General Program Info
What sports do you offer for kids?
The following is a list of youth sports that we currently offer through Brown County Parks and Recreation:
Youth baseball and softball from March-June. The breakdown is as follows:
- T-Ball – 3-5 year old co-ed ($55 registration fee)
- Rookie League Baseball – 6-8 years old co-ed ($55 registration fee)
- 8U Softball – for girls 6-8 years old ($65 registration fee)
- 10U Softball – for girls 9-10 years old ($65 registration fee)
- 12u Softball – for girls 11-12 years old ($65 registration fee)
- Minor League Baseball – for boys 9-10 years old ($65 registration fee)
- Major League Baseball – for boys 11-12 years old ($65 registration fee)
- Babe Ruth Baseball – for boys 13-15 years old ($105 registration fee)
Youth soccer from September- early November. The breakdown is as follows:
- U4 – 3 and 4 year old co-ed ($60 registration fee)
- U6 – 5 and 6 year old co-ed ($60 registration fee)
- U8 – 7 and 8 year old co-ed ($60 registration fee)
- U10 – 9 and 10 year old co-ed ($65 registration fee)
- U13 – 11, 12 and 13 year old co-ed ($65 registration fee)
Youth basketball and cheerleading from January-early March. The breakdown is as follows:
- P-K for kids in Preschool and Kindergarten – co-ed ($55 registration fee)
- 1st-2nd grade – co-ed ($55 registration fee)
- 3rd-4th grade – co-ed ($60 registration fee)
- 5th-6th grade – co-ed ($60 registration fee)
- K-2nd grade cheerleading ($60 registration fee)
- 3rd-6th grade cheerleading ($60 registration fee)
Where are practices and games held?
Practices and games for youth soccer, baseball and softball will be held at Deer Run Park (1001 Deer Run Lane, Nashville IN 47448). Some baseball and softball games will be held at surrounding areas. Practices for Youth basketball will be held at various Brown County School gymnasiums around the area. We will try to assign you to a practice location near your home address for more convenient travel. We cannot guarantee placement near your address, but we will do the best we can to accommodate. Youth basketball games will be held at the Brown County CRC Gymnasium.
What is the typical practice and game schedule like?
Practices will start 2-3 weeks before the first game and are usually 1-2 times per week on a weekday evening for about an hour. Practice times may vary based on the volunteer coach’s availability. While we encourage participants to attend each practice to ensure the development of your child’s skill for each sport, attendance for practice does not determine your child’s participation in each game.
- Youth basketball games are held on Saturdays, beginning in the morning and play every hour until all games are completed.
- Youth soccer games will take place on Sunday afternoons starting at 1pm.
- Youth baseball and softball games are weeknights, with the schedule varying what night you play based on age division.
Should you have any questions related to practice schedules or game schedules, please contact the Brown County Parks and Recreation office.
What is your league’s philosophy/mission?
Brown County Parks and Recreation is committed to providing a fun and safe sports league that focuses on teaching fundamentals and stresses sportsmanship and skill development. Our seasonal leagues provide a recreational setting structured for beginner to intermediate players. Led by volunteer coaches, games are structured to emphasize teamwork, fundamentals and physical fitness over winning. Developmental skills are taught in an energetic, positive, and safe environment where players learn to respect the sport.
Do you offer discounts, financial aid or scholarships? How do we apply?
Brown County Parks and Recreation does offer financial aid to any eligible households. Households that qualify for financial aid will be awarded half price off their registration fee. To qualify for financial aid, you will be required to fill out the following financial aid form https://www.bcparksrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/scholarship-application.pdf and return it to the Parks and Recreation office. We also offer an early bird discount of $10 dollars off for anyone that signs up by the early bird deadline, as well as a $10 discount if you are signing up more than one child. Registration costs for each season will include a uniform and an award at the end of the season for each registered participant.
What is your refund policy?
We offer a full refund to any parent or player that has not yet attended a game or practice. If you have already attended a game or practice and still wish to be refunded, please contact the Parks and Recreation office to discuss options.
Registration and Team Formation
How do I register my child?
You can register on our website BCPARKSREC.COM under programs, or in person at our office, located at 902 Deer Run Lane Suite B, Nashville IN 47448. You can find when registration begins and ends for all programs on our website.
What information is required to register?
Each participant must have signed and turned in their registration form and payment before the registration deadline to participate. Parents and guardians are not required to submit a birth certificate or medical waiver.
Can my child be placed on a team with a friend or specific coach?
Brown County Parks and Recreation will consider requests to be placed on a team with a specific coach or friend. Brown County Parks and Recreation cannot guarantee all requests for a certain team or coach will be granted. Requests that will be prioritized are family member requests or participants from the same household who are in the same age group who request to play together. Head coaches and approved assistant coaches will always have their child assigned to their team. We will take all other requests into consideration.
When will I hear about my child’s team assignment?
Team rosters will be finalized the week after registration closes. Parents and guardians should expect to be contacted by their coach around two weeks after the registration deadline. If you have not received notification from your coach by this time, please reach out to the Brown County Parks and Recreation office for assistance.
How are teams assigned?
