Does anyone know how to go about finding info on trying out for the 16U Youth National Team for 2007?
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Your son needs to be on a travel team that plays in the Jr. Olympics in either Peoria, AZ or in Florida in late June/early July. Teams come from all over the U.S. and Texas is typically well-represented. The USA 16U tryout roster is selected from the best players in those two Jr. Olympics tournaments.
I suggest researching elite area travel teams in East Texas at the 16U and 15U levels and figure out how to get a tryout for one of them. Not any team can get into those tournaments, so you might ask any program you contact if they've been there before.
Good luck!
I suggest researching elite area travel teams in East Texas at the 16U and 15U levels and figure out how to get a tryout for one of them. Not any team can get into those tournaments, so you might ask any program you contact if they've been there before.
Good luck!
It would be nice if USA Baseball would update their web site. Their new web site has been promised as "coming soon" for about 4 months now.
For the Youth National Team, you need to contact Jeff Singer at their Cary, NC offices for full info. But justbaseball is correct, you first must make sure your son is on a travel team going to one of the Jr. Olympic venues.
For the Youth National Team, you need to contact Jeff Singer at their Cary, NC offices for full info. But justbaseball is correct, you first must make sure your son is on a travel team going to one of the Jr. Olympic venues.
I would also suggest you confirm if you son's age will make him eligible to make the team.
With the age changes last year we found out that my son was young enough to play in the event however too old to make the team if selected.
With the age changes last year we found out that my son was young enough to play in the event however too old to make the team if selected.
You cannot turn 16 before Jan. 1,2007 I believe.
Actually for next year the cutoff date will be 12/31/07, or 1/1/08 if you prefer.
Basically if you're a 16u player born in the fall, you're not eligible for the Youth National Team. Unlike most other organizations, international play works on a calendar year basis.
Basically if you're a 16u player born in the fall, you're not eligible for the Youth National Team. Unlike most other organizations, international play works on a calendar year basis.
The dates for the 2007 Jr. Olympics will be June 22-30. To be eligible, a player can not turn 17 before May 1, 2007.
There will be a new and important change to the admissions process from previous years for this coming year's tournament. USA Baseball will no longer be allowing returning teams to gain an automatic bid into the tournament by registering in a timely manner. They've indicated that they wish to make the opportunity to participate in the Jr. Olympics available to more teams, and will be considering each application on an individual basis. Teams who've historically been given automatic return acceptance will no longer have that privilege.
USA Baseball indicated that for last year's JO West, 60 of the 72 available slots were taken by returning teams before they even had a chance to consider new applications for entry. They are doing away with the old system and will be considering each team's application based on merit. I would expect that this means that team's who've historically not been as competitive, or have left early due to elimination from the championship round, might not be admitted this year. That should make for some interesting discussion.
If you're still looking for information on some of the Texas teams that have historically participated, you might contact the Houston Heat or Dallas Tigers. We've played both of those teams in past years and they've been very good, so I expect they'll have an excellent shot at being admitted once again.
There will be a new and important change to the admissions process from previous years for this coming year's tournament. USA Baseball will no longer be allowing returning teams to gain an automatic bid into the tournament by registering in a timely manner. They've indicated that they wish to make the opportunity to participate in the Jr. Olympics available to more teams, and will be considering each application on an individual basis. Teams who've historically been given automatic return acceptance will no longer have that privilege.
USA Baseball indicated that for last year's JO West, 60 of the 72 available slots were taken by returning teams before they even had a chance to consider new applications for entry. They are doing away with the old system and will be considering each team's application based on merit. I would expect that this means that team's who've historically not been as competitive, or have left early due to elimination from the championship round, might not be admitted this year. That should make for some interesting discussion.
If you're still looking for information on some of the Texas teams that have historically participated, you might contact the Houston Heat or Dallas Tigers. We've played both of those teams in past years and they've been very good, so I expect they'll have an excellent shot at being admitted once again.