PAA Baseball Transitioning to Major-Minor Pennsbury Athletic ...
PAA Baseball Transitioning to Major-Minor Pennsbury Athletic Association is transitioning to a Major-Minor format for 10, 11 and 12 year old baseball players beginning with the spring 2014 season. The transition to the Major-Minor format is designed to advance player development and balance competitive play for all of our Cal Ripken Division baseball players. The Major–Minor format is offered by Babe Ruth League’s Cal Ripken Baseball Division as an alternative to our current league format. There will be no changes in the format of our league’s other age groups. Here is a summary of how the Major-Minor format will work: Major League (PAA’s Schmidt Division): This division is primarily for ballplayers ages 11 and 12 though some 10 year old players may be drafted. This division features a 50' pitching distance and 70' base paths. (Macclesfield Park field B, Afton Elementary School field). All players must participate in evaluations to be held indoors in January and/or February and will be selected individually by team managers through a draft to be held in late February. Once selected for a Major League team, a player remains with the team throughout the remainder of his Major League career (at 13 players advance to the Babe Ruth Division and play on 60’/90’ fields). Team roster size typically will not exceed 12 players. Major League play in PAA is governed by those rules published by Babe Ruth League/Cal Ripken Baseball and PAA. Teams typically practice twice a week and play two games a week. Minor League (PAA’s Carlton Division): This division is primarily for ballplayers ages 10 and 11 who will build and refine their fundamental skills while beginning to understand game strategy and teamwork. This Division features a 46' pitching distance and 60' base paths (Stoddart Fields 1, 2 & 3). Team rosters are typically limited to 12 players and managers select their teams through a draft made up of players not selected into the Majors. Teams usually practice twice a week and play two games a week.
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PAA Major – Minor Guidelines: 1) In the first season (spring 2014) of Majors–Minor baseball, all 10, 11 and 12 year old players must participate in scheduled evaluations prior to the draft. Any player who does not participate in at least one (1) scheduled evaluation will be placed on a Minor League team. 2) In the first season (spring 2014) of Major-Minor baseball, all 11 year old players who were registered with PAA for the spring 2013 season will be grandfathered to a Major (Schmidt Division) team as long as they attend one of the scheduled evaluations. Players who do not attend at least one evaluation will be drafted onto a Minor league team. Players will not be demoted from the Major League to the Minor League after the draft unless moving that player is in the interest of the player’s safety. 3) In subsequent seasons all 10, 11 and 12 year players not currently on a Major League team roster MUST attend at least one scheduled evaluation prior to the draft. Returning players on a Major League roster will remain with their team from the previous season. 4) Players will be evaluated during tryouts by Major League team managers and independent evaluators who are unaffiliated with any Major League team. All players who participate in evaluations will be placed in the draft. 5) All Major League team managers will draft their own children/players as follows: a. The manager’s first child/player no later than the third (3rd) round of the draft, b. All subsequent children no later than the sixth (6th) round. c. A team with siblings will sit out the next draft round(s) to allow the other teams to catch up. 6) Managers will be selected by a committee consisting of the PAA Commissioner, Vice Commissioner of Baseball and the Schmidt Division/Major League director). Prospective managers may apply for consideration following registration and prior to the first scheduled tryout. Major League managers must earn their coaching certification from Babe Ruth League/Cal Ripken Baseball prior to the draft. Assistant coaches are not selected prior to the draft and certification is optional though strongly recommended.
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PAA Major – Minor Guidelines (continued): 7) Following scheduled evaluations, Major League managers will receive a list of registered players who attended at least one scheduled evaluation as well as the scores they and the independent evaluators assigned to players during the tryouts. Managers will not see the evaluations of the other managers. 8) The order of the draft will be determined by the number of players returning to each team. The team having the fewest returning players taking the first draft pick. The team with the next fewest returning players having the second pick, etc. In the case of a newly formed team, that team will be considered to have the least numbers of players and will receive the first draft pick.
“I am very excited about Babe Ruth League's new 70' program,” said Cal Ripken, Jr. “This is a wonderful, proactive step for youth baseball and, I believe, it will have a tremendous impact on the youth game. These days many kids are bigger and stronger than when we were kids and it was necessary to provide them with an option that will allow them to take their game to the next level. The 70' program will allow its participants to make an easier jump to the 60-90 field and, for many of these talented youngsters, it will allow them to enjoy a game that is more true and a better fit for them all the way around. The growth that this will allow them to experience with every aspect of their game is immeasurable.” — Cal Ripken, Jr.