Teams are formed based on total enrollment to ensure an even distribution of players on each roster. Players shall be assigned or drafted so that age, talent and experience are divided as evenly as possible among teams. In some age divisions, players may be asked to participate in a skills assessment, so that staff and coaches can use these evaluations to assist in distributing players fairly. Final rosters will be determined at our coaches meeting, where the coaches will draft players until all teams are filled. Requests to be on a certain coaches or players’ team will be taken in consideration but we cannot guarantee these requests will be granted.
Equipment and Apparel
What equipment does my child need to participate?
Participants should wear comfortable clothing, including suitable bottoms and closed-toe sneakers. While cleats for outdoor sports are recommended for better performance, they are not mandatory. Additionally, soccer leagues require each player to wear shin guards. It’s also recommended to bring a reusable water bottle, which can be refilled at water fountains. The Brown County Parks and Recreation office does have some free items such as cleats, shin guards, baseball and softball gloves. Please check with our office before purchasing equipment.
Do we provide jerseys or uniforms?
Brown County Parks and Recreation provides one jersey as a uniform for each registered player. We will also provide hats for baseball and softball participants. Parents are responsible for supplying any additional uniform items such as shin guards and knee pads for needed sports.
Are there any equipment requirements (e.g. soccer balls or basketballs)?
Parents will be responsible for providing a glove for baseball and/or softball, as well as shin guards for soccer. Parents are not required to purchase any other equipment, such as, balls (for any sport), bats, helmets or additional recreation supplies. Brown County Parks and Recreation will provide all other sporting supplies for games and practices
Game and Practice Logistics
How will I know if a game or practice is canceled?
For any cancellations due to inclement weather or other reasons, please expect a notification from your team’s coach. If you do not hear anything about a cancelation then assume the game or practice is on as scheduled. You can always contact our office between the hours of 8am-4pm Monday-Friday with any questions regarding cancelations. Please note that for youth basketball we use the Brown County School Corporation’s gym facilities and if school is canceled or closes early for any reason, any practice will be automatically canceled that day.
Are canceled games rescheduled?
We will always attempt to reschedule any canceled games to the best of our ability and if the schedule allows.
What is the playing time policy for games?
Brown County Parks and Recreation is dedicated to offering a fun and safe sports league that emphasizes teaching the fundamentals in a recreational environment, suitable for beginner to intermediate players. As a requirement, all volunteer coaches must play each player at least half the game to the best of their ability.
Are parents expected to stay at games/practices?
At least one parent or guardian is required to always be present for any practice or games.
Coaching and Volunteers
Are your coaches paid staff or volunteers?
Brown County Parks and Recreation rely on volunteers to coach each team.
What kind of background checks or training do coaches undergo?
To qualify to coach, all head and assistant coaches must complete a Criminal Background Investigation (CBI). Upon successful completion of the CBI, they will also attend a coaches meeting where they will be trained on providing the participants with proper instruction for their age group and sport, as well as taught to provide a positive environment for practice and games.
How can I volunteer coach or help the league?
If you are interested in volunteer coaching, please contact our main office for more information! You can also sponsor a team or event which helps keep the cost down for kids and also helps us replace used equipment.
Do volunteers receive any discounts or benefit?
Brown County Parks and Recreation will provide each head coach with a program certificate, which can be used for a free program in the future.
League Policies and Conduct
What is your policy on sportsmanship and parent conduct?
All participants are required to abide by the Brown County Parks and Recreations Code of Conduct. In this Code of Conduct, a “participant” is defined as any player, coach, parent, and/or spectator attending or playing in our programs and will be held to these standards…
- Demonstrate courtesy, even when others do not
- Behave in a responsible manner, always exercising self-control
- Respect the rights and privileges of other participants and staff
- Respect County and School property and the property of others
- Cooperate with and assist the staff in maintaining safety, order, and discipline
- Respect the game officials even when you disagree with their calls
- Respect Brown County Parks and Recreation staff, facility rules, and program regulations being enforced.
- Be mindful of your conduct. Make sure no action occurs that could reflect badly on yourself or your team.
the violation of any of these rules and guidelines listed in our policies and procedures by any participant is subject to disciplinary actions including possible suspension and permanent removal from our youth sports programs.
What is the process for addressing concerns or complaints?
Brown County Parks and Recreation requests that parents, guardians or spectators communicate any concerns to the immediate attention of the Parks and Recreation office. The Parks and Recreation director and/or park board will address the situation and make any determination for resulting actions to be taken. In some instances, further intervention may be required which can include the collection of statements or the assistance from additional park employees, supervisors, or managers. If so, we kindly ask for your patience while we investigate the concern/complaint and will keep you informed through the process.
Do you have a concussion protocol in place?
Volunteer coaches as well as Parks and Recreation Staff, Umpires/Referees, Supervisors will closely monitor each participant’s activity for signs of concussion, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, as well as any activity-related symptoms. These include headaches or pressure to the head, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, sensitivity to lights or noise, confusion, feelings of sluggishness, or indications of “just not feeling right”. Parents and guardians are encouraged to monitor each participant’s activity for signs of concussion, heat exhaustion, and any signs of illness or physical exertion. All Parks and Recreation personnel or volunteer coaches will immediately remove any participants who exhibit these signs and symptoms, or at the request of their parents and guardians.
