What is your policy on Cancelling House League Games due to Weather?

We encourage the practice of checking the website prior to heading out to the park for house league games. In the event of inclement weather and/or potentially poor diamond conditions, we will attempt to update the website by 5:00pm for weeknight house league games. Of course, weather conditions can be unpredictable. What may look good or bad at 5:00pm can change quickly. In these cases every attempt to update the website in a timely manner will be made.

In the event that the website is not updated, please use your best judgement. Most people that have registered with us live in the area. If it is raining, or has been raining where you live and your yard is under water, you can be pretty sure that the ball park will share those same conditions. We do not cancel games for light rain, or because the forecast calls for rain, or it feels like rain, or the sky is getting dark, or our joints are hurting and that only happens when a storm is coming etc. We only cancel the games in advance for unplayable fields. 

On-Line Registration

When does registration start and is there an early-bird rate?

Registration normally starts in mid-November and continues until mid April on a "register until the age division is full basis." We do not offer special rates to those registering early because we are usually full and we budget based on set fees.

I don't have access to a computer. Is there any other way to register?

No. Forms for registering will not be sent out. If you do not have a computer and cannot make use of an internet connection at a library/community centre/school you will have to contact the Registrar to help you with registration.

I don't have a credit card. Will that be a problem?

Not at all. Register on-line by following the link from the East York Baseball website and when completing the registration, indicate that you will pay by cheque. Then mail the cheque to the address indicated during the registration and when it is received, your registration will be accepted and you will receive an e-mail confirming this.

I don't like giving my credit card details out online. How secure is it?

Payments are processed by StackPay which is a well established online payment processing tool proprietary to Stack Sports. They register ten thousands of players every year.

I registered my child and have not received a call from a coach yet. Why not?

There could be several reasons. If you registered with a cheque payment and the cheque was not received within 14 days, your registration would have been cancelled as per the details on the registration site. If this is not the case, then it could just be too early. Teams are not made up until approximately 2 weeks prior to opening day. The results of Spring Training & Evaluations are used to make up the teams and if it is too early, it is possible that your child is not on a team that a coach could contact. It is also possible that there truly is a problem and you should contact the Convener of your child's division.

Leagues

I saw something on the website about Spring training. What is this all about and why do I have to go to it? What will happen if I cannot make it to the scheduled dates?

Information about about Spring Training will be emailed to all registrants near the end of April. The same information will be on the website. Spring Training is used to evaluate all the participants and helps to create balanced teams. Players will not be placed on a team if they are not evaluated. We use this time to shake the dust off our gloves and do a few drills to get back in the baseball swing of things.

I'm new to baseball: What's the difference between House, Rep and Select?

The House league program is run each day during the week from Monday to Thursday. It is open to anyone who wishes to register and involves one game per week (6U through 18U) from early May to the end of August plus some possible practices as determined by our volunteer coaches. All teams, 6U through 18U then play on our Championship Day the Saturday immediately before Labour Day.

In "rep ball", players try out for teams which play at a more competitive level against other teams in the region and in week-end tournaments leading to possible qualification for Ontario championships on the Labour Day weekend. Rep ball costs significantly more than house league and requires a much greater time commitment to games and practices right through the summer.

Select is somewhere in-between in terms of games played and costs involved. Select Players play Sunday night games against teams from other teams in the east side of Toronto, will practice once a week and join one or 2 weekend tournaments. This is in addition to their House League commitment and players play for BOTH their House League and Select team. If commitments to their House League team are not met then there may be suspension conquences in Select.

I'd like to play on a Rep/Select team. Can I play this summer and do I have to play House League as well?

Rep teams are chosen in the fall as the squads train over the winter. Select teams, if one exists for your age division, also conduct tryouts in the fall and players that successfully make the teams will be registered house league. If positions on Select teams are still open in the spring then additional tryouts may be held, but will only be open to registered palyers. Check our website for more information. Players on Rep teams may not play House League but Select players must.

My son is better than Jose Bautista. Can he play a year up in rep?

In rep ball children should only be "signed" to a team in their own age group. There is a provision for "signing" underage players, but we encourage players to play with their own age group. For the outstanding players, there may be opportunities to be called up to play for a rep team a year older if a team is short players for a specific game or tournament.

My son is better than Jose Bautista. Can he play a year up in House League?

EYBA does not permit play-ups or play-downs. We cannot have any player take a spot away from age eligible players in House League. As in rep, players can be called up to play in the next higher division. There may also be occasion for the player to be called up to play a specific game or tournament for a Select or Rep team.

I am not a very strong baseball player. Will everybody be much better than me?

No. Our house leagues includes players who have never played, especially at the younger levels but even at the older. Our leagues are co-ed and we have players of both sexes at all ability levels. Everyone is there to have fun and learn as best they can. In rare circumstances, a player that is clearly at a level below that of the other players in the higher age groups, may be asked to "play down" a division for safety reasons. This will be discussed with the players and parents by the coach/convener before anything is done however.

I see there are rules on pitch counts. Does this apply to House League or just rep and select?

