MtB Mustangs: About the MtB Mustangs

About the MtB Mustangs 

The Montgomery County Mustangs formed in 2002 to address the desire of homeschool boys in the Montgomery County and surrounding areas to participate in high school and junior high level competitive baseball. In 2005 the Mustangs incorporated as non-profit 501(c)(3) association. 

Guided by a volunteer Board of Directors, the Mustangs is both an athletic organization and a ministry to homeschool families. To reflect this "More than Baseball" vision, the Mustangs were renamed the "MtB Mustangs" in 2007.   The program is divided into two divisions -- high school and junior high. The priority for the high school division is to field a single competitive varsity squad. Should enough players (and coaching staff) be available, a junior varsity squad consisting of younger high school players will be formed.

The junior high team will consist of a competitive team and a "farm team" (or "scrimmage squad") consisting of players within the eligibility guidelines (see "Eligibility" section under Policies and Procedures).  In the event of an opening on the junior high squad, the coach may elect to "call up" a player from the farm team to suit up and fill the opening as needed.  All squads will be chosen at the sole discretion of the coaches based on tryouts and personal knowledge of players' abilities. Tryouts are held during the winter off-season, usually during the month of November. 

Our Purpose 

The MtB Mustangs exist to provide home-schooled boys with the benefits of participation in organized baseball in a setting that honors the God who created them. We desire to provide homeschooled boys with excellent instruction in the skills required for baseball, and to provide them with opportunities to use those skills at appropriate competitive levels, including the highest level of secondary school competition. We are committed to modeling and teaching Christian character traits, including self-discipline, self-respect, respect for authority and good sportsmanship. 

We are MtB.  We are … pursuing excellence … on the field … off the field … everywhere. 
I Cor. 10:31.  

This MtB Mustangs are organized as a Not for Profit Texas organization and operated exclusively for exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended, including the following purposes: 

A.    Honoring Jesus Christ through the organization, promotion, Christian instruction and physical training of home schooled boys for participation in baseball;  
B.    Providing educational services;  
C.    Engaging in any lawful business or activities related thereto: and to engage in any lawful act or activity for which associations may be organized under the Texas Non Profit Organization Act;  
D.    Carrying out any other charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").  

Statement of Faith 

1.  The Bible is the only inspired, authoritative, infallible, and inerrant word of God. Its very words are God-breathed. It is both necessary and sufficient to teach not only about our salvation but also about the conduct of our life.

2.  There is only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. He is one Being who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, without division of His nature, essence, or being.

3.  Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity. He is both fully God and fully man. By His perfect obedience and sacrifice of Himself on the cross, He has fully satisfied the justice of His Father, and purchased not only reconciliation but also an everlasting inheritance in heaven for believers. He was visibly and bodily resurrected from the dead.

4.  All people are born in sin due to the effects of Adam's rebellion. They are forgiven of their sins when they trust in the Lord Jesus alone for their salvation. Salvation is by God's grace, through the means of human faith, apart from good works. Believers are enabled by the Holy Spirit to obey God's commandments

Policies and Procedures

The following policies and procedures are promulgated to enable the MtB Mustangs to achieve our goal of representing ourselves in a Christ-like manner. Please note that policies and procedures may be modified and/or added to at any time at the sole discretion of the board of directors.

Eligibility 

The MtB Mustangs are open to junior high and high school level players. All home-schooled boys who are 18 years of age or under on September 1st of the academic year are eligible and invited to try out for one of our teams that plays in the spring of the same academic year. In addition:  

• Players who are 19 or older on September 1st of the academic year are ineligible to play on the Varsity squad in the spring of that academic year.
• Players who are 15 or older on September 1st of the academic year are ineligible to play on the junior high team in the spring of that academic year. 
• No player who is under the age of 11 at the time of tryouts is allowed to try out or play on that year's team.

Participation Requirements 

Code of Conduct 

All Mustangs, parents, families, and coaches are to abide by this Code of Conduct.  The letter of our Code of Conduct is minimal, and the spirit is foundational.  The spirit of our MtB Mustangs Code of Conduct is:  We are to love and show respect to those within and outside our organization.  The spirit of our Mustangs' Code of Conduct is that it applies to our conduct both on and off the field.  

Parents are reminded that they set the example for their children.  Accordingly, we are to guard our speech at all times and speak well of our Mustangs' leadership, coaching staffs, and players.  Legitimate concerns can and always should be respectfully communicated first privately to the involved party, and then to Mustangs' leadership if the matter remains unresolved.  Failure to take a concern to the offending party first violates both the letter and spirit of the Code of Conduct.

Our fans have developed a great reputation as being knowledgeable, energetic, and positive.  We want to uphold and build upon this tradition.  As such, we should always refrain from belittling and booing players, opponents, coaches, umpires, or any one else.  In general, we should avoid speech or conduct that could cause a fellow believer to stumble or cause some one outside the program to hold either Christ or our organization in lower esteem.  We should observe the general rule of building others up and believing the best.  