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PAA Major–Minor Frequently Asked Questions: Q. Why is PAA transitioning to the Major-Minor format? A. The transition to Major-Minor is designed to advance player development and balance competitive play for all of our Cal Ripken Division baseball players. Q. What are the major differences between Major and Minor leagues? A. The two major differences are the field dimensions that the two leagues play on and the grouping of players by developed skills along with age as opposed to just age.
Major League teams will play on fields with a 50' pitching distance and 70' base paths (Macclesfield ‘B’) and Minor League teams will play on fields with a 46' pitching distance and 60' base paths (Stoddart Fields 1, 2 & 3). Major League is primarily for ballplayers ages 11 and 12 though some 10 year old players may be drafted based on their baseball skills. Minor League is primarily for ballplayers ages 10 and 11 who will build and refine their fundamental skills. In both cases, players will practice, play and learn with players of similar age and skills.
Q. What are the major advantages of the Cal Ripken/PAA Major-Minor format compared to other leagues? A. While other youth baseball organizations evaluate and draft their players in a major-minor system, major league players continue to play on the smaller 46’/60’ fields while the Cal Ripken Major League plays on the larger 50’/70’ field preparing players for the move to 60’/90’ fields at 13 years of age. Q. Why make this change now? A. Babe Ruth League and Cal Ripken Baseball have made this format available to its sanctioned leagues for several years and the PAA Board of Directors has discussed it for the past few seasons. The current Board has decided to move forward based on the player development and balanced competitive advantages along with the willingness of committed league volunteers to undertake this process. Q. How many Major League and Minor League teams will there be? A. While the actual number of teams will be determined by the number of 10, 11 and 12 year old players who register for the spring 2014 season, we expect about eight (8) Major League and eight (8) Minor League teams.
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PAA Major–Minor Frequently Asked Questions (continued): Q. How will PAA ensure that managers and coaches focus on player development? A. Beginning with the spring 2014 season, all Major League managers must have completed a Babe Ruth League/Cal Ripken Baseball coach’s certification. Certification will be optional but strongly suggested for all other baseball managers and coaches. The grouping of players by skills and age also allows the coaching staff to plan and execute more efficient and effective practice plans and drills. Q. What advantages do Major League players have playing on 50’-70’ fields? A. The Major League program will enable players to make an easier transition to the larger fields used by Babe Ruth (ages 13-15), Senior Babe Ruth (ages 16-19), high school and other programs with regulation 60’ pitching distance and 90' base paths – as opposed to moving all the way up to the largest field from the 46’-60’ fields. Q. I have two (2) players 10 – 12 years old who are trying out. Will they be placed on the same team? A. Yes, as long as both players are evaluated at the same level (either Major or Minor). If siblings are not both placed in the Major League draft, they may opt to both play in the Minor League or may opt to be separated based on evaluated skills. Q. My son made the Majors but only wants to play with his friends, who are in the Minors. Can my son play in the Minors? A. The goal of the Major-Minor format is to group players by developed skills as well as age. A player evaluated to be a Major Division player should play at that level unless there are special circumstances that are raised prior to the start of the season which will be reviewed and considered. Q. How will Managers and coaches be selected? A. Parents/guardians can express their interest in managing, coaching or volunteering in other ways during the player registration process. Managers will be selected by a committee consisting of the PAA Commissioner, Vice Commissioner of Baseball and the respective Major League and Minor League directors. Major League managers must earn their coaching certification from Babe Ruth League/Cal Ripken Baseball prior to the draft. Assistant coaches are not selected prior to the draft and certification is optional though recommended.
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PAA Major–Minor Frequently Asked Questions (continued): Q. My son had a bad experience with his manager last year. Is it possible for him to play for another manager this season? A. PAA does not encourage roster changes based on manager preference and such changes will not be made routinely. Depending on the circumstances, individual cases may be reviewed and an exception made if appropriate. Q. If my son is drafted onto a Major League team and does not do well, will he be sent to a Minor League team during the season? A. Players will not be moved from Majors to Minors during the season unless a special circumstance presents itself that requires that change. Q. When will registration for the spring 2014 season begin? A. PAA’s convenient online registration will open on or about December 1, 2013. Q. When and where will the player evaluations be held? A. Evaluations will be held at a nearby indoor facility (tentatively) on the following dates*: - Saturday, January 25, 2014 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Fielding - Saturday, February 1, 2014 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Hitting - Sunday, February 9, 2014 from 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM – Pitching and Catching* *Only players interested in pitching and playing catcher need to attend this session. Not attending this session will NOT impact the rest of a player’s evaluation. Q. Who will evaluate the players at the tryouts? A. Player evaluations will be conducted by team managers and independent evaluators. Independent evaluators will not include managers, coaches or parents of any 10, 11, or 12 year old player being evaluated. Q. When will the draft be held? A. The player draft for Major–Minor Leagues 2014 Season will be held (tentatively) February 22nd & 23rd. Q. How will players who register late be treated? A. In the first season (spring 2014) all players must participate in at least one (1) scheduled evaluation. Players who register after the evaluations will be placed on a Minor League team. 6
Q. What rules do Major League and Minor Leagues follow? A. major and Minor Leagues will follow the rules established by Babe Ruth League and Cal Ripken Baseball for those divisions.
