Mahomet Diamond Dogs Baseball Club

 Season Try-Outs

The Mahomet Diamond Dogs Baseball Club (DD) was created in 2002 to provide a higher level of competition for talented and motivated Mahomet-area baseball players that are committed to improving their skills in a team-focused, competitive environment. The Diamond Dogs will focus on developing athletic skills, sportsmanship, team participation, self- confidence, character, discipline, work ethic, and the spirit of competition. We strive to create a safe, fun, family-oriented environment for the players and the community.

The organization’s try-outs process was developed to ensure a fair, impartial and consistent selection process. Our ultimate goal is to ensure placement of all players into a program that most appropriately matches their ability and provides the best possible experience for their future baseball skills development and growth. The process is designed to ensure every player has an equal and impartial opportunity to demonstrate their skill, attitude and effort in an attempt to solicit an invitation to join one of the organization’s teams. It is considered a privilege to play on one of our teams and no player has a predetermined right to be on a team, including returning players. The primary objective of try-outs is to identify players with both an existing strong level of commitment and skill level, as well as the intention of further advancing their skill development at a more competitive level.

Try-out Procedure
Tryouts will be hosted for ages 8U – 15U and provide the organization with a relative player assessment against criteria based on physical, technical, mental and tactical skill levels. Players will be demonstrating their skills with fielding, hitting, base running, and pitching (all ages except 8u). Players should bring their own glove; bats can be provided if necessary. Assigned time slots and length of tryouts vary per age group.

Registration, Check-in & Attire
Parents of players wishing to tryout out for the Diamond Dogs should complete the online registration process, which includes the collection of basic player information, an image of the player's birth certificate (to verify age), and a release of liability.  Onsite registration is available the day of the tryout if necessary but completion ahead of time is preferred.

Upon arriving to tryouts, players must check in at the registration table to verify all paperwork is complete.  Each player will then be given a tryout number, which they will wear pinned to their shirt on the front and back.  Players will return their tryout number at the conclusion of the tryout event.

Player Safety. It is recommended participants wear cleats, a baseball hat, appropriate baseball attire, and an athletic cup.   Players should also bring plenty of water, as there will be no concessions onsite. If a player is sick or injured, they should let an evaluator know prior to the start of the evaluation, or at the time during the try-outs session at which the player becomes sick or injured.

Evaluation Process
Each age group is assigned a variety of evaluators to conduct player assessments based on the guidelines pre-determined by the Board. The assigned evaluators include the prospective head coach of the team, as well as those not likely personally familiar with players in that age group (so as to limit bias). Evaluations involve their personal observations of individual players during the skills exercises of pitching, fielding, hitting, and timed base running, including player attitude.

Team Selection Process
Determination of team rosters shall be based on a number of factors, including the number of tryout participants, their relative ranking/grading from the evaluation process, and appropriate input from the current Head Coach, Evaluators, and the Board. While skill level and ability are very important, decisions are not always based solely on this,  as other factors play a role. This includes, but is not limited to, having to fill a specific skills void on a team (e.g., if there are no existing catchers, they may be looking for a catcher).  There is also the possibility the organization may decide to not field a team in a specific age group for a particular season.

Each head coach has the discretion, but is not obligated, to accommodate an additional make-up tryout session, should he/she feel it necessary to field a team, upon receipt of the Board’s approval.  To request a make-up tryout, please email the Mahomet Diamond Dogs Board at MahometDiamondDogs@gmail.com

Injured Player(s)
In the event a player is previously injured or sustains an injury during tryouts, a team can temporarily hold a roster position open in order to accommodate a delayed tryout session. This may happen only if the current head coach feels this particular player will be beneficial to the team as a whole. Upon completion of a delayed tryout, acceptance on the team will then run its due course. This process requires the approval of the Board.

Player Notification
The assigned (current) Head Coach is responsible for notifying all tryout participants at their respective age level of their status. Notification should consist of an invite by phone or email to join the team.  The coach will try to accommodate a reasonable decision period (e.g., 48 hours) for the selected player to make a determination of whether to accept the invitation, unless other time constraints are coming into play that would shorten that acceptance period. In the event a selected player does not accept the invitation, the player next in ranking may be offered the position or an additional tryout session may be held.

Once all the invited players accept, all other players should be notified they did not make the team. These notifications should be done by phone or email, and preferably will include guidance on areas of improvement. The sign of a top club is not only how they treat those whom are selected, but also how they ensure proper placement and treatment for those trying to further their baseball skills!

All selected players are required to sign a contract and complete all required documentation, as well as pay applicable required registration and other fees, to secure their commitment to the Mahomet Diamond Dog organization for the upcoming season. All paperwork will be made available by the Board soon after tryouts are complete.