Where is your home field?
Bucks Mill Park (Colts Neck, NJ) is our primary home field. We also use Michael J. Tighe Park (Freehold, NJ), Laird Fields (Colts Neck, NJ), and Manalapan Recreation Complex, plus additional facilities as needed.
What are uniform requirements?
Team colors are black, red, and white, with charcoal as an alternate. The uniform package ($250) includes two game jerseys, two performance shirts, a team hat, and a helmet, plus white baseball pants. Black belt and black socks are not included.
Do you play USABL league play or tournaments?
We're primarily a tournament program. Depending on a team's makeup and where they are developmentally, some teams may play a season built around scrimmages, practice games, and intrasquads instead.
This varies by season and team development.
- Spring: USABL league play, plus a tournament between late May and late June
- Summer: 4-6 tournaments, weekly scrimmages, and mid-week practices
- Fall: 3-5 tournaments with scrimmages
What level does your program play at?
We aim for athletes to compete at a 2.5 level or higher (USABL rating system), and progress from there. We also offer development opportunities for athletes in the 1-2 level range.
How many teams do you have or will you have per age group?
Our goal is one team per age group, 8U through 18U.
How many practices do you have per week?
Thoroughbreds athletes have 1 required indoor day and 1 required outdoor day each week. Two more days are offered inside LAUNCH through LAUNCH programming, plus open gym opportunities throughout the year.
What days do you practice?
Currently, teams are required Monday (indoor, at LAUNCH) and Tuesday (outdoor). This changes by season.
Do you offer winter training?
Yes. Thoroughbreds athletes train through LAUNCH programming at our Eatontown facility during the winter:
- Elementary-age athletes train through Foundations, 3 days a week
- Middle school athletes train through Jr. Performance, 3 days a week
- High school athletes train through HS Performance, 5 days a week
Do you offer strength and conditioning?
Yes, through LAUNCH programming. This includes a speed program, along with all the athletic development programming already built into LAUNCH training.
What is the coaching situation?
Each team has one non-parent coach and two parent-coaches. Parent-coaches may come from your team or another team. All parent-coaches are trained in how we communicate, run practices, and uphold our program's goals and culture. Older Thoroughbreds athletes also assist with younger age groups throughout the season.
What if my athlete plays another sport?
We support athletes playing multiple sports. Thoroughbreds is meant to be an athlete's primary travel baseball commitment, so we ask families to prioritize Thoroughbreds practices and games. Town baseball, rec leagues, and other opportunities are welcome when they don't conflict. We communicate early and openly so we can adjust training plans and workloads as needed.
What is the cost for the program?
$420 per month.
What are the season dates?
Training doesn't really stop. LAUNCH is open year-round, so athletes keep training right through the calendar.
Games and tournaments are what actually get scheduled around specific windows. We work to avoid scheduling around July 4th weekend, spring break week, the week right after school starts, Labor Day weekend, and winter break (no games at all during winter). In general, we avoid the heaviest vacation and travel weeks.
Tournament dates and season details are released well in advance, so families can plan travel and vacations around them.