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PAA Major – Minor Guidelines: 1) In the first season (spring 2014) of Majors–Minor baseball, all 10, 11 and 12 year old players must participate in scheduled evaluations prior to the draft. Any player who does not participate in at least one (1) scheduled evaluation will be placed on a Minor League team. 2) In the first season (spring 2014) of Major-Minor baseball, all 11 year old players who were registered with PAA for the spring 2013 season will be grandfathered to a Major (Schmidt Division) team as long as they attend one of the scheduled evaluations. Players who do not attend at least one evaluation will be drafted onto a Minor league team. Players will not be demoted from the Major League to the Minor League after the draft unless moving that player is in the interest of the player’s safety. 3) In subsequent seasons all 10, 11 and 12 year players not currently on a Major League team roster MUST attend at least one scheduled evaluation prior to the draft. Returning players on a Major League roster will remain with their team from the previous season. 4) Players will be evaluated during tryouts by Major League team managers and independent evaluators who are unaffiliated with any Major League team. All players who participate in evaluations will be placed in the draft. 5) All Major League team managers will draft their own children/players as follows: a. The manager’s first child/player no later than the third (3rd) round of the draft, b. All subsequent children no later than the sixth (6th) round. c. A team with siblings will sit out the next draft round(s) to allow the other teams to catch up. 6) Managers will be selected by a committee consisting of the PAA Commissioner, Vice Commissioner of Baseball and the Schmidt Division/Major League director). Prospective managers may apply for consideration following registration and prior to the first scheduled tryout. Major League managers must earn their coaching certification from Babe Ruth League/Cal Ripken Baseball prior to the draft. Assistant coaches are not selected prior to the draft and certification is optional though strongly recommended.
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PAA Major – Minor Guidelines (continued): 7) Following scheduled evaluations, Major League managers will receive a list of registered players who attended at least one scheduled evaluation as well as the scores they and the independent evaluators assigned to players during the tryouts. Managers will not see the evaluations of the other managers. 8) The order of the draft will be determined by the number of players returning to each team. The team having the fewest returning players taking the first draft pick. The team with the next fewest returning players having the second pick, etc. In the case of a newly formed team, that team will be considered to have the least numbers of players and will receive the first draft pick.
“I am very excited about Babe Ruth League's new 70' program,” said Cal Ripken, Jr. “This is a wonderful, proactive step for youth baseball and, I believe, it will have a tremendous impact on the youth game. These days many kids are bigger and stronger than when we were kids and it was necessary to provide them with an option that will allow them to take their game to the next level. The 70' program will allow its participants to make an easier jump to the 60-90 field and, for many of these talented youngsters, it will allow them to enjoy a game that is more true and a better fit for them all the way around. The growth that this will allow them to experience with every aspect of their game is immeasurable.” — Cal Ripken, Jr.
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PAA Major–Minor Frequently Asked Questions: Q. Why is PAA transitioning to the Major-Minor format? A. The transition to Major-Minor is designed to advance player development and balance competitive play for all of our Cal Ripken Division baseball players. Q. What are the major differences between Major and Minor leagues? A. The two major differences are the field dimensions that the two leagues play on and the grouping of players by developed skills along with age as opposed to just age.
Major League teams will play on fields with a 50' pitching distance and 70' base paths (Macclesfield ‘B’) and Minor League teams will play on fields with a 46' pitching distance and 60' base paths (Stoddart Fields 1, 2 & 3). Major League is primarily for ballplayers ages 11 and 12 though some 10 year old players may be drafted based on their baseball skills. Minor League is primarily for ballplayers ages 10 and 11 who will build and refine their fundamental skills. In both cases, players will practice, play and learn with players of similar age and skills.
