Northwest Independent Baseball League
Try Outs

 2013 NWIBL ADULT WOOD BAT SUMMER and FALL LEAGUES

Do you miss the crack of a baseball rocketing off a WOOD BAT? Do you miss puttin' on metal spikes and gettin' dirty diving for that "web gem" play? Miss the thrill of blowing a fastball by a hitter? Getting mobbed by your team for that walk off hit that drives in the winning run? We play hard and we play to win but most importantly we have fun.  Teams and Players over 18 needed. New Players Register for 2013

So if you are a former or current player who has what it takes to compete,  EMAIL US NOW. We are gearing up for this season! Catchers, Pitchers, and LH Hitters welcome!

 2013 NWIBL ADULT WOOD BAT SUMMER LEAGUE play will consist of each team playing 20 league games, starting play May 4 & 5, no league games Mother’s Day (May 10 ) - Memorial Day weekend (May 23, 24 & 25) or July 4th. All teams will then advance to the League Championship Tournaments, scheduled for August 6 thru 26 with the American and National Champions advancing to the 5th Annual NWIBL Adult Summer Series August 10 ---24th
If you have a team or want Tryout Information call
Duane Wangenheim 503.208.2009
baseball_tryouts@nwibl.org
 2013 NWIBL ADULT WOOD BAT SUMMER LEAGUE

NWIBL has changed a few rules relating to tryouts.
Tryout Rules
1. All tryout players need to have their dues paid before the draft. If the dues aren't in, they will not be added to the draft able list of tryout players for the draft.   This will give the League ample time to make sure all payments are received, finalize the list of draftees and distribute it to all Managers This requirement will be conveyed to the tryout players many times.

2. Teams will have their Team Deposit paid before the can draft a tryout player on draft day.
 

3. If a Tryout Player pays his dues, but is not drafted or placed on a team roster prior to the start of the season, that player's dues will be refunded in a timely manner.
 

4. Managers are required to fill out their team rosters with a minimum of 15 full dues paying players to cover the cost of playing a full season of baseball. As stated on the registration form, any drafted player refusing to report or play will be banned from the league for two years and no refund of dues will be made.

The cost is around $18 per game (see 2009 Registration Dues below). Pretty cheap sports entertainment when you compare it to the cost of a round of golf, an afternoon of bowling or a day of skiing, not to mention a Mariners, Seahawks or Huskies game. These dues cover almost everything - use of the best fields, umpires, baseballs,


Online Registration

You may register online, which includes agreeing to the terms of the Waiver of Liability. It takes only a few minutes. Just go to our home page at www.NWIBL.com and follow the links. You can pay dues at this time with a credit card or mail in a check. Until you pay in full, your registration is considered pending. The League strongly urges all players to register electronically by using the link on our homepage.

Is the Waiver of Liability important?

It's not simply important, it's mandatory (no exceptions). Your GM, President Tom Evans Krause or Player Agent Scott Dillinger will have hard copies of Registration Forms as well and Waivers of Liability if you cannot register electronically. The League strongly encourages online electronic registration with electronic signature as opposed to filling out the hard copy.

Will my information be kept confidential

Your e-mail address we ask for is used only by the League so you may receive pertinent League information. Your e-mail address is not sold to any outside agency. This policy is strictly enforced by League officials.

How many Tryout sessions must I attend?

One is enough, however, it is always better to attend a couple so all the General Managers get a good look at your skills. It also tells them that you are enthusiastic about playing. And, of course, if you wait until the last tryout session and it rains, you’re out of luck.

What must I do at Tryouts?

Just relax and have fun. You will be asked to demonstrate your skills as related to your desired position(s). This may mean hitting, running, throwing and fielding. Running will be voluntary, but if you show off good foot speed, it is an excellent skill for senior players. If you are a pitcher or catcher, you will, of course, be asked to pitch or catch. You should try out for all the positions you want to play in the NWIBL.

Don’t "sandbag" or hide your skills so some General Managers will overlook you in the hope you can get on another team of your choice. If you are caught (and you will be) you will not be able to play in the League for at least two years, and there will be no refund of your player dues.

Tryouts - When and Where

If you wish to play (and you are not on a team yet), you must attend at least one (1) tryout to be eligible to be drafted.  All tryouts will be held at Bellevue Community College, 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, Bellevue, WA  98007.  Ages 21+ try out from 9am-noon.  Ages 35+ try out from 12-noon-2pm.  Please check in one-half hour before your start time.

Saturday, March 7, 2009
NWIBL Tryout #1
 

Saturday, March 21, 2009
NWIBL Tryout #2
 

Saturday, March 28, 2009
NWIBL Tryout #3
 

Saturday, April 4, 2009
NWIBL Annual Draft - Sport Restaurant & Bar, Seattle

Note: Three issues regarding the tryouts and draft were implemented by the Board Meeting 2 years ago (2/1/2005). It is highly recommended to read the new tryout rules that were introduced.

For an explanation on the difference between the Divisions, Click Here.

