Travel Ball Basics
- How do I know which age division my son is eligible for?
- How does travel ball competition differ from league?
- Are there different levels of competitive play within travel ball?
- What is the game format in travel ball?
- How much travel is actually involved in travel ball?

NorCal Grizzlies Practice and Training
- When and where are practices held?
- What can I expect from a typical practice?
- Are parents allowed to attend practice?
- Will my son require additional training outside of practice?

NorCal Grizzlies Tournament Teams
- What are the dates of each season?
- How many tournaments does each team play?
- Where are most tournaments held?
- How many tournaments will require travel?
- What is your policy regarding playing time?
- What is your general pitching philosophy?
- Do you put your pitchers on pitch counts?

Fundraising
- Do you hold fundraising events?
- Are team or player specific fundraisers available?

Which bats are legal for the 2012 USSSA season?
Adam Farb, USSSA Northern California State Director, sums it up best in the following letter dated 12/15/12...

15u-19u - Only -3 BBCOR bats or wood bats or wood-composite bats will be allowed. In other words, all bats that are legal for HS play in 2012 will be legal for USSSA. All bats that are not legal for HS play will not be legal with USSSA.

9u-14u - Legal: HS Legal Bats, USSSA 1.15 Stamped Bats, Small Barrel Bats, Illegal: -3 Bats not legal in HS play, Any big barrel bat that does not have the USSSA 1.15 stamp.

Starting January 1st, USSSA will not allow the use of any big barrel bats that do not have the USSSA stamp.

Why the change?
There is a move afoot in youth baseball to "dumb down" youth bats, particularly big barrel bats. This was started by Little League banning composites last year. Over the next year, many (all?) organizations will be making a move to restrict Big Barrel bats to a "wood-like" standard, probably a 1.05 performance factor.

USSSA opposes this change and feels that the 1.15 standard is the right standard for the game and has years of actual game data to show that the 1.15 bats are safe AS LONG AS the bats are not tampered with or improve beyond the 1.15 standard over time.

So, USSSA has worked with the manufacturers to create bats that will not "get hotter" over time and has increased penalties for bat tampering. The USSSA stamp therefore ensures a tamper-resistant bat and a bat that will perform at the 1.15 standard through the life of the bat.

It's BBCOR, USSSA 1.15 Stamp, Wood, Wood Composite or illegal.

-Adam Farb
USSSA Northern California State Director

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How do I know which age division my son is eligible for?
The basic rule of thumb is the age of your son on April 30th determines his age for the current season. Seasons run from August 1st through July 31st. For example: Bradley turns 12 years old on June 5th, 2012. For the 2012 season that runs from August 1st, 2011 through July 31st, 2012, Bradley is considered 11U because he is 11 years old on April 30, 2012. For further information or to confirm your son’s age please consult the USSSA travel ball age calculator.

How does travel ball competition differ from standard league based play?
There are various levels of play within travel baseball with the number of teams at each level expanding rapidly from year to year. While most leagues make it their philosophy to find a team for every player who wants to play, travel teams often hold tryouts or evaluations whereby players are either accepted or not. There are three basic levels of play at every age – AA, AAA and Major – with the Major level being the most competitive.

Are there different levels of competitive play within travel ball?
Yes. Since the majority of tournaments we participate in are USSSA sanctioned events, we commonly refer to their published competitive classification guidelines:

• Major - Top competitive teams
• AAA - Middle of the pack competitive teams
• AA - Teams with restricted rosters, drafted players, or play at the recreation level

What is the game format in travel ball?
Games are usually played in a weekend tournament format. A standard 2 day tournament consists of pool play on Saturday with 2 games often being the norm. Based on Saturday’s performance teams are ranked then matched up in single elimination bracket play on Sunday. Teams often play between 1 and 3 games on Sunday. Holiday weekend tournaments are often scheduled for 3 days. National events can last between 3 and 7 days.

How much travel is actually involved in travel ball?
Ten years ago when there weren’t literally hundreds of travel ball teams, teams had to often travel somewhat long distances in order to find a tournament with the right number of teams, adequate competition, etc. With the number of teams having greatly expanded over the years it’s now common place for tournaments to be held more often and closer to home. In Northern California there are a hand full of tournaments held nearly each and every weekend, year round, throughout Sacramento, Central Valley and the greater Bay Area.

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When and where are practices held?
Each team participates in 2 two-hour practice sessions per week. Practices are most often held at contracted indoor training facilities in Livermore and Modesto.

What can I expect from a typical practice?
Practices are fun, fast paced and informative. At the conclusion of the standard warm up session which includes stretching, throwing/quick toss and various glove work drills, players break up into specific rotating stations. Pitchers throw one light and one heavy bullpen per week. Catchers catch multiple bullpen sessions per week in addition to performing catching specific drills and exercises. Fielders spend time drilling down on footwork, glove work and throwing techniques. Hitting stations include soft toss, tee and live pitching from an instructor. A typical player to coach ratio is 5:1.

Are parents allowed to attend practices?
Yes, we absolutely encourage parents to attend our practice sessions.

Will my son require additional training outside of practice?
There has never been a requirement for any player to purchase additional training. We feel the amount of quality training received from a typical practice schedule is adequate for each player when combined with their own daily personal regimen. Most players are able to conduct their own personal work at home, or with a parent or sibling. For those who can’t, or for those simply looking for the help an instructor can provide, please consult our recommended training parters - Bullseye Baseball Academy (Livermore) and The K Zone (Modesto).

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What are the dates of each season?
Grizzlies fall teams begin practicing in mid-August continuing through the week prior to Thanksgiving. Tournaments are played from September through November. Grizzlies spring teams begin practicing in January continuing through July. Tournaments are played from February/March through July.

How many tournaments does each team play?
Grizzlies fall teams participate in 6 tournaments. Grizzlies spring teams participate in approximately 14 tournaments with some teams playing 1-2 additional special events.

Where are most tournaments held?
The majority of tournaments are held at Twin Creeks (Sunnyvale), Big League Dreams (Manteca), Rainbow Fields (Modesto), Tracy Sports Complex (Tracy) and Mather Sports Complex (Sacramento). There are other venues in the Bay Area, greater Sacramento area and the Central Valley.

How many tournaments will require travel?
It is normal for each spring team to participate in at least one national event normally held near the end of the season in July. Possible locations include San Diego, Steamboat Springs, CO, Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL, Phoenix, AZ, Houston, TX and Omaha, NE. Certain teams will participate in more than one national event and/or travel to southern California during the season.

What is your policy regarding playing time?
There are no guarantees when it comes to playing time and players can sit an entire game at a time. With that said it is extremely rare for a player to sit entire multiple games in a weekend tournament. While some players will find their position rarely changing, others will find themselves in a rotation with other players. Players are positioned based on what is best for the team at the time.

What is your general pitching philosophy?
First pitch strike. Three pitches or less. Pitch towards contact.

Do you put your pitchers on pitch counts?
Each of our pitchers is different with some conditioned to throw more than others. It is our goal to develop each of our starting pitchers so they’re able to complete each game they start. There is no specific number placed on our pitchers, rather each pitcher has his own unwritten limit based on his stamina and effectiveness.

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Do you hold fundraising events?
We have held an annual crab feed every February since 2007. The event serves as our main organizational fundraiser and gets better and better each year. The event is held at the Robert Livermore Community Center in Livermore.

Are team or player specific fundraisers available?
Yes, we have participated in a variety of fundraisers in years past. Seasonal candy sales, family and friend solicitation letters and hit-a-thons are a few ideas. We are more than happy to cooperate with and encourage parents wishing to head up team specific programs.

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