‘23/’24 Indiana Shuckers Program Info

Welcome,

The Indiana Shuckers, previously known as TBA Shuckers, will be entering their 3rd year with the start of the ‘23/’24 season. Along with the name change, we’ve also made a few changes to the Program itself to continue growing and improving the Indiana Shuckers Organization.

New Teams & Coaches:

Please See: Coaching Opportunities

The Indiana Shuckers Organization wants to grow. We welcome both existing & newly formed independent teams who may want the advantages of being a part of an organization and having access to an indoor facility to train in throughout the off-season.

We are also looking for quality Head & Assistant Coaches for various age teams. If you or someone you know may be interested in learning more about coaching opportunities, please reach out to us so we can discuss it further.

If wanted, we’ll be happy to work alongside newer coaches to help create efficient Drills & Practice Plans to run with their teams as well as offer any insight into mechanics or fundamentals. Please feel free to contact us if either of those scenarios apply to you or your team.

Individual Off-Season Training:

Please See: The Barn Academy Training Staff

Off-Season Training at The Barn Academy is not required to play on an Indiana Shuckers team although as part of our Player Training Package, you will receive six (6) training sessions.

Our Training Staff is led by Justin O’Conner who was the 2010 Indiana High School Baseball Coaches POY, Indiana Mr. Baseball, and 1st Round MLB Draft Pick of the Tampa Bay Rays. Justin spent 12 years playing professionally with the Rays, Giants, White Sox, and Yankees organizations.

Indoor Facility:

Our Indoor Facility is relatively small but does offer ample space for up to 3 batting tunnels or can be configured to allow for pitching/catching lanes or fielding area. It also houses a wide selection of training tools and workout equipment. Our Indiana Shuckers teams will have full access to the facility throughout the off-season for team practices.

Outdoor Fields:

Thanks to our ongoing partnership with Muncie Parks & Recreation, we have several quality options to choose from throughout the Muncie area. These options include our primary field location at Southside Middle School, which we take care of all Field Maintenance & Lawn Care for, as well as the newly renovated Gainbridge Field at McCulloch Park. Our Partnership with Muncie Parks & Recreations includes hosting several Free Instructional Camps & Clinics as well as helping with Tournaments and Leagues designed to introduce and enhance Baseball & Softball in the Muncie & Delaware County area.

Indiana Shuckers Coaching Staff:

Younger teams from ages 8U – 12U will most likely be coached by a Volunteer-Parent or Volunteer-Non-Parent.

If available, our preference would be for all Indiana Shuckers teams from age 13 and older to have Paid-Non-Parent Coaches who have either collegiate playing experience or multiple years of coaching experience. We strongly believe that by this age, it’s time for most Parent-Coaches to transition to the other side of the fence and let their own player experience playing for someone else. As hard as we may try, staying impartial and not coming across as playing “Daddy Ball”, or the opposite, being too critical of our own player, is very difficult to pull off. As stated, this is our preference, but we will be happy to consider a Volunteer-Parent-Coach if it’s agreed upon by the other parents of the team.

Team Practices:

Each Indiana Shuckers Team will have a weekly Indoor Practice opportunity throughout the Off-Season, as well as weekly Outdoor Practice opportunities as weather permits throughout the Fall, Spring & Summer months. Obviously, there will be some holiday weeks, pre-planned off-weeks, or cancelations due to weather concerns when the team will not practice but generally each team will practice at least once per week. Your team’s coaching staff will set the practice schedule. Off-season practices will always be on the weekend.

Attending scheduled Team Practices is mandatory unless approved by your team’s Head Coach.

Tournaments & Level of Play:

Each team’s Coach will decide what tournaments and how many to enter. There is no set number that a team must enter, although most teams chose to participate in at least (2) two or (3) three per month throughout the Fall & Summer. Softball teams also generally participate in (2) two or (3) three Indoor Winter Tournaments. Our HS age teams will compete only in the Fall & Summer to comply with the IHSAA rules.

The Level of Play, or classification, of each team will be determined by the Coaching Staff in their evaluation of the team’s overall talent & experience. It is our goal that regardless of where a team begins, they will develop to a point where the team could move up in classification by the end of the season. We always want to push and challenge our players & teams to play at the highest level possible, but we realize that everyone progresses at their own pace. Finding that fine line of success -vs- failure will always be paramount in our decisions to move a team up in levels.

End-of Season National Tournament or Destination Event:

(OPTIONAL) – Should a team decide to play in a National Tournament or Destination Event, the team’s parents will be 100% responsible for all expenses including Travel To & From, Lodging, Meals, Special Insurance that may be required and any other costs associated with the tournament or event. If the Team has a Paid-Non-Parent Coach, the parents will also be responsible for each coach’s expenses, including Travel to & from, Lodging, $5 per player per day for Meals and the normal $35 per player Stipend. Note: Coaches Expenses will be within reason. You are not funding an all-expense paid family vacation for the coaching staff. Coaches will drive their own vehicles whenever possible, stay at a reasonably priced hotel and pay for their own family.

