Where is GMBL located?

GMBL Complex Location:

(EG Smith Baseball Complex)

9651 Goodwin Drive

Manassas, VA 20110

(Intersection of Rte. 28 & Godwin Drive)

 

What is GMBL’s Mailing Address?

GMBL

PO Box 4433

Manassas, VA 20108

 

What programs does GMBL offer?  

Proudly serving the youth of the Greater Manassas Area since 1957

Recreational Baseball and Softball Program for players Ages 3-18 years of age  (fees in red as of 10/18/2024)

Quickball Coed (4-5 yrs. intro to playing focus on throwing, catching, fielding, base running) $100

Tball Coed (5 yrs of age) $125

Coach Pitch Coed (6 yrs of age) $135

Rookies (7–8-year-old Machine Pitch) $165

Minors (9–10-year-old Kid Pitch 46/60 foot bases) $165

Majors (11-12-year-old Kid Pitch 50/70 foot bases) $175

Babe Ruth (13-16-year-old Kid Pitch 60/90 foot bases) $185

SR Babe Ruth (16-18-year-olds 60/90 foot bases) $185

8U Girls Softball (6-8-year-olds Machine Pitch) $165

10U Girls Softball (9-10-year-olds Fast Pitch) $165

12U/14U Girls Softball (11-14-year-olds Fast Pitch) $165

 

Baseball & Softball Age Chart Link

 

Travel Baseball and Softball Programs

Available in spring and Fall Season based on interest at the age level.   Players must be registered in the GMBL Recreational Program to participate.   Players are invited to an open tryout and participate if selected.   There are additional expenses to play travel.  Games are played across a variety of field locations, not just at GMBL.

 

Tournament Teams

 Babe Ruth has an All-Star program for both Baseball and Softball where selected players represent the league in competitive tournament trail for Districts, States, Regional and World Series events at the end of the spring season.  This program is different than the Recreational and Travel programs, players must be registered with GMBL Recreational program, reside within league boundaries, met Babe Ruth recreational playing requirements and be selected by the tournament manager following a tryout to participate.   There are additional expenses to play on the tournament team.  GMBL has a proud representation of championship teams over the years that have won all the way up to the World Series Event!

 

What are GMBL’s Playing Seasons?

SPRING:   Season runs (March-June); practice for most ages start late March, games run typically mid-April to mid-June; All Star Tournament team players play June-Aug.   *Senior Babe Ruth division has a compressed season schedule typically late-May to late-June due to conflicts with High School Ball.

FALL:   Season runs (Aug-Oct); practices start late Aug, with games after Labor Day thru end of Oct.

*Registration for spring opens November prior year; Fall opens in late June/July.

 

Who runs GMBL?

GMBL is supported by a Board of Directors and league volunteers.    The current Board and contact information can be found under Board of Directors section of the website.  As a non-profit 501c3, the board is elected according to the leagues By-Laws which can be found on the GMBL Website.   GMBL is always in need of new Board members; please consider coming to a monthly board meeting or contacting a league official for more information.  

 

GMBL has a few “Paid For” Positions which are contracted annually or seasonally:

Fields & Grounds, Trash Management and Bathroom Cleaning

Umpires – made up of Youth Umpires and a Contracted Umpire Association

Snackbar Staff (13+ years of age positions; adults are volunteers)

 

Who Coaches at GMBL?

Coaches are volunteers at GMBL.   All Coaches are required to complete a Background Check and Abuse Prevention Training every 2 Years, a Cal Ripken Certification (once good for life).  Anyone interested in Coaching, must register every season as a Manager (must be 21 years of age) or Assistant Coach (must be 18 years of age).   If you have any questions, please contact our league Vice President.

Certification: (must be completed 1x per Life as a Coach)

Cal Ripken Certification  - Provided via HumanKinetics Site, cost $19.95.  Certification required 1x per life as a coach, can do Baseball and/or Softball programs, you do not need to do both.  It is recommended you remember what Email you used to complete and save a copy of your certification to provide to GMBL.