Just rep and select. The lack of volunteers in House League would make enforcement next to impossible. However, restrictions on pitchers in house league in terms of innings pitched are probably just as effective.

I see all of the weekday House League games start at 6:30. When do they finish?

All games have 2 hour time limit, but since we do not have lights on all of our diamonds, we are limited by daylight at the start and end of the season. *Games will begin at 6:15pm in August due to losing the daylight.

Do I have to return anything at the end of the year?

All players receive a uniform consisting of a jersey, pants, socks and cap at the beginning of the season. It is theirs to keep. If you have borrowed any equipment from the league, it must be returned at the end of the season.

I go to a camp in the summer for a month. Can I still play House League?

We ask that you only consider joining EYBA House League if you prepared to attend 85% of the games. Baseball is a team sport and if too many players are away it affects the balance of the teams. Players may be blocked from future registrations if they fail to attend regularly.
 

If it becomes necessary for you to cancel your house league registration after you have paid it you will be eligible for a refund as per the refund policy outlined on the registration page.

How many games do you play in week, and what are they?

All divisions play once a week. The game nights are outlined on the House League page.

*Games will begin at 6:15pm in August due to losing the daylight.

 

Make up games for House League are only arranged in the playofffs by the Convener of the division, if possible.

How much does it cost to play on a rep or select team?

For all levels, the Rep fees are calculated by the individual teams. You can expect rep fees to be in the $1200-$1500 range. They budget for expenses for the team to cover indoor practices in late winter, uniforms, equipment, and tournament fees and any affiliation fees not covered by the EYBA. There may also be hotel costs incurred for away tournaments that will be over and above the team fees. Select teams cost approximately $500 for the season to cover the cost of uniforms, equipment, 2-3 tournament fees, umpires, team pictures and team party.

My son played rep with another association last year. Can he tryout for East York?

Yes. Players wishing to tryout for an East York Rep (not Select) team who, the year prior, played for a Rep team other than East York, may attend open tryouts. In order to sign with an EYBA Rep team, the player must present a "Player Release Form". These forms can be obtained from the TBA website


Umpiring

How old do I have to be to be able to Umpire? What training do you provide?

We usually start umpires at age 13 depending on their apparent knowledge of the game. They should be at least two years older than the players they are officiating, but this will be at the discretion of our Umpire in Chief. A clinic in April or May is necessary for anyone before officiating a house league game and there are opportunities to take OBA courses. See the umpiring page for more details.
 

Traditionally we only have one umpire for Rookie games. Mosquito and up will have two umpires are assigned to every game. We have started adding mentors for your youngest umps to assist them in their first few games.

I'm a High school student. Can I get community service hours for umpiring?

No. Umpires are paid for the games they officiate. 

Miscellaneous

My friend got an email from the league about upcoming events. Why did I not get one too?

Blast emails are sent out from time to time to inform our members of upcoming or important events. Emails are sent to all of the emails that are recorded on the registration form. The blast email can only go out to valid emails. Each blast results in a dozen or more "bounced back" emails. It is your responsibility to provide a valid, accurate email account. It should also be an account that is monitored on a regular basis. Be sure to accept emails from @goalline.ca

Is there an AGM?

Yes. It is open to anyone in the community to voice suggestions and hear plans for the coming year. Notification of the AGM is done via the website and a blast email that is sent out to all registered players. Every other year is a voting year where we elect interested persons to various executive positions in the Association. Only executive members may vote, but anyone may throw his/her hat into the ring for a position.

My son left his cap behind last week. Where can I pick it up?

During the season lost items turned in are held at the snack-bar. It is possible, too, that your child's coach may have spotted it when putting equipment away after the game, or another member of your team. If the cap cannot be found, a replacement may be purchased from the snack bar.

What exactly does a convener do?

Division conveners work with the registrar to draft the teams. The priorities are to create teams which are competitive while recognizing children want to play on teams with their friends. They support the coaches in making sure they have the equipment they need, sort out various problems that may come up during the season, and where possible they schedule the playing of rained out games. In some cases they also make the decision about rain outs and communicate this information to the coaches in the divisions for which they convene.

Are the coaches vetted via a Police check?

East York reserves the right to ask any volunteer coach or manager to have a police check done which EYBA will pay for. In the baseball environment, there are not situations where players are alone with coaches. Typically there are many other parents and coaches around who may address any concerns at that time directly with the coach or with a convenor or other executive.

Who is responsible if my child gets injured at a game/practice. Do you have any liability insurance?

Through the Ontario Baseball Association all of our volunteers and players are insured. Coaches and others automatically have liability insurance as do the players and accident insurance is also provided. The policy covers such things as dental coverage, coverage for medicines, crutches and even tutoring costs should a child be injured and lose time at school. There are benefit limits and the plan is secondary one which means its coverage kicks in after existing plans a family may have. Further, the plan does not cover things that are available in any government health plan.

 

All proceeds from the cash bar are funneled back into the league to keep operating and registration costs as low a possible. Umpires are paid every night from the snack bar. All other receipts are deposited and used to help pay for uniforms, equipment, food for the snack bar and other costs associated with running the league. All monies are accounted for in the financial statement that is presented at the AGM.