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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| KMball |
Posted - 05/19/2010 : 15:19:28
I've read a lot of great previous posts about what to expect when travelling to Cooperstown as a player and a coach. However, I haven't read a lot about what to expect as a family member. From a "family vacation" perspective, what is the amount of interaction between players and families when they're not playing ball. Also, are there playgrounds or activity areas at CDP for younger siblings that may not be able to sit through all of the games? Thanks in advance for the wealth of great information this group provides! |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| tuckersbo |
Posted - 06/04/2010 : 09:37:21
quote:
Originally posted by 00mom
Can any of you recommend places to eat while in Cooperstown? My son is umping there this week and we will be going later in June with out 12 year old. Just looking for good family meals, nothing fancy or overly expensive. Thanks!
Near CDP: surprisingly enough, the Pizza Hut has a good buffet. Mike (the head helper @ CDP) can tell you a really good place to go (it was near the Pizza Hut); his wife is the manager. When you come into downtown Cooperstown and turn right on to the "main road": there's a place on your left (sort of looks like a drug store to me--when you go in there's "gifts" on your right & a counter in front with their menu). They give you a lot of food for your money & it was good.
No "good family-style meals" we Southerners are used to & everything is overly expensive....it's worth the cost just for the memories though. |
| DecaturDad |
Posted - 06/04/2010 : 09:30:30
There is another great thread on here that lists some places to eat and lots of other stuff:
http://www.nwgabaseball.org/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6064
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| 00mom |
Posted - 06/04/2010 : 05:36:05
Can any of you recommend places to eat while in Cooperstown? My son is umping there this week and we will be going later in June with out 12 year old. Just looking for good family meals, nothing fancy or overly expensive. Thanks! |
| gabulldogs |
Posted - 05/25/2010 : 08:29:11
Decatur. We all met at the town grocery store at a certain time(as did a lot of other teams) and we got in line together at the fields. Now understand that when you go through the gates they line you up in rows of about 15 at around 15 cars to a row and they send in each row at a time so you may end up in different rows and go in at different times, but it all seems to work out. I was first at the gate from our group and one of the last one to the barracks if that tells you anything. You can wait till early evening when the crowds die down and go right through. Everyone gets there early to get in and causes the traffic jam. It is fun to video and good time for kids to start trading pins. Still brings chills back at how unbelievable this place is and the beauty around this ball field. Wish I was going again this year.(but as a parent, not a coach) so I could take it all in. Fun as a coach, but a lot of work. Have a great time to all that is going. |
| Seam Splitter |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 22:10:37
quote:
Originally posted by DecaturDad
Anyone know if they have handicap parking, or any way for someone with limited modility to get to the feilds? Grandma would like to come, but cn't walk more then a few hundred feet.
Yes the staff has golf carts & will shuttle the handicap around as some of the fields are a LONG walk. |
| Seam Splitter |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 22:07:32
Last year we were playing at 3 AM (yes as in the morning) due to rain & fog. They will play come hell or high water as they have to get the games in so as to not get behind at the beginning of the next day. Make sure you take raingear & plenty of warm clothes. Long pants & sweatshirts are the norm in the early mornings & late evenings.
quote:
Originally posted by gabulldogs
They did update everything on their website. They actually do a great job of keeping everyone abreast of any changes due to weather. I will tell you, that they do everything they can to get games in, even if they go late at night as to not disrupt their schedule so you may have to wait awhile during a rain delay to get it in, but they will get it in somehow.
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| Seam Splitter |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 22:02:37
Yes, we have the same house rented only a couple of miles from the park. PM me and I'll shoot you my number if you want to talk on the phone.
quote:
Originally posted by DecaturDad
_Seam Splitter, Are you going this year at 10U?
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| DoubleD |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 21:27:15
Our second bracket game ended at 1:30am and had two rain delays.
Water standing everywhere, ground balls kicking up rooster tails, it was wild but the boys LOVED IT!
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| bluecup |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 21:15:07
Did most people on your teams drive or fly? |
| DecaturDad |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 20:14:07
quote:
Originally posted by mrbama31
We met there as a team b4 checking in. Players were already trading pins.
