FAQs

Q. How can I split up my lesson package?
A. Once you purchase a lesson package they are valid for all children in your immediate family. Lesson packages can be used for multiple aspects of training and only needs to be determined at the time of booking so we can give you the appropriate instructor and space for the required skill.

Q. How long do I have to use my lessons?
A. Each lesson package has an expiration which is dependent on how many lessons are purchased. We have an expiration date to ensure that you are seeing the most value out of your lessons by coming in consistently and maximizing repetitions during your instruction. Expiration lengths are: 1-3 lessons (1 Month), 4-15 lessons (3 Months), 16-31 lessons (6 Months), 32-49 (10 Months), and 50+ (12 Months). All lessons must be completed prior to the expiration date or the remaining lessons will be forfeited.

Q. How often should we come in for a lesson?
A. Just like anything in life, the more you practice the better you will get. At a minimum players should train both in and out of season once a week. Only you can be the judge of how frequently you can make it but players who do not practice on their own at home will need to make sure they are finding a way to get additional reps between lessons so they can continue to progress. This may mean that additional lessons are necessary to meet your desired goals.

Q. How do you pick the right instructor?
A. Our qualified staff will help you choose the right instructor based on your child’s skill set, personality and learning style. Some determining factors will be based on the skill set you want to focus on for instruction as well as your availability and instructor schedules. Once you do pick an instructor we would suggest using the same coach consistently for that specific skill set so you can have continuity and build a relationship. In order to ensure this is an option we suggest that you schedule in advance to make sure we can work with your schedule and the coach’s availability.

Q. When can I schedule my lessons?
A. We usually are able to schedule lessons out at least 3 months in advance. In order to maintain a consistent coach and have flexibility with your schedule we suggest you take advantage of this. Lessons can be scheduled in person or over the phone. Keep in mind we have a 24 hour cancellation policy so pre booked lessons can easily be adjusted if needed.

Q. Do we have to pay for the lessons up front?
A. In order to schedule lessons in our system you must have paid for your package in advance. This is done to make sure that we can best accommodate all lesson clients throughout the course of the year. All lessons packages should be paid for in full up front. Please contact the facility manager if you have any specific questions pertaining to lesson payments.

Q. How do you pick the right lesson package?
A. In our 25 years of experience we have seen that many ASSA clients end up purchasing multiple lesson packages. This being said, the right lesson package is based on your goals and commitment to getting better. We would suggest that you focus on setting goals, deciding how often you can commit to coming for lessons, and then picking the right package for your family based on the above answers and your current financial situation.

Q. When should we arrive on event day?
A. Please arrive 15-25 minutes prior to your scheduled tryout time to check in at the front desk. After checking in all players and parents should congregate in the lobby.

Q. Should my son warm up and be ready to go before we get to tryouts?
A. We encourage that all players should be ready to play and do drills when they show up to tryouts. However, coaches will warm players up and begin the tryout process while a staff member talks to all parents in the lobby.

Q. What’s next once the player has completed their portion of the workout?
A. Once a player has completed his portion of the workout they will be able to leave. Pitchers and Catchers should be prepared to stay the longest.

Q. When we will know if players make the team, and what are the steps once they do?
A. Please keep in mind that no decisions for the team will be made until the final tryout date has been completed. We ask that no phone calls are made to ask for updates during the first 14 days. All players must respond back to offers within 24 hours of receiving notice in order to expedite the process of contacting all players. Regardless of ASSA’s decision we will contact everyone who attended a tryout with feedback and a plan of action moving forward. Team commitments require a non-refundable deposit at time of commitment.

Q. How much does a season typically cost?
A. The cost of ASSA teams ranges from $800 – $3,100 per season based on the schedule and training components, usually broken down into a payment plan. In general, the cost gradually increases as players get older due to increased tournament fees and the level of training included in the program.

Q. What does playing on an ASSA team include per season? / What additional expenses?
A. A season includes organized practices, tournament play, and professional coaching. The only required additional cost is for the uniform (jersey and hat). Players will frequently be offered other purchase options at a discounted price as a benefit to being in the program (i.e. private lessons).

Q. Would you recommend taking lessons as well as playing on a team?
A. Yes, we suggest that all players take private lessons. While our teams provide a great deal of training, there are certain physical and mental skills that are most effectively taught in an individual setting.

Q. What sets ASSA teams apart?

A. We aim to inspire and mentor our athletes, both on and off the field. We are about playing the game the right way and creating memorable learning experiences for all players and families. The teams are built on the foundation of developing fundamentals, creating opportunities for players to succeed, teaching accountability, and making lifelong memories.

