Tryout and Selection Process

9u / 10u / 11u / 12u / 13u / 14u

Libertyville Youth Baseball (LYB) is committed to providing a fair and unbiased tryout process that allows youth in our community the ability to earn a spot on a LYB team each season.  Our goal is a level of transparency that provides both players and parents insight on how and why roster selections are made while at the same time respecting confidentiality.  The details below outline the tryout and selection processes that are used each season for players from 9u through 14u.

Tryout Process:

• Tryout dates are scheduled to maximize attendance factoring in common vacation weeks, the beginning of football practice, and many other variables.  We realize that everyone’s schedule is unique, and we do our best to accommodate all interested parties.
• All players are required to pre-register for the tryout online.
• Upon arrival at the tryout, prospective players are assigned a number (taped to their jersey) and are referred to as this number for the entirety of the tryout. 
• LYB hires paid independent evaluators that are present at the primary tryout date.  These are typically current or former local baseball instructors, players, coaches, and others without a vested interest in tryout results.  These independent evaluators are assigned to stations where they provide a numerical score for each player depending on individual ability observed.  At no point in the tryout process are the independent evaluators made aware of the players first or last name.
• Tryouts are facilitated by LYB board members, but any LYB board member with a child attending the tryout is not present at the time of that child’s tryout and is not involved in the tryout score calculation process for that child’s age group.
• At the conclusion of the tryout score sheets are collected directly from the independent evaluators and given to the LYB board member that will be calculating the scores.  The LYB board member then reviews the scores and creates the tryout day score rank for the age group.  Callback tryouts are scheduled and conducted when necessary.

Selection Process:

• At the end of each LYB season, the Team Manager and/or Team Coaches for each LYB team are asked to provide an evaluation of each player on the team based on firsthand observation of development, engagement, and performance.
• Tryout day scores and player evaluations are both carefully factored into the selection process. This provides a stabilizing effect that helps overcome anomalies that sometimes occur at tryouts (a player having and exceptionally bad or good tryout day).   
• The LYB board member assigned to calculating each age group reviews all available information and makes a recommendation on the final roster selections. 
• LYB board members review each age group recommendation and approve final roster selections. At this time, other important decisions (such as the number of players on each roster, the number of teams in each age group, and team manager/coach selection, etc.) are made.
• Email invites are sent to selected players and once rosters are finalized, they are posted on our website, typically within 2 weeks from the initial tryout date.