Registration form will close at 11:59pm on Friday, April 24

Eligibility

The 2026 tryouts are open to high school players graduating in 2027 and 2028. Players that are already committed to a college team are invited and encouraged to participate. Our college coaches and scouts agree that the Big 26 is more than a scouting event and that players benefit from the competition structure, friendships, and special experience of the Buddy Program.

Tryout Format & Amenities

Tryouts involve timed 60s, bullpens, pop sessions for catchers, infield/outfield skill sessions and batting practice. All players will receive a Big 26 t-shirt and baseball cap.

Tryout Evaluation Criteria

Making the Big 26 roster is about more than just measurable baseball skills. Coaches are also watching for teamwork, leadership, good sportsmanship, hustle, and heart to ensure their state is being well-represented. All players must register for one of their state's designated tryout sessions and participate to the fullest reasonable extent to be considered. If a tryout date is the day before a high school game where the tryout participant is scheduled to pitch, that pitcher is not required to throw a live bullpen. In these cases, pitchers should be prepared to provide video and/or season stats plus a recommendation from their high school coach prior to the tryout. Big 26 tryouts are highly competitive. Players should understand that the more our coaches can see live, the better.

Final Roster Decisions

Decisions on final rosters will be determined by each team’s coaching staff.
Roster invitation timelines vary pending tryout schedules but could be within 1-2 days of the state’s final tryout.

*Preferred jersey #s and pants distribution applicable for final event only. We collect this information at the tryout stage to expedite apparel orders immediately following the final roster announcement. Preferred jersey #s not guaranteed. 

Tryout Terms & Conditions

PHOTO & VIDEO RELEASE

Parents/guardians specifically grant permission, to Big 26 Baseball Classic® and its Site (big26.com), Visit Hershey & Harrisburg and its Sites, as defined below ("collectively VHH"), and any other public or private agency authorized by VHH, the use of, and rights associated to the use of my child's photography, video, photographic likeness and/or video footage of which I am the subject, in any travel and tourism-related promotional publications (digital or print) without compensation. This can include web and social content, advertising, packaging or any other outlet. I agree that Big 26 Baseball Classic® and VHH may use such images with or without my name and that the images may be combined with other images, graphics, text, and cropped, altered or modified.
VHH Sites: These Terms & Conditions apply to VHH and its current and future “Sites”. Collectively, “Sites” currently include Explore HBG (ExploreHBG.com), Hershey Harrisburg Sports & Events Authority (HHSportsandEvents.com), but also include any other Sites promoting Dauphin County as a destination for vacation travel, meetings, sports, and special events.

FINAL ROSTERS

Invitations: Players must accept final roster invitations within the timeframe communicated to them at tryouts and via email. The timeframe could be as short as 24 hours. If no response is received within the specified timeframe, the invitation will be extended to another player. (*Please regularly check all email accounts including junk and spam folders.) Players accepting final roster spots will be responsible for a Player Participation fee, which will be quoted in the official invitation. (Players should expect a final roster fee of approximately $400.00.)

Teams: Pennsylvania hosts a neighbor state for the Big 26 Baseball Classic. Maryland is the 2024 invitee. If, for any reason, Maryland is unable to participate, the Big 26 may be structured as an all-PA all-star event with two teams of 26 from Pennsylvania.

PRIVACY – CONTACT & DATA SHARING

We encourage all participants to review the Big 26 Privacy Policy available at www.Big26.com/privacy. The Privacy Policy offers insight for how and why we collect and share participant information that could include but is not limited to sharing A) Name, address, phone, email, Twitter handle & tryout data with College Coaches and Pro Scouts and B) Name, email, Twitter handle to the Buddy Program participant with whom the Big 26 player is paired during the event weekend.

REFUND POLICY (TRYOUT FEES)

Tryout Postponement: If a tryout is postponed and rescheduled, a player’s registration fee may be applied to the make-up date. If a player cannot attend a make-up date, refund requests made within 72 hours of the announcement of the makeup date will be honored in full.

Tryout Cancellation: If a tryout is canceled due to circumstances beyond our control, full refunds will be granted.

Medical Player Cancellations: Players unable to attend a tryout for medical reasons including illness, injury, or exposure to or testing positive for Covid-19 may be eligible for a refund. Medical refund requests must be submitted to office@big26.com no later than the day before the tryout, and a doctor’s note must be provided no later than the end of the 3rd full business day following the tryout. Eligible medical refunds requested at least 14 days prior to the tryout will be honored in full. Eligible medical refunds requested less than 14 days prior to the event will be honored at $100.00.

Non-Medical Player Cancellations: Non-medical player cancellations are not eligible for refunds.