In light of the spirit of our Code of Conduct, the usage of alcohol and tobacco at Mustangs functions is prohibited.

The head coach of each team has the authority to set additional rules of conduct for that team. If there is a problem with any attitude or action, please address comments and/or suggestions to the coach (after the game or practice) or to the board of directors.  Violations of the Code of Conduct can result in sanctions as set by the Board of Directors, up to and including prohibiting further participation of an individual in Mustang functions. 

In the end, we will always strive to be guided by grace in our dealings with each other.   

Code of Dress / Appearance 

All players should dress in such a manner to bring honor to Christ and to uphold the reputation of the Mustangs.  Our uniform is to be worn correctly at all times, with the t-shirt and vest tucked in; the bills of our caps are to face directly forward.  We do so out of respect for the Mustangs organization, our teammates, opponents, officials, and the game of baseball itself.  

Players are advised to refrain from wearing or displaying the following at all Mustangs functions:  visible tattoos, died and/or eccentric hair, droopy drawers, and advertising/clothing that depicts messages that could bring either Christ or the Mustangs into disrepute.  

The head coach of each team has the authority to enforce these standards and set additional standards as he sees fit. 

Finally, players should recognize the need to wear appropriate protective gear and appropriate clothing for practice, including cleats, baseball hat and pants in which the player can run and slide (preferably baseball pants).

Competitive Baseball 

Parents and players are reminded that this is competitive baseball.Coaches at the high school and junior high levels are neither required nor encouraged to get every player into the game. On the contrary, players and parents alike need to understand that the coach's job is to help his team perform their best so that it has the best chance for success in each game.  The coach should play those players that he thinks will get the job done, given the circumstances of the game at hand and the point of the season involved. This is one of the reasons why we limit the number of players on a team. Every player who makes the team is an important part of the team and we rely on consistent attendance and diligence from all players. Finally, coaches are encouraged (though still not required) to play all players in scrimmages, and in actual games where either team has a significant lead. There will be opportunities for all players to play during the season. Players can, of course, improve with work in practice and on their own and earn more playing time in the future.  We believe that playing time should be based both upon merit and hard work. 

Tryouts 

Tryouts are held during the off-season each year, normally in November. Players who have played for a Mustangs team in the past or have attended one of our camps will be contacted in advance of the tryout date(s). 

The Season 

The season will run from February through early May; also, the Homeschool World Series for the HS Varsity team is in late-May of each year. Our season typically consists of playing other homeschool teams (Dallas Angels, Houston Eagles) as well as private and public schools in the greater Houston / Southeast Texas area. For both high school and junior high the season is typically no more than 25 games, excluding tournaments and rainouts.

Practices 

Both the high school and junior high teams will confine their practices to no more than three times per week, unless preparing for a special tournament, or unless an exception has been approved by the board of directors. Individual practice periods shall last no more than three hours. 

Attendance 

All players are encouraged to attend all practices and coaches are encouraged (but not required) to consider faithful attendance as a factor when deciding a particular player's playing time.  Coaches depend on reliable attendance information in order to prepare organized practices. Accordingly, players/parents should notify the coach at the earliest possibility if the player will be unable to make a game or practice, or if he will be late.  Punctuality at all Mustangs' games and practices is vitally important.  Absent unusual circumstances, notification of a game absence should always be relayed before game day. 

Game Rules 

Unless otherwise noted, all games will be governed by high school rules according to the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS).  Information on rules (and obtaining rule books) can be found online at http://www.nfhs.org (
http://www.nfhs.org/scriptcontent/va_Custom/va_Cm/newspage.cfm?category ID=4&Title=Baseball%20Sports/Rules%20Information&ItemTitle=Item&ShowArchive=No&head=bb.cfm&Foot=BB_FOOT.cfm)

Fees and Fundraising 

Our season fees are among the most-affordable in not only baseball, but in Texas competitive baseball.  Our season fees for JH players is $75.00; our fees for HS players is $100.00.    Our players also participate in a simple and fun fundraising program that keeps our fees low and also allows our players to share a sense of ownership in the Mustangs.   Our policy on fees will be driven by two key considerations: (1) We will, by God's grace, acquire the funds necessary to make this one of the very best homeschool baseball programs in the nation, and (2) No Mustang will be unable to play because of financial considerations. 

Complaints / Suggestions 

If you have a suggestion, seek an exception to a particular policy, or have a problem with the attitudes or actions of a coach, player, board member, etc., please address your comments in writing to the General Manager via email.  If the problem or suggestion is specifically play-related, you may address your comments verbally to the coach, but only privately after the game or practice at issue.