Q. Will my child get playing time?
A. We feel it is very important that all players get ample playing time in order to develop them and create great experiences for the families. While we cannot guarantee that playing time will be equal for all players, we are committed to ensuring all team members get plenty of opportunity to play during the season.

Q. Are there different levels of play?
A. We are committed to providing the best development and coaching experiences regardless of the team skill level. However, since team skill levels vary, we build the tournament schedule to balance competition and confidence building. In the event that a facility has multiple teams in one age group, we generally try to balance the talent level between each team instead of creating “A” and “B” teams.

Q. For what ages and seasons do you run teams?
A. We run travel teams for players ages 9-18 throughout the year, which typically includes four different seasons. We feel strongly that our team schedules should complement the traditional age-related baseball opportunities:

Spring Season: January – April for players ages 9-12. Our goal is to train during the winter months and play early tournaments before allowing these players to participate in a traditional Little League season.

Summer Season: Late May – July (will often also include winter workouts) for players ages 13-17. During this time, teams play summer ball after the Middle and High School seasons are complete.

Short Summer Season: Month of August for players ages 9-12 looking for additional baseball after the Little League season ends. These teams usually cost $500 and include four weeks of practice and two tournaments.

Fall Season: September – October for players ages 9-18. Many of these team players are not involved in fall sports, however, there are also opportunities for those athletes who are trying to balance multiple sports in the fall season.

Q. Where do your teams typically play?
A. Teams typically practice indoors at their local ASSA facility or outdoors on local fields where we have partnerships. The majority of teams will play their tournaments within a 90-minute driving distance from their ASSA training center, however, there are occasional trips that may require further travel. In most cases, tournaments are not overnight commitments (unless a family chooses to). For teams looking for a travel experience, we will occasionally take a trip to Florida in February or a trip to Virginia/South Carolina/North Carolina.

Q. How do we get on an ASSA team?
A. Please give us a call, send us an email, stop by the training center, or submit an online inquiry. We are always looking for more families that we can inspire and mentor! We hold season group tryouts for teams that anyone is invited to attend, however, if you miss or are unable to make the tryouts we also set up individual workouts year-round and will help create a personalized development plan for your player.

Q. Do we need to live locally to play for ASSA?
A. In order to get the full experience, it is important that you are able to attend practices and games for your team. Most families live within a 45-minute commute from the training center, however, we have had players participate who live much farther away since they were able to make the commute work. If you are concerned about this, please feel free to contact us and also check for any other ASSA locations that may be closer to you.

Q. Can we turn our existing team into an ASSA team?
A. We are open to transitioning existing teams to ASSA teams. This would allow players and families to stay together while benefitting from our great training centers and knowledgeable coaches, as well as alleviating the administrative burden. Please contact your local training center for more details and to discuss further.

Q. What is the difference between a Facilities Team and a Futures Team?
A. Our Training Center Teams are focused on player development and competitive tournaments – typically for players ages 16 and younger or High School players that are not interested in pursuing playing collegiately. Our Combat Futures Teams are for High School players who are looking to be recruited, and therefore need to maximize their exposure. Many families have participated in our Training Center Teams for years before ultimately transferring into our Combat Futures Teams when becoming of age.

Q. How do I know what age team my child should be on?
A. Players are grouped together by their League Age, which is a standard cutoff across tournament venues. Players will participate in the same age group from September through August before moving up again the following September. You can find your child’s League Age using this chart. It is important to note that for travel baseball there are three different field dimensions with varying rules:

9s & 10s: 46/60 – This refers to the pitching distance and base length (similar to Little League Baseball)

11s & 12s: 50/70 – This refers to the pitching distance and base length (begins to incorporate Leads, Steals, and Pickoffs)

13s+: 60/90 – This refers to the pitching distance and base length (will provide your traditional baseball rules and dimensions you see in the Major Leagues)

Q. What if my athlete can’t make one of the tryout dates?
A.ASSA offers individual tryouts for select age groups and locations throughout the year.

Q. Where are Combat teams based?
A.Combat Baseball teams are offered through multiple ASSA training centers, including: Broomall, Cherry Hill, Conshohocken, Downingtown, Warminster, and West Chester.

Q. How many tournaments do Combat teams play?
A.Teams typically participate in 8–14 tournaments annually depending on the team level and schedule.

Q. Where do the Combat Futures teams compete?
A. All-Star Sports Academy’s Combat Futures Teams compete in travel tournaments selectively chosen to provide high level competition and exposure opportunities for our players. Many of the tournament providers include Diamond Nation, Starz Tournaments, Elite Championship Tournament Baseball, Virginia Sports Complex, Impact Baseball, Dynamic Baseball, Super 6 Tournaments, and Perfect Game USA WWBA and BCS National Championships.

