Prospect Heights / Wheeling Youth Baseball / Softball: Registration

2010 Registration Information

Registration for the 2010 PHWYBS Season is now going on.  Register before February 1st to avoid the late fee and to assure your spot in the league.  Registrations will be accepted in February but will be assigned a late fee of $30.00 and may not be guaranteed a spot

Online registration is now available using the PHWYBS Online Registration Site and is the preferred mechanism for registration that avoids data entry time and potential errors by volunteers. All 2009 participants can retrieve their account passwords by entering the e-mail address they used for last year's registration at  via https://app1.sportssignup.com/lss/RequestPassword.aspx

A printable copy of the 2010 Registration form is available at http://www.phwybs.org/files/2010Registration.pdf

You can also view the 2009 Brochure at http://www.phwybs.org/files/2010Brochure.pdf


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Can I register online or via credit card?
Onec registration starts, PHWYBS will again offer Online Registration through our web site.  Credit Cards will not be accepted for Walk-In or Mailed-In Registrations.  Only checks and cash are accepted when not registering online.


2. Where can I get registration forms?
Registration forms will be available above in early December or can be picked up beginning at the end of December at the Prospect Heights or Wheeling Park District Recreation centers.   Copies of the registration forms are also mailed to prior registrants each December and sent to each of the grade schools and middle schools in the community during early January.   Information can also be found in the Prospect Heights and Wheeling Winter Programs. Registration forms will also be available at the walk-in registration days.

3. When and where is registration?
Registration forms can be returned by mail to P.O. Box 7172, Prospect Hts., IL 60070-7172 or dropped off at the Wheeling Park District. We will also be having walk-in registration on the following dates where volunteers will be able to take registration forms and answer any question you may have.  PHWYBS will also again offer Online Registration.


Gary Morava Rec Center
110 W. Camp McDonald Road,
Prospect Hts, IL 60070.

  • Sat, Jan 9th, 2010 10:00am - 3:00pm
  • Thu, Jan 21st, 2010 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Wheeling Park District Community Rec Center
333 W. Dundee
Wheeling, IL 60090

  • Sat, Jan 16th, 2010 10:00am - 3:00pm

Registration will be accepted without a late fee until February 1st.  After this date, an additional fee will be charged and there is no guarantee of placement on a team.

4. What is the $25 Raffle Sale?
To improve our fields ond offset general rising costs, PHWYBS is requiring all registered players to purchase a set of $1 raffle tickets.   Players will receive 25 raffle tickets from their manager in Early April as part of their registration fee.  Players/Parents can either keep these raffle tickets or sell them and keep the proceeds to recoup that cost.    At the end of the season, we will raffle off three winners who will receive prizes ranging up to $1000.


5. What division should I register in?
The age your child will be on September 1st 2010 determines what division he should register for.

DivisionAgesBirth Date Typical Grade at
Start of Season
Earliest Latest

T-Ball (co-ed) 

5-6 9/2/2003 9/1/2005 Pre-K, Kindergarten
Buddy-Ball (co-ed) 6-18 9/2/1991 9/1/2004 Any
Boys Pintos 7-8 9/2/2001 9/1/2003 1st and 2nd
Boys Minors 9-10 9/2/1999 9/1/2001 3rd and 4th
Boys Majors 11-12 9/2/1997 9/1/1999 5th and 6th
Boys Seniors 13-14 9/2/1995 (or 8th grade) 9/1/1997 7th and 8th
Girls Pintos 7-8
9/2/2001 9/1/2003
1st and 2nd
Girls Minors 9-10 9/2/1999 9/1/2001 3rd and 4th
Girls Majors 11-12 9/2/1997 9/1/1999 5th and 6th
Girls Seniors 13-15 9/2/1995 (or 8th grade) 9/1/1997 7th and 8th

6. Can I play in a higher or lower age bracket?
PHWYBS strongly encourages players to play in their age-appropriate division.  Requests to play up or down must be made in writing to the PHWYBS Board.

