Frequently Asked Questions
Does he have a passion for the game? The most obvious difference between recreational baseball and select baseball is the time commitment. Select baseball teams practice more and play more games. The most important thing a player can bring to Galaxy Baseball is enthusiasm and energy. As for talent, we recommend that you bring your player out for a tryout. The coaches are happy to give you an honest assessment of his abilities. For many of our younger teams, we're evaluating potential and coachability as much as the player's current skills.
Most Cincinnati Galaxy teams currently play in the Southwest Ohio League (SWOL). Our teams are currently slated to play in the American or Premier divisions at each level as available.
For background on SWOL, the Continental League is designed for newer teams. The American League is more competitive, but typically involves less travel. National League teams are almost exclusively travel and tournaments. Our teams typically choose to participate in an out-of-town tournament once or twice per season.
Some of our older teams choose to play a tournament-only schedule and will play in local and out-of-town tournaments. Talk to your coach directly if you have questions about their 2021-22 plans.
For non-HS teams, official mandatory practice can start in the fall or in January indoors at our own facility, located in Blue Ash. Some coaches may offer off-season practices at the batting cages or conditioning sessions that are voluntary in addition to these mandatory practices. Practice heats up in February and March, with scrimmages beginning at the end of March. The season is usually underway in earnest from April through mid-July.
If your team chooses to play Fall Ball, the season runs from Late August through October.
High School teams will typically practice more in the school ball pre-season - October, November, December. Once HS tryouts are complete, the team will typically cease regular practices. Players who do not choose to play on their High School team have the opportunity to continue using the indoor facility during HS workout hours through the HS season. High School games will start upon the conclusion of the players' spring school ball schedule and go through July and potentially into August.
We ask that you make every effort to attend all games and practices as your team is depending on you. We recognize that many of our players are involved in other sports and ask that baseball games take precedence over practices for your other activities while in season.
There is more leniency surrounding off-season practice, but excessive missed practices during the season can lead to reduced playing time. For family vacations, we understand the schedule may conflict. If you have a known conflict, please inform your coach as soon as possible so he can be sure to make plans accordingly.
Our organization rates are among the most reasonable in SWOL and High School Select Travel Baseball.
To maintain this low cost, we utilize fundraising and solicit corporate sponsors. If you know of someone who may be in a position to make a corporate donation of services, equipment or funds, please contact us.
Your player fee includes uniforms and a helmet every other year, as well as field, umpire and tournament fees. The fee also includes utilization of our indoor training facility and its accompanying technology, including profiles for Rapsodo Pitching and Hitting. HS player fees include a FieldLevel profile.
The team does not furnish matching bat bags, cleats, or other specialty gear, although these items in the Galaxy colors or with the Galaxy logo are available. Teams with exceptional fundraising may be able to receive some of these promotional items.
If your team has chosen to play Fall Ball, your fee also includes those associated costs.
Our fees do not include travel, transportation or hotel expenses for out-of-town tournaments. Our 12U Cooperstown-bound team will have additional expenses related to that experience.
Travel to tournaments outside of Greater Cincinnati is a possibility that is determined by each coaching staff based on the competitiveness of the team and the willingness of the parents to participate.
In the event that a team travels, travel expenses, such as mileage and overnight hotel, will be required for families to manage directly. The Galaxy organization typically selects at least one out-of-town tournament per year to include as many teams as possible and build camaraderie across the ages.
Our 12U Black team will be participating in the Cooperstown experience in 2021-22, and this will have an added expense for players on this team.