BPA Tournaments

Welcome to the Arlington Heights BPA World Series Qualifier! Here is your tournament packet! We trust that your visit will be an enjoyable one! Please carefully read the information provided below!

World Series Berths will be provided to the top two teams in each age group! Huge team trophies will be given to the top three teams and individual awards will be given to the top two teams in each age group.

If you have any questions or need help, please contact us immediately! Thanks for playing BPA Baseball!

PARK LOCATION

1. Absolutely no alcohol or tobacco products are permitted on park grounds or parking lot.

MANDATORY MANAGER CHECK IN

60 MINUTES before your first game at the CONCESSION STAND in MELAS PARK. A manager, coach or responsible parent can check in your team. Players do not have to be present.

CLICK BELOW FOR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

BPA OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT RULES

1. The Tournament Director reserves the right to alter format or field assignments for any reason.

2. Teams must be at respective field ready to play ball thirty minutes before each start time on bracket. The Tournament Director reserves the right to start any game thirty minutes or less early.

3. HOME TEAM: Determined by coin flip at umpire conference at beginning of game.

4. PITCHING REGULATIONS: 12U & Below. Not more than 8 innings in two (2) consecutive days. 13U & 14U - Not more than 10 innings in two (2) consecutive days.. After each game, both coaches must meet with tournament director to confirm pitchers used in game. Failure to do so may result in game being ruled a forfeit.

5. INNINGS PLAYED: 6 innings for 12 u and below, 7 innings for 13u and above.

6. TIME LIMITS (including championship games) as per BPA Rule Book: 12u & Below – 1 Hour 30 minutes / 13u & 14u – 1 hour 45 minutes / 15u and above - 2 hours

8. RUN RULES as per BPA Book – All Divisions: 12 after 3^rd – 10 after 4^th – 8 after 5^th

9. No jewelry is to be worn – tape over it is not allowed – please take it off! Penalty assessed as per BPA Rulebook.

10. When age or identity verification is necessary and requested by the tournament officials, the team manager and/or individual participant MUST provide proper and legal documentation pertaining to age or identity, such as birth certificate. INDIVIDUAL TEAM MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE IDENTIFICATION AVAILABLE AT THE BALL FIELD. MANAGERS MAY WISH TO KEEP A FOLDER WITH AN ID OR BIRTH CERTIFICATE PHOTOCOPY FOR EACH TEAM MEMBER.

11. The Arlington Heights Park District and ILLINOIS BPA will not tolerate acts of vocal harassment or physical violence. Any person or team that does not conduct itself in a civil manner towards program officials, umpires, and fellow participants will be suspended from the tournament with NO REFUND. The coach, in part, will be held accountable for individual behavior by his or her team members, coaches, and spectators.

12. An umpire, director, or supervisor may eject player(s), coach(es), or SPECTATOR(S) whenever a situation warrants such action. The umpire, director, or supervisor may also forfeit any game when such action is deemed necessary.

13. Teams that cannot control their individual players, coaches, and/or SPECTATORS, or that are collectively unruly and disorderly, will be excluded from future Parks and Recreation activities with NO REFUND.

14. Any person(s) or team(s) behavior and/or conduct that is contrary to Park Department policy and expectations will be subject to expulsion from the ILLINOIS BPA TOURNAMENT with NO REFUND.

THE ARLINGTON HEIGHTS PARK DISTRICT AND ILLINOIS BPA WILL NOT TOLERATE FIGHTING OF ANY KIND. ANY SITUATION INVOLVING PHYSICAL CONTACT OR FIGHTING WILL BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY AND ACTED UPON APPROPRIATELY BY THE GAME OFFICIALS, LEAGUE DIRECTORS AND PARK SUPERVISORS. THE GAME MAY SIMPLY BE CALLED AND THE OFFENDING TEAM (S) WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE FACILITY.

· Contrary to what some participants think, taunting, baiting or "trash talking" has no place in the game of baseball - THIS APPROACH DOES NOT PROVIDE A STRATEGICAL ADVANTAGE - IT ONLY STARTS TROUBLE! This behavior will not be tolerated, and is an area we will concentrate on. If there is a problem, said player(s) or team(s) will be removed from the tournament with NO REFUND OF FEES.

