Travel Team Information

Travel Director Contact Information

TravelDirectors@epbaseball.com

Ryan Koepp

Vice President, Travel

r.koepp@epbaseball.com 612-239-5132

Liz Heyer

Travel, Junior Division

l.heyer@epbaseball.com  612-562-6267

UPDATE as of 3/5/23: Times for tryouts on Sunday, March 12 have been adjusted! Please see changed times in yellow below:

ICYMI: Travel Baseball Parent Info Meeting

https://youtu.be/SEyK9gGGwhY

Length: 1:20:38 (hint - change the playback speed to watch the video in less time)

What we covered:

• Overview of travel baseball

• Tryouts and team selection

• Time commitment and expectations

• Costs

• Coaches

• Conduct expectations

• Playing time expectations

• Travel parent experience

Who plays EPBA Travel Baseball? - Updated for 2023

EPBA Travel baseball teams offer a competitive baseball environment with games against teams across the metro area, state, and even the region and up to the national level. EPBA fields travel teams for players ages 9-15 and ages 16-18 for Legion teams.

Players in Grades 4-9 should register with their current grade unless they will have a birthday prior to the cut off date – that is they must not reach the next age group before May 1, 2022. It is permissible for a player to play up from their designated age division to play with their grade, but they may not play down. For example, a 9 year old who is in 4th grade may play in the 10 year old division if he/she is doing so to play with their grade, but an 11 year old may not play in the 10 year old division under any circumstances. The parents have the choice, but it is the recommendation of the Board that kids play with their grade.

For 4th grade (10 year olds), players must be born on or after 5/1/12

For 5th grade (11 year olds), players must be born on or after 5/1/11

For 6th grade (12 year olds), players must be born on or after 5/1/10

For 7th grade (13 year olds), players must be born on or after 5/1/09

For 8th grade (14 year olds), players must be born on or after 5/1/08

For 9th grade (15 year olds), players must be born on or after 5/1/07

For Legion (16-18 year olds), players must be born on or after 1/1/04

Travel team players are expected to be 100% committed to playing EPBA baseball during the entire travel baseball season. It is EPBA policy that a travel player not be rostered on or play for another club or tournament team during the course of the EPBA travel season. The season starts with the first practice. 

3rd grade/9 year old players may play on a "hybrid" tournament team. These players will play their "regular" season with a community team, and will also play on a team that plays in two tournaments during the summer. These players do not try out during travel tryouts. Check out the 3rd Grade Community page for more information.

What are the EPBA Travel divisions?

Each year, EPBA fields between two to four teams at age levels 10 – 15 (Grades 4-8). Within each age group there may be up to three divisions - AAA, AA, and A. The final number and divisions of travel teams will be determined by registration numbers, field availability, and tryouts.  

How much playing time does each player get?

The EPBA playing time policy is for each player to receive approximately equal playing time over the course of the season for age groups 10-13 (Grades 4-8) and at least 50% playing time over the course of the season for age groups 14- 15 year olds (Grades 8-9). Equal playing time can be affected by player attendance, tournaments vs. league games, and division level. 

How do Travel tryouts work?

All players who register for travel baseball should plan to attend both scheduled tryout sessions. For 2023, tryouts will be held on Sunday, March 5 and Sunday, March 12. Specific times for each age group are below. All tryouts will be held at the EPHS dome (next to the football field).

Players may be excused from the either tryout date for the following reasons: 1) a documented injury preventing the player from trying out; 2) a previously scheduled trip or vacation which is to be noted at the time of registration; 3) a school or sports-related trip or competition; 4) other reasons to be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Travel Directors. If a player is unable to attend one of the tryout dates, it must be noted at the time of registration by emailing the Travel Directors at traveldirectors@epbaseball.com.

