2027 TRAVEL TRYOUT GUIDELINES
HALTON HILLS MINOR BASEBALL 2027 TRAVEL TRYOUT GUIDELINES
Thank you for your interest in trying out for the Halton Hills Eagles 2027 season. We have created and shared this document to clearly outline the tryout process for all families. The tryout process described in this document was developed to ensure the highest level of fairness and transparency to all players involved in the tryouts. If you are new to rep baseball in Halton Hills, we suggest reading through the entire document in detail as there are answers to many of your questions in here and maybe some answers to things you don’t know.
Due to weather and other reasons the tryout process is fluid so there may be changes to your designated tryout times. Please check out our tryout information page at the following link for the latest schedule and any updates from the HHMBA executive team. https://www.hhmba.ca/content/tryouts
Tryout Registration and Schedule
- All players must register for the tryouts online in advance of the first scheduled tryout
- Online registration will close after the first tryout is complete
- Any player who is not a resident of Halton Hills requires a release from their current association in advance of the first tryout for that age group (13u and below)
- There will be a $30 tryout fee for each player that must be paid online.
- Each player/family will receive a “Welcome to Eagles Nation” letter. This letter allows the association and coaches to communicate the program’s goal and expectations and outlines the anticipated team costs for the season.
- All rep and COBA select team tryouts will begin in September.
- The process for the 22u team will be determined and communicated in mid-August
- Tryouts for all 2027 rep and COBA select teams will be completed by September 30th (weather dependent)
- Players are encouraged to arrive approximately 30 minutes prior to the first tryout to facilitate the sign-in process and be fully warmed up by the tryout starting time.
- All participants must be residents of Halton Hills or fit within the residency and eligibility requirements as per the Ontario Baseball Association (OBA) constitution Section P1.3
- Any Halton Hills player wishing to play in another Centre can apply for a release from HHMBA through the Directors of Travel. Please refer to the Player Releases section for more information.
Team Definition and Structures
- Team 1 - this is the first representative team selected at an age cohort and will be the able to classify within our regular season COBA league as either “Tier 1” or “Tier 2” for the purposes of regular season division placement. If a team declares to play their regular season in Tier 1 they will then classify with the OBA for the purposes of annual championships as an “AAA” or “AA” team. If a team declares to play their regular season in Tier 2 they will then classify with the OBA for the purposes of annual championships as an “A” or “B” team.
- Team 2 - this is the second representative team selected at an age cohort and will be the able to classify within our regular season COBA league as either “Tier 2” or “COBA Select” for the purposes of regular season division placement. If a team declares to play their regular season in Tier 2 they will then classify with the OBA for the purposes of annual championships as an “A” or “B” team. (Note: For 2027 we may not have any Team 2 teams within a single age cohort)
- Team 2 / Team 3 - this is the third team selected at an age cohort and will be the able to classify within our regular season COBA league as only “COBA Select” for the purposes of regular season division placement. This team will classify with Baseball Ontario Dedicated Select for the purposes of annual Championships.
Tryout Process and Player Selection Details
- All rep coaches will be approved and named at the appropriate time. Team 1 head coach will be announced prior to, or during, Labour Day Weekend. Team 2 head coach will be announced at conclusion of Team 1 tryouts. If there is a Team 3, the Team 3 head coach will be announced at conclusion of Team 2 tryouts.
- Team 1 Rep coaches are permitted to name no more than one (1) assistant coach prior to tryouts.
- Lower tiers (Team 2, Team 3) cannot name their one (1) assistant coach until after the completion of the tryouts one level higher.
- All assigned head coaches can be on the field during tryout sessions
- There should be no additional parents on or around the field assisting with tryouts
- Only HHMBA scheduled and approved tryouts are permitted. Changes to the tryout schedule must be approved by a director of Eagles rep and will be communicated by the association to all families on the main tryout page.
- Any player who played the prior season in COBA select or House League may choose to start their tryout experience at the second round of tryouts if they wish. This is not required but is an option available to the player. We would ask you to inform the Team 1 coach, or the association, of this decision in writing prior to the start of the first tryout so that they can plan their practice accordingly. Any player indicating this choice would be marked as “released to next tryout”.
- All players trying out for an age level must attend all tryouts until selected for that team or released. There are no invitation only tryouts allowed.
- If a player is injured, sick or missing for another reason they should inform the head coach or the association at that level as soon as possible
- During tryouts, no players are permitted to wear Halton Hills Eagles rep or select uniforms / hats / spirit wear / gear. A number is expected to be fastened to the top layer of visible clothing for each player. Rep or Select baseball pants and helmets are exempted from this policy and may be worn.
- The emphasis at the tryouts is on evaluating the player’s core skills.
- All players should be given a fair and unbiased evaluation with the same amount of evaluation time being given to all players
- The complete tryout attendance list for each age level must be submitted to the respective director of Eagles rep within 7 days of the conclusion of the tryouts and a copy to be kept on file at the HHMBA office.
- All players not selected for the Team 1 team will be eligible for the Team 2 / Team 3 teams.
- The Team 1 coach has the first selection right to choose a player looking for a spot on an HHMBA rep team
- Players may not decline a spot on the Team 1 or Team 2 team in order to play on the lower level team. A position offered must be accepted in order to play travel baseball.
- Respective head coaches will have the ability to determine what level their team will play in 2027 - Either COBA Tier 1 or COBA Tier 2 by the league deadline in January 2027.
- The second team will play at least one level lower than the first team within COBA, subject to executive decision
- At the conclusion of Team 2 (Multi year) the respective head coach will work with their HHMBA director to determine the correct classification but this team would generally classify as COBA Select.
- Each tryout moves the selection process along for both the Team 1 and Team 2 teams at the respective age group