Player & Parent Conduct:

Umpires are going to make bad calls. Coaches are going to make a wrong in-game decision. Other team’s coaches, players & fans may sometimes be mouthy. So what? Let it go. The players do not have a scholarship or MLB contract riding on the game. No College Recruiter or MLB Scout will ever ask, or care, about a player’s win-loss record or stats. We are all here to teach the kids the game, yes, but more importantly we are here to help them grow and mature into respectful adults.

We ask our Coaches to show respect in every situation. We ask the same of our Players & Parents… If a call needs to be questioned, your Coach will take care of it, respectfully. We expect everyone associated with the Indiana Shuckers Organization to show the same respect to our Umpires & opponents.

Who’s the Coach?

Please do not coach your player from behind the fence. You may be giving perfect advice and saying exactly what your player’s coach would say, but please do not do it. The coaches will address it when appropriate and in their own way. Thank You, but if the coaches want your help, they will ask you for it.

Fundraising:

It is highly recommended that each team organize and run multiple fundraising events throughout the season to help parents pay for player fees as well as an End-of-Season event. Teams are welcome to organize any type of fundraiser they wish.

There will be an Indiana Shuckers Golf Outing held sometime throughout the Fall or Spring. A percentage of the proceeds will go towards field upgrades at Southside Middle School. The remaining profits will be split evenly between all Indiana Shuckers Teams to reduce Player Fees.

Returning Players:

All returning Indiana Shuckers Players will be expected to participate in Tryouts.

 

Player Fees:

Please Note: The Total Player Fee consists of both Fixed Fees and Adjustable Fees. The Fixed Fees are the same for every player on every team. The Adjustable Fees may go up or down depending on the number of tournaments the team enters, the cost of the tournaments entered or any additional tournament related fees the team may incur. The Adjustable Fees may also go up or down if the team decides to go with a different style or quality of uniform & equipment than what is listed below. Teams are welcome to vary from the standard Uniform & Equipment Package but must still include the Team Logo & Color Scheme of the organization.

Younger age teams will most likely have less expensive Tournament Entry Fees, Uniform & Equipment costs. High School age teams will most likely have more expensive Tournament Entry Fees, Uniform & Equipment costs.

Please See: Frequently Asked Questions

  • Team Fee: $390 per Player (Fixed)

    • Admin Fee: (Valued at $175 & Included in the Team Fee)

      • Weekly Off-Season use of the Indoor Facility for Practices.

      • Weekly Lawn Care & Maintenance of the Fields at Southside Middle School.

      • Ordering of Uniforms & Equipment

      • All Accounting responsibilities for the teams & Organization.

      • General Administrative duties.

    • Training Package: (Valued at $180 & Included in the Team Fee)

      • Each Player will receive six (6) 1-Hour Hitting Class sessions at The Barn Academy.

      • Classes must be used from October 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023. No refund for unused Classes.

      • Dedicated class slots will be available for Indiana Shuckers players weekly from October 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023.

      • Additional classes may be purchased at a $5 discount off the class listed price.

    • Team Equipment Package: (Valued at $35 & Included in the Team Fee)

      • (6) Dozen Baseball or Softballs (USSSA Brand Balls)

      • (1) Coach’s Backpack

      • (1) Package of Lineup Card, more as needed.

      • Batting Tees, Portable Backstops & Training Tools if needed.

  • Uniform & Equipment Fee: (Adjustable - Total Cost of all Uniforms & Equipment divided between Players)

    • Uniform & Equipment Package: (Players keep their uniforms & equipment at the end of the season)

      • (2) Uniform Pants

      • (2) Primary Jerseys – with Team Logo & Player #

      • (1) Fall or Practice Jersey – Dri-Fit style with Team Logo & Player #

      • (1) Hoodie or Cage Jacket – with Team Logo & Player #

      • (1) Black Belts

      • (2) Pair of Solid Color Socks

      • (1) Hat for Baseball – with Team Logo & Player #

      • (1) Beanie for Softball – with Team Logo & Player #

      • (1) Bat Bag with Team Logo & Player # – Note: Catchers receive Catchers Bags in place of the Bat Bag

      • (1) Batting Helmet – with Team Logo & Player #

      • (1) Includes Facemask for Softball only

  • Tournament Fee: (Adjustable - Total Tournament Costs divided between players)

    • (1) USSSA Sanctioning Fee & Insurance

    • (?) Tournament Entry Fees

Payment Schedule:

  • 1st Payment Due within 10 days after signing with an Indiana Shuckers Team - $500 ($250 for 8U thru 10U Teams)

    • Fixed Fees

    • Fall Uniforms & Equipment

  • 2nd Payment Due on or before November 15, 2023 - (Payment amount will be adjusted to reflect the Actual Cost)

  • 3rd Payment Due on or before January 15, 2024 - (Payment amount will be adjusted to reflect the Actual Cost)

Coaches Stipend: (Paid-Non-Parent Coach ONLY)

Each player will be responsible for paying the Paid-Non-Parent, coaching staff a $35 per tournament Coaching Stipend. The stipend will be split between the coaches and will go towards covering the amount of time they will spend working with your players at practices, tournaments, and to help with their travel expenses throughout the season.

The full Stipend amount will be split into two (2) payments and paid directly to the Head Coach via their preferred method of payment. Payment details & timing will be decided after the team’s Tournament Schedule is finalized.

Indiana Shuckers ‘23/’24 Tryout Info:

Coming Soon…