Sunday, June 27, 2010

Youth Baseball: Cooperstown Dreams Park Tips and Tricks (Part 10)

Tips for players from a player

Baseball Equipment: 


Here a Top 20 list of baseball equipment things you will need for Cooperstown Dreams Park.


1) Fielders Glove(s) - If you play more than one position like catcher or first base make sure you have all of your gloves. Note to kids flying to Cooperstown: I would pull your glove(s) out of your baseball equipment bag and carry it on the plane. If the baggage is lost, you could borrow a bat without much concern, but you would not want to play without your trusty glove.
2) Bat - If you are flying you will not be able to carry your bat on the plan you will need to check it.
3) Cup
4) Sliding pants - bring several pairs
5) White baseball pants - no pin stripes. No side piping. The pants must be all white. Bring at least two pairs.
6) Cleats. (Note if it rains it would be nice to have a back up pair, but not necessary. My cleats were wet the entire week)
7) Batting gloves if you use them.
8) Baseball belt - Red or Blue would look best. 
9) Batting helmet
10) Fielding helmet if your team uses them
11) Catching gear - chest protector
12) Catching gear - shin pads
13) Catching gear - helmet
14) Extra pair of shoe laces - mine broke in a game recently (not in Cooperstown).
15) Eye black if you use it
16) Sunglasses if you use them
17) Sports Necklaces - they say you cannot wear them, but many kids do.
18) Water cooler bottle
19) Case of Bottled Water
20) Your confidence


Entertainment


Here a Top 10 list of entertainment things you will need for Cooperstown Dreams Park. There's lots of down time. You'll need to bring some form of entertainment.


1) IPod - don't forget the charger and headphones.
2) PSP or similar hand held gaming system (with games). Don't forget the charger.
3) Books if you can read with lots of distractions
4) Playing cards 
5) Your team pins
6) Team towel to collect pins on
7) A list of all the teams to reference when you are collecting team pins.
8) A vinyl bag to carry all your pins and the towel. Our team bought vinyl backpack bags with our team logo on it. Side note: You will be amazed how heavy all the collected pins will be.
9) Money for the arcade, concession stands, team trip to Cooperstown and the Cooperstown Dreams Park Store.
10) Cell phone - My cell phone broke right before I was leaving for Cooperstown. There were lots of times that I wanted my cell phone to contact my parents but could not. (From StatsDad: There were lots of times I wanted to contact my son but could not.)


For the Barracks


Here is a Top 25 list of things you will need for Cooperstown Dreams Park barracks. 








Put your name on everything.


1) Sheets for a twin size bed
2) Pillow and Pillow case
3) Sleeping bag
4) A clip on fan
5) An extension cord

6) A lock for the footlocker - best to get a lock with a combination and not a key. The lock needs to fit a small hole. The bigger locks will not fit.
7) Bring a swimsuit to shower in. It is a group shower and everyone wears swimsuits.
8) Bring water shoes, flip flops or similar to walk in an out of the shower.
9) Soap (I recommend a liquid body soap in a bottle so you do not need to carry a slimy bar around).
10) Shampoo
11) Two towels - the towels do no dry very quickly and sometimes one is in the laundry
12) Toothbrush in a carrying case.
13) Toothpaste
14) Deodorant
15) Axe body spray
16) Any medicine you take
17) A Sharpie - you will want to put your name or number on all the Cooperstown Dreams Park issued clothing and baseball cap.
18) Gym Shoes
19) Socks
20) Shorts
21) Tee Shirts
22) Underwear
23) A jacket or sweatshirt - the nights are cool in the mountains especially if you are competing in one of the earlier weeks.
24) Sweatpants - again it can get cool at night.
25) Bottle of Febreze - the room smells after a while.


Things not to bring


1) You do not need any team uniforms - my mom packed all my team uniforms. Cooperstown Dreams Park gives you all the uniforms for the games. They also want you to wear the Cooperstown Dreams clothing when you are going out to Cooperstown and restaurants as a team.
2) No food is allowed. Some kids brought in Powerbars and candy. But there is a strict rule against bringing in food to protect against any food allergy issues. (This is StatsDad. I heard lots of parents say, "they will not let the kids bring in food so that we buy their food. We let little Johnny sneak in food." What are these parents teaching their kids? They are basically telling little Johnny it is OK to break the rules that you do not feel are just if they cause you inconvenience or money."  Teach your kids to follow the rules.)
3) A bad attitude. Most kids were nice. But some were jerks.


