News

 Coaches, please remember the documents that must accompany you to your coaches' meeting.  Tournament roster, a copy of the Declarations Page of the Midical Insurance Coverage and copies of your birth certificates.

The deadline for High School Eligible BOYS rosters will be July 15th.  The team fee for HSE Boys State Tournament in Hillsboro will be $200.00.  If you have any questions, please contact Thomas Riley at 214-202-1846 or the Home Office.

Toll-Free Calling to the State Office:  Now available to affiliates is a toll free telephone number of 1-877-913-(TTAB) 8822

** Please Note the updated rules for Boy's Machine Pitch.**

Page 30, rule 30-12. SPECIAL RULES THAT APPLY TO MACHINE PITCH. Shall now read as follows:

m)  The Pitching Machine Coach shall not coach while in the pitching position, either verbally or physically. Once the ball has been hit, the Pitching Coach must position himself/herself as not to be an obstruction to the defensive team on any play at all. Only the officials shall make necessary adjustments on the pitching machine.  (Penalty: Removal of the Pitching Machine Coach.)

TTA Awards State Tournaments for the 2008 Season. 

Girls T-Ball in Axtell -- Girls Coach Pitch in Holland -- Midget Girls in Whitehouse  Freshman Girls in West -- Junior Girls in Lindale -- High School Girls in Brownwood   Boys T-Ball in Clifton -- Boys Machine Pitch in Belton -- Jr. Midget in Brownwood  Senior Midget Boys in Killeen -- Freshman Open Base in New Boston -- Sophomore Boys in Redwater -- Junior boys in Athens -- High School Boys in Hillsboro    (Note that Midget Boys and Freshman Tight Base will be determined later.  Also note that the Brownwood awards go to separate organizations in boys and girls programs)   

TTA Rule changes adopted for the year beginning in 2008:

PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE RULE CHANGES REPRESENT ONLY A GENERAL REPORT OF THE CHANGES.  OFFICIAL WORDING WILL BE PRINTED IN THE TTA RULEBOOK. 

1.  In Boys Machine Pitch, there are new rules regarding the positioning of the pitcher to improve safe play.  See Rule 30-12 on page 29 which will require that a pitcher can be no closer than the front legs of the pitching machine.   

2.  Affiliates of TTA may now set a local cut-off number of 13 players on a team roster.  If so ruled locally, players selected beyond 13 may be released to other teams or towns. 

3.  In Coach Pitch Girls, it is now clear that the use of half-way marks or whistles to stop play in TTA Tournaments is not allowed.  See Rule 110-7 (e) on page 51.

4.  In regard to the rule of warming up a pitcher using a required mask, it is now clarified that the NOCSAE helment is the approved helmet.   

5.  In Boys and Girls T-Ball, the type of safety face mask for catchers is further defined.

6.  In all TTAS (softball) divisions, the white/orange double base is now required in tournament play.  See 10S 10 on page 43.

7.  The rule that requires a four hour break between the 1st and 2nd games of tournament play where there is a chance for one team to play 3 games in one day, the Boys T-Ball and Boys Machine Pitch is now eliminated from this rule.  See 200-12 (d) on page 65 

8.  In Sophomore and Junior Boys divisions, for clarity, the bat sizes will be published in the TTA rule book, rather than reference to the Official Baseball rules. 

9. TTA has returned to a minimum age for playing eligibility in each age division.  Refer to each division's age eligibility rules.  It means that the maximum age players in each division can play "up" to the next division if permitted by local rules.  Players cannot play "up" by two years.

10. TTA will now require that Protected Players on each team must report these players on the Official Team Rosters.  Rosters will include such a section.  Also, the son or daughter of the head coach and the first assistant coach MUST be included among the protected players.   

11. Texas Teenage will no longer furnish the player awards for 1st and 2nd place teams in tournament play.  However, TTA will issue guidelines to all tournaments on the type and size of awards that must be followed for player awards.  In State Tournaments, participation awards must be given to all players in division 12 and under.  TTA will continue to furnish the 1st and 2nd place team (manager) plaques  in all tournaments of 7 teams or more and will furnish 3rd and 4th place plaques in larger tournaments, depending on the actual number of teams.  See Rule 200-18 on page 68.

12.  TTA has established a toll-free telephone service to affiliates that is included in the new rulebook, on all TTA forms, and noted t hroughout this web page.  This toll free number is 1-877-913-8822.

13.  In the Statement of Responsibility on Page 1 of the rulebook, note that "convicted felons" is now added to the list for possible suspension from the TTA program. 

14.  TTA has reduced the number of maximum teams for a league.  No more than 7 teams can now make up a league (reduced from 10 under previous rules).  

15.  TTA is eliminating the Rule Change Deadline from the TTA rulebook.  

16.  TTA approved a bylaw amendment that will eliminate the requirement that nominations for State Director positions be in writing 30 days prior to an annual State Meeting.  

In addition to the above passed rules, TTA has tabled a suggested rule to go by pitch counts, rather than innings, in TTAB pitching rules.  TTA will continue to study this issue. 

