Red Dog FAQ
What is the Red Dog Program?
Hinsdale Red Dogs is a partnership program with Hinsdale Little League to provide a travel baseball experience for individual players who have excelled in Hinsdale Little League and All Stars. All Red Dog Players must play HLL from grades 4th thru 6th.
Why must a Red Dog player play Hinsdale Little League?
In the western suburbs, little leagues have been decimated by so called “travel” programs. What happens is one small group leaves a little league program to play full time travel baseball, before you know it everyone thinks they should play travel baseball. HLL intent and motive is to keep little league strong by offering a travel program to co-exist with the little league program and keep the experience at Pierce Park strong for the kids because kids 12 and younger should be playing baseball with their friends. The Red Dog Program offers the best of both worlds.
What is the mission of the Red Dog Program?
Hinsdale Red Dogs provides a premier developmental baseball program focused on fundamentals and the appropriate mix of skill level training and competitive game play.
What is the goals of the Red Dog Program?
Red Dogs strives to prepare youth baseball players for Hinsdale Central Baseball and Top Level 15YO+ Travel Baseball. The program has established strong ties with the Hinsdale Central Baseball Program offering a great experience for high school players to be involved in the community and to bridge the gap between both programs.
What is the philosophy of the overall program?
Our ultimate plan is to structure the Red Dog program similar to the Falcons program, with the exception of player tryouts and only 24 kids (two teams of 12) make the program at each grade level. Since HLL offers an exceptional baseball outlet in town, the Red Dog program must limit the amount of players in the program.
What age groups can play?
Unlike HLL, Red Dogs is a grade based league. In 2012, we converted to a 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade and 6th grade divisions with 2 teams in each grade divisions for a total of 8 teams comprising of the whole program. In 2013, we will expand to a 7th grade division and 2014 a 8th grade division comprising of two teams each division. From 3rd grade to 6th grade 100% of Red Dogs players must play HLL and live in Hinsdale. When we expand to 7th and 8th grade divisions, 65% of the team must be Hinsdale residents and have played HLL. Red Dogs serves as a true feeder program to Hinsdale Central Baseball Program.
How are players chosen to tryout?
All HLL players nominated for HLL All Stars are invited to the Red Dog tryouts. Furthermore, HLL coaches can recommend additional players who were not nominated for All Stars to try out for Red Dogs. Mnay of these type of players have been placed on teams in the 2012 season. The Red Dog program relies on HLL coaches to make a fair assessment of their players. Try-outs are conducted by a 3rd party profession baseball staff with no affiliation with HLL. Our goal is to remove the parent/coaches from the try-out process, so each player has a fair unbiased evaluation.
Why isn’t the Red Dog tryout an open invitation?
From 9U-12U we average between 40-45 players per age group trying out for 24 Red Dog spots. Each HLL age level represents about 100 players. Red Dogs believes offering invitations to 40% of HLL participants based on HLL Coaches feedback is a fair allotment and manageable for our 3rd party tryout staff.
How are players chosen for tryouts?
In the past, Red Dog teams were selected at age of 9 (no tryouts). For the most part A & B teams stayed together without much player movement between the A team and B team. Teams were typically managed by the same parent coach each year. Red Dogs was more of entitlement program for those involved with HLL and Coaching. With reorganization, a main initiative was to stop the entitlement s and open up the program to players who have proven themselves through their play not their parent’s involvement in HLL/Red Dogs. We figured this would be a 2-3 year process, but once established will benefit the whole program and HLL.
Our philosophy is players develop differently throughout their little league years and should not be deterred based on their play at 8U. Parents must realize those who go on to play in high school and beyond are exceptional players and passionate about baseball. High School Coaches will find these players and being a part of All Stars or Red Dogs does not guarantee your son is one of those players. There are plenty of kids in HLL who will develop at 14 or 15 and surpass those who developed athletically earlier in life.
Players are chosen though a thorough evaluation process. Red Dogs evaluates players based on HLL Player evaluations, All Star Evaluations, Red Dog Player Evaluations and 3rd Party Tryout evaluations. In total, the Red Dog Board receives between 5-7separate evaluations per player each season. There is not a travel program in the area with such a fair and unbiased system in place to evaluate players. Much to the dismay of the entitlement class, the system works, is fair and offers a multitude of viewpoints when assessing players.
