Classic Rules, Guidelines & Exceptions

updated 05.01.11

The SBA Classic Baseball Program offers players ages 7 to 14, three levels of competitive select baseball: AA, AAA and Major. The SBA aims to provide players a platform to improve and progress through the advancing levels of select baseball and into high school competition by offering:

  • Competition with other Association Select Baseball programs and Club Teams
  • Quality Coaches
  • Competitive teams at each Select Level and graduating Player Development process as preparation for High School baseball
  • Equitable player selection process
  • Elite practice facilities and game fields

A. Classic Baseball Definition

  1. Classic baseball is a highly competitive level of competition designed for the most dedicated and serious baseball players.

  2. SBA Classic teams will interlock with other Classic and Select leagues in the DFW Metro area such as the North Texas Interlock (NTI)  League.

  3. The NTI is a non-profit organization whose objective is to provide competitive community based baseball in North Texas. NTI offers competitive level of baseball for Major, AAA and AA division level of baseball.

  4. Classic coaches, parents and players will be expected to have a very high level of commitment to the Classic  team and will be required to sign an “ SBA Classic Player Agreement”.

  5. Classic baseball has a rigorous schedule of regular and post season tournaments. Travel is expected with Classic teams and only a fraction of the games will be played at Bicentennial Park. Many games will be played at various parks in the DFW Metro area. Also, sanctioned tournaments could require travel to areas beyond the Metroplex and/or the State of Texas.

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B. Classic Coach Selection

  1. Announcement for Classic Coaches Application will be posted on the SBA website in June and each potential Classic coach must submit the SBA Classic Coach Application to the Classic Commissioner by July 15th.

  2. All Classic Coaches will be selected by the SBA Classic Committee based on criteria such as coaching experience, baseball knowledge, communication ability with players, positive behavior on the field, etc. The SBA Classic Committee will submit the slate of coaches to the SBA Board for approval by August 14th.

  3. Classic Coaches must have a minimum of 2 years coaching experience in the SBA league. Each coach must strive to achieve a benchmark win/loss record of .500 percent per season. All selected coaches must attend the SBA Coaches Clinic.

  4. Once a Classic Coach has been selected, the Coach will be required to attend the combined Classic team tryouts as scheduled by the Classic Commissioner and then complete the team’s player roster.

  5. The Classic Coach may have no more than 10 “Classic Player Agreements” completed at the time of the Classic team tryouts.

  6. The Classic Coach will be held to a high level of sportsmanship, coaching ethics and honesty with his players and parents.

  7. Classic Coaches will be required to attend clinics sponsored by the SBA and/or NTI, if participating in that league.

  8. Classic Coaches are subject to the SBA Code of Ethics, review and background check.

  9. Each Classic Coach will be required to submit a team name and roster, all player agreements and registration fees to the Classic Commissioner by the SBA Fall and/or Spring registration dates. Player rosters will be subject to the review and approval of the Classic Commissioner and Classic  Committee at the beginning of each season. Coaches are not permitted to remove any player from a Classic team roster without the prior and express approval of the Classic Commissioner and Classic Committee. Coaches must also informed the Classic Commissioner and Classic Committee of any roster changes during the season. It is also the responsibility of the coach that its team fully complies with the approved SBA Classic   Rules, Guidelines and Exceptions as well as any other league or tournament rules which the team chooses to play in.

  10. Classic coaches are selected for one full year and must field a Spring/Summer Classic team. Also, coaches should attempt to make a good faith effort to field a Fall Classic team.

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C. Classic Commissioner and Classic Committee

  1. The Classic Commissioner is responsible to implement, support and oversee the Classic Baseball program.

  2. One Assistant Classic Commissioner will support the Classic Commissioner’s position.

  3. A Classic Committee consisting of 5 SBA Board members will assure the implementation and oversight of the SBA Classic Rules, Guidelines and  Exceptions as well as the selection of the Classic coaches. The Classic Committee will consist of the Classic Commissioner, Asst. Classic   Commissioner, Executive Committee representative, Mustang Commissioner and Pinto Commissioner.

  4. The Classic Committee will select all Classic Coaches and will submit them to the SBA Board for approval. It will handle all discipline matters and address all other issues accordingly.

  5. The Classic Committee will also assign each Classic coach to their respective team (Team 1, Team 2 etc.). The coach selected must have a son/player in the top 15 player rankings of the respective age division.

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D. Classic Teams and Fees

  1. 1. SBA Classic teams must have a minimum of 10 players or a maximum of 12 players per team and must strive to compete at the Major, AAA or AA Classic Division levels.

  2. Classic teams can be formed from each age group beginning at 7U through 14U.

  3. Classic teams are governed by the SBA Classic Rules, Guidelines and Exceptions, the SBA Rules and Regulations as well as the NTI and/or any sanctioned organizations including the tournaments played by the Classic team during the season.

  4. Classic teams will be allowed to have no more than 2 players from the next lower age group on its approved roster. These players must be   approved in advance by the Classic Committee.

  5. Classic teams must hold “try outs” by age group in September. The SBA website will have specific information regarding Classic team try outs.

