Extra Innings Newsletter

There are a lot of amazing opportunities with camps, training and continued ball games! Here are a few fantastic resources:

• USA Baseball - Don't know how to help your player? Check out these amazing video tutorials and head out to the back yard with your players!
• Pitch to Pitch
• Starters Sports Training
• The Shed Athletics
• Minnesota Baseball Club

During our annual meeting on 10/8, each board director shared key accomplishments from the past season, as well as opportunities to improve. There are a handful of critical roles we need to run our program.  Our #1 priority for October is to fill these positions so we can attack critical planning months with full steam. Please contact president@playballhawks.com if interested in joining the board in one of these roles:

Travel Director

• Responsible for the overarching CBA travel program and development of 9U - 14U players.
• Conducts annual tryouts and is responsible for player selection and communication with coaches and player parents alike.
• Evaluates coaching applications to determine which coaches are best suited to coach each level.
• Collaborates with The Shed and the Chaska Highschool coaching staff to create player development opportunities and programs. 
• Oversees contract and implementation of hired/paid in-house development employees.
• Maintains current on all Minnesota Baseball League/Tournaments (MBL/MBT) regulations and policies and introduces to CBA Board of Directors to be properly incorporated.
• Assimilates data from CBA parent surveys and provides professional and timely feedback to coaching staff. Incorporates feedback into program the following season.
• Utilizes existing and identifies new resources to lead coach development training. 
• Works closely with travel coaches to support needs, challenges, and sometimes difficult conversations with parents. 

Travel Associate

• Responsible for organizing all aspects of the Chaska Baseball Association (CBA) travel program, performing all administrative functions necessary to support the CBA Travel Director. 
• Manages registration for travel tryouts and is responsible for administrative activities necessary to conduct tryouts. 
• Assists the Travel Director and President, serving as the liaison between the Minnesota Baseball League/Tournaments (MBL/MBT) and the CBA.
• Ensures we are following MBT policies such as checking birth records and eligibility of players.
• Ensures we are following MBT Safe Sport certifications for coaches.
• Schedules off-season training and coordinates with CBA Youth and Community Directors.
• Maintains directory of CBA policies. 
• Communicates logistics and tactical updates with travel coaches on a regular basis to ensure information flows from coaches to parents.
• Coordinates uniform needs with the CBA Apparel Director.

Concessions Director 

• Maintains the operation of concession facilities 
• organizes the purchase of concession products
• Maintains club membership
• Access to bank card for concession stand purchases with expectations that receipts be turned into treasurer within 48-72 hours
• responsible for the management of the concession sales
• schedules volunteers to work the concession booth during league and tournaments
• collects and reviews concession related offers including coupons, discounts, and bulk-purchasing opportunities 
• organizes, inventories, and keeps records of concession sales and purchases.

Youth Associate

• Partners with the Youth Director to assist with the following:
• Youth Expo: Assisting with volunteer coordination, set up & running it
• Youth Season: Assisting with team creation, jersey distribution, scheduling practices and games, inquiries during the season, and with game cancellations
• Youth End of Year Tournament: Assisting with forming tournament format, volunteer coordination, medal distribution, and responding to parent emails.  

Fall Ball Associate 

• Works with registration to open up and close registration
• Creates teams
• Coordinates jerseys for the teams
• Creates schedule
• Coordinates with equipment to get equipment to the teams
• Fields emails from parents

Starting in January, baseball training will be available in the Chaska Dome. Teams will be notified as it gets closer, but should tentatively plan on Sunday afternoons/evenings, as well as Thursday evenings. 

The CBA will host the Chaska Classic in June instead of May 2025. 9U - 11U players are the stars of the Classic, while families of 12U players are responsible for hosting the event. There will be plenty of opportunities for everyone else to get your DIBS volunteer hours in. For more details on past Classics, check out our web page.

During the CBA Board of Directors meeting on Sunday, September 8th, the board voted in Greg Riggs to serve as our new president. A current board member, Greg served as the equipment director for 2+ years. Among other things, he hopes to bring continued focus on player development, communication, and a "youth-first" approach to our organization.

On a bittersweet note, please join the board in THANKING TATE BRANDT for over 6 years of service on the board. He has promised we cannot get rid of him that quickly and will assist with a seamless transition, as well as ongoing community engagement. 

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE BOARD? Open positions include:

• Travel Director
• Registration, Dibs & Apparel Director
• Youth Associate (Fall Ball)

If interested, please contact Greg Riggs at president@playballhawks.com