7. When will the season begin and end?
The exact schedule will be determined once all registrations are turned in and we know exactly how many teams will be playing in each division. However, for planning purposes, you can make the following assumptions:
  1. T-Ball: – Scheduled Games will run from the 1st week of May until the July 4th Weekend. Practices will start towards the end of April
  2. Other Divisions: Scheduled Games will begin the 3rd or 4th week of April and end by the 2nd week of July.
  3. Phantoms All-Stars: Scheduled Games will begin the 2nd or 3rd week of June and end by August 1st. There will be overlap with the in-house season during June so players should expect a large commitment during that time.  Boys U11-14 teams will also play in a tournament in April and over Memorial Day Weekend.

8. When are Games Played?
Exact schedules are not created until all registrations are turned in and final field availabilities are provided by the respective park districts whose fields we play on. However, for planning purposes you can make the following assumptions.
  1. T-Ball: Games will be played on Saturday Mornings.
  2. Other Divisions: Games are played throughout the week and on Weekends.   In general, one game will be scheduled on the weekend and one on a weeknight (which may change from week to week) – but this may vary slightly as games get rescheduled due to rain. During the weeknights, games will start at either 5:30 or 6:00. Older divisions may also have a couple of 7:30 to 8:30 starts during the week. Games on Weekends may be anywhere from 9:00am to 8:30PM.

9. Where are Games Played?
PHWYBS has access to a number of fields in Prospect Heights and Wheeling. Exact Locations of these fields are provided on our web site and will be provided by your managers when schedules are distributed. For planning purposes, you can make the following assumptions.
  1. T-Ball: Games will be played at Holmes Field in Wheeling.
  2. Buddy-Baseball: Home games will be played at Pleasant Run Field in Wheeling. Games will also be scheduled with other nearby communities such as Buffalo Grove and Mt. Prospect.
  3. Boys Pintos: Games will be scheduled at Horizon Field in Wheeling
  4. Boys Minors: Games will be played at Eisenhower Field, Lions Field, and Heritage Field
  5. Boys Majors: Games will be played at Lions Field and Heritage Fields
  6. Boys Seniors: Home Games will be played at Senior Field behind MacArthur Middle School.
  7. Girls Pintos: Games will be played at Horizon Field and Pleasant Run Field in Wheeling.
  8. Girls Minors: Games will be played on Pleasant Run Field in Wheeling and McDonald Field in Prospect Heights.
  9. Girls Majors: Games will be played on Muir Field and McDonald Field in Prospect Heights.
  10. Girls Seniors: Games will be played on Muir and McDonald Field in Prospect Heights.   Away Games will  be played in Palatine.

10.When and where are practices?
Practices are scheduled by the Managers of each team. Prior to the season starting, you should expect at least two practices per week. After the season begins, practice space is a bit more limited as games are being played on most fields – but most managers will still schedule a practice each week. The exact time and locations of these practices is determined by each manager.

11. What team will I be on?
Teams are not formed until after the registration deadline has expired and managers and coaches are found for each team. Teams are created in early March and communicated to players immediately thereafter. Team formation is different at each level. At the older levels where balanced competition is more important, teams are drafted by the managers using information from prior seasons and information obtained at ratings clinics at the end of February or early March. At the younger levels, teams are formed by trying to honor friendship requests and creating teams based on neighborhoods and/or schools which they attend. However, even in these cases, it is not always possible to honor every request and every request cannot be guaranteed.
  1. T-Ball, Pintos: Teams are formed by looking at friendship requests, schools which they attend, players they’ve played with in the past, and/or neighborhoods they live in. No attempt is made to assess skill levels prior to team formation.
  2. Boys Minors: Teams will be drafted based on skill assessment clinics conducted in late February or Early March. During the draft, special requests can be considered by managers but are in now way guaranteed.
  3. Boys Majors: Teams will be drafted based on skill assessment clinics conducted in late February or Early March. Friendship requests are not considered during the draft.
  4. Boys Seniors: Teams are selected in an open draft from all available players. Managers have access to the special requests and may consider this during the draft, but requests are not guaranteed.
  5. Girls Minors: Teams are formed by looking at friendship requests, schools which they attend, prior teams they’ve played on in the past, neighborhoods they live in, and the age of the child. Attempts are made to balance the age groups on each team and satisfy as many requests as possible in the process.
  6. Girls Majors, Girls Seniors: Teams are formed by looking at assessments from ratings clinics conducted in late February, friendship requests, schools which they attend, prior teams they’ve played on in the past, neighborhoods they live in, and the age of the child. Attempts are made to balance the teams, but satisfy as many requests as possible in the process.