We are aware of other school and athletic events that occur during tryouts, specifically state basketball tournaments and the CMS Travel Band trip, and have done our best to create a schedule that allows players involved with these activities to attend at least one of the two tryout dates. If a player is unable to attend either date due to a school or sport-related reason (NOT for a personal reason, such as a family trip), we will be offering a make-up tryout on Wednesday, March 8. Attendance at the make-up tryout MUST be approved in advance by the Travel Directors by emailing traveldirectors@epbaseball.com. Players who are not pre-approved for the make-up tryout date will be turned away.

Players who are unable to attend either tryout date due to injury will be evaluated for placement on a 2023 team based on 2022 statistics and coach feedback. 

For players ages 10-15, tryouts will consist of 2 days/sessions according to the schedule below. Players will be graded by independent evaluators. Each tryout session will consist of 6 areas of evaluation, repeated at each session. The stations for 2023 include:

Stations scored by independent evaluators

• Fielding ground balls
• Front toss hitting
• Machine pitch hitting (players starting their rotation with machine pitch will be given the opportunity to warm up with front toss with no evaluator before beginning their evaluations at the machine pitch station)
• Base running - timed
• Pitching (this station is scored but only high scores will be factored into the player's overall score. If a player does not have strong pitching scores, pitching scores will be omitted from the overall score)

Stations for observation/notation only (no score)

• Situational - players will be placed in the field and provided with situations (“there are two outs and runners on first and second”) so age-level coaches can observe how players react when the ball is in play. Situations and player placement will vary.

Following completion of the tryouts, coaches will be assigned to divisions (A/AA/AAA) by the Travel Directors and teams will be selected by the Travel Directors with input from the coaches based upon the tryout scores (combined between both sessions), past year's statistics (if available), coach observation (situational), and position versatility.

On occasion, it is necessary to add or replace a player after the team is selected either because of injury or a player leaves the team. In such an event, if the governing league rules allow for an adjustment to the roster, the Travel Committee Directors, upon consultation with the Head Coach, shall select the new player from the pool of players that originally tried out for the team. If necessary, an additional tryout will be held in order to determine the new player.

Any player who tries out for a Travel Team but is not selected will be placed on one of our Community League teams. The Community League provides a competitive baseball experience with a more limited practice and game schedule. These teams play 13 – 15 regular season games and at least one season ending tournament game – finishing their season by mid-July.

What times are travel tryouts?

2023 Travel tryouts will be held Sunday, March 5 and Sunday, March 12. All tryouts are at the EPHS dome, next to the football field.

UPDATE as of 3/5/23: Times for tryouts on Sunday, March 12 have been adjusted!

Please see changed times in yellow below:

*Please note that Sunday, 3/12 is the beginning of Daylight Saving Time

Rosters will be posted on epbaseball.com after 4:30 PM on Thursday, March 16, 2023.

What is the time commitment for a travel team?

For the 2023 season, there will be 14 regular season league games. These games are normally scheduled for weeknights (Mon. - Thurs.) starting in late April - early May for ages 10-14 and end of May for 15 year olds and older. Regular season games usually begin around 6:00 PM; some games may be scheduled as late as 8:00 PM. Players are expected to report 30 to 60 minutes before game time. Coaches may schedule additional scrimmages and occasionally, regular league games may be scheduled for weekends.

Teams at ages 10-15 will participate in 3-4 weekend state-qualifying tournaments. 2-3 of these tournaments will be played in the Twin Cities Metro area, and 1 tournament may be played 1 hour+ away including overnight travel. Coaches may decide to add additional tournaments with the agreement of team families. These additional tournaments will likely be at an additional cost to families.

Depending upon a team's success in qualifying play, teams at ages 10-15 may earn a berth in 1-3 state tournaments to be played in mid July. Tournament dates will be posted below as they are identified. Tournaments are never/very rarely scheduled for Memorial Day weekend or Fourth of July weekend, making those weekends safe bets for scheduling family trips.

Jr. Legion tryout information will be posted when available. Jr. Legion teams typically play 2-3 tournaments before the start of state tournament play. Most weekend tournaments begin late Friday afternoon or early evening and end on Sunday.