The Main Point


I interviewed my son so that you can have a complete list of all the things you will need to be prepared for a great week of baseball.


75 comments:

  1. This is Great, thank you! Maybe the Dream Park Admin. could send out this link to all future team managers when they register so that every parent and player will have this information to help them plan and prepare for a great time in Cooperstown.

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  2. thanks for taking the time on this blog, it has been a great help for us in preparing for our trip

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  3. Your site has been the best I've seen yet as far as insider tips and helpful information (I agree with you that Cooperstown's site could be managed a lot better, links to helpful information is a hunt-and-peck activity). Your insights, comments, suggestions, all worth the read and I hope more families heading to, or thinking of going to, Cooperstown give it a read. Wish us luck during Week #11 2010 - only days away. P.S. your pictures are great and congratulations to your son and his team for having the time they did in Cooperstown.

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  4. We are going in August. I wanted to get my son a shower caddy to transport his things (soap, shampoo, Etc.) Would you recommend one that hangs on the shower or the plastic kind you would sit on a shelf?

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  5. I asked my son and he said either would work - he does not remember a shelf. He put his shower stuff on the floor.

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  6. Are you kidding me? Group showers with 12-year-olds? Wear a swim suit to shower in? The barracks are hot and stinky and there is a lot of downtime? Tell me again, why is this so popular? Do I have to pay extra to babysit 12 kids for 6 days and shower in my swim suit?

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  7. I think that the coaches shower is a separate place - I will check. The barracks are hot and very stinky and there is a lot of downtime. My son hated lots of it, but will remember his time there forever. Cooperstown Dreams Park is not for every team. It is a huge commitment for the parents and the coaches.

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  8. My son said that the coaches did not shower with them. He did not know if they had separate showers or just got up early and showed before the kids got up.

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    Replies
    1. The coaches have seperate shower houses abd are not allowed in the players shower house. When a player from your team use the shower a coach must wait outside in case anything happens they are within shouting distance.

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    2. Thx, I'm going to cooperstown in 15 days so I'll keep this site in check!

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  9. Need help with funding for Cooperstown? We can help!! Fun, Easy and Profitable Sports Fundraisers. Call today and mention code: Cooperstown 877-257-3777

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  10. Do the coaches sleep in a seperate room?

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    Replies
    1. The coaches sleep in the barracks with the kids - small bunk beds.

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  11. Why do you need to lock your stuff up? Do other teams come in your barracks? Because I can't imagine the kids stealing from their own team!

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    Replies
    1. Teams come and go from the barracks area all the time - it is suggested that kids lock up their belongings in their footlocker when they are away - I know w few of the kids did not bring a lock and did not have any problems with theft.

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  12. Help. I can't find a site to view the Dream Park Baseball Bat..Or a price...It is one thing my grandson wants......

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    Replies
    1. I am not sure - we bought the bat at the park on the first day and it was ready the day we left. We ordered the long shadow box from the online store on the Cooperstown Dream Park website - I do not see the bat or the shadow box on the site anymore. If I remember correctly, the bat was made by an outside company who sold on the grounds of the park - it was probably http://www.cooperstownbat.com/index.php - on this site you will find bats for several tournaments - but I did not see Cooperstown Dreams Park on there - which means they must be sources from another exclusive source.

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  13. Do the barracks have WiFi?

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    Replies
    1. I do not know the answer to that question - I would assume that each barrack does not have WiFi but it may be available in the barrack area. Do any of my reader know the answer to this question?

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    2. WiFi is available in the team dining tent.

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  14. Did your son pack in a trunk? Do airlines allow that? I'm concerned about how I'm going to pFit all this with 1bag per person flight rule

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    Replies
    1. Yes my son had a trunk with a lock. We drove to Cooperstown from Cincinnati so we did not have to deal with airline rules. I assume you will have to pay the baggage fee.

