About the Jr Select Program:
The TPA Nationals Junior Select Program is a travel baseball program located out of The Performance Academy in Apex, NC. The TPA Nationals expanded their program into the Junior Select age group in the Fall of 2021. Our TPA Nationals Junior Select Program ranges from 8u – 10u teams. These teams are coached by parent coaches. However, our TPA Nationals staff and coaches are heavily involved throughout the entirety of the season. We help “coach the parent coaches” by providing resources and assisting them with whatever they need. The whole idea of our junior select program is to eliminate the negative association of parent coaches and “daddy ball”, which is why we are so involved. We have seen much success in this program over the years!
Junior Select FAQ:
Coaches Zoom Calls
Every week, your Junior Select Team Parent Coaches will have a Zoom Call with our TPA Director of Baseball, Coach Danny Healey. We help “coach the parent coaches” by providing resources and assisting them with whatever they need. The whole idea of our junior select program is to eliminate the negative association of parent coaches and “daddy ball”, which is why we are so involved.
Team Zoom Calls
Teams will have zoom calls throughout the season with TPA staff members. These zoom calls will be based on the player handbook and break down different aspects of the games. Many of these calls will also pertain to the mental aspect of the game.
TPA Player & Coaches Handbook
Over the past several months, our staff has been working towards creating a handbook filled with philosophies and situational breakdowns on both sides of the ball. We are excited to introduce this handbook in the Fall, and provide another learning resource for our players and coaches to use. This handbook will dive into certain situations like cuts & relays, bunt coverages, holding runners on, pickoffs, offensive mindset/approach, and much more!
Pre-Season Team Building:
Prior to the beginning of the season, each team will go through team building exercises. These training sessions will be done with our Director of Sport Performance, Adam Disena. The goal of these sessions will be to develop team chemistry, as well as set the standard for hard work within our program.
Sports Performance Training:
Our junior select groups will be working on the basics and fundamentals of speed work. The primary goal at this age is development and beginning to foster well rounded athleticism. Workouts will be geared towards developing body awareness focusing on quality movement and beginning to condition them for tournaments.
Social Media & Content
We take pride in recognizing our athletes and Andy Zuber (Director of Marketing & Technologies) does a great job of creating that content. You can check out our social media accounts below:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/tpanationals
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tpanationals
Website: https://tpanc.com
Tournament Information:
Each team will play in 3+ tournaments during the Fall season. Tournaments will start at the beginning of September and will go through the end of October. Teams will play in primarily Perfect game, USSSA, and TopGun events. During the fall season we focus on development, and will play more tournaments during the Spring/Summer Seasons.
Each team will play in 3+ tournaments during the Fall season. Tournaments will start at the beginning of September and will go through the end of October. Teams will play in primarily Perfect game, USSSA, and TopGun events.
Cost:
The fees paid by each participant will cover the following services:
- Parent Coaches led by our professional instruction. All TPA coaches have college level playing and/or coaching experience
- 1 weekly scheduled outdoor practice session in September – October
- 1 weekly scheduled indoor practice session in September – October
- 1 weekly position specific practice with TPA Coaches September- October
- Weekly Zoom Calls between Director of Baseball & TPA Parent Coaches
- Sports Performance Training
- Registration fees in baseball tournaments
- Classroom sessions to enhance baseball knowledge and mental aspect of the game
- Interaction & mentorship from current & former TPA Showcase players
- Unlimited access to TPA’s indoor baseball facility, when space is available (please call ahead to check availability)
- First class, professionally managed program
- 15% discount off individual lessons-offer not valid for lesson packages
- Special discounted rate on Speed & Agility, and Strength programs
Meet the Director of Baseball Operations: Ryan Girard
Ryan was born in Montreal, Quebec and currently lives in Holly Springs, NC. Ryan graduated from Saint Leo University in 2019 with a BA in Sport Business. While attending SLU, he was part of the National COSMA(Commission on Sport Management Accreditation) student honor society- Chi Sigma Mu, Summa Cum Laude, and graduated with a cumulative GPA of 3.8. He was lucky enough to be chosen by the University to attend the MLB Winter Meetings as an intern in 2018, which took place in Las Vegas Nevada.
Ryan grew up in Tampa, FL and attended Wiregrass ranch HS. He earned a scholarship to pitch at Lake Sumter State College in Leesburg, FL. After attending LSSC for 3 years and playing in the Florida League for the Deland Suns, he transferred to Saint Leo University to finish out his collegiate career. Ryan battled through injuries for a majority of his college years that kept him off the mound (TJ freshman year, Labrum/rotator cuff surgery Junior year).
After College baseball, He went back to his HS and served as the pitching coach for a year while also working for the Ted Williams Foundation at Tropicana Field. Ryan moved to NC in 2019 to begin his Internship with TPA and has been here since. He currently is the Director of Tournament Operations for Revolution Sporting Events, and coaches one of the Showcase baseball teams.