What is my sons coach doesn’t evaluate the players?
Every HLL Coach is required to evaluate his/her players. In 2011, HLL had 100% player evaluation. All Star coaches and Red Dog coaches are required to do the same. If an All Star or Red Dog coach doesn’t turn in player evaluation, the Red Dog board reaches out to qualified parents of players on the team to evaluate the players. We seek multiple evaluations on players from each Red Dog and All Star Team, so one biased coach doesn’t control the system.
Can I see my sons evaluations?
No. Just like HLL Player Tryout evaluations, HLL Player evaluations, HLL All Star Votes and HLL All Star evaluations these are kept confidential due to protect the brave individuals providing the evaluations from character assassination, slander and lie filled stories at the local watering holes. Red Dogs has enough input from enough sources to make a fair assessment on a player’s ability.
How are teams selected?
Teams are selected by a group of coaches who will be coaching at the grade level. We take the same approach when selecting teams as Falcons Football does with dividing their players into teams. The coaches look each player at their particular stage of development and place them on a team in a position to succeed. Each player/team is then evaluated by a Red Dog Board member who DOES NOT have a child playing at the grade level. Much to the dismay of a few disgruntled parents, this is how the process works and we have enough witnesses at these meetings to attest to the procedure.
At the 3rd grade level, teams are divided equally based on talent. All other levels have a Red Team and a Black Team. The Red Team plays in higher competitive leagues and tournaments. Just because your son can catch a fly ball does not mean he is an “A” player or even a “B” player. Our goal is to eliminate the whole “A” and “B” mentality and do what is best for the individual even though it may not agree with what mommy and daddy perceive as where their son should be slotted. The placement of players also adheres to make sure each team has enough pitching, shortstops and catchers. Our philosophy is put each player in the best position to build confidence and prove themselves in the right competitive environment. Each year we will look to move players from the Red Team to the Black team and vice versa to ensure Red Dog provides the right environment to succeed for each player. Unfortunately, this process also includes removing players from the program to provide opportunities for up and coming players.
How are coaches selected?
Coaches are evaluated and selected by their performance as a coach both in HLL, All Stars and Red Dogs. Each team has one manager and two asst coaches. Our goal is to have a rotation of managers for each team each year, another effort in removing the entitlement factor from the equation plus the procedure allows the kids to play under different coaching perspectives. Exceptions will be made for managers who do an exceptional job based feedback from parents. Some managers may return as asst coaches the next year, then return as managers the following year. In 2012, Red Dogs had the first opportunity to evaluate coaches and receive feedback from parents on the handling of the team. In addition, we look at great coaches and where they will have the biggest impact on a grade level for those with multiple kids in the program. Our goal is to have the right coaches in place who reward kids for their good play. If they are hitting well they will move up in the lineup and earn more playing time, if they are not they move down and spend more time on the bench. We also look for coaches who provide an equal opportunity for every player to earn positions on the field and in the batting order. We deter coaches who are their just in it to protect the best interest of their kids.
If my son makes HLL All Stars is he guaranteed to make a Red Dog team?
No. HLL All Stars has no bearing on Red Dog selection process. All Stars does provide Red Dogs with another stream of evaluation on players, but does not deter from selection or guarantee selection. Players must prove themselves on the field and at the plate. In 2011, we placed many kids on teams at older ages who have not played HLL All Stars or Red Dogs in years past, but tried out based on HLL Coaches recommendations and made teams. On the flip side and one of the down sides to the Red Dog process are players who have played Red Dogs and HLL All Stars in years past that do not make the cut but should not be deterred from trying out in the future. Once invited to a Red Dog tryout, a player will always be invited back the following year. As much as we regret these situations, Red Dogs believes it proves to the vast majority of the Hinsdale Baseball Community the process works and multiple players each year have a fair shot of being selected.
How do you recommend my son improve his skills to have a better chance of making the team?
