FAQ: REP AND SELECT TRYOUTS
Tryouts for the NYBA Blues Rep and Select Teams are conducted in a safe and supportive environment.
NYBA Coaches and Executive Members attend tryouts to assist with player placement. Parents and players will be encouraged to become part of teams that suit their skill and commitment level.
While every effort is made to field a team at every age group and level of play, the final team selection and playing level is is determined by: the players (and their level of play) that tryout and the number of volunteer coaches available for the season.
The NYBA Rep & Select committee has compiled a list of FAQs covering topics such as what to bring to tryouts to team fees. Any questions not addressed here can be asked at tryouts or emailed to Heather | heather@nyba.ca
- Tryout Teams & Schedules will be posted mid-August.
- New for 2025/2026: NYBA will charge a $25/player. A one-time fee for unlimited tryouts. Funds collected through tryouts will be used in support of NYBA rep/select/elite players requiring financial assistance.
NOTE: Players outside of the boundaries of theToronto Baseball Associaton wanting to tryout at NYBA or NYBA players interested in tryouts outside of the Toronto Baseball Association boundaries, need to familiarize themselves with release requirements.
Baseball Ontario (OBA) and the Toronto Baseball Association (TBA) allow players to try out for Rep programs outside of their home and affiliate associations.
Within the Toronto Baseball Association:
- All players living within the Toronto Baseball Association can tryout for a team outside of their local association, without a release.
- NYBA Players who elect to play in another local association, require a signed release from NYBA. Parents download, complete and sign the TBA Release Form, and email it the NYBA designate. The release will be returned to the parent to be submitted to the new association.
- Players from other associations who sign with NYBA, need to provide NYBA with a TBA Release signed by their local association.
Outside of the Toronto Baseball Association.
- Players outside of the Toronto Baseball Association (Such as Mississauga, Simcoe or York) who want to tryout for North York must obtain a release from their local associations and their affiliate association before trying out for NYBA. This completed release must be brought to the tryout.
- North York Players interested in attending tryouts outside of the TBA need to complete the TBA release which is signed by both NYBA and the TBA.
- Parents need to download, complete and sign a TBA Release Form then,
- Email it to the NYBA designate below. NYBA will complete the Local Association section on behalf of NYBA and return it to the parent.
- Parents then need to email to the Toronto Baseball Assocation for signing. (See contact information below.)
- Click here for the TBA rules and regulations
- 2025-6 TBA Player Release Form (Click to download) This a single-form with two parts. NYBA signs under Local Association, TBA signs under Regional Association.
All NYBA release forms requiring a signature can be emailed to either:
- Chris Dobie cdobie42@gmail.com
- or Matthew Lethbridge | matthewl@rogers.com.
All release forms requiring a signature from TBA should be emailed to Howie Birnie | hwbirnie@rogers.com
The NYBA Tryout Team Schedule will be posted August 18. Players can register by paying the $25 per player fee* AND by completing a Player Profile Google Form for every tryout they want to attend.
Tryouts for AAA teams can start Tuesday, September 2nd. Tryouts for A and AA teams can start Saturday, September 6th.
Tryouts for the select divisions will be later in September.
*Funds collected will be used in support of rep and select families requiring financial assistance.
Most teams offer a couple of different tryout dates, in case a player has a scheduling conflict or is ill.
However, players are encouraged to make themselves available for the first and subsequent tryout times.
Based on the association's experience, parents are looking to secure their player's position as soon as possible. It's easier for the player and their family.
So, while all tryouts are not mandatory, coaches will finalize their team on the first tryout if they are confident with the players that they have seen.
If parents have a choice, it's best that they attend all the tryouts, particularly the first one. If there is an issue, they can reach out to the coach directly with an explanation.
The NYBA recommends that players with no prior baseball experience above House League, and no supplemental training (such as baseball camp) register for Rep A, AA or a Select tryout.
Experienced players, unsure of their level of play should start at the AAA level.