· No umpires, directors, participants, or fans should have to listen to any verbal abuse from anyone. This includes loud outbursts of foul language regardless of any situation or self-perceived justification from ANYONE!

· Children and family members do not need to see and hear anyone (coaches, players, parents, or fans) acting in an inappropriate manner at Melas Park. We want to create a family oriented atmosphere to be enjoyed by all!

UMPIRES CALLS CAN ONLY BE QUESTIONED ONLY BY THE HEAD COACH OR A TEAM CAPTAIN! Coaches and participants are not at liberty to question and critique umpires, and are subject to ejection for doing so. Questions or concerns directed to umpires should be done only by the coach or captain, and should be done only in a sportsmanlike manner.

All participants and spectators should approach the game as recommended by the IHSAA:

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SPORTSMANSHIP

1. Show respect for the opponent at all times.

2. Show respect for the officials.

3. Know, understand and appreciate the rules of the contest.

4. MAINTAIN SELF-CONTROL AT ALL TIMES!

5. Recognize and appreciate skill in performance regardless of team affiliation.

A Well-Played Contest Will Be Enjoyed By All

Only if Each Of Us Assumes Our Responsibilities.

AS A PLAYER, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO:

1. Play, have fun, and enjoy the game. THE GAME IS FOR YOU!

2. Demonstrate Sportsmanship toward your opponents, and treat them with respect.

3. EXERCISE SELF-CONTROL AT ALL TIMES, accepting decisions and abiding by them.

4. Respect the judgment of the officials and their interpretations of the rules.

5. Regarding clarification of a ruling, communicate with the game officials through your captain only.

6. Accept victory with humility and defeat with grace. Be neither boastful nor bitter.

The following Code of Ethics has been developed in compliance with standards as set forth by the ARLINGTON HEIGHTS PARK DISTRICT, ILLINOIS BPA, and the National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA).

Our Coaches are the “face” of the program to our parents, players, umpires, our schools, and our community at large. Thus, each coach is expected to maintain a high level of integrity and professionalism both on and off the field. A Coach’s primary responsibility is to develop good citizens and baseball players, and to instill a passion for the game in our players. Thus, our coach’s performance is not measured by wins and losses, rather in what he/she teaches the players in terms of technique, sportsmanship, and fair play.

I hereby Pledge to live up to my responsibilities as a AHPD Coach and am ILLINOIS BPA, and a NYSCA Coach by following the Coaches’ Code of Ethics.

¨ I will place the emotional and physical well being of my players ahead of personal desire to win.

¨ I will treat each player as an individual, remembering the large range of emotional and physical development for these age groups.

¨ I will be reasonable in my demands on the player’s time, energy and enthusiasm. I will remember that they have other interests. I will always remember that my players are children, not miniature professional athletes.

¨ I will always exhibit proper and ethical behavior while interacting with players, coaches, umpires, league officials, and parents at practices and games. I understand that the use of foul or abusive language is strictly prohibited.

¨ I will promise to review and practice the basic first aid principles needed to treat injuries of my players.

¨ I will do my best to organize practices that are fun and challenging for all my players.

¨ I will lead by example in demonstrating fair play and sportsmanship to all my players.

¨ I will provide a sports environment for my team that is free of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, and I will refrain from their use at all youth sports events.

¨ I will be knowledgeable in the rules of each sport that I coach, and I will teach these rules to my players.

¨ I will use those coaching techniques appropriate for each of the skills that I teach.

¨ I will treat each player, opposing coach, umpire, league official, and parent with respect and dignity.

¨ I WILL REMEMBER THAT I AM A YOUTH SPORTS COACH, AND THAT THE GAME IS FOR CHILDREN

With my signature, I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and accept the terms of, and will do my best to fulfill the terms of this document. I understand that not upholding the terms of this code and agreement can result in removal from my coaching position.

BPA WORLD SERIES QUALIFIER

PARK LOCATION

MANDATORY MANAGER CHECK IN

CLICK BELOW FOR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

BPA OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT RULES