• To be eligible for the Darien Stars players must
  • Play Darien Youth Club in-house baseball if on a part time team (60% or more of games).
  • Sign and adhere to the code of conduct and commitment letter, when participants make the team.
  • Pay a non-refundable deposit of $100 that goes towards travel baseball fees
• DYC Travel Baseball selects players to participate in their program, as spots are limited.   

TRAVEL SEASON:

• Tryouts will be throughout the month of July for the 8U to 14U Age Groups (some additional tryout dates may fall in early August) . Teams have the opportunity to participate in Fall Baseball. The offseason training program runs from December to March of the next year, and league games are played from April to July.   

PARTICIPANT FEES:

• All costs for the part-time or full-time (at the older age groups) travel baseball league will be incurred by the families of the travel baseball players. 
• DYC Travel Baseball Fees do not include DYC In-House fees.
• Fees will cover payments for uniforms, off-season training costs, league, umpire, field maintenance, any additional travel, and possible miscellaneous team expenses like equipment, etc. 
• We are anticipating an average participant cost at $500- $750 for the travel program, however costs vary by team.
  • Tournament fees are not included in the estimate
  • These estimated fees also do not include travel and accommodation expenditures for the 12U.

TRAVEL LEAGUE / TOURNAMENTS:

• The team play in the CLSB and play 10 league games a year against other in-house travel teams
• Traditionally, 50% of those games are at home, the teams play local communities, and primarily played on Sunday.
• The league website can be found at http://clsunball.com/
• Travel Teams also are strongly encouraged to participate in travel tournaments and schedule non-conference games.
• The DYC Travel Baseball program is a part-time travel program at younger age groups and full-time program at older age groups which coincides with the same months as the DYC in-house baseball program. 

PLAYER AGE DETERMINATION-UPDATED

The date for determining player eligibility is April 30.

PLAYING UP

• Parents/Players need to notify Darien Stars Director or Coach prior to the tryout, that their child(ren) is interested in trying out for an older age level.
• Players are only allowed to play up one age level.  
• Players that want to play up, during team selection process, cannot take the roster spot of anyone in that age group at 12U because this team travels to South Carolina or Cooperstown.
• Players that want to play up, during team selection process, are evaluated as being that age group when they have a sibling on the same team.    
• Any player that is chosen to play up from their current age group must do so in travel and in-house games.  
• Players that do have a team a their age group, but want to play up, will be strongly recommended to stay in their respective age group. 
• The final decision about playing up is the baseball commissioners after discussion with the independent evaluator, tournament director and director from that league.
• Players in their own age group are given more consideration than players playing up.  

EVALUATED BASEBALL SKILLS:

All eligible players participating in the tryouts will be evaluated on the following:

• Running
• Infield - coach hitting grounders to SS, and throwing to 1B
  • Fielding ground balls
  • Infield throwing
• Outfield - off a pitching machine
  • Fielding fly balls
  • Outfield throwing
• Batting - off of a pitching machine
• Pitching  
  • Pitch Accuracy
  • Pitch Mechanics

OFFSEASON PROGRAM / PRACTICES:

• Darien Stars have secured facilities for off-season programs.
• Winter Workout through the DYC will be on Sunday Mornings
• Darien Stars team will have one evening during the week for an additional practice at this time.
• When games start in April practice night is Wednesday, as long as they do not interfere with DYC in-house games.
• Coaches are able to schedule additional practice times as needed.