Do most teams arrive together or as they get to town? |
| mrbama31 |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 15:18:12
quote:
Originally posted by gabulldogs
They did update everything on their website. They actually do a great job of keeping everyone abreast of any changes due to weather. I will tell you, that they do everything they can to get games in, even if they go late at night as to not disrupt their schedule so you may have to wait awhile during a rain delay to get it in, but they will get it in somehow.
We finished our last pool game at 245am...makes me tired just thinking about it. |
| mrbama31 |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 15:15:24
We met there as a team b4 checking in. Players were already trading pins.
quote:
Originally posted by bambino_dad
Try DiMaggio's Hot Dog stand across the street from the park. Just the best Texas chilidogs and Chicago dogs. Huge portions, friendly service.
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| bambino_dad |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 14:46:09
Try DiMaggio's Hot Dog stand across the street from the park. Just the best Texas chilidogs and Chicago dogs. Huge portions, friendly service.
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| gabulldogs |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 14:35:27
They did update everything on their website. They actually do a great job of keeping everyone abreast of any changes due to weather. I will tell you, that they do everything they can to get games in, even if they go late at night as to not disrupt their schedule so you may have to wait awhile during a rain delay to get it in, but they will get it in somehow. |
| DecaturDad |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 13:11:24
quote:
Originally posted by in_the_know
Southside,
The boys get a red and blue jersey. Numbers range between 1 & 15. Up to the coach on how to hand them out. We lined the boys up smallest to tallest and the smallest got #1 on up. They tend to oversize, so there were no problems. you bring your own pants (plain white), belt, jock/cup. They provide socks too. Each kid gets a rubbermaid type of chest with a lid that can lock (you have to bring your own lock).
They do update games and standings as each game completes, so you can always see where you stack up.
Is the pool game schedule available on line? If so, do they keep it up to date with weather delays? |
| gabulldogs |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 12:12:39
They were not there last year so unless they put them in after that. It would be a great idea in my opinion to put them in. It gets darn warm in those buildings during the heat of the day. |
| zwndad |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 10:29:51
I heard that they put air conditioning in the rooms. Can anybody confirm? It wasn't there 3 years ago when we went. |
| stanlewis |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 09:08:23
I will make sure it stays available.
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| SSBuckeye |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 09:02:56
Awesome, awesome thread. Can this be pinned somewhere, so I can refer back to it in two years? |
| gabulldogs |
Posted - 05/23/2010 : 10:04:44
Another, but very important item to bring is extension cords and a small clip on electric fan for the bunks. They sell for about $10 at Walmart. At night depending on when you go stay cool, but in the day they heat up. With no air conditioning in them the kids can stay cool. I also brought a box fan to keep by the door to keep the room circulating. It gets musty and smelly with the wet towels and dirty cloths. Portable walkie talkies are good as well. Most cell phones will not work in the area so these help coaches no where each are when they split up with kids. Parents remember to use a head piece if you do get some cell service. Its the law in N.Y and they do look for it. Also have each family buy a case of water to keep with the team. You go through a lot and this helps out. We kept ours under our bunks and brought them out daily to stock the coolers. They sell ice at the park and we would pick it up when getting the laundry each morning. Just a few small things that people forget but are very important. |
| rjrousseau1 |
Posted - 05/23/2010 : 09:27:03
quote:
Originally posted by SouthSide24
Keep the posts coming, this is great!! What about uniforms..Our team mom made us fill out how much my son weighs and height, but that can be misleading for some, i think for sizes..
Wher in the heck do kids put their clothes in, locker i assume? Due they update seeding as games progress, so u get an idea where you stand for elimination round?
The pool standings are updated very quickly, but can change dramatically depending on if teams opened with 3 cupcakes and finish with 2-3 stronger teams. You will see some of each, weak allstar type teams and some of the best teams in the country. There are always a few of the top teams each week, some weeks get loaded up with more depth though (I think the weeks around July 4 seem to have more depth). But this is not your typical bracket, take a look at it from previous years, being in the top 32 helps, top 12 even better as it decreases the # of bracket games, but it also means you open up with stronger teams. |
| in_the_know |
Posted - 05/23/2010 : 00:02:14
Southside,
The boys get a red and blue jersey. Numbers range between 1 & 15. Up to the coach on how to hand them out. We lined the boys up smallest to tallest and the smallest got #1 on up. They tend to oversize, so there were no problems. you bring your own pants (plain white), belt, jock/cup. They provide socks too. Each kid gets a rubbermaid type of chest with a lid that can lock (you have to bring your own lock).
