New online capabilities have registrations arriving with such speed that a little clarification of best online use is in order.  If you need help finding a team continue Signing Up immediately.  The earliest possible entry into our listing will help.

If you will be coaching in the league this year we are asking that you complete the Team Entry Application.  The form is designed to aid those teams needing a few more players.  However, information provided by every team will be used for identifying authorized coaches, enhance the scheduling process, and serve as a list for inclement weather notification.  

If you are already with a completed team it is unnecessary for your players to use the individual online registration.  Our preference for accounting purposes is the paper registrations with payments be mailed or handed in by the team manager as a complete team package. 

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. 

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.  The first instinct of most coaches is try to play against teams their own age and skill level during the transition year. 

Actual age and a team's skill level can be unrelated.  Additional information can be taken into consideration as well.  Teams that have a consistent returning nucleus of players, skilled recruitment, knowledgeable coaches with more rigorous practice and game schedules will fall out of the simple classification based upon age.  There will be those that feel playing "Up" is the path to pursue for a more competitive experience in the long run. 

It can be characterized that teams in the National division will be older in age and experience.  Teams assembled for affiliated tournament and post-season play have players with narrow age classification.  All the players will meet the standards required by the sanctioning body they affiliate and their rosters will have remained largely intact for a number of years.  If teams have been playing as a unit for more than two years they are ready for classification beyond age-only criteria. 

How long a team has played together is an indication of matched priorities among players, parents, and coaches.  A shared perspective and realistic expectations are how teams stay cohesive over time.  Player assignment through open league registration periods are the most challenging issues for league organizers.  Newly assembled teams with mixed ages and unknown playing experience hopefully will have a choice how best to develop their players with divisional separation.