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When
Does the Season Start
Generally the season begins the last week of April for most divisions.
The younger age groups start about a week later. Teams can be scheduled Monday through Friday with usually
two games per week. All efforts are made to conclude the season by the second week of July to coincide with state tournament
operations. View example of 2009 Team Schedules.
Dates of Conflict
With a little bit
of diligence we can avoid many scheduling conflicts before they happen. Coaches with teams made of players from
the same school must identify dates of school activities that can be excluded from scheduling. Please
take this responsibility seriously. With new scheduling software the need to reschedule games due to school and
other known events can simply be avoided.
Team Creation
By far the best way to join the league is to organize as much
of a team as you can. Start early, choose your players, plan a practice schedule, identify to the other parents what support
you need, and goals for the group. Assistance filling the roster and finding practice facilities can be given by
the Northeast Baseball and Softball Association, but one parent must step to the front and shoulder some organizational responsibilities. You
will be surprised at how many players come forward once a coach is identified and practice begins. Individual registrants will
be used to supplement teams in need of players or are assembled into new teams.
Team Entry Application(link)The Team Entry Application is an option for coaches to assist
in the accumulation of necessary information for league operation. It aids in the development of more comprehensive
team lists, contact persons, player requests, divisional placement, and scheduling exclusion dates. If viewed in development terms, when each team can achieve full response to all items we as league officials will
know that teams have adequate coaching staffs, accurate contact information, matched expectations of play, complete
rosters, and no rescheduling due to outside obligations.
Divisional Separation
A comprehensive league must be structured to include
all players. No program should be exclusively competitive or entirely recreational. Coaches and parents
must have options and information to appropriately place their children. An accumulating number of teams
playing through recreational, developmental, and competitive baseball is necessary to create actual demand for new facility
construction. Competitive imbalances will never be eliminated. However, to match players and teams to more evenly selected
opponents is an important function in creating an elevated baseball experience.
The
American Division
The first consideration given to the placement of teams is matching
play based upon similar rates of physical development. Most age brackets for leagues and tournaments are sorted
into divisions of ages 14 and under, 12 years and under, 10 under, or 8 under. The American Division would
simply be the teams built largely with 13's, 11's, 9's, or 7 year old players. Each move up the
age bracket entails an adjustment to new playing dimensions. Newly formed teams of mixed ages might also fall into
this category depending upon amount of organization, player experience, and number of practices before the season begins.
The National Division
Teams in the National division will be older in age and\or experience.
They are assembled with players of narrow age classification for tournaments and post-season play. Rosters will
have remained largely intact for a number of years. New Teams with a consistent returning nucleus, skilled recruitment, knowledgeable
coaches with more rigorous practice and game schedules may feel that playing "Up" is the path to pursue for
a more competitive experience towards the development of their players.
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