Q. What are the major advantages of the Cal Ripken/PAA Major-Minor format compared to other leagues? A. While other youth baseball organizations evaluate and draft their players in a major-minor system, major league players continue to play on the smaller 46’/60’ fields while the Cal Ripken Major League plays on the larger 50’/70’ field preparing players for the move to 60’/90’ fields at 13 years of age. Q. Why make this change now? A. Babe Ruth League and Cal Ripken Baseball have made this format available to its sanctioned leagues for several years and the PAA Board of Directors has discussed it for the past few seasons. The current Board has decided to move forward based on the player development and balanced competitive advantages along with the willingness of committed league volunteers to undertake this process. Q. How many Major League and Minor League teams will there be? A. While the actual number of teams will be determined by the number of 10, 11 and 12 year old players who register for the spring 2014 season, we expect about eight (8) Major League and eight (8) Minor League teams.
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PAA Major–Minor Frequently Asked Questions (continued): Q. How will PAA ensure that managers and coaches focus on player development? A. Beginning with the spring 2014 season, all Major League managers must have completed a Babe Ruth League/Cal Ripken Baseball coach’s certification. Certification will be optional but strongly suggested for all other baseball managers and coaches. The grouping of players by skills and age also allows the coaching staff to plan and execute more efficient and effective practice plans and drills. Q. What advantages do Major League players have playing on 50’-70’ fields? A. The Major League program will enable players to make an easier transition to the larger fields used by Babe Ruth (ages 13-15), Senior Babe Ruth (ages 16-19), high school and other programs with regulation 60’ pitching distance and 90' base paths – as opposed to moving all the way up to the largest field from the 46’-60’ fields. Q. I have two (2) players 10 – 12 years old who are trying out. Will they be placed on the same team? A. Yes, as long as both players are evaluated at the same level (either Major or Minor). If siblings are not both placed in the Major League draft, they may opt to both play in the Minor League or may opt to be separated based on evaluated skills. Q. My son made the Majors but only wants to play with his friends, who are in the Minors. Can my son play in the Minors? A. The goal of the Major-Minor format is to group players by developed skills as well as age. A player evaluated to be a Major Division player should play at that level unless there are special circumstances that are raised prior to the start of the season which will be reviewed and considered. Q. How will Managers and coaches be selected? A. Parents/guardians can express their interest in managing, coaching or volunteering in other ways during the player registration process. Managers will be selected by a committee consisting of the PAA Commissioner, Vice Commissioner of Baseball and the respective Major League and Minor League directors. Major League managers must earn their coaching certification from Babe Ruth League/Cal Ripken Baseball prior to the draft. Assistant coaches are not selected prior to the draft and certification is optional though recommended.
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PAA Major–Minor Frequently Asked Questions (continued): Q. My son had a bad experience with his manager last year. Is it possible for him to play for another manager this season? A. PAA does not encourage roster changes based on manager preference and such changes will not be made routinely. Depending on the circumstances, individual cases may be reviewed and an exception made if appropriate. Q. If my son is drafted onto a Major League team and does not do well, will he be sent to a Minor League team during the season? A. Players will not be moved from Majors to Minors during the season unless a special circumstance presents itself that requires that change. Q. When will registration for the spring 2014 season begin? A. PAA’s convenient online registration will open on or about December 1, 2013. Q. When and where will the player evaluations be held? A. Evaluations will be held at a nearby indoor facility (tentatively) on the following dates*: - Saturday, January 25, 2014 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Fielding - Saturday, February 1, 2014 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Hitting - Sunday, February 9, 2014 from 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM – Pitching and Catching* *Only players interested in pitching and playing catcher need to attend this session. Not attending this session will NOT impact the rest of a player’s evaluation. Q. Who will evaluate the players at the tryouts? A. Player evaluations will be conducted by team managers and independent evaluators. Independent evaluators will not include managers, coaches or parents of any 10, 11, or 12 year old player being evaluated. Q. When will the draft be held? A. The player draft for Major–Minor Leagues 2014 Season will be held (tentatively) February 22nd & 23rd. Q. How will players who register late be treated? A. In the first season (spring 2014) all players must participate in at least one (1) scheduled evaluation. Players who register after the evaluations will be placed on a Minor League team. 6
Q. What rules do Major League and Minor Leagues follow? A. major and Minor Leagues will follow the rules established by Babe Ruth League and Cal Ripken Baseball for those divisions.
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