Koa Maryland & Washington, DC Kids Baseball
Spartan Machine Pitch 1st-3rd Grade ACC League FAQs

**Registration Closes 2/20 -- Save your spot today!!*

Q: What is the ACC League?
A: The ACC League is the 1st-3rd grade machine pitch division of the Koa Spartan League.

Q: How do I register for the ACC League?
A: The ACC League is open registration. Simply register your athlete at the Koa website. If your player wishes to be placed with friends be sure to include those names at the player preference prompt. Registration closes 2/20! REGISTER HERE!!

Q: Who coaches in the ACC League?
A: Koa's professional coaches will coach ACC League practices and games. Check out our coach bios!

Q: What does a “professional” coach mean?
A: In simplest terms, it means that the coach is required to (a) follow the practice plans designed and implemented by the Koa collegiate and professional baseball players (one of whom is a former World Series player), (b) have extensive background screening performed, and (c) strive to adhere to our code of “PEP” (always POSITIVE, with ENERGY, and PROFESSIONAL). 

Q: What is the role of the PAC (Parent Asst. Coach) and the PM (Parent Manager)?
A: Our goal is to have our PACs and PMs help “administer” the games, but not direct anything having to do with player development.  For example, we need assistance with the lineups, keeping the book, and getting players ready.  The PACs and PMs also assist with team communication.  Once we have introduced a topic, then feel free to assist the coaches with that topic. 

Q: What is the total cost for the Spring 2012 ACC League?
A: For players in the ACC League (1st-3rd Grades) the Spring 2012 total coast is $275 ($249 if registered before December 1st).

Q: What is the break out of the total cost for the Spartan ACC League?
A: Please see our ACC League Value Chart below:

Q: How does Koa stay profitable for this program, given what appears to be a lot of labor?
A: Koa is a 501(c)(3) entity, and this “loss leader” program is intended to help introduce younger players into the Koa model.  Other parent coach leagues charge between $160 and $180, which covers the fields and uniforms.  In essence, our Spring 2012 coaching fee for all of the practices and games is a total of $134.50.  Here is a chart which compares our 1st - 3rd grade program to other programs: 

Q: How long will it take my athlete to get better – I didn’t see an improvement after week #1?
A: Players progress over months and years.  They need proper instruction, proper coaching, and most importantly, to have fun.  In 2011, 95% of the Koa travel players who tried out for their high school teams made it!  And many Spartan players as well.  We understand how to teach players baseball!  If you’d like to see what the future may hold for your 2nd or 3rd grader, feel free to observe one of our older practices (i.e., 10U, 12U, 14U, etc.).

Q: Will the game coaches and the practice coaches be the same?
A: Sometimes yes, and sometimes no.  During the practices (as you will see as the season progresses), different coaches will make appearances.  Coaching is a collaborative effort.  Many of the coaches will have interaction with Coach Tony (a Koa founder), Coach Mike Brown (who played D1 ball at the University of Kentucky), and others.  Keep an eye out for emails about this.

Q: My son is better than other players and is too advanced for the league.  What are my options?
A: Koa has travel teams, and tryouts will be coming up in the middle of May.  Players in the 2nd-3rd grade group are eligible to tryout for the rising 9U travel team which will play in the Fall of 2011.  You can find information about our travel programs online. 

Q: Why do we focus on just one theme each week (i.e., walk the pitch)?
A: The worst thing to help a player in “real time” during a game is to be shouting tons of instruction.  Many of us have seen players stand in the batter’s box, with coaches screaming “hands up,” “raise your elbow,” “wind up,” “focus on the pitch,” “swing hard” and on and on.  At this age, we need to keep things simple – just 1 or 2 thoughts, and that’s it.  Things will progress over time.

Q:There was a lot of labor on the field for week #1.  Will that always be the case?
A: No.  We had extra labor for week #1.

Q: Will the players get a chance to try kid pitch?
A: In the Fall of 2011, many of our players had an opportunity to start to learn the basics of pitching.  And, several of our teams actually had instructional kid pitch games.  We hope to do the same this year for some of the teams, depending on the progression.

Q: If I have a questions or concerns as the season progresses, whom should I contact? 
A: We’d like all questions to start at the PAC or PM level.  If it’s something that the PAC or PM is not able to address, then we’re happy to step in.

Q: When will the kids learn about positions, proper situational play, batting stance, fielding properly, throwing techniques, and what a force out is? 
A: The kids will learn over the course of several seasons, and years, but not over the course of several weeks. 

Q: The team’s other coach was better than our coach.  Can we have him?
A: No.  The teams will have interaction with a handful of coaches as the season progresses.  When players are new to Koa, this can be initially stressful for the parents;  over the course of the season, however, the players get to know 3 or 4 different coaches, and this helps their interaction and development.  Give it time, and please read our White Paper.

Q: What do we do if our practice gets rained out?  We heard that some teams went indoors
A: If there are multiple rainouts for practices, we will try to give the teams a chance to go to an indoor facility.  This depends on space availability … no guarantees, but we’ve been pretty successful in the past. 

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For the new players and parents to Koa, we ask that you please give things time to allow your teams to gel.  From our perspective, this is your child’s experience, not your experience.  We hope that all parents will provide positive support from home, which we believe will help the children both on the field, and off the field.  The season should be evaluated in June, not in April.

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