BBSA Spring Registration FAQ
Spring, 2025
· What is the typical season length?
o For Pinto levels and above practices typically start near the end of January/beginning of February at the Reed Custer Fieldhouse until the weather allows for outdoor practices.
o Games begin in the last week or second to last week of April, and run until Mid-June.
o If there are enough players interested at your players particular level, BBSA allows for an “All-Star” Team to be formed. These teams complete in available area “All-Star” Tournaments, including the Braidwood Summerfest Tournament, hosted by BBSA. This extends the season into Mid-July.
o For Shetland (Tee-Ball), the season runs from the beginning of to Mid-March, until Mid-June.
· Where do we play at?
o All home games are played at Old Smokey City Park in Braidwood. This is located at 245 W. 1st Street, in Braidwood.
o For Pinto levels and above, these teams play in the Tri-County Baseball/Softball League; away games are in surrounding communities.
o For Shetland (Tee-Ball) all games, home and away, are played at Old Smokey City Park in Braidwood.
· Where do we practice at?
o Indoor practices are held at the Reed Custer Fieldhouse, located behind Reed Custer High School and Reed Custer Middle School on Comet Drive, in Braidwood. These practices are held in the early months of the year when the weather does not allow for outdoor practices, and occur on Sundays. Indoor practices are for Pinto levels and above; Shetland (Tee-Ball) teams do not practice indoors at the fieldhouse.
o Outdoor practices are determined by the Team Coach. They will determine the frequency, location, and time.
o Practice locations can occur, but are not limited to, the ballfields at Old Smokey City Park in Braidwood, and the ballfields next to Braidwood Fire Station #2, in Custer Park.
· When do I get my teams schedule?
o Schedules for Pinto levels and above, are created and issued by the Tri-County Baseball/Softball League. Once BBSA receives them, the association vets them for any scheduling conflicts, then distributes them to team coaches to get to their player families, and BBSA posted them for public viewing on the BBSA website.
· What are all the costs associated with Registration?
- Division Price - This will change depending on the birthday of your child. Please see the 'Registration Info - Available Programs' tab for pricing.
- Non-Volunteer Fee - The League charges a $75 Volunteer Fee. This fee will be returned to you once you've volunteered to be a Coach, Assistant Coach, or Team Manager, worked at the Concession Stand, or volunteered during Field Clean Up Day. These sign-ups will be available closer to the season start once dates and times have been set for games. **Charged once per family.
- Fundraiser Fee - Each family will be assessed this $35 Fee. In return your family will receive three (3) tickets to BBSA Night at the Joliet Slammers. It will be announced when the tickets are available for pick-up, and what date you have to pick-up these tickets. After the said date, tickets are forfeited, and maybe resold by BBSA with no refund of this fee to the player’s account. **Charged once per family.
- Service Fee (Also known as a transaction fee) - This $3 fee is charged by our website host, Sports Connect, for every transaction. To avoid multiple fees, be sure to register all children at the same time. This service fee will be assessed to each payment if you elect to use a payment plan.
· How do I register my child?
o Goto bbsa-il.com, at the top of the screen, you will see a Login | Register button. Click Login if you've already created a Sports Connect account, or register to create a new account. Be sure to add each child as a 'Participant.' Once that's done, it should list each available program per participant.
· Are Birth Certificates required?
o Birth Certificates are required by BBSA and must be uploaded during registration. The Sports Connect system only keeps the picture on file for six(6) months after a board member verifies the information.
· Are they required to wear a full-face softball helmet while batting and a mask while fielding in Softball?
o Tri-County rules state pitchers must wear a face mask, and it is highly recommended that all infielders wear a mask. All batting helmets will cover both ears and have a full protective face mask.