WE ARE NOT AN ORGANIZATION FOUNDED ON ONLY PLAYING EVENTS ON THE WEEKENDS.  WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SHOWING UP, PUTTING ON A UNIFORM AND PAYING TO BE PART OF AN ORGANIZATION IS THE KEY TO YOUR PLAYERS SUCCESS.

WE DO NOT PICK OUR PLAYERS FROM A MASSIVE NATIONAL PLAYER POOL - OUR PLAYERS ARE MADE UP OF A REGIONAL GROUP OF PLAYERS IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SURROUNDING REGIONS

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WE ARE FOUNDED ON DEVELOPING OUR PLAYERS THROUGH WEEKLY PRACTICE - WORKOUTS - INDIVIDUAL TRAINING

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WE PRACTICE, WE TRAIN - YOU ARE EXPECTED TO BE THERE AND BE COACHABLE

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WE WANT THE BEST OUT OF YOUR PLAYER, WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT THE BEST OUT OF YOUR ORGANIZATION

 

Players Policies and Rules:

 

I. As an organization, we expect our players to work as hard as they can both on and off the field (school work). We are asking each player to set a goal of attaining a grade point average of 3.0 or higher throughout the school year. If you are interested in continuing your involvement in baseball at the high school level and beyond, now is the time to develop good study habits and the discipline it takes to balance school work with any extracurricular activities. College recruiting involves much more than your ability on the field. Maintaining high academic performance now and in the future will attract as much positive attention as your batting average or ERA.

 

II. We also expect all of our players to conduct themselves appropriately on and off the field. Any actions in school, out of school or on the field that are less than reputable may result in an immediate suspension with no refund provided. Nolan Shaffer and staff will decide what is and what is not grounds for suspension from the program. On field, Managers will reserve the right to make their own decision on in game or practice behavior that may result in the player sitting out for the rest of the game and or weekend of play.  The Manager will then contact Blake Sipe or Nolan Shaffer and a decision regarding the player will be determined. 

One example of behavior resulting in suspension would be a player cursing absurdly at an umpire and getting thrown out of a game.  We will not stand for that type of behavior from any player. The manager will address any issues with the umpires in a respective manner.

 

III. We have tryouts EVERY SEASON, this means that you have to earn your spot year after year. In this way players that develop have the chance to move to a different team within our system or maintain their standing within their group, players who are not developing or causing issues within the team may get released or given an option to play elsewhere. We believe in continual development, this is not only up to the coaches and your instructor within The Baseball Academy or The Baseball Company Invaders organization but its up to you as well. We, instructors - managers - coaches, can tell you what to do in practice or in a session but until the player, executes on the field or forces themselves to take time at home or the facilities to get the extra reps in, your play will not magically get better because we told you to do something. The manager - coach - instructor will tell you what has to be done in order to make your game and performance better and teach you how to do it, but we cannot play for you. It takes hundreds and sometimes thousands of repetitions in order for someone to break a bad habit or unlearn a way of situational thinking, this means you as the player must do some of these things on your own time in order to attain the success you are looking for.

 

IV. We will not release you mid-season if you are having a bad year, but we will release you mid-season, or at any point, if you become a detriment to your team due to attitude issues.

 

Parents Policies and Rules:

 

I. Your child will be selected to be a member of this team, not his parents. Please understand and respect that the staff/manager will be making the decisions regarding playing time and position assignments. Not all players will play in every game. We will be running this team to win and develop, not just to develop as an equal opportunity team. Everyone doesn't always get a trophy and a pat on the back. I ask that you trust in the experience of your manager in these matters. If you do not agree with what your manager is doing, feel free to ask off the field. Do not ask mid-game, before the game starts or in between games why your son is not playing in a particular position, batting in a certain spot in the lineup or not playing in the game at all. You may call, schedule a meeting, or catch your manager the day after the game that said event occurred. The assistant coaches are not responsible for these decisions so please do not ask them. We respect your opinion and are open to discussion and questions at the right time. You can expect an honest answer from your manager, although it may not be the answer you are wanting to hear. If we reach the point at which you feel a need to continually question your manager about his coaching decisions, this may be a sign this is not the team for you. If you decide to leave the team prior to the end of the season, you will receive no refund. The player is ultimately responsible for his own outcome, as the parent cannot play for them, I would urge you to have the player communicate with the coaching staff and voice their own concerns, which is most cases are different than the parent outlook.

 

Drinks and snacks are to be provided to players before the game begins, if you are afraid the players drink will get warm please have them bring a small cooler. Visits to the dugout to give your child a drink and advice on his next at bat is not acceptable. He is doing the best he can and we will handle any adjustments that need to be made. If you have a suggestion, please feel free to convey it after the game. You do not need to either verbally or non-verbally let them know what they did wrong during the game. The best thing you can do is offer encouragement and support during the tough times which will inevitably occur in any sport. Players will feed off parent emotions for good or for bad, just know that after they do something wrong, chances are they will glance to the stands.

