2018 Spring Baseball Program Overview

Beginning in 2018, Wilson Youth Baseball will no longer be affiliated with Little League Baseball.  We will be affiliated with the Cal Ripken Division of Babe Ruth Baseball.  We are pleased to present the following program offerings for our baseball players age 5 through 12:

 

***IMPORTANT BASEBALL AGE UPDATE***

Please note that since we are no longer affiliated with Little League Baseball, a players’ “baseball age” will be determined by his age as of April 30th.

For example: A player born on 4/30/07 will be baseball age 11 for 2018; a player born on 5/1/07 will be baseball age 10 for 2018.

 

NON-TRAVEL BASEBALL PROGRAM (“IN HOUSE”)

T-Ball (Ages 5-6): 

  • Instructional baseball in a fun and positive environment – no scores kept during games, no standings or playoffs
  • Coaches are allowed on the field during games and are encouraged to rotate players through various positions provided that the player will not be at risk of injury
  • Strictly “in-house” – all games played locally throughout the Wilson School District
  • Season will begin in mid to late April and will end in early June
  • Approximately 2 events (games or practices) per week – weeknights and weekends
  • Single elimination “tournament” at the end of the year

Minors (Ages 7-10): (NEW STRUCTURE FOR 2018!)

  • A Level (Ages 7-8):
    • Traditional Coach Pitch level designed primarily for 7 year-old players and “developing” 8 year old players – coaches pitch to players for the entirety of the season
    • Instructional baseball – no scores kept during games, no standings or playoffs
    • Coaches are allowed on the field during games and are encouraged to rotate players through various positions provided that the player will not be at risk of injury.
    • Strictly “in-house” – all games played locally throughout the Wilson School District
    • The season will begin in mid-April and will end in early June
    • Families should expect to have 2-3 events (games or practices) per week, including some weekend events
    • The season will culminate in a year end double elimination tournament where players will get to experience “competitive” baseball

 

  • AA Level (Ages 8-9):
    • NEW! Hybrid Coach Pitch and Player Pitch level designed primarily for 8 year-old players and “developing” 9 year-old players
    • Instructional baseball – no scores kept during games, no standings or playoffs
    • Provides players exposure to Player Pitch in an instructional environment – coaches will be allowed on the field during games to work with pitchers and catchers.
    • Games will be a combination of Coach Pitch and Player Pitch to help ease transition to Player Pitch (AAA Level)
    • Strictly “in-house” – all games played locally throughout the Wilson School District
    • The season will begin in mid-April and will end in early June
    • Families should expect to have 2-3 events (games or practices) per week, including some weekend events
    • The season will culminate in a year end double elimination tournament where players will get to experience competitive baseball

 

  • AAA Level (Ages 9-10):
    • Traditional Player Pitch baseball for 9 year-olds and 10 year-olds
    • Competitive baseball – games are played at 60’-46’ distances (base paths and pitching distances) – there are standings and playoffs
    • Team rosters are developed to promote competitive balance
    • Majority of games played “in-house”; will play a few “out of house” games against similar teams from other organizations (some travel involved)
    • The season will begin in early April and will end in mid to late June
    • Families should expect to have 3-4 events (games or practices) per week including some weekend events
    • A post season playoff will be held after the regular season ends

 

  • Majors (Ages 11-12):
    • Traditional Player Pitch baseball for 11 year-olds and 12 year-olds
    • Competitive baseball – games are played at 70’-50’ distances (base paths and pitching distances) – there are standings and playoffs
    • Team rosters are developed to promote competitive balance
    • Majority of games played “in-house”; will play a few “out of house” games against similar teams from other organizations (some travel involved)
    • The season will begin in early April and will end in mid to late June
    • Families should expect to have 3-4 events (games or practices) per week including some weekend events
    • A post season playoff will be held after the regular season ends

 

TRAVEL BASEBALL PROGRAM

Wilson Youth Baseball will once again offer a Travel Baseball Program as an alternative track for players with more advanced skills that are interested in competing in a Travel Baseball environment.  All registered players are eligible to be participate in our Travel Baseball Program; however, players are NOT OBLIGATED to play on these teams.  Evaluations for Travel Teams will take place during our Winter Evaluations for all players on January 27th-28th.  Selected players will be notified shortly after the Winter Evaluations.  Players that are not selected or choose not to participate in Travel Baseball will be placed on a Non-Travel roster.  Please note that Travel Baseball teams are self-funded.  A portion of the standard registration fee will cover some expenses; however, families should be prepared to pay an additional fee to cover costs of the Travel Team season.  Costs will be presented to parents / families prior to asking for a commitment to play Travel Baseball.  Travel Baseball teams will typically participate in up to 3 tournaments throughout the season in addition to their regular season schedule.  Lastly, please note that we no longer allow for “double rostering” of players on Travel and Non-Travel (“in-house”) teams.  We will offer Travel Baseball at the 12U, 11U, 10U and 9U age groups.

 

TOURNAMENT BASEBALL OPPORTUNITIES

At the conclusion of the Spring season we will provide opportunities for players to extend their season by playing in various tournaments throughout the region.  Tournament opportunities vary based on interest, age and skill level and are open to any player registered in the Spring Season.  Tournament opportunities will be identified in late May.  At a minimum we anticipate fielding teams to play in Cal Ripken sponsored “post-season” tournaments (similar to that offered by Little League).   Tournament teams are self-funded – some additional cost will apply.

 

EVALUATION INFORMATION

All players age 7-12 will be evaluated at our Winter Evaluations on Saturday, January 27th and Sunday January 28th.  Evaluations are conducted in order to promote competitive balance across our Non-Travel Baseball leagues and to identify players for our Travel Program.

In the weeks leading up to evaluations, there are numerous opportunities for players to “shake off the rust” through open gyms, Wilson High School sponsored clinics and outside clinics run by friends and partners of our organization.  We do our best to keep parents informed of these opportunities and strongly suggest parents follow us on Facebook and check our website during the winter months for opportunities.

Detailed information regarding evaluations will be provided as the dates get closer.

 

SENIORS BASEBALL

Registration for Senior age players (13 and up) will take place at a later date.  We encourage all players that are eligible to play for Wilson (Middle School or High School) to try out for their school teams in the Spring.  Our Senior Baseball program will begin at the conclusion of the Spring school baseball season.  Once again, we will coordinate our Seniors Baseball program with the West Lawn Owls programs.  More information on Senior Baseball will be posted as we approach the opening of registration for Seniors Baseball.

 

Posted in Forms and Handouts, Registration, Teamwork