Straight answers about how DG Elite works, what we expect from players, how we train, and what parents can expect every step of the way.
Plan for approximately 4-5 hours per week during the active season. That typically breaks down as two structured practice session (2–3 hours) and game time on weekends.
The fall season runs 20 weeks starting August 3, 2026 — 35+ practices and 30+ games. The spring season runs 24 weeks — 45+ practices and 50+ games.
We share the full season calendar before it starts. No surprises, no last-minute additions that wreck your family's schedule. Full program details →
Yes. Families from across the Phoenix metro area are represented in this program — Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, Tempe, Gilbert, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and surrounding areas. Practice location details are provided at the time of evaluation confirmation.
We understand that driving to the right program is an investment of time and energy. We also believe every practice in this program is worth the trip — and we'd rather you decide that yourself after coming to the evaluation than take our word for it.
Yes — every coach who works with DG Elite players has completed a background check before their first session. This applies to Dustin and every assistant coach on the field. It is a condition of participation, not an optional step.
We recognize that you're trusting us with your son. The background check process is one part of how we honor that trust — the other parts are the professional standards we hold our staff to in how they communicate with players and parents. None of it is negotiable.
Yes. DG Elite Baseball carries full liability insurance covering practices, games, and program activities. This is standard for any professionally operated youth sports program and non-negotiable from Dustin's perspective as both a founder and a registered financial advisor who understands the importance of proper risk management.
If you have specific questions about coverage — including what's covered during travel to games or during warm-ups — you're welcome to ask at the evaluation. We'd rather answer the question than have you assume. Transparency on things like this is part of how a serious program operates.
Then he's in the right place. The evaluation is designed to meet your son where he is — not where you hope he is. We've brought players with nothing but rec-league background into this program and developed them into genuinely competitive travel players.
What we're looking for is natural athleticism, a desire to be coached, and the ability to respond to instruction. The rest we can build. Schedule an evaluation →
That's what evaluations are for. You don't need to decide if your son is "good enough" before coming — that's our job. Bring him. We'll tell you honestly what we see, what we think he's ready for, and whether this is the right environment for him right now.
There's no downside to finding out.
DG Elite currently has active, competitive teams at two levels: 10U (typically ages 9–10) and 12U (typically ages 11–12). Both teams compete in the Phoenix metro travel baseball circuit with a full fall and spring season schedule.
An 9U development-focus program is in development for a planned Fall 2027 launch. This will be built specifically for players ages 8–9 who want structured foundational development before stepping into competitive travel ball. You can register early interest on the Programs page.
If your son is on the age borderline for a team, bring him to the evaluation. We'll assess based on what we see on the field, not just a birth year.
The clearest difference is structural discipline. Most programs are tournament-first — they book the schedule and arrange practice around it. DG Elite is training-first: every week is a structured progression built on the week before, delivered by a full coaching staff on the field, and communicated to parents before the season starts.
The second difference is the founder. Dustin Giannangelo is a 19+ year entrepreneur who has built and operated businesses where standards and accountability aren't optional. That same operational discipline runs through every DG Elite practice, communication, and decision.
A typical 2–3 hour practice follows a structured progression:
Every session has a written plan. Players never stand in line wondering what comes next. See the environment in detail →
You'll know what's happening before it happens. We send weekly updates ahead of practices and games — schedule, focus areas for the week, any logistics. After evaluations and key sessions, coaches share notes on individual players.
If you have a question about your son's development, you have direct access to the coaching staff. This is not a program where you drop your kid off and find out what happened on the drive home.
Every family receives a direct debrief from the coaching staff after the evaluation — whether or not their son makes the roster. We'll tell you specifically what we observed, what it means for his development at his current stage, and what we'd recommend he work on.
You leave with more information than you came in with. That's not an accident — it's the standard we hold ourselves to. A player who isn't ready for DG Elite right now may be ready in 6–12 months, and we'd rather that family have the roadmap than a polite form rejection.
Yes. Parents are welcome to observe the evaluation from the designated viewing area. We ask that parents refrain from coaching or calling out instructions during the session — our coaches need to see how players respond to staff instruction, not how they respond to a familiar voice from the stands. This is standard at every quality evaluation.
Roster spots are limited by design. We maintain a coaching-to-player ratio that allows every player to receive genuine, coached repetitions at every practice. We don't expand the roster to accommodate demand — we keep it at the size where coaching quality is possible. Once spots are filled, they're filled. The evaluation on May 20, 2026 fills first.