 

II. Respecting umpires, opposing coaches, opposing parents and our own parents is a must. We all know that umpires have off days and bad calls can adversely affect the outcome of the game as well as team morale. We must all keep in mind that umpires at this level are not professionals and mistakes are going to be made. We all understand the frustration that results from unfavorable and questionable calls by umpires and the urge to let them know exactly how we feel. The manager will address issues with the umpires as he may see fit but understand we will not allow the reputation of Invaders Baseball to be tarnished by someone acting in a disrespectful manner . We will be playing many games during the course of the season and we do not want to be labeled as a team of whiners and complainers. You are not the only team playing under Invaders Baseball so please do not set a bad example for the rest of us.

 

III. Just because you are in a pay to play travel organization that offers many resources of development does not mean you are going to win nor get signed by the University or College of your choosing. If you are looking for a place to win and win only, this is not the organization for you. We at Invaders Baseball believe that you should always be pushed and challenged every season and every game. In USSSA and the world of travel baseball, there are several levels that your team can compete at. If you win at one level, on a fairly regular basis (ex. .750 winning percentage or above), we will continue to move your team up to higher levels until your team is between a .500 - .750 winning percentage. Our belief is if your team is winning all the time, you are not playing at a high enough level.  Unlike other organizations, we do not believe in dodging certain teams and events for feel good wins and trophies, the teams in that are playing at those feel good levels are who our players will be competing against in showcase when college roster spots are out there for the taking.  We want your players to get used to playing against better players on a regular basis, we dodge no one, keep your long term goals in mind. 

 

IV. When you are competing in Showcase level events, there are no guarantees that you will eventually be signed by the University or College of your choosing. There are thousands and thousands of players all vying for the same spot on a roster of 28 or less players. We can teach you and put you in front of the the right eyes to help you, but if you are not the right fit for their program or just not good enough for that level, there is nothing we can do to make that coach change their mind.  If there is a program interested in a player we will facilitate communication with them and send you to some of there camps in order for that school to see you on an individual basis, but we will not tell you when they are in the stands nor we will tell you they are interested until the time is right.  Adding pressure to a game of failure by introducing and outside stressor isn't always the best idea when you want to play at the top of your game.

 

Be realistic in your expectations all players are not Division I caliber or Top Round Draft picks.  We will provide all the tools we can in order to get the player to his highest level, the talent ceiling your player has is based of off many uncontrollable variables.

 

V. DON'T BE THE REASON YOUR CHILD IS NOT ASKED BACK TO THE TEAM.

 

Refund and Suspension/Dismissal Policy:

 

1.) If a player quits due to playing time there will be no refund for that player- will be responsible for remainder of season payment.

2.) If a player is forced to quit for the season due to injury or traumatic family event they will receive a refund based on what they have already participated in up to that point in the season.

3.) If a player is suspended due to grades there will be no refund for the time in which they are sat out.

4.) If you order the wrong size jersey or item that has already been printed there is no refund.

**Refunds can only be given on funds that have been paid in a personal check by each family--fundraised or donated money cannot and will not be refunded but it can be used to off-set travel hotel expenses. If you decide to leave the team or are not asked back to the team, all fundraised money remaining will forfeited to Invaders Baseball and will be distributed across the organizational team expenses. 

 

Events and Practices:

 

1.) We will attempt to play in all scheduled tournaments for that season, if we get rain or cancelled due to enrollment issues, we will try to move them to a different date. If we are unable to do so because of conflicts, event offerings or not having enough people to play that weekend, there will be no refund. For the most part our events are scheduled and posted (or at least the weekends we will be playing) roughly 3-6 months in advance.  In order to play on the dates scheduled months in advance of event announcements (in order for families to set travel calendars) there may be an instance in which a "2-day" event is rescheduled to a "1-day event"- monthly payments will not be prorated due to this type of event change.

2.) The scheduled tournament dates are subject to change so please be available as if you cannot attend there will be no refund.

3.) You will not be issued any type of refund for not being able to attend practice.  Practice will be very predictable and if you are not able to make arrangements to be there that is on you.  If you are unable to attend practice on a regular basis please be in contact with your coaching staff to find out what plays and or situations were worked on (signs-bunt plays-etc.) so you are ready to step in when its game time.  Your game play will only be affected if your not producing and not showing up.  We do urge all of our players to be at practices as frequently as possible as it can only make you a better player.  If you're not showing up to practices, clinics and sessions and your not doing well in games, do not expect to be rewarded with playing time in events.

4.) When agreeing to play for Invaders Baseball you are also agreeing to all terms and conditions set fourth in this document.

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WE ARE A NON-PROFIT 501(C3) WE DO ACCEPT CHARITABLE DONATIONS TO BENEFIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR PLAYERS.