HYSA... A New Year... A New Organization by Scott Kellogg Your Harwinton Youth Sports Association board of directors would like to wish all of you a Happy New Year and hope that 2008 brings forth new opportunity, new adventures, and new rewards. We all just spent time with our families and enjoyed the season, but somehow the New Year brings an unprecedented energy to get back into things. So you ask, what's new? According to Merriam Webster, new means: "having recently come into existence; or being other than former or old." In September, HYSA elected a new board of directors. Normally, the last couple months of the year are typically quiet times for the Harwinton Youth Sports Association. But this new board of directors has hit the ground running and has been very busy working toward outlining an aggressive plan to build the integrity of the organization and to insure the offering of meaningful programs for our HYSA children for years to come. Over the years, HYSA has drifted towards being a very baseball oriented organization. The new board has opened doors with the soccer program that have been closed for many years. In just a few short months, we have seen increased communication between the HYSA board and the soccer organization as well as increased attendance at the HYSA membership meetings from both soccer and basketball organizers. You are reading the very first edition of the HYSA electronic news letter. One of the first priorities of HYSA president Steve Graboski and the board of directors is to re-define communications to the HYSA community. The HYSA monthly electronic news letter will contain all of the information needed for parents, coaches, players, officials, and youth sports fans to stay up on the events happening throughout HYSA's year round activities. The news letters will feature a calendar of upcoming events including registrations, clinics, and fund raisers as well as a plethora of articles written by board members, coaches, and even players. Best of all, the electronic news letter is easy to sign up for... just visit www.harwintonsports.org and click on the Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter link to sign up. Yes, that's correct, HYSA has a new web site. www.harwintonsports.org is now live and being loaded with all of the information you need to stay in tune with HYSA. The new HYSA web site will contain: Calendars updated with meeting dates, registration dates, fundraisers and other HYSA sponsored events Meeting notices, agendas, and minutes so you can stay up to date on the issues By-laws, policies, and procedures Fund raising information Links to send emails to HYSA board members Downloadable forms such as registration forms, accident and injury forms, medical information forms, etc. An archive of monthly news letters Directions to HYSA facilities Game Schedules and Results A HYSA Shop to purchase HYSA merchandise Links to our many valued sponsors Much, Much, More So log on today and create a bookmark. Tell your friends and family. www.harwintonsports.org is the one stop shop for all of your HYSA information needs. HYSA and Burlington Little League Restructure Baseball Programs by Chris Campbell Officials from HYSA and the Burlington Little League have been hard at work during the off-season restructuring the little league baseball programs that the towns participate in together. For a couple of seasons, coaches and league officials have discussed what seems to be a big jump for players from the Instructional coach pitch division into the minors (player pitch) division. After a few months of discussion, officials think that have the answer. Starting in the 2008 season, HYSA and BLL will move from a 4 division structure to a 5 division structure. The former "T-ball" division will be named the "Rookie League" for five and six year old players. The format will remain the same and will concentrate on building basic skills such as throwing, catching, swinging, and running. The former "Instructional" (coach pitch) division will be called "A" division and will be tailored towards children ages 7 & 8 as well as 6 year olds that have completed one season in the "Rookie League". Again the focus is on building the basic skills except instead of players hitting from a batting tee, coaches will pitch to the players. A new division, "AA will be added in 2008. The division will be available to players ages 7 & 8 that have played at least one year of "Instructional" or "A" division. The division will be a morph of the former instructional and minors divisions that will allow for maximum player participation, an instructional environment where coaches are on the field throughout the game, and players pitching from a shorter, forty foot pitchers mound. For a complete list of "AA" division rules, log on to HYSA's web site www.harwintonsports.org. The minors division will be renamed the "AAA" division. All rules shall remain the same and children ages 9-11 are eligible. The majors division will remain unchanged. "This new level will create an additional style of play to match player development for players ages 7 & 8 that are not ready to participate in the former 'minors' program but are ready to move on from the coach pitch division" says David Wall, vice-president of HYSA. Baseball Skills Evaluation by Dave Wall HYSA Baseball will be holding "Skills Evaluation" sessions on February 9th and 16th from 6:30 - 9:30pm at the Hit Club in Thomaston. All players, aged 7 and up, that did not play in the majors last year must attend one of the sessions. If a player does not attend an evaluation session, then he or she will not be permitted to advance from the league in which they participated during the 2007 season. The Hit Club is located at the Seth Thomas Building - 4th floor, 135 South Main Street Thomaston, CT. Spring/Summer Baseball registration is scheduled for January 29th - 31st @ 6:00 - 8:00pm in the HCS gym. CPR courses are set for Sat. Jan. 19th @ 9:00am and 12:30pm at the Weside Firehouse. Anyone planning on coaching baseball or soccer must attend to become certified. Registration for pre-K through 3rd grade Soccer is due by Feb. 10th. Registration and volunteer forms are available on HYSA website. Please visit the HYSA website for more details.   Save these dates:   1/18: Rec Basketball starts at HCS gym 1/19 @ 9:00am and 12:30pm: CPR courses for all coaches at the Westside Firehouse 1/20-2/10 @ 2:00-4:00pm Family Open Gym on Sunday afternoons at HCS gym 1/23 @ 7:30pm: HYSA General Meeting at Westside Firehouse 1/29-1/31 @ 6-8:00pm: Registration for spring/summer baseball at HCS gym 2/9 and 2/16 @ 6:30-9:30: Baseball Skills Evaluation at The Hit Club in Thomaston 2/9 and 2/13: Order drop off date for Munson's candy fundraiser at the Harwinton Library. 2/10: preK-3rd grade Soccer registrations are due. 2/20 @ 7:00pm: HYSA Board of Directors meeting at Westside Firehouse 2/27 @ 7:30pm: HYSA General Meeting at Westside Firehouse Family Open Gym by Suzanne Stich HYSA has teamed up with the Harwinton Recreation Department to sponsor a Family Open Gym. You can come as often as you like to this drop-in program for elementary students and their parents. Structured activities in several sports will be offered. All participants must be elementary age, residents of Harwinton or attend school in Harwinton, and be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required for participation and can be done on site. This program is sponsored by Harwinton Recreation and HYSA and will be run by Steve Graboski and Mike Chadwick. There is no cost for this event! Ages: Grade K-4 with Adult Place: HCS Gym Date: Sunday afternoons, Jan. 20-Feb. 10 Time: 2:00-4:00 p.m. Munson's Chocolate Fundraiser in time for Easter By Scott Onofrio HYSA will once again be selling Munson's Chocolate. This has been one of our most successful fundraisers over the past two years, so we will once again ask for your support. Order forms are in the cabinet at recreational basketball and will be handed out at baseball registration. If you would like an order form, please email me at secretary@harwintonsports.org. All orders must be received by Wednesday, February 13th to guarantee an Easter delivery. Order forms and money can be dropped off at the Harwinton Library on Saturday, February 9th from 10:00am to 12:00pm, or on Wednesday, February 13th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Candy sorting will take place on Saturday, March 8th at the Westside Firehouse. Volunteers are needed from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Candy pickup is Saturday, March 8th from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at the Westside Firehouse. If you have any questions, I can be reached at (860) 459-4606 or via email. Thank you for your support!