All players will attend the first week of tryouts for that age group. Coaches along with parents and players can determine their comfort level and assess if they should continue with AAA tryout, or transition to AA or Select tryout.
The following items are required to be brought to/worn at each tryout:
- Ball Glove (required)
- Batting Helmet (required)
- Jock/Jill (required)
- Long Pants (required)
- Closed lace-up running shoes (required) – open-toed or slip-on shoes are not permitted. Baseball shoes with cleats are permitted where age-appropriate.
- Batting gloves (optional)
Recommended: A bat that meets age requirements for the age level at which you are trying out (CLICK HERE for Baseball Ontario bat rules). If you do not have a bat, you may be able to borrow one at tryouts.
Not all players that try out will make a NYBA Rep or Select team.
In the week following a team’s final tryout the head coach will send an email to the player’s family indicating that the player has made the team, has not made the team, or is still under consideration.
Players who did not make a rep or select team are invited to participate in the NYBA House League in the spring (registration starts November) and to attend any one of our baseball camps, which have proven to be a highly effective training environment for Rep and Select players.
NYBA partners with True North Sports Camps that offer a number of Fall and Winter indoor baseball workshops and camps.
All Rep teams train in the winter at local baseball facilities and schools.
At the discretion of the head coach, informal training can start in November. In all cases regular weekly (or twice weekly) training starts at the beginning of January.
Select teams training in the winter is typically determined on a team-by-team basis but generally starts on a weekly schedule in early January.
The North York Blues’ practices and home games are held at Bond Park in North York.
Rep teams also participate in the Toronto Baseball Association (“TBA”) or an interlocked league with the TBA and the Eastern Ontario Baseball Association (“EOBA”) and York Simcoe Baseball Association (“YSBA”), depending on the age group and level.
Rep players should be prepared to play away games within a geographical triangle of Kitchener, Barrie Oshawa. Rep teams will also typically play 2-4 out of town weekend tournaments throughout the season.
Select teams play within the Toronto Baseball Association interlocked league, have a shortened season and no games on long weekends.
We understand that high performing athletes are often involved in other sports. In fact, we encourage participation in other sports as it provides cross-training benefits. Through the winter, we ask that players attend as many of the baseball practices as they can.
However, starting April 1, we ask that baseball becomes the priority sport. If players are absent from many games or practices they are letting the team down, they are not developing as baseball players and they are filling a spot on the team that could have been given to another player. So we ask that only players and families that can make the commitment join these teams.
Generally, starting April 1, coaches expect players to attend at least 80% of all games and practices. Coaches will set their own guidelines for attendance in the winter based on team philosophy and individual player circumstances.
Team fees can vary significantly depending on several factors, including but not limited to:
- The player’s age and level of play
- The amount of winter training chosen by the team
- Use of additional professional or semi-professional coaching
- Participation in weekend tournaments
Typical Fees:
Range from $2500-$8000
Please note: These fees do not include individual player equipment (e.g., gloves, cleats), uniforms, or travel costs.
Payment Structure:
All players pay a deposit upon registration, with the remaining balance paid in installments throughout the year.
In addition, each player must pay an association fee (included in the total fee above) directly to North York Baseball , which covers administrative costs such as league management, insurance, and city permits.
Refund Policy:
Once a player signs the NYBA commitment letter, no refunds will be issued if they choose to withdraw from an Elite, Rep or Select team.
In cases of exceptional or unforeseen circumstances, refund requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the NYBA.
Most teams at the AAA level do not take a break during the season. It will be up to the coach’s discretion at other levels as to whether or not there will be a short break during the season.
We do ask that players and families avoid travelling in the two weeks leading up to the major end-of-season’s playoffs (i.e. TBA championships, OBA championships, and the Elimination tournament).
While most coaches are unpaid volunteers, some teams at the AA and AAA level – especially in the older age groups – will have paid coaches.
Rep and Select coaches must be qualified through the National Coach Certification Program (NCCP) and typically have considerable coaching experience.
Coaches are announced well in advance of tryouts.