The Junior Legion season begins immediately after the high school season ends with the potential of postseason play running into the end of the first week of August. The junior legion team will play in two to three tournaments (one out of town overnight) prior to their postseason tournaments. Junior legion post-season tournaments consist of sub-state tournaments with one winner from each sub-state advancing to a state tournament.

Schedules for legion teams can be found via their twitter accounts prior to tryouts.

EP Junior Legion - @EP_JrLegion

EP Senior Legion - @EPLegion

For more information on Jr. Legion teams, please reach out to the Jr. Legion coach.

Where do teams travel? Does it include overnight travel?

Players and families should understand that if chosen for a Travel Team, it is likely that the team will participate in an out-of-town and/or out-of-state tournament. Details of any such tournaments and possible additional costs will be communicated by the team coach or manager. Most regular season tournaments take place in the metro area, though some may be in locations where it makes more sense to spend a night or two. Overnight locations may include Brainerd, St. Cloud, Rochester, Mankato or out of state locations such as Sioux Falls, South Dakota or Omaha, Nebraska. See the tournament schedule below for more information on scheduled tournaments.

What is the financial commitment for a travel team?

The following fees are associated with participating on an EPBA Travel Team:

*After 2/28/23 an additional $30 late registration fee will be added

Other costs:

Travel to and from tournaments, hotel costs, and any other costs associated with travel are the responsibility of families.

Players should have their own equipment (players are required to purchase and maintain their own helmets), though some equipment is available for players to borrow if needed. See below for equipment regulations.

Because the EPBA believes that no young baseball player should ever be denied the opportunity to participate in America's favorite pastime because of temporary family economic problems, we provide financial assistance to families in need. Should you need financial assistance in order to participate in one of our leagues, please contact the EPBA Treasurer - Kevin Thompson by using the "Contact Us" option under "About EP Baseball".

Is my family required to volunteer?

As a volunteer-run organization, EPBA depends on volunteers to sustain the association. New for 2023, the required volunteer time is 8 hours per player. EPBA's primary fundraisers are hosting two tournaments and operating concessions. 2023 also brings additional volunteering opportunities  in the concession stand at Miller Field for EPBA-hosted tournaments and league games alongside a paid employee. With increased concessions profits, our goal is to provide expanded off-season training at little cost to families. 

Please plan to volunteer during one (or both!) of the 2023 EPBA Tournaments hosted at Miller Park on May 5-7 (10-12 AA/AAA, our larger tournament) and June 2-4 (10-12A and 15AA/AAA).

Each family is required to provide a $450 check at tryouts per travel player as a volunteer hours deposit. The check will be destroyed once your family fulfills its volunteer requirement; otherwise it will be cashed at the end of the fall ball season in late October.  If you prefer to make a $450 donation in lieu of volunteering your time, please note in the memo line of your $450 volunteer check, or venmo @EPBaseballAssoc and comment accordingly.

Who coaches EPBA Travel teams and how are they selected?

Most EPBA Travel Coaches are volunteers who are donating their time and energy to coaching Travel Baseball. All coaches are interviewed and selected by the Travel Directors and a team that may also include High School and Legion coaches and EPBA Development Director. Coaches are selected for their combination of baseball knowledge and ability to use baseball as a vehicle to teach life skills and lessons to our community’s youth. 

The selection process begins in the fall of the previous year and coaches are identified by age-level but not division (A/AA/AAA). The final placement of coaches does not happen until tryouts have concluded. Should two coaches' players make the same level, the committee will place the players in the spot that they earned, not where there is a coaching need. Coaches can/will be added after the try-out process to fill any open roles at the discretion of the Travel Directors.

2023 Tournament Schedule

Currently scheduled tournaments for EPBA teams. Check back as additional tournaments may be added.

2023 State Tournament Schedule

Should your team qualify for a berth at a state tournament, players are expected to be available to play the following weekends:

2023 Travel Baseball Bat Regulations

For 2023 and beyond, will use USSSA bat regs

Catcher’s chest protector requirements: For 2023, NOCSAE chest protector and face mask for all ages