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

The Big 26 Baseball Classic® will adhere to the latest health & safety guidelines set by the CDC, Commonwealth of PA, and/or the State of Maryland for respective tryout locations. Participants understand that these guidelines may change at any time. Failure to adhere to any mandated health & safety measures may result in the player’s disqualification from the event without the possibility of a refund. For the health and safety of all involved, players should not attend an event if they have tested positive for Covid-19 in the 10 days prior to the event.

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www.big26.com

Minor Participant Waiver, Release, Indemnification of All Claims & Covenant Not to Sue

PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY AS IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND IS LEGALLY BINDING. BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, YOU ARE RELEASING THE BIG 26 BASEBALL CLASSIC® AND ITS ADMINISTRATORS, OFFICERS, AND RELATED ENTITIES REFERENCED WITHIN FROM ALL LIABILITY AND FOREVER GIVING UP ANY CLAIMS THEREFORE. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REVIEW THIS DOCUMENT WITH THE MINOR IT NAMES.

The Big 26 Baseball Classic® is operated by Hershey Harrisburg Sports & Events Authority (HHSE). HHSE is a division of Visit Hershey & Harrisburg, a 501c6 Destination Marketing Organization doing business at 3211 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Assumption of Risk

I, in my legal capacity as parent/guardian of the minor named below (“Minor”), declare that the Minor is physically fit and able to participate in the Big 26 Baseball Classic® without any undue risk. I acknowledge and agree that any use of facilities, services, equipment and premises (“Facilities”) rented or otherwise used by the Big 26 Baseball Classic® and any participation in the Big 26 Baseball Classic® programs and activities including but not limited to the game of baseball (“Programs”) comes with inherent risks including, but in no way limited to: (1) moderate and severe personal injury, (2) property damage, (3) disability, (4) death, and (5) sickness or disease. Further, I understand that participation in Programs may involve direct or indirect contact with other participants which may result in exposure to illness-causing pathogens including but not limited to Covid-19. I voluntarily, for myself and Minor, accept and assume full responsibility for these risks as well as any and all other risks of the use of Facilities and participation in Programs. I agree that I have full knowledge of the nature and extent of all such risks and am not relying on all such risks being described in this document.

Waiver, Release, Indemnification & Covenant Not to Sue

In consideration of Minor’s use of Facilities and participation in Programs I, in my legal capacity as parent/guardian of Minor, agree on behalf of myself and Minor that The Big 26 Baseball Classic®, its officers, directors, agents, employees, volunteers, insurers, representatives, and if applicable, owners and lessors of premises used to conduct the event (“Releasees”) will not be liable for any personal injury, property damage, disability, death, sickness or
disease incurred by Minor, however occurring including, but not limited to, the negligence of Releasees. I understand that Minor and I will be solely responsible for any loss or damage, including personal injury, property damage, disability, death, sickness, or disease sustained from the use of Facilities and participation in Programs. I further agree, in my legal capacity as the parent/guardian of Minor, on behalf of Minor, myself, and any and all legal
successors and proxies, to release and HEREBY DO RELEASE, WAIVE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Releasees from any causes of action, claims, suits, liabilities or demands of any nature whatsoever including, but in no way limited to, claims of negligence, which Minor, myself, and any and all legal successors and proxies may have, now or in the future, against Releasees on account of personal injury, property damage, disability, death, sickness, disease or accident of any kind, arising out of or in any way related to the use of Facilities or participation in Programs, whether that participation is supervised or unsupervised, however the injury or damage occurs, including, but not limited to, the negligence of Releasees.

In further consideration of the use of Facilities and participation in Programs, I, in my legal capacity as parent/guardian of Minor, agree on behalf of myself and Minor to INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS Releasees from any and all causes of action, claims, demands, losses, suits, liabilities or costs of any nature whatsoever, including claims of negligence, arising out of or in any way related to the use of Facilities and participation in Programs. I have signed this document freely and understand it to be an unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this Release is held to be invalid, the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.

A text PDF of this document is avaiable for your records HERE.

Payment

Payment note: If you do not have or do not wish to create a PayPal account, you can pay as a guest. There are two ways to do this.

1) Click gold "PayPal CheckOut" button. On the next screen click the "Pay with Debit or Credit" button. Click to pay as a guest. 

2) Click the Black "Debit or Credit" button. When the PayPal screen loads, scroll nearly all the way to the bottom to click "log in." The next screen will again show a "Pay with Debit or Credit" button. Click to pay as a guest. 

For either method, you will recieve 2 verification emails. One from PayPal and one from Jotform/Big26. Check your spam folders if they do not immediately appear in your inbox after submisison.