They do update games and standings as each game completes, so you can always see where you stack up. |
| SouthSide24 |
Posted - 05/22/2010 : 00:27:02
Keep the posts coming, this is great!! What about uniforms..Our team mom made us fill out how much my son weighs and height, but that can be misleading for some, i think for sizes..
Wher in the heck do kids put their clothes in, locker i assume? Due they update seeding as games progress, so u get an idea where you stand for elimination round?
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| biged |
Posted - 05/21/2010 : 21:18:06
went twice 10u and 12u. 10u as a coach and 12u as a parent. Much more fun as a parent. Got some sleep. Had an adult beverage or 2....... My son enjoyed the 12u experience more then the 10u (this is another topic). Sit back and enjoy. Ga. teams seem to usually do well, so most parents will have something to cheer about. A lot of little league teams from the north who haven't play near the ball we have (another subject).
We stopped in with another family from our team on the way up and visited Niagra Falls. Now that was cool. Not too far out of the way. Go to the Canadian side, much better view. Get to visit another country and play with their currency (another topic that Europe is trying to figure)
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| DoubleD |
Posted - 05/21/2010 : 18:37:27
As written by a kid...
CHECK-IN: They give you about five minutes to park your car by your cabin and unload all of your stuff. It’s pretty chaotic and there are tournament people walking around threatening all the parents if they don’t move their cars out of the way. Decide what you need help with and let your mom or dad do that and you do the rest. My suggestion is to get help making up your bunk. I used a fitted sheet and sleeping bag and brought my own pillow and pillow case. My mom did this for me while I unpacked my clothes and stuff into the footlocker. You can put a lock on the footlocker, but the lock I brought ended up being too fat to fit through the hook on the footlocker’s lock. If you’re going to get a lock, get one with a combination so you don’t have to worry about carrying a key around with you. Memorize the combination and practice using it. Also, get a skinny lock so you can be sure it fits through the hook on the footlocker lock. Parents have to be out at 11:00am on Saturday. Meetings, pictures and more meetings take up the whole day leading up to opening ceremonies.
FOOD: The food is not that good. Think school cafeteria, hospital quality. Be prepared to eat it, however. Doubleday Café in Historic Cooperstown is awesome! Get your parents to check you out as much as possible and eat there for breakfast, lunch and dinner! While you’re in the park you can get food at the concession stands. The concession stand food is pretty good & reasonably priced. Bring snacks like Powerbars or other energy bars for between games or in the barracks at night (although technically I don’t think you’re supposed to). Someone got us a disposable Styrofoam cooler for the dorm and we kept it full of bottled waters. We went through 2 cases of bottled water per day!
SHOWERING: Bring a swimsuit to wear while you are showering, unless you don’t mind being naked in front of fifty or so complete strangers. Make sure to cut out the mesh inside as it makes getting the soap off alot easier and remember, it is a group shower. Also bring flip-flops that can get wet. You’re not going to want your bare feet touching the shower floor, trust me. Here’s what else you’ll need for the shower: a mesh bag with a draw string for carrying your toiletries. This is so you can hang it on the shower head while you’re in there. Also, if it’s mesh it won’t collect water and get the cabin all gross. Bring liquid soap (this is to avoid your bar of soap dropping onto the same gross floor you don’t want your bare feet to touch), shampoo, toothbrush in a case and toothpaste (most kids brush their teeth in the shower), and deodorant (if you haven’t started using it yet, now is a good time…the cabins are not air-conditioned). It is a good idea to have a can of jock-itch spray, Gold Bond, baby powder or corn starch with you. What’s jock-itch you ask? If you get it, you’ll know [see cut the mesh from inside your swimsuit above] Fast Actin’ Tinactin will be your best friend. Bring at least two bath towels, one to use while one is in the laundry.