12. Will I be on the same team as my sibling?
Assuming that siblings are in the same division, siblings will be on the same team unless specifically requested not to be.

13. When will we get uniforms?
Uniforms will be distributed in Early April before the season begins.

14. What equipment is provided by the league and what do I need to purchase separately?
The league provides a uniform consisting of a jersey, a cap, pants, and socks for each child (T-Ball receives jersey and cap only). The league also supplies each team with helmets, bats, balls, and catcher’s equipment.   Kids are expected to bring their own gloves to the games. Many kids buy their own “little-league approved” bats or their own helmets, but this is not required. 

15. What are the rules?
Rules for each division are posted at http://www.phwybs.org and are also distributed by your manager once teams are formed. Rules are formed based on PONY League rules, and are customized for PHWYBS based on feedback received from season to season.

16. Where does my registration fee go?
PHWYBS is a non-profit organization and receives no tax-support for operation of the league. All expenses need to be offset by fundraising and registration fees.    League expenses go to pay things such as
Type Description Pctg of Expenses
Fields The league pays the Prospect Heights and Wheeling Park Districts for yearly and per-game maintenance. In addition, the league is responsible for the fencing, bleachers, lights, bases, and scoreboards at many of the fields which we contract out separately to purchase and maintain. 29%
Per-Game Costs In addition to the field costs, each game that is scheduled has a cost to it for game balls and umpires. Umpires at our younger levels are paid anywhere from $20-$25. At our Majors and Seniors levels, this balloons up to $55-$65. 17%
Uniforms Jerseys, Caps, Pants, Socks and/or Belts supplied to each participant in the league. 27%
Insurance The league is required to provide accident and liability insurance for all of its players managers, coaches, board of directors and other volunteers as well as insure our equipment. 4%
Equipment Each team is provided with Equipment Bags, Helmets, Bats, Catcher’s Equipment that needs to be periodically repurchased/repaired and stored during the winter. 7%
Trophies Participation trophies are provided to all participants in the younger levels. Regular season and/or Playoff Championship trophies are awarded at upper levels. 4%
Communication, Admin Registration Flyers, Mailings, Coaches Manuals, Phone Hotlines, Web Sites, Meeting Rooms, P.O. Boxes, Manager Background Checks and Certification. 7%
Special Events Training Clinics, All-Star Games, Parades, Festivals 3%
Phantom Teams Without our post-season Phantom All-Star Teams, the best players in our in-house league would play somewhere else. To encourage those players to remain in the in-house league, the league slightly discounts the extra Phantom registration fee that those players pay when they make the post-season Phantom teams. 2%
Parents with ideas on how to control costs or who can provide services to keep costs down are encouraged to join the board or make a board member aware of those services.

17. What does the league do to lower registration fees
During the off-season, volnteers in the league solicit local business to sponsor teams. The league also operates other voluntary fundraising activities throughout the year such as "Fun Day" in May and Sweatshirt and T-Shirt Sales throughout the year. Your support of those businesses and voluntary activities will help ensure that registration fees will be kept as low as possible. The league has also instituted a $25 raffle fundraiser.   If anyone has skills or interest in further fundraising activities which help to lower registration fees, please contact the board.

18. How do I volunteer to help?>
PHWYBS is not a Park District. For over 30 years, this league has been run as a volunteer organization. Everyone that makes this league work – from the President of the board, to the Managers, coaches, and “team mom’s” is a volunteer that receives no compensation from the league and is doing this in addition to their full time jobs. The board constantly needs to renew itself with new volunteers to replace those that “retire” as their children leave the program. Running an organization that serves 800 or more kids playing 500 or more games during the season isn’t easy. Without people that are willing to get actively involved in the planning during the off-season and operation of the league during the season, this league cannot function. To express an interest in volunteering, please call our hotline 847-622-5311, e-mail us at info@phwybs.org or write us at P.O. Box 7172, Prospect Hts., IL 60070-7172. You can also just drop in at any board meeting. Dates and times of board meetings are published on our web site.