Q. What are the goals for the Combat Futures teams?
A. The goals of our Combat Futures teams are rooted around overall player development – both on and off the field. We want to prepare our players to play at the highest level of their athletic capabilities as well as individually prepare them for effective navigation of the college recruiting process. Our coaches focus on the development of individual skills in a teamwork setting while our program advisors work directly with each family to help identify that player’s right fit.

Q. What is ASSA’s recognition with as a company?
A. Our program is nationally recognized as one of the top travel programs by college coaches and by premiere tournament providers. This tradition of quality allows for ASSA to receive more bids to coveted tournaments that can enhance exposure opportunities for our players.

Q. What is the goal for each player on a Combat Futures team?
A. Ultimately we seek to provide each player in our program with the opportunity to gain exposure to college coaches and pro scouts. Over the past decade the ASSA Combat Futures teams have helped over 1600 players in reaching their goals of playing collegiate and professional baseball. Please reference our Alumni List of former players with their collegiate commitments and professional signings.

Q. What do athletes do at your summer camps?
A.A typical day at ASSA Summer Camp includes a mix of skill development and fun competitions. Athletes rotate through drills focused on hitting, fielding, pitching, and overall development while learning proper mechanics. Throughout the day, players also participate in games and friendly competitions that allow them to apply what they’ve learned in a positive and encouraging environment.

Q. What happens if it rains during an Outdoor Summer Camp?
A. We do our best to monitor the weather and plan accordingly. If we see a day with lots of rain in the forecast we will usually bring camp inside of our closest training center. We do also have the option of moving a day of camp to Friday if we feel that is a better solution for the week given multiple rainy days. As far as summer rain storms that pass through we will typically take a break in the dugouts or other covered areas depending on the camp site and adjust lunch or play baseball trivia games until the rain passes.

Q. Do kids have to bring their own lunch?
A. For all camps kids should bring their own bagged lunch unless otherwise noted. All players should bring plenty of liquids to camp and All-Star will make sure there is an option to refill water bottles as needed.

Q. Who are the coaches at your summer camps?
A. Our summer camps are kept to a maximum 7:1 player to coach ratio. Coaches are comprised of our ASSA instructors along with some local High School Baseball players who have trained in our program and are looking to teach players in their community.

Q. What do kids wear to camp?
A. Kids can wear shorts and T-Shirts to our camps. We do suggest hats as players will be out in the sun for several hours during an outdoor camp. Many players like to bring a pair of baseball pants in their bag to put on for the game in the afternoon so they can slide more comfortably. If you are attending an Indoor camp we would ask that you wear sneakers and not cleats.

Q. What equipment does my athlete need to bring?
A. Players should bring their baseball equipment and make sure that all items have their name or initials on them. We will have extra bats and helmets available for those players who do not have their own. There is no need to bring catching equipment to camp for any player.

Q. How does drop off and pickup work?
A. Parents can drop players off 15 minutes before camp and should check in with a coach upon arrival. We would ask that all players are picked up within 15 minutes of the end of camp. For anyone carpooling we will need a written note with permission sent to the building or dropped off at camp by check in time each morning.

Q. What makes ASSA different from other summer camps?
A. ASSA Summer Camps combine expert instruction, skill development, and a fun camp experience all in one. Athletes work with passionate ASSA certified instructors who focus not only on improving skills, but also on building confidence, and a love for the game. Beyond the training, we prioritize creating a supportive atmosphere where players can compete, build friendships, and create lasting summer memories.

Q. Are summer camps beginner-friendly?
A. Yes! ASSA Summer Camps are designed for players of all skill levels, including beginners who are new to the game. Our instructors tailor drills and instruction to meet athletes where they are developmentally, helping every player build confidence, improve fundamentals, and enjoy learning the game in a supportive atmosphere.

1. What is included in a complimentary evaluation?
   A.The free evaluation is a structured 20-minute on-field assessment where our coaches evaluate hitting, fielding, throwing, pitching (if applicable), and overall athletic ability. This is followed by a 10-minute development plan review with a coach. 
2. How long does the evaluation take?
   A.Each evaluation is approximately 30 minutes and includes a 20-minute on-field evaluation  and 10-minute player development review.
3. What happens during the 10-minute review?
   A. After the on-field evaluation, an ASSA certified instructor will sit down with you to discuss your athlete’s strengths, areas for improvement, and a recommended development plan tailored to their goals. 
4. How do I schedule an evaluation? 
   A.Evaluations can be scheduled directly through the online form linked here.