SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH
This is a decades long tradition for RYBSA to have all the players parade through town and onto the field for Opening Day ceremonies!
Our drop off point and procedure has changed this year so please read carefully!
PARADE DROP OFF AND STARTING POINT: 400 Pleasant Street (Stoneway Farm)
The Arruda Family has graciously allowed us to use their Stoneway Farm property as a DROP OFF and STARTING POINT for the parade.
This will be a rolling drop off where parents can drive in at one entry point, drop off their child and continue through to the exit back onto Pleasant St. RYBSA Board Members will meet parents at the drop off point and coordinate with Division Directors and Team Managers to organize all players by team for the parade.
When arriving to drop off your player(s) please look for the “ENTER HERE” sign marked with blue balloons and an RYBSA volunteer. Please ensure you drop off quickly to prevent backing up the drop off line. Volunteers from RYBSA will direct players and coaches where to go.
PLEASE BE AWARE!!! There is absolutely NO PARKING available at Stoneway Farm for parents to leave their vehicles. Coaches and players should make alternative plans to be dropped off. We ask that you PLEASE FOLLOW THE BELOW TIME INSTRUCTIONS for dropping off players.
DROP OFF SCHEDULE:
07:45 am: All Board of Directors and Volunteers arrive
08:00 am: TRUCKS for T-Ball and Farm Baseball and Softball divisions
08:15 am: FARM BASEBALL and FARM SOFTBALL coaches and players
08:30 am: T-BALL coaches and players
08:45 am: UPPER and LOWER MINORS BASEBALL and SOFTBALL coaches and players
09:00 am: MAJORS BASEBALL, JUNIORS SOFTBALL, JBR BASEBALL, SENIORS SOFTBALL coaches and players
09:30 am: PARADE BEGINS
T BALL and FARM BASEBALL & SOFTBALL MANAGERS:
Please have your truck, any decorations and Coaching Staff ready for Saturday. The Coaches and Managers will be responsible for ensuring all players are accounted for once they begin arriving. Each team will need at least 2 volunteers/coaches to march alongside the vehicles in the parade. Once you arrive at Stoneway Farm you can begin decorating your truck. Look for supplied trash barrels and please dispose of any trash. PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE CANDY TO YOUR PLAYERS UNTIL THE PARADE IS UNDERWAY. PLEASE HAVE YOUR PLAYERS REFRAIN FROM THROWING CANDY FROM THE TRUCKS UNTIL YOUR START NEARING WHITE STREET.
T BALL and FARM BASEBALL & SOFTBALL PARENTS:
Please follow the instructions laid out by RYBSA volunteers to ensure their players are with their team. PLEASE remind your player before drop off which level they play with (T-Ball, Farm Baseball, Farm Softball). A coach and volunteer from RYBSA will be there to assist in the drop-off. Please be advised that the Volunteer that assists your player with getting to his team will walk your child all the way to the appropriate coach, team, and vehicle. If you choose to stay with your player until the parade begins, please be aware you will not be able to leave your car at Stoneway Farm.
The most exciting part for the T Ball and Farm players is getting to decorate their team’s truck and throw candy during the parade. Parents are encouraged to:
- Make team/players signs
- Supply your coach with streamers, garland, balloons, etc·
- Supply your player/team with candy for the parade (ie: trick or treat style variety bags of small pieces of candy).
The board of directors will vote on the best decorated truck and will announce a winner during the Opening Day Ceremony. The winning team will earn free slushes at the concession stand following the ceremony.
ALL PARENTS:
All players should be dressed in full uniforms. Do NOT bring any equipment to the parade drop off. The RYBSA complex is little over ½ mile from STONEWAY FARM. T-ball and Farm players will ride in vehicles with coaches walking alongside and the remaining divisions will follow behind walking. These players walking in the parade do not need to wear their cleats for the parade but don’t forget them for their games!
Please note that the drop-off times are close in proximity. We are allowing 15 minutes between each division drop off. We ask you please be patient and cooperate with RYBSA volunteers as we stage the players for the parade. We do not want any individuals to be injured as we move people around. Please pay close attention to the volunteers as they direct vehicles, players, and coaches through the staging area.
Parents, friends and family are welcome to watch the parade as it travels down Pleasant Street toward the Complex. The parade will be entering the Merrill School parking lot near FIELD 3 and staging again on the BURKE Baseball Field (behind Merrill School). Please DO NOT follow the teams onto Burke Field or stand along the outfield fence to Field 4. We will have RYBSA volunteers at the field to assist players and to make sure everyone is accounted for.
This is a VERY fast-moving process, so we ask that you be patient with us - your cooperation is very much appreciated.
All spectators are asked to stand alongside the outside of fences and in the stands outside of FIELD 4. Volunteers will direct everyone where to go.
All teams will be announced onto FIELD 4 and will assemble in the infield for the ceremony. Please do NOT enter or stand on FIELD 4.
CEREMONY ON FIELD 4:
- All teams will be announced and run onto the field
- President's Welcome Announcement
- Singing of the National Anthem (RYBSA/RMS Chorus members)
- Ceremonial First Pitch for Baseball & Softball
- The official start of the season will begin with “PLAYBALL”
Opening Day Ceremony is expected to end prior to 11:00am.
There will be scheduled baseball and softball games following the Opening Day Ceremony. Players will then leave the field after the ceremony through the right field fence gate back onto Burke Field. We ask that all families depart from Field 4 as safely and quickly as possible to allow for the field crews to clean up and prepare the field for games.
The Snack Shack will be Open ALL DAY serving all the refreshments and food that makes the baseball and softball season so special.
The RYBSA Board of Directors will be spread throughout the complex to talk with and meet with everyone. We welcome your comments and would love to hear from you! We look forward to seeing everyone at the PARADE and at the announcement of PLAYBALL!
Thank you,
RYBSA Board of Directors
****NOTICE****
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO TOBACCO, E-CIGARETTE OR VAPING PRODUCTS, NOR ALCHOLIC BEVERAGES ALLOWED ON THE ENTIRE COMPLEX. Please remember that these are SCHOOL GROUNDS. We also understand that pets may be part of your family and they would love to see their player march in the parade, but town policy prohibits dogs and pets on the complex.