This section is designed to answer some of the most common questions asked about SCAA's Thunder Sunday Select Baseball.  If you have more questions, feel free to reach out the the Baseball Sunday Select Coordinator on our "Contact Us" page.

Q: What is the Sunday Select Program?

A: Sunday Select is an optional program provided by SCAA (for baseball and softball) for those players wanting to compete at a higher level of play or obtain additional instruction which is often times at a higher level, as well.  Each SCAA division is allowed two (2) teams per division, one per age group (example: Mustang is allowed a 9U & 10U team).  Teams generally roster twelve (12) players, but may roster up to fifteen (15) players.  Younger players may play up into the higher age group, but players may not play "down" into a younger age group.  Players all must play in the Spring Rec season to qualify for Sunday Select.  Baseball has two different programs, "Integrated Select" or "External Select", depending on the player's age group.  All Sunday Select Teams at SCAA are able to play in PONY Regional & National All-Star Tournaments leading up to their divisional PONY World Series Event! 
The overall goal of every Thunder team is to make it to their respective PONY World Series and bring home a championship to SCAA!

Q: When do Sunday Select Teams practice and play?

A: SCAA leaves Fridays and Sundays open for Sunday Select teams at a minimum.  "Integrated Select" Thunder Teams may also have additional practices/games during the week and on Saturdays.  Sunday Select may have up to five (5) events per week.

Occasionally however we may have to have make-up games for Rec teams on Fridays, but this is not the norm.  Additionally, SCAA has an agreement with other organizations and periodically rent our fields out to them on Sundays, but will make fields available to our Sunday Select teams as needed.  Sunday Select teams are also automatically allowed to participate in PONY tournaments as an SCAA All-Star team, though to do so players will have to be within SCAA's Official PONY-established boundaries and play in the Spring Rec Season.
  
Q: How do I find out if SCAA has a Sunday Select team in my child’s age group?

A: Click the link to the top right for "Thunder Teams".  If you do not find a team listed, contact our Sunday Select/Travel Directors on the Board of Directors page.

Q: How do I start a Sunday Select team?

A: Contact our Sunday Select Coordinator and put in a request.  The VP of Baseball, Select Coordinator and the Division's Player Agent and Field Director will discuss the request and then submit it to the Board of Directors, who will also discuss the request and vote on approval.  Not all teams/coaches who want to form a team will be approved.  All coaches are required to apply and have an approved background check.   Coaches must also have coached in the previous Spring Rec Season to qualify.  

Q: What is the difference between Baseball "Integrated Select" and "External Select" Teams?

A:  Players in 7U to 12U age groups (Pinto, Mustang, & Bronco Divisions) play in "Integrated Select" program, in which they play the other SCAA Full Select Team in their division and other local PONY Organization's Teams, as well as sometimes the Rec Teams.  However all players must still register for the SCAA Spring Rec season and are placed on the Integrated Select team rather than a Rec team.  The Thunder Team will also have practices/games during the week (and Saturdays) as part of the Rec schedule in addition to the Fridays and Sundays reserved for the Select Teams. 

Players in the 6U and13U & up age groups play in our traditional "External Select" program, where they also play on an SCAA Rec team in addition to the Select team.
  
Q: What are the requirements of Sunday Select players and parents?

A: Players playing Sunday Select Teams accept a commitment to the team that lasts an entire year, thru the to the end of the team's PONY Tournament Season. Once the team in eliminated from their PONY Tournament and can not advance to the next stage, the team is done for the season and then regroups in the Fall.  Players may need to tryout again once the team reforms.  Each team is required to have tryouts at least once per year and all players must tryout and are drafted by the Team Manager.
SCAA charges a registration fee for Sunday Select teams. This helps cover the cost of field supplies, electricity, etc.  Integrated Select Players must register for Rec in the Spring Season, as they are still part of the Rec Program, even though they don't play the regular Rec teams.  All other External Select in Spring and all teams in the Fall pay a team fee of an amount set by the Board of Directors.
Also, Sunday Select teams may be asked to occasionally (no more than two (2) shifts per season) assist with concessions during weekends when they are not playing.  Players are required to participate in SCAA’s Spring Season for Rec teams to be eligible to participate on a Sunday Select team.  However, fall participation in Rec ball is not required.  Players on Sunday Select teams may not participate in total more than five (5) events per week including their Rec team commitments.  
Be aware, your commitment to the team is all the way through the PONY All-Star/World Series Tournament for your age group.  There may be substantial time and cost if your team keeps advancing, as some division's may have to travel a very long distance to get to the site of the World Series Games.

Q:  What are the season dates for Thunder Sunday Select Teams?

A: There are two (2) seasons for Thunder Sunday Select Teams, Fall and Spring.  For the Fall Season it generally starts around August 15 and runs through November 30th.  Tryouts may be held in July for the Fall team as they become a "Rising <age group>" team, meaning they move up to the next PONY designated age group and begin playing in that group.  This is done to prepare the team for the Spring Season where they enter the PONY World Series/All-Star Tournaments.
Spring Season generally runs February 1 thru whenever the team is eliminate from their PONY Tournament, usually in July, but may continue into August if they make their division's PONY World Series. Tryouts for Spring usually happen in February.

Q: What is the difference in Sunday Select teams and Travel teams?

A: Many Sunday Select teams compete in the same manner and at the same level as Travel teams.  Sunday Select teams can generally play anyone anywhere, to include any Travel team.  However, some Sunday Select teams are limited to playing when their players are not playing Rec ball, yet SCAA sets aside Fridays and Sundays for Sunday Select teams, unless make-up games are needed on Fridays.  Travel teams are not allowed to play in PONY tournaments, but as stated above Sunday Select teams are.

  
Q: What are the benefits of playing Sunday Select instead of Travel?

A: Sunday Select teams have a lot less costs to play, and do not have to rent fields or batting cages to practice/play like travel teams do, as they can use the fields at SCAA, saving the teams a lot of money compared to travel teams.