 Background Check (required every 2 Years). These are completed via Babe Ruth's Sports Engine background process and required APS Safety training mandated by Headquarters.   The Cost is $25.50 to complete.  (Please complete your APS/Background check using the same email associated with you as a Coach in Demosphere.   This is the only way to clear the credentials and associate you as a valid coach in Sports Engine to Babe Ruth HQs.)

How do I become a SPONSOR at GMBL?

If you wish to sponsor the league, please go to the SPONSORSHIP Section of our website to select your Sponsor level interest.  Sponsor Form

 

What are GMBL’s playing Boundaries?

Boundaries are established by Babe Ruth based on chartered leagues in the serving area.   GMBL serves the greater Manassas County, Manassas City, Manassas Park and Prince William County (such as Bristow, Woodbridge).  Boundaries vary for Baseball vs. Softball.   Players should play for Babe Ruth leagues closest to them.

BASEBALL: 

Includes:  Manassas, Manassas City, Manassas Park and Bristow Zip codes; we can accept players that reside in most PWC County zips except those that reside in Nokesville (20181,20182) and Gainesville (20155/20156), Haymarket (20168/20169) Zip codes. 

For Cal Ripken Ages Only  – we also can support Clifton & Centreville Zip codes, but once players hit Babe Ruth (13-15) division they must play in SYA League.

 

SOFTBALL:

Includes all of Prince William County and typically can support Culpeper, Fauquier, Warrenton and Rappahannock Counties.    We cannot take players zoned to play for Stafford Softball League which supports Stafford and Fredericksburg areas.

 

There are only three waivers for Boundaries supported:

1) School Attendance Form (Player lives outside the league boundaries but attends a school within the boundary.   School Attendance documentation is required to be provided annually.)

2) No Player Left Behind (if a player lives outside our boundary, but their respective league does not offer a program in their playing age; reviewed seasonally)

3) Family/Sibling Waiver (If a family has both Softball and Baseball players, GMBL is in boundary for Softball, but out of boundary for baseball; the league will allow all members of the family to play at GMBL.   This is reviewed seasonally.  Please contact the Registrar or VP of the league.)

 

How are teams formed?

Baseball and Softball Teams (except for Quickball and Coach Pitch Tball) are selected via a player “Draft Process” with coaches selecting their players.   GMBL tries to hold a player evaluation session each season where players display their ability to Hit, Run, and Field for the approved coaches that season.   Attending evaluations is not mandatory, but players not at the session are typically “Blind” drafted to open roster positions at the end of the draft.  All registered and paid players are drafted to teams.   Coaches are asked to contact team members following the draft within 2-3 days.   Note – late registrations are blind drafted to open roster positions as available.

 

PLAYER/COACH REQUESTS:  Same household siblings are drafted to the same team when playing in the same division.   Manager’s child(ren) and one Assistant Coaches child(ren) are automatically placed to their assigned teams.   The league does not honor Coach or Player requests, we recommend that families contact former coaches about their wishes.

 

Quickball and Coach Pitch Tball, the league assigns players trying to balance ages and genders across teams.   The league does allow for some player or coach requests in this age group, but it is not guaranteed.

Only PAID registrations are placed to teams. 

 

Can I request for my child to Play Up or down a division?  What if my child has never played?

You must first register your child in their Age-Appropriate division, in the Comments Section you can request to Play Up or down.   The league will contact you, and only after an evaluation by the Vice President and formal approval, will the player possibly be moved up or down a single division only.    If the division price is more, your registration rate will be adjusted, and you will need to pay the additional fees.   The league must do this for the safety of all players involved.   Additionally, we find most kids prefer to play with kids in their own age groups despite possible variance in skill levels.   GMBL is RECREATIONAL League, and we have all skill levels at every age group.

 

How are Games and Practices Scheduled?

