Registration begins in mid-November and will continue through the end of February unless age levels fill beforehand.
You can register online any time during open registration. You must sign in first, or create an account if you have not already done so,
then click on the Registration link in the main menu and follow the simple instructions.
Face-to-face registration is scheduled for a Friday night and Saturday morning in January, the 18th and 19th respectively. The location is the Village of Lake In The Hills Community Room, 600 Harvest Gate Road.
League fees vary from $85.00 to $195.00. For the exact fee structure, go to the registration page on our website.
Each player registered receives a full uniform consisting of a hat, jerset and pants. Players in the Midgets, Mytes, Instructional Softball and Ponytail leagues each receive a participation trophy at the end of the year.
The YAA will make every attempt to honor all requests at the Midgets, Mytes, Instructional Softball and Ponytail levels. Not all requests can be guaranteed, however.
The YAA Board does not recommend or desire that any player play down a level. Exceptions can be made if a coach determines a player's safety is at risk. The coach will seek assistance in determining such player movement with his/her league director.
The YAA Board does not allow for players to play up at any level other than the one their birth date falls within. Occasionally, players will be asked to substitute due to an absence.
After careful consideration, the YAA Board has determined that NO REFUNDS will be made after registration starting with the 2008 season.
If you have a player in the Minors and/or Majors baseball/softball levels or Pony baseball your child will be required to attend a player evaluation in late February or early March. Players are graded on 5 skill sets to allow directors to conduct a player draft.
Each player is urged to attend evaluations. Scores are kept confidential and used to conduct a draft in order to create parity among the teams. Any player not attending the evaluations cannot be drafted and must be chosen by a blind draw at the end of the draft evening.
Only coaches and their assistants can attend draft night.
A coach's meeting is held the week before Spring Break. At this meeting rosters, schedules, rules, picture and fundraiser packets are distributed to the coaches. The YAA Directors ask that coaches contact their players within a week of this meeting date.
Yes, either you or your spouse should attend. This meeting is mandated by the by-laws of the YAA and it is your opportunity to come meet the members of the YAA Board, listen to the plans for the upcomming season and beyond, and ask questions of the Board members. This year there will be
a lot of information regarding the new fundraiser and what the vision is for Sunset Park and Guy Park.
Practices generally begin the last Saturday of March. Each team will be scheduled one Saturday practice and one weekday practice for each of 4 weeks. Sundays may be necessary based on the number of teams we have. Practices last for an hour and a half to 2 hours. There is no set day or time for any team.
Games generally begin the last Saturday of April (Seniors begin around Memorial weekend, Major softball begins in early June). The same scenario applies for games where each team will be scheduled 2 games per week.
Weekday games are scheduled for 6:00pm (exception for Senior, 5:30pm and 8:00pm). Saturday games are at 9:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Senior games are scheduled for Sundays, generally 3:00pm, 5:30pm and 8:00pm.
Most leagues end just before July 4th. The YAA will do everything possible to honor this time frame; however, should rain affect too many games then we may run beyond our target date. Senior League concludes in early August and Major Softball concludes at the end of July.
Some players may be eligible for in-house All-Star teams which will play after the regular season concludes.
The YAA rainout hotline number is (847) 658-9009. Our obligation is to notify umpires one hour before game time, otherwise we must pay them regardless if we play or not. Therefore, we will not change the hotline message until 5:00pm during the week and 8:00am on a Saturday.
It is the goal of the YAA to prepare the fields after it has rained and avoid any rainouts if at all possible.
The YAA, along with some other community support, installed lightning prediction systems at each of the parks we schedule games at. If, while on your field, you hear a 15-second long siren blast, then you must take cover
and leave the field. The system has detected the possibility of a lightning strike within a 10-15 mile radius. The system is armed with a resetting, 10-minute counter. Should the system monitor no likelihood of a lightning strike
for a continuous 10-minute period, then three short 5-second blasts will be heard and play can resume. If the system goes off for a second time, then games at that time are cancelled.
Additionally, if you should arrive at the park and you see the yellow light flashing atop the concession stand or POA building (Ryder Park), then we are in red alert and precautions as addressed above should be followed.
More information about ThorGuard can be obtained
here.
Players are required to provide their own glove. Boys, ages 9 and up must wear a protective cup.
The YAA provides practice/game balls, helmets, catcher's gear and a few bats for each team.
Rubber cleats or gym shoes are to be worn by all softball and baseball players through the Major League level. Pony and Senior players
may wear metal spikes.
No bat with a barrel greater than 2 1/4" will be allowed in Midgets, Mytes and Minors. Big barrel bats are allowed at the Major level but should not have a drop greater than -10. Seniors should not use a bat with
a drop greater than -5.
Softball bats must say "Offical Softball".
The Code of Conduct is a signed contract reminding coaches/players and parents that this is a recreational league. Although competition becomes more prevalent at the Minor level, it is still the responsibility
of the parents, coaches and players to conduct themselves with respect and good sportsmanship.
It is the responsibility of each member to help police each other. It is often difficult to pick someone out of a crowd. Ultimately, it becomes the responsibility of the coaches to control themselves, their players and their parents.
The YAA will error on the side of our umpires should a report be filed. Breaking the Code of Conduct will result in game/practice suspensions and automatic probation for the remainder of the year. Secondary offenses will result in expulsion as a member.
Our coaches are instructed to try and handle problems at the team level. If they cannot handle a problem/question, or if you have a problem with your coach and have discussed it without resolution, then you should contact your league director for assistance.
They will attempt to handle the problem and will communicate with the Director of Baseball, Director of Softball, or the appropriate Executive Director.
Submit your question to the
webmaster and it will be forwarded to the proper league director to be answered.