349-1467). Players who commit to next year's team by August 15th will receive an automatic bye (see information below). Players who cannot commit by August 15th will be eligible to try out for one of the open spots at a later date.

I plan to manage the team if there is enough interest in forming a 13U Warriors team for 2009. Initial discussions indicate that approximately 9 players will return--and a tryout process would be used to fill about 4 remaining spots. As long as the vast majority of players wish to return, I will begin working on forming this team. We should have a much better idea about the future of this team after the August 15th commitment deadline.

If there is enough interest to proceed, a current roster (along with next year's coaching staff) will be announced by August 20th.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments.

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OYA entered teams into the Chicagoland Metro League for the first time in 2008. The experience during 2008 has been very positive, so OYA has approved a 13U Warriors team for next season.

The OYA Board asked me if I would coach a Warriors team again--and if my preference was for the 13U or the 12U team. I've enjoyed this year's experience so much that my preference is to coach this group of players through the 2009 season--and hopefully the 2010 season with the 14U Warriors.

Although it seems early to be thinking about 2009, it was important that OYA made the commitment to a 13U team right now. Our team's success has attracted attention and there is no doubt that some of our players will be recruited by full-time travel teams. Many of these teams have tryouts scheduled within the next month or so. There is also some interest from within the team to create a new full-time travel team.

In my opinion, the Warriors schedule provides an appropriate level of competition for most of our players. Certainly, the Warriors have a few players on the team who could benefit from a higher level of competition. But, our team batting average of .270 after 25 games is not extraordinarly high and indicates that the the level of competition is just about right for most of our players. We have a couple of players hitting for a much higher average who may benefit by facing more dominant pitching.

Please keep in mind that the recreational experience within OYA should become more challenging as players move from the Bronco to the Pony level. A high percentage of players stop playing baseball after Bronco. The Pony League is typically made up of a smaller number of players who are more serious about playing baseball.

As you know, the Warriors offer players an opportunity to experience many of the benefits of full-time travel baseball--without some of the drawbacks. Players can supplement their in-house OYA recreational experience with more competitive playing opportunities, including: indoor workouts, Chicagoland Metro League games (about 12), various scrimmages, and five tournaments (another 20-25 games) at a lower cost than the alternatives. The cost for 2008 was $360 ($285 for Metro and $75 for tournaments). If you add in the 22 games that a player will play as part of the Pony recreational league, the total cost will approximate $500 for nearly 60 games!

The most important benefit, however, is the opportunity to play on a team that strives to enjoy the game, learn more about the game of baseball and compete in a way that shows respect for the game and all who participate in it.

It wouldn't be fair to expect a commitment from a player for next season without providing a roster spot for that player in advance. So, just like most of the local full-time travel teams, the Warriors will show loyalty to its existing players. Any player who has played with the Warriors throughout the 2008 season and who wishes to return to the team in 2009 would receive a bye. This bye will entitle a player to return to the team with his 2008 status (e.g. alternate, part-time, full-time) without having to tryout. Alternates and part-time players will also have the opportunity to try to change their status (e.g. move from alternate to full-time) during the tryout.

Others who cannot make the decision whether to return or not would be welcome to tryout for the team later in the Fall. The deadline for determining automatic placements will be announced soon--as set to provide sufficient time for each family to make the best decision for the player.

In the end, the concept of a 13U Warriors team is not something that I wish to try to sell. I love to coach youth baseball, but I have other options available to continue doing that. The feasibility of a 13U Warriors team is a choice that must be made by our players and parents. I've made my choice to coach the team again--provided there is enough interest (i.e., the vast majority of players elect to play with the Warriors again).

I encourage you to call me at 708-349-1467 with any questions. I am interested in your thoughts about a 13U Warriors team.

Thanks
Glenn Nagel