June 11, 2009

Congratulations All Star Players and Parents!!!!!

You’ve been selected to represent Thomaston Upson County in All Star Competition. Here is some basic information to help you and your family prepare.

First step is District competition. We will have a Dixie Minor (9-10), Dixie Youth (11-12) and Dixie Boys (13-14) All Star teams.

Dixie Minors Troup County June 27-July 3

Dixie Youth Troup County June 27-July 3

Dixie Boys Lamar County June 20-26 (State Rec Tournament)

It is the goal of the All Star team to advance to State Competition.

State Hosts are:

Dixie Minors Mountain Park July 18-25

Dixie Youth Newton County July 18-25

Dixie Boys (Rec/Cont) LaGrange/Troup July 11-18

All Star practices will begin immediately. Your All Star Coaches will share with you dates and times. This year weather conditions have extended our regular season and All Star teams have less time to prepare. Practices will most likely be daily and include some Saturdays. Being named an All Star is an honor that includes responsibility. As a player, you must be committed to practices and to the dates that district and state tournaments are scheduled. If you for any reason cannot be present at the district competition, then please make this conflict known immediately. An alternate will be named. Waiting and dropping out at the last minute, will only weaken an All Star team’s chances for success. Please let Jeff Middlebrooks know if a family vacation, church camp, mission trip or any other conflict is known now.

During All Star competition, there are no minimum playing requirements. Some All Star tournaments do not use continuous batting order. Run rules may also differ from league rules. These are just some of the different rules that govern District/State All Star play. Dixie Baseball governs play. During games, players and coaches must remain in dugout. Only coaches allowed in dugout, no spectators/parents.

Attached you will find GRPA’s Fundamentals of Sportsmanship. Even though Georgia Parks and Recreation does not govern play for Dixie tournaments, the Thomaston Upson Recreation Department believes that these are principals that all players, parents, family members and spectators should uphold. We expect our Dixie teams, parents and fans to uphold these GRPA sportsmanship standards while competing or viewing district and state competitions. PLEASE READ THESE CAREFULLY. At tournament sites the tournament staff and officials have the authority to ask parents, fans and spectators to leave the facility if individual(s) are exhibiting unacceptable behavior that is disruptive to the tournament.

Each player on each team has a role to play. Every player can and should make a contribution to the team. Players will be asked to assume different and new roles. At this level of play, there is a need for specialization (pinch runners with speed, designated hitters). As an All Star be ready to assume the role your team needs you to perform, even if it is a new one.

Parents & spectators should expect to pay an admission fee. Some tournaments offer weekend passes, others charge daily admission. Admission fees will range from $2-5 per person for a daily admission. Coaches and players do not pay an admission.