FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can anyone play on the team?
Yes anyone can play on our teams. There are no residency restrictions. The program was/is designed for mainly Tustin players but due to more teams being created in the area, we are forced to go outside the city. Players need to fall under proper age group. We are looking for the RIGHT players not necessarily the best players (yes talent does help).
Does everyone need to try out or attend try outs?
Yes all players need to try out in some form to make our team. Players who previous played on the team and are still on the team still need to attend certain try outs to show other players and parents what the standard is. Just a reminder that the more times we see a player the better his/her chances are.
How much does it cost to play?
The cost can vary from season to season and are not set in stone from year to year. You only pay for what we do (practices, games, tournaments, etc…). Some teams will play more than others based on availability and roster size. There is usually a monthly fee of $200-$250. The overall fees covers EVERYTHING that it cost for the season. The weather may affect the amount of practices and games.
Is there any additional cost (tournaments)?
There is no additional cost to play. The set fee announced at the parent meeting is the only cost. Everything is included into the set fee. Only additional cost will be the required book, arm weights, and rubber band.
Does everyone play?
Yes everyone does play to some extent but this is no longer Little League and this is a travel ball team that needs to stay competitive. Players are put into categories which they dictate whether they stay in or move out of. This is based on a variety of information gathered from practices and games. We have Starters which will play the majority to all the time. Part Time Starters will be filtered in as a starter and will play half to the majority of the time. Role / Innings Players will get occasional starts but will be used mostly in certain situations and will have limited playing time due to the success of the starters.
How many players are going to be on the roster?
We are now going with a roster size of 16-18 players. Most teams in the county don’t carry more than 12-13 players. This allows for everyone to play but doesn’t teach the players how to deal with adversity when they need to accept responsibility for poor play and playing time isn’t guaranteed. With 7-9 players on the bench, all players won’t be able to take days off when at practice and/or games. There will be days when a player has an off day for whatever reason but he can’t afford to take the day off because there are players who want their starting job. With players are pushing each other and playing a high level consistently it allows for a high tempo both in practice and games. It will allow for progression both individually and collectively to happen quicker. All players will be given fair opportunities but there will be starters, part-time starters, and just innings/role players. As a program we will play more games this upcoming season than we have ever played in the past due to more players and the need to make sure that everyone can still get their work in games at some level.
What type of training is provided?
We provide everything related to baseball. We will cover ALL the baseball skills needed to perform at the high school / college level. Both physical and mental concepts are presented and reviewed to our players. Strength and conditioning is intergraded into the majority of practices. All our players regardless of age will be trained at a high school / college level. We will get the players to play real baseball and understand all the little things that go into winning and losing baseball games that most people miss. We will truly teach the boy how to play their position. Pitchers will learn how to actual pitch to batters, hold runners, and manage a game. Hitters will learn how to hit and not be one dimensional and be a complete hitter in all situations. Catchers will learn how to actually receive, transfer, block, and manage games. All players are held responsible for having a high level of knowledge and execution of their output and performances.
Will my son be able to play high school baseball when he is done?
Yes, every player that leaves our program should be able to play at the high school level or at least know exactly what needs to be done to play at that level. Every single player (except for 2) who has left our 14u spring program and decided to play baseball over lacrosse and has tried out for a high school team has gone on to make their high school team.
What high school do you feed into?
We are the primary feeder to all schools in Tustin (Tustin, Foothill, and Beckman). We do have players that will go and play at different high schools (Villa Park, Orange Lutheran, Mater Dei, Marina, El Modena, Capistrano Valley, Canyon, Servite, Segerstrom, Dana Hills, and Woodbridge).
How many times can a player try out?
Players can try out as many times as they feel comfortable coming out. We have had players not make it one season or year and make it the following season or year. We understand that we will miss a player from time to time due to limited access to a player if a player doesn’t have his best stuff during a try out. We also understand that these boys are constantly growing and size and quality of play can change from season to season or year to year and that is why we constantly have try outs every season to provide that opportunity to every player of making our team.
Can multi sport athletes still play?
Yes multi sport athletes can still play on our team. Each player’s situation will be different and needs to be discussed with Coach Adrian Mendoza. This usually only comes up in the fall season. Football / soccer players will usually miss our Saturday stuff but will always attend our Sunday stuff.
How often do you practice?
During the spring season we usually practice 2-4 times a week. During the fall season we usually practice 2-3 times a week.
How often do you play games?
During the spring season we will usually play double headers on Sundays. Towards the middle/end of the season we play weekday games. We will get in about 5 tournaments in during the spring season. During the fall season we will play tournaments only with an occasional game during the week. We will get in about 4 tournaments in during the fall season.
Can you play on other teams?
With our 14u team it is an all or none policy. We practice and play enough games that there is no need to play on another team. With our 12u team it is a little different. Because of the team is so new we will allow other players to play little league or pony only. No other travel ball teams will be allowed.
When do you have tryouts?
We will usually hold try outs in early January for our spring try outs. For our fall season try outs are usually in early September. It is important that players attend try outs on scheduled dates. Players and parent meetings are scheduled to follow after try outs. Player who have to attend practices during the season will miss valuable information. Practices and games are considered try outs in different situations.
How do I receive new information about try outs, practices, and/or games?
Please email us at tustintitans@hotmail.com and put on the header request info. We will answer any current question you may have. You will put on a mailing list that will receive news on try outs dates and additional info on the program and teams.
What is the commit level?
During the spring (baseball) season we expect a full time commitment to the team. We understand there may be conflicts for a variety of reason but they should be minimal. Only at the beginning of the season because other sports are wrapping up should a player miss because of another sport. During the fall season we understand that it isn’t baseball season so we understand other sports demand. But at the same time as a team and/or player need to be on the field to receive the information and be given the reps to improve. Less time usually means less progression due to lack of reps and information.
What is the organization’s philosophy during the season and from season to season?
We take the responsibility to prepare our players to play at a high level in all aspects of the game of baseball both currently and in the future. We can use baseball to teach life lessons and skills that go beyond the game. We will expose all of our players to REAL BASEBALL and give them a better understanding of the actual game and what it has to offer. We develop a lot of our players in house rather than going out and getting only the best players and putting them on a team. With patience from both the players and parents we will cover all the mental and physical skills that players will need to know to perform at the level they should / want to be playing at which only happens in time. They become more of a complete baseball player fine tuning all of their baseball skills and understanding all the small things that the game presents. We spend more quality time with our players than most teams and programs. We conduct one-one player evaluations with all of our players at the end of the season so that they understand their progression or lack thereof and relay to them their current status on team. We are trying to build a team and have only a few additions so that the team progression can happen quicker rather than starting over because of new players that don’t have the knowledge and understanding of the advanced system/structure in progress.