Teams will have indoor practice opportunities at Nevers Larkin Baseball in Edina from March 26 - April 28. The schedule can be viewed here. Practices will eventually be added to your team's calendar. 

Who plays EPBA Travel Baseball? - Updated for 2024

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 3-9 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, 2024. 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.

Check out the age group calculator on our home page

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. 

NEW FOR 2024 - 9U Travel Teams

Beginning in the 2024 season, EPBA will invite 9U (3rd grade) players to participate as a “full” Travel team. All information on this page will apply to 9U players unless otherwise noted. 

What are the EPBA Travel divisions?

Each year, EPBA fields between two to four teams at age levels 9 – 15 (Grades 3-8). 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 (for 2024, 9U will have two AA teams)

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 9-13 (Grades 3-8) 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. (Also see the “difference between league and tournament games)

How many practices per week?

There are typically 2-3 practices a week and 1-2 league games per week. In total, you should expect 3-4 weeknights of baseball each week. Some could be more and some could be fewer, but 3-4 is what we tell people to expect. Fridays are typically only used when there’s a weekend tournament, though there could be practices or league games scheduled on Fridays. 

What’s the difference between league games and tournament games?

Teams will play a total of 14 league games during the regular season, which runs from about mid-April through the end of June. League games are almost always on weeknights. About half of those will be in Eden Prairie and the other half will be at other associations' home fields. We won't know which other associations are in the same region until closer to the season start (probably March), but they're usually pretty close - Prior Lake, Minnetonka, Burnsville, etc. 

League games are used for the development of players. While everyone wants to win, our coaches are told not to prioritize winning over player development in league games. League games are where players learn, grow, and try new things! Expect to see relatively equal playing time and players trying out lots of positions. 

Tournament games take place on weekends. EPBA teams play in 3 metro-area tournaments and 1 “travel” tournament. One of the metro-area tournaments will be our Eden Prairie-hosted tournament for 10U, 11U, 12U, and 15U teams. The travel tournaments are usually far enough away that it requires overnight stay. While the tournament fees are paid for by the association, families are responsible for the costs associated with travel.

Tournaments are more competitive as they are the opportunity to qualify for the two State tournaments - Metro Baseball Tournaments and the Gopher State Tournament of Champions. Each tournament has a slightly different situation, but in general, teams earn bids to one or both State tournaments when they win first or second place in a tournament. Since teams are playing competitively, expect to see coaches be more strategic about how they use players. Playing time may not be equal and players are more likely to play in the positions where they’re most likely to help the team be successful. 

What is the overall 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.) and can begin as early as April 15 for ages 9-14 and end of May for 15U (after the High School season has concluded). League play must be finished by June 30. 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.

Coaches may choose for their teams to participate in Metro Baseball League (our league) playoffs, which will begin July 7th, take a break during the middle of July for state championships, and then resume July 23-25 for teams who make the league championships. 

Teams at ages 9-15 will participate in 3-4 weekend state-qualifying tournaments. EPBA teams play in 3 metro-area tournaments and 1 “travel” tournament. One of the metro-area tournaments will be our Eden Prairie-hosted tournament for 10U, 11U, 12U, and 15U teams. The travel tournaments are usually far enough away that it requires overnight stay. While the tournament fees are paid for by the association, families are responsible for the costs associated with 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 9-15 may earn a berth in 1-2 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.

What is the financial commitment for a travel team?

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

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 us.

Is my family required to volunteer?

As a volunteer-run organization, EPBA depends on volunteers to sustain the association. The required volunteer time is 8 hours per player. EPBA's primary fundraisers are hosting two tournaments and operating concessions. There are 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 costs to families. 

Please plan to volunteer during one (or both!) of the 2024 EPBA Tournaments hosted at Miller Park on May 10-12 (10-12 AA/AAA, our larger tournament) and May 31 - June 2 (10-12A and 15AA/AAA).

Each family is required to provide a $450 check at the start of the season 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. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR PLAYER'S NAME AND AGE LEVEL IN THE MEMO OF THE CHECK. 12U - 14U players should bring their check to a February Winter Workout. 9U - 11U and 15U players should bring their check to tryouts on 3/10.

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.

Players of Board Members do not need to bring a volunteer check. Players of Head Coaches will have their volunteer hours fulfilled, however it's immensely helpful for our bookkeeping if you bring a check anyway.

Who coaches EPBA Travel teams and how are they selected?

Most EPBA Travel Coaches are parent volunteers who are donating their time and energy to coaching Travel Baseball. All coaches are interviewed and selected by the Travel Directors. 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.

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 the league, please contact the Treasurer for more information.