PACKING FOR THE TRIP: Bring lots of shorts and tee-shirts, especially stuff with your team name on it, athletic shoes, socks, underwear, swimsuit, sweatpants, sweatshirt, jacket, flip-flops. Bring all the things I mentioned earlier, toiletries, bed linens, towels, a lock, pins and a towel with your name on it to pin your trades on (I carried all my pins and the towel around in a big zip lock bag so I wouldn’t drop any), hand-held electronic stuff that you like, a book, playing cards, and DON’T FORGET YOUR BASEBALL EQUIPMENT, CLEATS, SLIDING PANTS, CUP, AND BELT. ALSO, REMEMBER TO PUT YOUR NAME IN OR ON EVERYTHING YOU BRING! My mom marked my clothes, towels, equipment, and anything else I took with me. She also left me with a black permanent marker so I could put my name in the stuff that was issued to me: jerseys and cap. Don’t count on getting your regular jersey number. I ended up getting mine but you get what you get. We didn’t mark the socks, but our coaches tied the pairs together as we stuck them in the laundry bags so we wouldn’t lose any to the sock-eating laundry monster that lurks in washing machines.
OPENING CEREMONIES AND SKILLS COMPETITIONS: Opening ceremonies take place on the field in the big stadium where the championship game is played. When I played in the tournament that was the only game played in the stadium, but the Around-the-Horn Competition is held there too. Opening ceremonies are long. Every team is introduced and marches into the stadium with their banner. I can’t remember everything they did, but you will sing the National Anthem and hear about the history of Cooperstown Dreams Park and the tournament. After the opening ceremonies they have the skills competitions. All the competitions, Around-the-Horn, Golden Arm, Homerun Derby, and the Home to Home Base Running Race are held at the same time on different fields. Like I said earlier, Around-the-Horn is held in the big stadium. That’s the one I was in. I was the catcher. Here’s my advice. No matter how much you practice, you’re going to be a little nervous because there are thousands of people in the stands and all the other players watching you when you do it, but it’s really fun and exciting! Just keep focused and concentrate on catching the ball, come back to the base (target in the outfield) if you have to, stay relaxed and make a good accurate throw. Don’t rush and don’t worry so much about your time. The team that ends up winning is the one that does the drill the cleanest. Stay calm and think about this. I can’t remember which team ended up winning the Around-the-Horn when I was there. I can’t remember my team’s time, I can’t even remember if anyone dropped the ball or made a great throw. I remember what it felt like to be there and how fun it was to compete.
ENTERTAINMENT OFF THE FIELD: Remember you’re there to play baseball. Don’t be disappointed if you don’t have a lot of free time to run around. There is an arcade and a snack bar (I think), but I really don’t remember spending much time there. Our coaches didn’t want us to play video games until we were done with games for the day. If you’re not playing a game, chances are you’ll be at the batting cages, throwing with a teammate, finding a place to take grounders, or pin trading. When we had free time we went to Historic Cooperstown. There’s Double Day Field, where they say Abner Doubleday, the father of baseball, first played. There’s the Major League Hall of Fame Museum, a wax museum, and tons of shops, and places to eat. If you love baseball as much as I do, you will be in heaven. If you wear your Dreams Park Jersey to the MLB Hall of Fame Museum and you go with your whole team, you get in free. I went to the museum twice. Once with my whole team and once with my family. If you’ve saved up any money of your own, Cooperstown is a great place to spend it. I wanted to buy a Yogi Bera autographed Jersey, but it was $85.00 and my parents wouldn’t let me. Instead I bought a Brooklyn Dodgers cap and a bunch of pins.
CLOSING CEREMONIES: I’m not going to tell you anything about Closing Ceremonies except for this. Shake hands and say thank you when you get your ring. Even if your ring is just a little bit too big for you, give it to your mom or dad to put in a safe place until you get back home. Mine was too big and even though my mom offered to hold it for me I wore it. I don’t’ know when it slipped off my finger, but I looked down at my hand while riding up the escalator at Hartsfield Airport and realized I had lost my ring. I was in shock. I couldn’t even speak and I started to cry. My dad and I ran back to the gate and they let us on the plane to look for it. We searched the bathroom and even looked through the trash can and couldn’t find it. We reported it to lost and found at the airport, but it never turned up. When we got to our house, my mom called the Dreams Park and it turns out I wasn’t the first kid to have this happen and I’m sure I won’t be the last. The Dreams Park people sent me a new one for $85.00 (coincidentally the same cost as the Yogi Bera Jersey), but I still felt terrible for days. Cooperstown is such a fun week. I’d hate for any one of you to feel as bad as I did when I lost my ring so be smart about it.
I hope my tips are helpful. Have fun and GOOD LUCK!
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