Host Families
The Lifeblood of the Orange County RiptideEvery summer, collegiate baseball players come to California looking to improve their skills to eventually play professional baseball. Many of those players come from outside the Orange County area and stay with host families.
If not for the generosity and hospitality our OC Riptide Host Families, many of these players would not have the opportunities to play in Southern California.
OC Riptide Host Family Living
In the summer of 2019, two college baseball players from Texas, Dylan Rock (UT San Antonio) and Justin Lewis (Texas Tech) came to Orange County to play for the Riptide and stayed with a host family.
During the months of June and July, they became fast friends and their host family now considers them a permanent part of their family.
See their story on how they became this family’s “Summer Sons” in 2019.
OC Riptide Host Families
Creating bonds that last well beyond the summer
The OC Riptide cannot express how extremely grateful we are for our network of host families, they are the lifeblood to our success.
The host family experience is such an important aspect of each player’s time while playing with the Riptide, and many host families have such a good experience that they become host families for years to come!
There is no question that the bond between many host families and their players extends beyond the summer, forming lifelong friendships. Many of our host families refer to their players as their “summer sons”, integrating them into their family as if they were blood related.
Since our founding in 2015, nearly 100 players have arrived in Orange County to play for the summer and almost all of them have stayed with a host family. The bonds created during the summer can last a lifetime.
Our host families have visited their players at their schools and have even attended their weddings well after the summer baseball season has ended.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I become an OC Riptide Host Family?
The process all starts by filling out our Orange County Riptide Host Family Application online. There you will input your contact information along with details about your home, if you have pets, other family members living in the home, allergies, special diets, etc.
Apply HERE.
What are the minimum requirements to become a Riptide Host Family?
Each OC Riptide host family is responsible for providing the following:
- Bed – The player must have his own bed and we recommend that he has his own room, though it could certainly be shared with another teammate if hosting two or more players.
- Bathroom – Player(s) need access to a bathroom. This can be a bathroom shared with other members of the host family.
- Kitchen access – We ask our host families to have foods available for the player(s) to make their own breakfast.
- Laundry – Host families should allow players to do their own laundry, whether it be their game uniforms or personal clothes.
Those are the bare minimum requirements however many of our families integrate their players into family meals, excursions when the player has an off day, allowing players to use the pool, going fishing, golfing, etc. We highly encourage our host families to treat their players as if they were a member of their own family.
What do host families receive in return for hosting players?
The host family experience is so much more than just gaining a “summer son” and opening your home to a potential MLB star on their path to professional baseball. This year we are offering numerous benefits including:
- Your choice of free Premium Reserved, Regular Reserved or General Admission to all members of the household.
- Exclusive discounts on merchandise and food & beverage (including alcohol) at any of our 27 home games in 2025.
- Host Family children receive free admission to the OC Riptide Youth Academy Camp held during the summer.
- Host Family children receive free admission to all five OC Riptide Youth Academy Sunday clinics.
- Host family children receive free entry into the OC Riptide Kids Club with additional benefits to be announced.
- Host families are honored and recognized at the final game of the season in a pre-game ceremony.
Gain another member of the family and be a major part of a baseball player’s path to professional baseball.
The OC Riptide is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and unfortunately can not provide monetary compensation at this time. (We hope to offer host family stipends in the future.)
How are players assigned and placed with Host Families?
Host Family Heads of Households and the players each fill out a questionnaire. For host families, this is done during the application process. For players they are asked questions like, will they be driving or flying to Orange County, do they have any allergies, special dietary needs, etc.
Additional questions include other interests outside of baseball or activities they would like to try or explore while in Orange County. Some of the best host family matches can come from common interests. A great example is if the player is an avid golfer and so is the family, this would be a great fit to pair them for the summer.
Do Host Families host more than one player at a time?
Hosting one or more players depends on the accommodations that the family has. Some families can only take one player, while others can comfortably host two or even more.
Some families can host two players if they share a room that has two beds. Our players are all college student-athletes and are accustomed to having a roommate. This all depends of the home and the host family accommodations.
Do most families host a player each summer or is it more of a one and done thing?
One of our host families started hosting players in 2018 and have hosted 11 players over the years.
I don't live in a traditional single family home but rather in an apartment / condominium. Can I still host a Riptide player?
Absolutely! So long as the player(s) have their own bedroom and access to a bathroom, kitchen and laundry, you are eligible to host a player.
How large of a responsibility is it to host players?
Host families take on the role of the player’s surrogate family by attending as many games as possible to support and cheer for their players. Host parents also make sure that the player follows the rules of their home, the OC Riptide, the California Collegiate League (CCL) and the NCAA.
What is the one thing you would like potential host families to know about hosting a Riptide Player?
- Having an extra bedroom in the house.
- Wanting to help a young ball player along their journey as they work towards becoming a better player and potentially playing professionally.
- Giving back to the community.
- Providing a family atmosphere – a home away from home – for a young man in an unfamiliar place.
- Families with children that play youth baseball enjoy hosting a college baseball player that can mentor their young player.
Do host families provide transportation for the players?
It is not the responsibility of the host family to drive their players to the field.
Some players will bring their own cars and some will not. Players with cars are asked to transport players who do not have cars
The team travels by bus to all away games. If we have enough cars, we try to make sure there is at least one player with a car at each host family home.
On occasion some host families have an extra car that they allow their player to utilize over the season, but we leave this decision entirely up to the host family.
What towns are eligible to host a Riptide player?
The OC Riptide plays our games at the Great Park in Irvine, California.
Any of the surrounding cities like Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach to the west, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Dana Point, Coto De Caza, Rancho Santa Margarita, El Toro, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente to the south are eligible to host baseball players.
Orange County cities to the north of Irvine including Tustin, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Yorba Linda, Placentia, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, Brea and as far north as Rossmoor, Los Alamitos and Sunset Beach are also eligible to host.
Although residing within the confines of Orange County is not a 100% requirement, it is recommended host families live within driving distance to Irvine.
What if I have a question that is not covered here? Can I ask questions of other OC Riptide host families about their experience?
Absolutely! Please reach out to us via our Contact Us form and ask your question that may not be covered here.
If you would like to hear from our Riptide host families and ask them a question, please use the same contact form and we will get you in touch.
Ready to become an Orange County Riptide Host Family?
Players from all over the country are coming to Orange County to play for the Riptide. By becoming a host family, you can be an integral part of a baseball player’s path to the big leagues.
The next Major Leaguer could be staying with you this summer while he chases his dream of playing professionally. The first step is a home away from home while playing for the OC Riptide.