What if you do not get drafted after trying-out?

Most players who pay the League registration dues will get drafted, so you've got a great chance of playing. In subsequent years some players move up to a more competitive division after showing their skills, or polishing their skills after many years of inactivity. With 8 different age/skill Divisions, we have room for most all ages and most all levels of talent. If you do not get drafted, we will promptly refund your money.

What if you get drafted by a team and refuse to report?

Simply put, you don't get to play and you don't get a refund. The NWIBL wants to ensure parity, which is the reason for the NWIBL Draft. Before the actual Draft, you need to decide if you really have the time, desire and money to play. Certainly not after! To be fair to the team drafting you, you should be available to play in at least 75% of the games. If you refuse to report after being drafted, you will not be able to play in the NWIBL for two (2) years. And there will be no refund of your registration dues. If you “drop out” on the team that drafted you, that team loses a valuable draft pick and will be without a player for a full season. Thus, the severe penalty.

Do you need to be in shape?

Like John Kruk of the Phillies once said, “I’m not an athlete, I’m a baseball player.” So there is hope for all of us. At this senior level, the player who is in good condition can often times outperform a more skilled player.

What if you have not played for awhile?

Welcome to the crowd. Almost everyone now playing in the NWIBL had not played for a number of years. If you played some high school baseball, you probably won’t have any trouble competing. Actually, there are some good players in the League who were outstanding athletes in other sports, but never played baseball during their youth. Give it a whirl; there is no cost to try out.

What about equipment?

Besides purchasing your uniform, there’s your glove, cleats (metal or plastic) and other personal gear that you must have. Most teams will have bats to use, but these usually belong to individual players. You are encouraged to have your own bat and batting helmet. A helmet that fits can be purchased for $15-40 from a baseball catalog or a sporting goods store. Wood bats are optional, unless you play in the 45+ Smoky Division or 55+ Adirondack Division, in which case wood bats are mandatory. If using metal, no bat may have a differential of greater than –3 and must be BESR certified (Length can’t be more than 3 ounces more than the weight in ounces).

For the Tryouts, you are strongly encouraged to bring your own bat and helmet. Generally, each catcher has his own equipment. Don’t forget to mark your equipment in case it gets misplaced.

Where are the games played?

As the premier adult league in the area, we are privileged to play on the best fields available in the greater Puget Sound area. These fields are located in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. They include Cheney Stadium, Husky Ballpark, Bellevue Community College, Edmonds Community College, Lower Woodland Park, Kent Memorial Park, Peter Kirk Park, Bannerwood Sports Park, and many others. The league will play approximately 850 games this season. We continually strive to improve the overall field quality in our game inventory through feedback from teams and by working with the schools and communities who provide the venues.

When are the games?

Generally, teams will average two (2) games per week over the regular season with fewer games in May and June and more games in July and August. Weekday games on unlit fields usually begin at 6:00 pm and at 7:00 pm or 7:30 pm at lighted fields. Most games will last a full nine innings; a few will end earlier due to darkness or field-specific time limits.

Is there a minimum playing time rule?

The NWIBL does not have such a League-wide rule, but the Adams, Adirondack, Sierra, Rocky and Teton Divisions have rules that regulate this. However, we do encourage all our Divisions to be fair about playing time because everyone pays to play. Many teams have policies of playing every player who shows up for the game both offensively and in the field.

Rainouts

We'll have rainouts, no doubt. The League Rainout Line is 425-644-1901. Every effort is made to post rainout information at least 2 hours before the scheduled first pitch. Obviously, at times this is impossible. Be patient. Remember, you're not the only one playing on any given day. Some Saturdays or Sundays we'll be playing over 30 games league-wide, so there are a lot of field conditions to monitor. The rainout hotline can be called 24 hours a day. Some days it will be updated numerous times. An effort will be made to contact the GM of a team whose game is rained out, but at times this can't be done. Every player is encouraged to call the Rainout Line several times throughout the day.

What is the role of the General Manager (GM)?

The GM is the key to the overall success of this League. He is the main link between you and the League, especially with respect to communications. He must attend all monthly NWIBL General Meetings, handle all administration and managerial functions. The GM may appoint an on-the-field manager, but in the eyes of the League the GM is the boss of his team. Click up at top in the menu on General Manager to learn more about the General Manager’s role. However, the game strategy and decision making responsibilities on game day are those of the Field Manager, not the GM.

At the end of each season, every General Manager’s performance may be reviewed by the League. It takes a majority vote of the team’s players to "fire" a GM, and they must have a qualified replacement for the ousted GM. This may be done at any time.

Once on a team, can I change teams?

No, not within your division, unless a suitable trade can be worked out. You can request to be traded at any time as long as both General Managers agree and the League approves it. If you are unhappy at the end of a season, you may go back into the Draft the following year by trying out again and, if you are selected, you can join another team within that division. Once you are on a team’s roster, you are no longer a free agent within that division. For more information, please read the Player’s Rights document.