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  15. What kind of food is there

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  16. Why is it a group shower

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    Replies
    1. 100 teams - 12 player per team - 1,200 players - I guess it was the most economical way to do it. The kids wear swim suits when they shower.

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  17. is there more then one team in each barrack?

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    1. Each team has their own sleeping quarters. Each building houses two barracks separated by a wall.

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  18. For parents and other family members that come to watch the games, are we allowed to bring in coolers and food when we watch the games?

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  19. I believe that the team coach is allowed one cooler - no other coolers are allowed. Check with your coach to verify that.

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  20. Hey Anonymous,
    It's not the Hilton. Think of it like camping. Teach your Kids to communicate verbally with other Kids their own age. Teach them that it is not okay to think they, nor their Parents are entitled and rules don't apply to them because they are Special. Relax, go with the flow, don't overreact, make it a good experience for your Kid, and be a Human Being.

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  21. Hello: we are taking a team there in late June 2013. We have received our confirmation of deposit letter indicating that we have been selected for that specific week. We then sent in our next installment of 2,000 dollars. I had to email the admin of Dreams Park to make sure they got that installment and then they told me that they would be sending another letter with a package to teams in the middle of February with the final bill due March 1st. I guess my question is did you get any type of info from them after the first letter indicating you were in? Thanks

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  22. Sorry - I do not know the answer, I was not a coach. Can any other coaches answer this question for Anonymous?

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  23. This has been the best and most informative site that I could find so far! Thank you and your son for putting all of this together. One question, my son is headed there with a team in July and I am trying to find which website is the official one. Are Cooperstown Dreams Park, Cooperstown Baseball World and Cooperstown Allstar Village all different or the same thing rebranded?

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    Replies
    1. This is the official website of the 12U tournament that our team played in.

      http://www.cooperstowndreamspark.com/

      The other places both have U12 events, but Baseball World has tournaments for older kids and Allstar Village has a U10 event. I am not sure if they are affiliated in anyway.

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    2. The three parks are not affilated in any way. Allstar Village wants people to think they are a continuation of Dreams Park, which is why the numbers of their fields start where Dreams Park ends. Dreams Park only has one website: www.cooperstowndreamspark.com

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  24. My son is playing there July 2013. He has severe food allergies. Do you or anyone know what is done with kids with severe food allergies. Do they provide "safe meals" or do we bring our own food.

    Any information would be great. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. I read a book about and all Jewish team that competed at Cooperstown Dreams Park. I think that one of kids in that story had a food allergy. Can't remember how they handled it. I would call them. They run the place like Disneyworld - in other words they know how to serve people. I am sure that they have a work around.

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    2. Depending on the Allergy contact the park directly. They are prepared to handle peanut allergies on a regualar basis.

      In cases like a child with Celiac, depending on the severity, one parent packed a special cooler of food with all meals in separage ziplock bags labeled for each meal of the week which was kept at the kitchen and prepared separately just for him.

      The park is accomodating as they can be as long as they know about the allergy.

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    3. I am wondering how this worked out for your son? My son is planning to go in 2014. He has a dairy allergy. Thanks.

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    4. My son is allergic to nuts, shellfish, and eggs. In the Cooperstown Packet that is provided to all teams and parents (http://www.cooperstowndreamspark.com/CDP_Forms/2014_Kits/2014_ParentCamper_Kit_012914.pdf) there is contact information to work out the food allergies as well as kids medications. I found them to be very responsive and helpful. We aren't going until the last week in June 2014 and they sent me his menu and everything already. Very helpful Stats Dad!!

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    5. My son is gluten intolerant. I contacted the health director, Michelle, at heatlthdirector@cooperstowndreampark.com. She developed a gl ten free diet for my son for the week that he is there. She had me review the list of ingredients in everything that he would be served, and she explained the procedure for food prep and serving. Michelle was very helpful.

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  25. Thanks For The Advice

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  26. This is by far the most informative site I've seen. Thank you for sharing your experiences at CDP.

    We are going in a couple of weeks. I know the boys shower in their swim suit. Do you know if the coaches are required to do that in the coaches shower area as well? I've seen a couple of sites that seem to hint that is the case, but nothing that clearly says that.

