by Kevin Sypolt
ksypolt@gmail.com
Bangkok Baseball Softball Association has organized baseball/softball play for the past 53 years in Bangkok. There are leagues for boys and girls ages 5 yrs – 18 yrs. Please note registration is open from now until October 31st. We must register players now so we have time to hold player assessments, form teams and order player uniforms before play begins. Current fees per player are THB 2,500. Registration fees will increase to THB 3,500 on November 1st so be sure to register before November 1st.
You can make your payment at the Community Activity Office (CAO) or pay by Thai bank wire transfer. Cash, credit cards and Thai baht checks are accepted for payment at the CAO office. The CAO Office is open Monday – Friday, 7:00AM to 11:00AM and 12:00PM to 3:00PM.
Player assessment will be held on Sunday November 3rd and Sunday November 10th at the ISB fields. All players are strongly encouraged to attend both assessment sessions but it is vital that all players attend at least one assessment session to allow the coaches to create fair and balanced teams. Parents will be contacted about the specific times for their player’s assessment session.
Practices will begin in mid November with Opening Day for baseball/softball on Saturday, Nov 23rd. All games are played on Friday evenings and Saturdays at ISB. Games will continue every weekend until the league championships the weekend of February 28th/March 1st. There will be no games during the winter break at ISB but we will continue play on Saturday, January 11th 2014.
All teams will practice once per week during the season as a weekly practice is important to skills development and to learn the fundamentals of teamwork, etc. Most practices will take place at the ISB fields on weekday evenings (Monday – Thursday). We have arranged a downtown Bangkok location on Thursdays for an optional weekly practice at NIST. Parents will have to pay THB 500 for the season for this practice because NIST charges for field usage. But all players should register to play even if they cannot commit to attending all weekly practice sessions.
On the registration form you will also have an opportunity to volunteer to be a coach, assistant coach or team parent. Please consider helpng out with your child’s team in some way. The kids really love having their parents helping out with their team and you will have a great time. No previous baseball experience is necessary.
BBSA has purchased a limited number of fielding gloves and batting gloves for players who need them. These will be sold on our assessment days on Sunday, Nov 3rd and 10th. Please note that the BBSA no longer has any baseball cleats to sell. So parents who want baseball cleats will need to obtain them on your own.
Please go to https://inside.isb.ac.th/