Baseball is all about repetition and consistent instruction. Red Dogs recommends having your son attend off season (Fall/Winter) clinics provided in the area and weekly private or semi private professional instruction starting in March and running through May. Red Dogs utilizes profession training staff for their winter workouts. These are run by Around the Horn Baseball (Isaac Valdez). He can be contacted at www.aroundthehornbb.com . When you chose an instructor stick with him for a few years versus bouncing around to multiple instructors.
Is there an annual parent meeting before tryouts?
In June 2012, Red Dogs will have a pre-tryout parent meeting for all those players invited to the tryouts for all grade based groups. We regret not having done this in the past, but all part of the process in re-organization. Grades 6th thru 8th will have the opportunity to meet with the professional coaches assigned to each grade level.
When are tryouts?
Red Dog tryouts are held within the first two or three weeks of August.
When are teams posted?
Red Dog teams should be posted by the last week of August.
When does winter practices start?
In 2012, winter practices will start with non mandatory practice sessions at Zion Church on Wednesdays and Sundays. These practices will be held by Red Dog Coaches, HC Baseball Coaches and HC Varsity Players.
Official Winter training begins end of February for twice a week through Mid April. Complete schedules will be provided at the Red Dog Parent meeting in December. These trainings session will be lead by Around the Horn Baseball Professional Instructors and Red Dog Coaches.
What travel league and tournaments do the teams play in?
In 2012, Grades 4 thru 6 will play in the I-80 league which consists of 6 away games and 6 home games. Teams will pick up additional 6-8 games and play in 3-4 tournaments. 3rd graders play in a local pick up league and play in three local tournaments. A majority of their games are located at Peirce Park.
Are there practices during the season?
In 2012 and moving forward, each Red Dog Team will be REQUIRED to practice one day week for 1.5 hours.
How is the Red Dog Program structured?
Prior to the 2010 season, Hinsdale Red Dogs was a loosely run program comprising of parents who basically handpicked their Red Dog teams. In the past there was no organization, player tryouts or player evaluations. In 2010, Red Dogs was reorganized under HLL. A separate board was established and a three year plan to overhaul the program was put in place.
How is the Red Dog Board Comprised?
Currently, the Red Dog Board is comprised of 5 members. Two of the members are required to sit on the HLL Board. HLL President is required to be one of these members. The other three members are not affiliated with HLL.
2012 Red Dog Board
Mark Guglielmo – President
Jim Schiavitti – HLL President (HLL Board Member)
Rich Simon – HLL Liason (HLL Board Member)
Dave Kouldras – Treasurer
Mike Burr – Coach Assignment/Player Evaluations
In 2012, we are looking to establish grade based level heads and team moms to assist in the organization and communication for Red Dog teams.
I’ve heard the Red Dog Board is agenda driven?
Red Dogs hopes the explanation above provides the proof the organization and the volunteers who put countless hours into building a successful program is on the right track and their ONLY agenda is building a fair and equitable baseball feeder program into HC and maintaining a strong alliance with HLL that will last for years to come. Like any organization that is in the public eye and volunteer driven, there will be always unwarranted noise from the chattering class especially those who don’t agree with the decisions or policies. The entitlement Red Dog program of the past no longer exists. The Red Dog Board has taken on a huge undertaking and with change comes complaints especially for those engrained in the old system. Our board is future orientated and focused on establishing a basis that works for the future.
Is it appropriate to defame Red Dog Board Members and Coaches?
We live in a free country where freedom of speech is engrained into our being. Unfortunately, in tune with the American way is character assassination and Hinsdale is no exception. Both HLL Volunteers and Red Dog Volunteers put themselves out there publicly in the firing line for unjustified verbal assaults, especially at the higher levels. Red Dog Board Members have a policy to stay above the fray and take the higher road when such unjustified untruths are spoken. We simply will not respond to such unwarranted and untrue acquisitions. Just as you can follow the money in politics, you can follow the entitlement mentality of those slinging the verbal assaults.
Where can I watch Red Dogs Games?
The Red Dog program is in the process of establishing a Red Dog website which will have each grade levels team schedules, records, etc.
The Red Dog Board and Coaches thank the overwhelming vast majority for all your support. We appreciate the 99% who give the pat on the back and tell those involved we are doing the right thing.