Baseball and Softball Teams:   GMBL typically schedules all pre-season practices for the league.   Once the season starts, coaches schedule practices on available fields or practice areas following a strict league scheduling policy.    The league Schedules all games for all Divisions.  For divisions 8 and older, most teams have two scheduled games per week.  Games are played at the GMBL Complex, Senior Babe Ruth plays at GMBL and other locations.   Practices may be held at offsite Manassas City Locations that GMBL applies to use for the season.  Players can plan on one weeknight, one Saturday game.   Due to the size of our league, we cannot guarantee a player will have games/practices on set days or times.

 Quickball and Coach Pitch Tball – Most of the events are scheduled on Saturdays, but there could be Weeknight Games/Practices pending the length of the season to get the schedule in and how often the league experiences rain outs that could be rescheduled based on field availability.

 

What equipment will my child need?  What size bat should I buy?

GMBL provides a Shirt, in baseball players also get a hat.   Players are encouraged to have their own baseball glove and batting helmets.   Most players wear baseball pants (typically gray) and rubber molded baseball cleats.   Metal cleats are not allowed until Babe Ruth level of play for safety reasons.   Cleats can be purchased for a lower or similar cost as tennis shoes.   Tennis shoes will get very dirty from baseball clay off the field.

 

BAT Requirements:

(Bats can be shared and not a requirement, but most players do eventually get their own bats)

Quickball - League provides a bat and ball with registration to each player

T-Ball Division – USA Bat T-ball Stamp bats only

Cal Ripken (non-wood, USA Bat 2 5/8”; no BBCOR bats)

13-16 – Non-wood, USA Bat or BBCOR

16-18 – Non-wood BBCOR only

Softball - Official Softball or Official Fast pitch marked bats

 

Does GMBL offer multi-player discounts?

GMBL provides the following same household discounts:

3^rd Player - $30 discount on their registration fee

4^th Player – 50% Discount on their registration fee

5^th Player and up - receive 100% discount

Early Bird Discount – $20 off all PAID registrations starting Black Friday for 2 weeks

 

Does GMBL offer Player Assistance?

GMBL now offers the ability to pay in two payments automatically through our new website, initial payment now and 2^nd payment made 30 days later.   This feature will not be allowed at the end of the registration season.  We are willing to work out a payment plan for those most in need, please contact the registrar to coordinate.   This does not go through you coach or league commissioner.

Families needing more formal assistance should contact the GMBL Registrar,  knpayne64@gmail.com  or the GMBL EBoard for the current GMBL Assistant Form (which is required each playing season).  We highly encourage league members to also reach to the Every Kids Sports program offered at the following site:  Every Kid Sports Pass Page – Every Kid Sports.   Please register your child and when doing "checkout" mark Check Payment.  Please also Comment you have applied to Every Kids and/or will be submitting an GMBL Assistance Form.  The GMBL Eboard reviews all applications and will determine the leagues’ ability to aid those most in need.   Typically, the league offers a reduce registration rate and a time to pay plan option so that we can offer more assistance to members in need.   You must re-apply each season if still in need.   Situations typically covered, families going through medical emergencies where a parent is unable to work, a temporary job loss situation, or families on documented assistance such as WIC, Medicaid, etc.   

 

Does GMBL offer College Scholarships?

GMBL has offered the Mark Shain Memorial Scholarship to graduating Seniors since 2009.   It is a $500 Scholarship offered to current or former league members that are seeking a higher education and meet the minimum requirements of the scholarship program.   The league provides typically 3 scholarships annually.   You can find the Scholarship application on the Home Page of the website.  Recipients are awarded their scholarship during GMBL’s Spring Opening Day ceremony.

Scholarship Form:  Scholarship Form

 

Who do I contact if I have additional questions?

Your division commissioner is the best contact for questions about your child’s program.   Or you can reach out to the leagues Vice President.   Contact information is on the Board of Directors sections of the website.