    Thanks in advance for any information you may have on this.

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    Replies
    1. Had the same question. Also, is there a dressing/undressing area at the bathhouse, or is it done in the barracks?

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  27. are the bathrooms privet

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    Replies
    1. Good question. Like do stalls have doors, are there urinals or troughs, is it outhouses / port a johns or more modern, where are they located, etc.

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    2. The bathrooms have stall doors, and there are uninals as well. The shower are has a benched area and then the shower heads on the wall.

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  28. Is it normal to spend all the money to come here and sit on the bench? My son started all season for his team. The coach picked up 3 new players before we got here and now my kid is here sitting on the bench with no explanation. Have you heard of this before? Any light you could shed on this topic would be so appreciated because we are at a loss. After speaking to the coach we were not given a reason.

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  29. we had same situation. son played all season got to coopers and played every other inning. very frustrating and disappointing. we were told extra players where not issue in beginning of season.lie! also told every player would pitch.lie! also told team comes first.lie! apparently coach is lieing ass and needless to say we left team. even my son said he had poor experience because he and team mates sat out after working hard all season to see players come in and take their spots without even showing for single practice . I also feel that the cost per player is extremely high for what they get.

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    Replies
    1. I guess come coaches get caught up in the professional atmosphere and lose their minds.

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  30. What color is the ring?

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  31. Just wondering if registering for Cooperstown is as easy as downloading the registration form and mailing in a deposit?

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  32. FYI - if you attend and the weather outlook for the week is primarily rain be prepared for many many hours of down time & basically being on call to play at any moment. Have a pouncho, umbrella and go to Maskotts across the street to kill time. Week 4 of 2015 was very rainy and many teams only played 2 regular games and 1 bracket tournament game. A very disapointing week for the players & coaches. Many felt the rain delays & field cleanup were mismanaged. There were several days that once the rain stopped, the fields were not worked on and no baseball was played. No opening ceremony rained out - instead we had an abbreviated open/close on the last day - Thursday and the skills competitions were finally held at this time. People realize you cannot control mother nature but there were way too many hours with no baseball and games could have been played. Should rename the place to Moneytown!

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  33. So for the showering area, my daughter is on the team, is there an allocated area for girls?

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    1. What was the answer for this, I'm curious as our daughters Dream is to come to Cooperstown & play with het All-Star team also.

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  34. I am a female Manager and I was told that there is a separate barracks for the female coaches/players/teams.

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    1. Do they force the girl players to stay in a separate barrack? My daughter is the only girl on her team but wants to stay with her teammates. Thx

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    2. Our daughter is also the only girl on her All-Star team. Her Dream is to make it to Cooperstown with her team & I was wondering about this myself.

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  35. Just curious about the cost for parents and families to enter the park. Do we pay daily?

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  36. We are headed to Cooperstown 2017, we do not have our week yet. However the parents who are not coaches is there a good website we can find housing? I have heard it's ideal to rent a house with other families if that is possible. We want to get a jump on looking what we need so we are not all scrambling trying to figure out what we need.

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    Replies
    1. We are renting a house through Cooperstown Family Rentals.

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  37. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  38. Can anyone tell me if there are viewing stands for the parents. none of the pictures on the team website show stands- they show a closed field with green walls

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  39. Some do have stands... The green monster I believe doesn't have stands tho. So I would be ready for anything "Standing" or bring a Fold up seat.

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  40. You don't need to bring a lawn chair or bleacher seat. They have green plastic chairs for you in a limited seating area. It is also heavily discouraged for parents from other teams staying around or coming early and watching another team play. There isn't room for extra people besides the family members of the two teams that are playing.

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  41. You don't need to bring a lawn chair or bleacher seat. They have green plastic chairs for you in a limited seating area. It is also heavily discouraged for parents from other teams staying around or coming early and watching another team play. There isn't room for extra people besides the family members of the two teams that are playing.

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  42. What Bunk would you recommend "Top" Or "Bottom" ?

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  43. Is there a limit to how many coaches can stay in the barracks? If a coach does not stay in the barracks, can they still be considered a coach on the field?

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