The TTA Board has approved the Calendar Dates for the next two seasons that will be published in the new upcoming TTA Rulebook and is now posted on this Web Page under CALENDAR

ON-LINE UPDATES AND IMPROVEMENTS:

TTA will be making some upgrades in our on-line system with additional instructions for use, a better printing of forms feature, and highlighting who has filed certification rosters (as shown on team rosters).  Also, TTA has adopted a policy that no changes can be made by affiliates directly to rosters once they are submitted the first time.  Any corrections must be approved by local State Directors and submitted to the State Office for proposed changes.  This is help prevent roster altering by unauthorized persons. 

The Killeen Civic & Conference Center  was a perfect setting for the 2007 TTA State Meeting. 

 The annual affiliates meeting August 19 began with an impressive flag presentation, invocation, singing of the National Anthem by Yvonne Atkinson and a welcome by the Director of Parks and Recreation in Killeen, Brett Williams. 

State Directors re-elect John Warren (left on right) President of TTA, and Shane Chambless as Vice President.  New terms for State Director were approved for Billy Chapman, Laquita Morris, Gary Hill & Roger Batchelor (l to r on the right)

TTA President John Warren challenges "fair play"  in all areas.  In his address to the affilaites who attended the annual State Meeting, the President admitted that there is clearly different standards in drafting teams across the state.  He urged a return to the basic principles of TTA of fairness and sportsmanship.  He looked directly and asked each of the State Directors to pledge their support in assuring that all affiliates abide these principles.  He then made the same plea to the towns who were present to do the same.  He noted that TTA remains the only organization to hold true to the team concepts of no "all-star" or "select"  team selections. 

TTA hands out the 2007 Scholarships:  Congratulations to Chelsea Pectol of Teague, Stuart Harter of Bosqueville, and Amber Reece of Wortham (all shown above with TTA President John Warren) and to Clint Conley of Jim Ned (unable to be present for the ceremony) as the 2007 Scholarship winners.  Each received a $500 scholarship for outstanding achievement in the TTA program as both athletes and great citizens. 

The Presidio Astros drove 9 hours to make the State Meeting.  The Astros were the 2007 State Champs in the Freshman Tight Base Division.  On right, the Coaches for the State Champs in Boys T-Ball, Chris Sheppard and Jeff Proctor, were also on hand.

 TTA hands out the door prizes to conclude the 2007 State Meeting in Killeen

 Join Us in Clifton, Texas next year for the 2008 State Meet

2007 TTA STATE CHAMPIONS-CONGRATULATIONS:

Girls T-Ball State Champs:  Rogers Scooby's, Coach Denise Cook.  Runner-up team: Cameron Hot Stix, Coach Tony Tucker

Girls Coach Pitch Champs:  West Central Texas Frame, Coach karen McKenzie.  Runner-up team: Diamond Darlins.

Midget Girls Champs:  Troup Titans, Coach Jody Lloyd.  Runner-up:  Winnsboro Lady Raiders, Coach Clay Jones.

Freshman Girls Champs:  Clifton Lady Cubs, Coach Shephard Green.  Runner-up:  Grand Saline Lady Indians.

Junior Girls Champs:  Rockdale Lady Dawgs, Coach Richard Parish.  Runner-up:  Rusk Riptide, Coach Jereme Hubbard.

Girls High School Eligible Champs:  Bosqueville Lady Dawgs, Coach Ray Feight.  Runner-up: Brownwood, Coach Cullen Sliger.

Boys T-Ball State Champs:  Cannaan Baptist Church of Mexia, Coach Jeff Proctor.  Runner-up:  Rogers Gators, Coach David Schiller.

Boys Machine Pitch Champs:  Rusk Storm, Coach  Rodney Huddins.  Runner-up:  Moody Raiders, Coach Jimmy Ward.

Junior Midget State Champs:  Valley Mills Red Raiders, Coach Michael Sexton.  Runner-up:  Bullard Bombers, Coach Jim Hill.

Midget Boys Champs:  S & S Deleon, Coach Rodney Hardin.  Runner-up:  Miles Reds, Coach Paul Kalina. 

Sr. Midget Boys Champs:  Belton Aggies, Coach Chris Tatum.  Runner-up:  Pleasant Grove Longhorns, Coach Chris Bolton.

Freshman Tight Base Champs:  Presidio Astros, Coach Memo Hoyer.   Runner-up:  Bangs Dragons, Coach Chad Massey.

Freshman Open Base Champs:  Belton Rebels, Coach Tony Valdez.   Runner-up:  Bullard Bullets, Coach Wayne Thomas.

Sophomore Boys Champs:  Belton Reds, Coach Todd Mraz.  Runner-up:  Bruceville-Eddy Rangers, Coach Mike Hawkins.

Junior Boys State Champs:  Mildred Longhorns, Coach Billy Dozier.  Runner-up:  Fairfield Nationals, Coach Eric Simpson.

Boys High School Eligible Champs:  Granger, Coach Jack Moore.  Runner-up:  Vanguard, Coach Brady Blum.