When is the Men's Senior Baseball League (MSBL) World Series?

The MSBL World Series is played in Arizona and Florida during the months of October and November. Participation is voluntary. Some teams will bring an "All-Star" team that is different than their regular season team.

What umpires are used in the NWIBL?

The best available. The same professional umpires are used by the local high schools and colleges. Like the players, they make mistakes, but experience has proven that overall they make fewer mistakes (both mental and physical) than the players.

How does the NWIBL deal with discipline?

The best approach is not to find out. We are very severe to those who choose to not obey our rules. For example, a player was suspended for 7 games (with no pro rated refund) for spitting sunflower seeds on an artificial turf field, which is against the rules. Several players have been given lifetime NWIBL bans for misconduct. If the rules say you can't do something, don't do it. Because we are all adults, every player is expected to conduct him or herself beyond reproach. The excellent reputation of our League allows us to play on the best fields available. The NWIBL has established itself as being more than just a "beer league", so there are enormous penalties (and possible expulsion from the League) for any bad conduct on or near the playing fields. Ask for a set of rules if you have any questions. Your General Manager has a copy. They are on the website as well. When administering any punishment, the League will assume that you were fully aware of these rules before any such violation occurred. It’s not possible to register online without agreeing to the Rules of Conduct

When does the season begin and end?

It generally runs from early-May to the end of August. NWIBL Divisional Playoffs run for several weeks in September. Previous attempts to start our season earlier were met with too many rainouts and a lack of playing fields which are occupied by youth teams.

How about Holidays during the NWIBL season?

There normally are no regular season games scheduled on Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day weekends. It is up to the team to request to play on a holiday weekend before the game schedule is finalized. Some NWIBL teams choose to play in tournaments over the Memorial Day Weekend, July 4th and Labor Day Weekend.

What Division(s) can you play in?

It depends on your age. Whatever your age, you can always “play down” into a lower age bracket, assuming you are good enough. Unless you are an exceptional player, we encourage you to stay in your own age category. On the registration form you may indicate whether you hope to play in the most competitive division regardless of age or that you prefer to play with players your own age.

Again, your calendar age applies in order to be eligible to play. In other words, if your birthday is on December 31st, whatever your age is at that time qualifies you to play in the appropriate Division / age bracket during that preceding summer season. For example, if a player doesn’t become age 28 until December 31, 2009, he is still eligible to play in the Cascade (28 and over) Division during the 2009 season (as well as in any of the 21+ Divisions). There is no age restriction for female players. They can “play up” despite the fact that they may be younger than the required age bracket.

Can you play in two (2) Divisions?

You can do this, however, you must pay two (2) registration dues, with a discount applied to your 2nd team. The dues for your 2nd team are approximately 80% the dues that's owed for your 1st priority division team. You must indicate which Division will be your priority team in the event there is a game conflict in the schedule. This enables the GMs on both teams to know your intentions in advance.

What about Medical Insurance?

Each player is personally responsible for any medical expenses as a result of an injury while playing in the NWIBL. While the League has a liability policy, it does not provide medical insurance for players.

Whom should you contact if you have any further questions?

Our website address is www.NWIBL.com. The national organization’s (MSBL) website is www.msblnational.com. Questions should be only directed locally, however.

Tom Evans Krause, League President, and Scott Dillinger, League Player Agent, will be in charge of the tryouts. Tom may be reached at 425-743-2751 (home) or 206-915-6369 (cell). Scott may be reached at 425-210-4809.

The NWIBL telephone has a voice mail system which will have important information and updates on the Tryouts, Draft and other issues. The League telephone number is 425-957-1430.

If and when you are drafted by a team, your main contact will be your General Manager. In addition, your Division’s Commissioner can also help. All these names are on the home page.

All tryout sessions are FREE. Under no circumstances will a player be allowed on the field prior to filling out and signing a Registration Form. For this, there are no exceptions.

Thank you for interest and/or participation in the NWIBL. We hope to see you at the tryouts!
 

 

 


If you have a team or want Tryout Information call
Duane Wangenheim 866.858.1174
baseball_tryouts@nwibl.org

Looking for talented Teams and Players....18 and over
 

18+ teams

WANTED
Talented Baseball Players to start the 2009 season. We need 7-9 more players...call our player hot line 503 208 2009 and get on a team now.

 

 
Do you manage or own a Independent Team in the Pacific Northwest...
TO BE LISTED
email information to be posted
NOTICE 2/16/2009

PCLB League Try Outs March 8   Portland Or will now be run by
Northwest Independent Baseball League

Portland City League Baseball (PCLB) Will Continue to host the  CBW COLLEGIATE WOOD BAT SUMMER TEAMS

All
Portland City League Baseball (PCLB) Adult Summer Teams, Fall Adult and Fall High School Teams will be apart of the Northwest Independent baseball League (nwibl.org).
Copyright © 2008 Northwest Independent Baseball League, All rights reserved. 02/17/2013 01:12 PM
(NWIBL.org)