Rep and Select Programs

Our mission as an organization is to offer to the youth of Waterdown and area quality baseball programs for their recreation and athletic development.  Further we maintain an objective to match the level of competition to what their individual skills warrant.  Consistent with this objective, the WMBA offers Rep and Select programs to facilitate a higher level of competition for players with advanced skill sets and a desire for increased competitive opportunities beyond our house league play.

The honour roll features some of our most successful teams.
 
Select
 
Select teams are formed by tryout from either eligible players registered for house league play in Waterdown, or, beginning in 2019, will be involved in loop only play involving competiion from nearby communities.  The teams play under the auspices of the Select Ontario Baseball Association (SOBA).  Play may also involve tournaments throughout the summer and, with team success, culminates in the SOBA provincial tournaments held on Labour Day Weekend.  The league encourages formation of Select teams in all divisions. Most commonly the WMBA has fielded Select teams for Rookieball, Mosquito (Tyke) and PeeWee divisions. 
 
SOBA play is in addition to house league.  Select players will maintain a primary commitment to their house league teams while gaining additional experience and competitive play through their Select team`s activities. Select coaches will recognize their players’ house league commitment and ensure their program plans are balanced accordingly.
 
From time to time the Association has fielded T-Ball teams, formed for the World T-Ball Tournament held by Ancaster on an annual basis. Eligibility for this tournament includes players that are at least 7 years old and less than 9 as of Aug 1^st. 
 
The Association supports teams with additional diamond time for practices, equipment and payment of provincial tournament fees.  Individual teams will establish a season budget to cover the cost of uniforms (based on the WMBA approved uniform), tournament fees and diamond time exceeding that provided by the Association. It is encouraged that coaches and parents meet prior to the season to set expectations and goals for the team that balance the amount of additional competition with house league commitments and age considerations.
 
Rep
 
The WMBA is an Association governed under the Central Ontario Baseball Association (COBA), an Affiliate of the Ontario Baseball Association. 
 
Rep teams participate in COBA league play and normally participate in optional additional OBA sanctioned tournaments throughout the season.  The rep seasons are focused on development to qualify for provincial tournaments held at the end of the summer (normally Labour Day Weekend).  As a smaller centre, Waterdown is eligible for OBA provincial play at B, or C levels in Major divisions but may qualify from time-to-time for higher level play depending on the competitive level of individual teams. 
 
COBA league play may be divided into two divisions or Tiers based on competitive level.  In general, when available, Waterdown plays at the Tier II level, this level normally includes a mix of AA, A, and smaller B,C, or D teams. 
 
While Waterdown normally forms Major division teams (combined Minor / Major teams), under some circumstances the Association will consider requests for Minor division teams.  
 
Releases
 
Occasionally players from the Waterdown area wish to pursue rep play with other centres.  Under OBA residency rules a “Release” from the WMBA is required prior to trying out with other COBA affiliated teams.  It is our preference that players tryout for Waterdown teams when available prior to release.  We will consider release requests prior to tryouts only on an exceptional basis when players wish to pursue a higher level of competitive play than available in Waterdown (for example AAA) and in consultation with the assigned coach.  
 
The WMBA can only release players to other COBA Centres.   To be eligible to play outside of COBA, players must obtain a release from COBA.  
 
Players from outside of Waterdown’s catchment:  In order for any outside player to try out for a Waterdown REP team, they must have previously received and attend with their Home Association’s and Affiliate’s (if from a centre outside COBA) release(s) in hand.  Once accepted to a Waterdown team, player’s will submit release documentation to the league with registration.
 
Tryouts with Other Centres:  In order for any local player to attend another Association’s tryout, they must obtain a release from Waterdown and have it ready in hand in order to participate.  Releases will not be considered by the Association prior to the end of the previous season (After Labour Day). 

Instructional Clinics, Winter Training and CAMPS: While we encourage all players to pursue development through CAMPS and other instructional clinics, Waterdown players must first receive permission to attend from the league .
 
For specifics on the OBA Residency and Release Rules please refer to Section P1 of the OBA Constitution.
 
“Carding”
 
At the beginning of each season, final rosters are confirmed by the coach and compared against players properly registered for the team through Waterdown’s registration process.  All Rep and Select players are to include with their registrations their Birth Registration Number (from Birth Certificate) as proof of age.  Registrations with the Association will not be considered complete and players will not be eligible to play or practice until the Birth Registration Number and any necessary release documentation is provided to the Association Registrar. 
 
Coaching Selection Process
 
Applications to coach REP or SELECT are accepted at the end of each season, and selection is made by the WMBA Executive at that time.  This allows the coaches to begin winter development of potential players for the following season in both REP and SELECT.
 
All competitive coaches are required to obtain a minimum of Level 1 coaching certification for Baseball through the NCCP Program.   The association supports coach development and will reimburse coaching volunteers for 50% of the costs associated with certification and further NCCP training to advance their baseball and coaching skills (to a maximum of $100 per year).  The association may also host NCCP coaching clinics from time to time.  Information on the baseball certification process is available on the Baseball Ontario Website.