2024 State Teeball Championships
Trials:
Saturday 11 November 3:00pm to 5:00pm, and
Monday 13 November 2023 5:00pm to 6:30pm
State Championships: Friday 2 March to Monday 4 March 2023
The TBAWA Tee-Ball State Championships is a competition open to all tee-ball clubs in WA. The State Championships were first played in the 1974-75 season, and are now played over the March long weekend. It is traditionally held at Langley Park, represented by about 30 clubs from metropolitan and country regions.
Teams play across five age groups, with divisions within each age group. Teams will typically play five 1-hour games over the long weekend, with a Gold, Silver and Bronze medal awarded to Division 1 teams, and a Gold medal awarded to other lower winning division teams.
Subject to available player numbers, Carine will offer team selection for the following divisions: U9, U10, U11, U12 and U13s. Both boys and girls are actively encouraged to trial.
TBAWA is also looking for expressions of interest for all-girls teams to compete in U9, U11 and U13 State Championships competitions. Carine aims to nominate teams in all three age groups.
Additional information about our States campaign can be found in our State Championships Handbook (under Documents and Links). More generic information is also available on the TBAWA Website.
Selection Policy
Carine Cats Ball Club believes that junior sport should be safe, enjoyable, inclusive and maximise individual participation. Our club acknowledges that positive experiences in junior competition will contribute to children developing a lifelong love of sport.
To be eligible for selection, players must be financial and active participants in the Carine Cats Tee-Ball season, and are required to have played at least 50% of club games by the end of the season.
Players will be selected on their performance at nominated team trials and demonstration of commitment and values and behaviour. Selection is not based on personal characteristics or attributes, such as gender. A player may be precluded from selection if there is a concern about their ability to compete safely or if their participation poses a risk to others.
Team Trials
Trials are held over two sessions on two different days – typically a Saturday afternoon and a Monday afternoon following Round 2 of the regular Saturday Club season. It is preferable players attend both sessions, however the club appreciates this may be difficult for all to attend both days. Contact the States Coordinator if your child falls into this category.
- Day 1 assesses individual skills, in particular batting (directional hitting and power hitting), fielding (infield throwing, outfield throwing, and catching), and base running (timed). Independent assessors are used on this day to collect metrics.
- Day 2 assesses players’ game play awareness. A series of games are used to assess knowledge and application, in particular batting (following coach directions and making independent decisions), fielding (game play decision making and skill application), and teamwork (leadership, attitude, sportsmanship). Assessors who have experience in coaching these particular age groups are used on this day to lead the games and conduct assessments.
Please check the Calendar of Events for the State Championship Team Try Outs dates. You can complete a State Championship Try Out Form here.
Tee-Ball age group eligibility is based on 30 June each year; however Carine (and the wider competition) use the 30 June before the season starts i.e. 30 June 2020 whereas TBAWA use 30 June after the season finishes i.e. 30 June 2021. This means a player may, for example, play in an Under 9s competition at Carine but be under 10s when playing states.
TBAWA have an age calculator for the State Championships available on their website. You can enter your child’s date of birth on the relevant tab to confirm the age group they are eligible for at the upcoming State Championships.
If your child is attending tryouts, please use the above calculator to confirm which age group they are eligible for prior to arrival.
Being selected for a representative team to compete at the State Championships is an honour, and does require a commitments beyond what is expected of regular Saturday tee-ball.
States players receive two shirts – a playing shirt with their name on the back, and a training shirt which is returned at the end of the season. They will also receive a badge to be added to their CC hat. With this badge comes the responsibility of always demonstrating strong values in sportsmanship and being a valuable team player, whether it is at States or during a Saturday club game.
Skill level
The championships are not just aimed at elite players, all are welcome with the club’s preference to be able to enter teams in A and B grade divisions and where numbers permit multiple teams. Remember whilst skill is important there is also a large emphasis on enthusiasm and attitude.
What are the benefits?
- Enthusiastic players get to play more tee-ball – approximately 15-20 extra games across the season, including during the Jan
- Skills development
- Have fun and make new friends
- Represent Carine against other clubs from across WA
- Each player receives a personalised game shirt to keep, trophy and team photo
What is the commitment?
States training usually occurs on a Monday afternoon, and diamonds are quarantined from regular club training for these timeslots. States training should be in addition to club training. Once club games break for the Christmas period, coaches and teams may decide to add additional training sessions in.
While club games go into recess over most of December and all of January, for our States teams this is a time to focus on our training and game-play development. Teams will play a series of Pre-State Carnivals – usually on a Sunday, but sometimes on a Saturday – which allow coaches and players to experiment with positions and strategies. These carnivals are vital to success, and the growth that players make during this time is often evident when the club season starts up again in February.
Commitment Summary
- Being available for additional training each week with your state team.
- Teams will nominate to play in 3 or 4 pre-state carnivals across Perth, these are held in the lead up to the Championships are are generally run on a Sunday. Teams will play up to 4 games during the course of the day.
- Additional States fees payable ($tba).
- As with regular Saturday clubs, each team will need a coach, manager and 2 umpires (TBAWA states rules require one level 1 umpire and one level 2 umpire from each team).
More information can be found in the Carine Cats State Championships Handbook.
Being a part of the State Championships is a rewarding experience, for both the children and the parents. It is often a very social experience, as you get to know more families from the Cats community, and interact with each other as your children play both with and against their States peers.
As well as the opportunity to actively support the team and the club at various carnivals around the metro area, there are also a number of key volunteer positions that are vital to a successful States team.
Parents are able to nominate for the following roles, with selections made once States squads have been selected:
- Head Coach: The Head Coach must hold a Level A Tee-Ball Coaching Accreditation by the time the State Championships begin. The club can assist with finding a half-day course to attend if necessary to gain this accreditation.
- Manager: The Team Manager is responsible for being the communication link between all members of the team, and also between the team and the States Coordinator.
Once teams have been selected, the following roles will be determined in consultation with the Head Coach, Manager and the parents of the team:
- Assistant Coach: The Assistant Coach takes the lead from the Head Coach. They may take specific roles at training in regard to particular game strategies – such as batting techniques, or working together in field, or may be responsible for working more one-on-one with particular players.
- Base Coaches: Base Coaches are an important part of any States team. The 1st Base Coach and 3rd Base Coaches take their lead from the Head Coach, who should be clear with the running expectations.
- Umpire: At the State Championships long weekend, each team is required to provide a Level 1 umpire and/or a Level 2 umpire. More than one Level 1 umpire per team is desirable to help share the load.
Across the States campaign, parents without formal roles will also have the opportunity to take on duties such as scoring, equipment collection as well as volunteer duties for the Carine Pre-States Carnival.
More information about all of these roles can be found in the State Championships Handbook.
If you have any questions please e-mail our State Championships Co-ordinator at [email protected].
Downloads
- Carine Cats State Championships Handbook - includes event information, team selection processes, required commitments, volunteer roles and expected codes of conduct.
- State Championship Try Out Form - please complete accurately (double checking age category). This will need to be completed before any child participates in trials.
- Calendar of Events 2022-2023 - all the major States dates to lock into your calendar.
Links
- TBAWA State Championships homepage - external link to the Teeball Association of Western Australia
- TBAWA Age Group Checker - please use this as the definitive age check to see which team you child is eligible for
- Upcoming Level 'A' Coaching Clinics - check here to see how to gain an official Teeball coaching accreditation
- Upcoming Level 1 Umpiring Courses - check here to see how to gain an official Teeball umpiring accreditation