  6. Classic team names are subject to the review and approval by the Classic Committee.

  7. Classic team SBA fees are $100 per player. In addition, each Classic team will be responsible for paying the appropriate Interlock League fee for its team.

  8. Parents can expect to provide additional funding for their respective Classic team through personal and/or corporate sponsorships when the   expenses of the team go beyond the initial fees collected at registration. The average expenditures for a Classic player typically ranges between $1,500-$3,000 during the Spring/Summer season. Typically, the average expenditures for a Classic player is less during the Fall season.

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E. Classic Player Selection and Development (7U-14U)

  1. Each Classic player will sign a “Classic Player Agreement” at the beginning of each SBA calendar year terminating on July 31ST of the same year.

  2. The “Classic Player Agreement” may be signed no earlier than the Classic Coach selection date and no later than the last day of the SBA Spring registration date.

  3. Classic players must have skills to compete in AA, AAA and/or Major division as determined by the Coach’s Review Panel for each respective age  division and must be in the top 50 player’s rankings of their respective age division.

  4. Classic players must have played in the Grapefruit or higher level division and must have a history of private baseball instruction which is   highly recommended for Classic players.

  5. Player selection for 7U-9U Classic teams will be as follows: Tryouts will be held annually in September, players will be ranked by the  Coach’s Review Panel and the draft process will take place shortly thereafter. The draft process will be as follows: Top 11 ranked players will be on Team One, Next 11 ranked players will be on Team Two, etc.

  6. Player selection for 10U-14U Classic teams will be as follows: Tryouts will be held annually in September, players will be ranked by the Coach’s Review Panel and the draft process will take place shortly thereafter. The draft process will be as follows: Team One selects for  the total players needed, Team Two selects for the total players needed, etc.

  7. All Classic tryouts will be for Southlake players only.

  8. Any parent request regarding Classic team placement for their player will be handled by the Classic Committee.

  9. If a player is selected by a Classic team and later decides not to play Classic baseball before the commencement of the SBA Spring draft, the player may then become eligible to play for a SBA non-classic team. The player may not enter the SBA Classic Baseball program until the next  annual Classic tryout date.

  10. If a player quits a Classic team at any time in the season, the player will not be eligible to join any SBA team until the next annual SBA    tryout date.

  11. If a player on a Classic team is injured, moves or otherwise cannot participate in the team scheduled games for a significant period of     time, the team will be allowed to add another player. No refund of SBA registration fees will be returned to the departing player. At the end    of the Classic year, the departing player will be allowed to re-enter in next annual Classic tryout date. The new player added to the team     will be required to pay a full entry fee to the SBA prior to being placed on the team roster. Please note that the new player may not come    from the current or original roster of any other SBA team, unless the team has completed their entire season.

  12. Classic players must understand that they will be placed on their Classic team official roster with sanctioning organizations like NTI, USSSA, Super Series, Legends, etc. As such, Classic players are not permitted to play in an SBA league game, for any other Classic team     sanctioned by the SBA, NTI or in tournament play for a team other than the Classic team they are committed to without the prior approval of, and  at the discretion of, their Classic team Head Coach.

  13. As the rules vary greatly by other leagues and sanctioning organizations, Head Coaches granting permission for their players to “guest play” or seeking “guest players” must be careful to insure their rosters are legal and that the use of “guest players” does not jeopardize the status of their teams for that particular league, tournament or for qualification to future tournaments.

  14. SBA Coaches seeking “guest players” from other teams should obtain the approval of the Head Coach of those teams in advance of using these   players and must notify the Classic Commissioner also in advance of using these players.

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F. Classic Team Residency Requirements

  1. SBA Classic teams must have a “minimum number” of Southlake Resident players as follows:
    Division         AA      AAA/Major
    7U-9U           8        7
    10U              8        7
    11U-14U        7        6

  2. SBA’s residency is defined as follows: Parents that reside in Southlake, or parents that work in Southlake, or a player that attends CISD or a    Southlake private school or a player that has 2 or more years of SBA baseball experience.

  3. Any exceptions to the SBA residency requirements will be addressed by the Classic Committee on a case by case basis.

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G. Sponsorships, Uniforms, Equipment and Tournament Fees

  1. Sponsorship monies collected by the SBA Classic Team will be designated directly to the team collecting the funds.

  2. Classic teams will be required to purchase their own team uniforms. The SBA will not be responsible for sizing, ordering or purchasing any part of the uniforms for Classic teams.

  3. Classic teams will receive 4 dozen game balls, 4 dozen practice balls and 2 scorebooks.

  4. Classic teams will be responsible to pay their own entry and gate fees for any tournaments entered as well as any travel expenses, if   applicable. The SBA will not be responsible for any expenses associated with Classic team’s participation in tournaments.

  5. Classic teams will be responsible for paying the appropriate Interlock League fees for their team.

  6. Classic teams will be assigned field slots in accordance with SBA guidelines, i.e. up to 2 field slots during the week and 1 field slot   during the weekend.

  7. Practice fields will be given high maintenance priority with accessibility to work shed and tools by the team coach.

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