2024 Wilson Youth baseball programming.
2024 League programming overview, Baseball.
Wilson Youth Baseball 2024 Spring Baseball Program Overview
We are pleased to present the following program offerings for our baseball players aged 5 through 12:
***IMPORTANT BASEBALL AGE***
Please note that a player’s “baseball age” will be determined by his age as of May 1st.
NON-TOURNAMENT 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):
· A Level:
o 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
o Instructional baseball – no scores kept during games, no standings, or playoffs.
o 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.
o Strictly “in-house” – all games played locally throughout the Wilson School District
o The season will begin in mid-April and will end in early June
o Families should expect to have 2-3 events (games or practices) per week, including some weekend events
o The season will culminate in a year-end double-elimination tournament where players will get to experience “competitive” baseball
· AA Level:
o Hybrid Coach Pitch and Player Pitch level designed primarily for 8-year-old players and “developing” 9-year-old players
o Instructional baseball – no scores kept during games, no standings, or playoffs.
o 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.
o Games will be a combination of Coach Pitch and Player Pitch to help ease the transition to Player Pitch (AAA Level)
o Strictly “in-house” – all games played locally throughout the Wilson School District
o The season will begin in mid-April and will end in early June
o Families should expect to have 2-3 events (games or practices) per week, including some weekend events
o The season will culminate in a year-end double-elimination tournament where players will get to experience competitive baseball
· AAA Level (Ages 9-10):
o Traditional Player Pitch baseball for 9-year-olds and 10-year-olds
o Competitive baseball – games are played at 60’-46’ distances (base paths and pitching distances) – there are standings and playoffs
o Team rosters are developed to promote competitive balance
o Strictly “in-house” – all games played locally throughout the Wilson School District
o The season will begin in early April and will end in mid to late June
o Families should expect to have 3-4 events (games or practices) per week including some weekend events
o A postseason playoff will be held after the regular season ends
Majors (Ages 11-12):
o Traditional Player Pitch baseball for 11-year-olds and 12-year-olds
o Competitive baseball – games are played at 70’-50’ distances (base paths and pitching distances) – there are standings and playoffs
o Team rosters are developed to promote competitive balance
o Combination of “in-house” and “cross-over” games with other local organizations
o The season will begin in early April and will end in mid to late June
o Families should expect to have 3-4 events (games or practices) per week including some weekend events
o A postseason playoff will be held after the regular season ends
TOURNAMENT BASEBALL PROGRAM
Wilson Youth Baseball will once again offer a Tournament Baseball Program as an alternative track for players with more advanced skills who are interested in competing in a Tournament Baseball environment. All registered players are eligible to participate in our Tournament Baseball Program; however, players are NOT OBLIGATED to play on these teams. Evaluations for Tournament Teams will take place during our Winter Evaluations for all players on January 25th-26th. Selected players will be notified shortly after the Winter Evaluations. Players that are not selected or choose not to participate in Tournament Baseball will be placed on a non-tournament roster. Please note that Tournament 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 the costs of the Tournament Team season. Costs will be presented to parents/families prior to asking for a commitment to play Tournament Baseball. Tournament 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 will not be “double rostering” players on tournament and non-Tournament (“in-house”) teams. We will offer Tournament Baseball at the 12U, 11U, and 10U 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 teams will be selected in early May. Tournament teams are self-funded – some additional costs will apply. We anticipate fielding tournament teams at the 12U, 11U, 10U, 9U and 8U level. Tournament teams may be a combination of tournament and Non-tournament Team Players.
EVALUATION INFORMATION
All players aged 8-12 will be evaluated at our Winter Evaluations. Evaluations are conducted in order to promote competitive balance across our Non-tournament Baseball leagues and to identify players for our tournament 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 (13-15) will take place at a later date. We encourage all players who 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 (mid-May). Once again, we will coordinate our Seniors Baseball program with the West Lawn Owls program. Note: Wilson Youth Baseball will no longer be supporting summer baseball for players over 15 years of age. We anticipate sponsoring the following opportunities for our Senior Players:
· 13U Prep Babe Ruth
· 13U-15U Babe Ruth
· 14U Prep Legion
· 15U Junior Babe Ruth
· 18U Senior Babe Ruth
More information on Senior Baseball will be posted as we approach the opening of registration for Seniors Baseball.
Baseball Age Chart
Season of 2024:
Cal Ripken – Any player born prior to May 1, 2020, and on or after May 1, 2011, will be eligible for Cal Ripken Baseball League competition.
Any player that turns 4 years old in the months of May, June, July, and August of 2020 is eligible to participate in the Cal Ripken T-Ball Division
13-16 – Any player born prior to May 1, 2011, and on or after May 1, 2007, will be eligible for the Babe Ruth 13-16 League competition.
16-18 – Any player born on or after January 1, 2005, will be eligible for the Babe Ruth 16-18 League competition.
Double Roster Policy:
In an effort to protect the health of our athletes from the effects of arm and shoulder overuse, Wilson Youth Baseball does not allow registered players to play (double roster) for multiple teams or other organizations during any season for which the player is registered to play with Wilson Youth Baseball. Should Wilson Youth Baseball be made aware of such a situation involving one of its players, we will contact the parent or guardian of the player and give them an opportunity to choose which organization they will continue to play for. Should the player/guardian choose to discontinue playing for Wilson Youth Baseball, a refund will be provided. Failure to comply with this policy may result in loss of registration fees and removal from the league.
Double roster by definition:
Any player that has completed the registration process through Wilson Youth Baseball and Softball and is listed on an active Wilson Youth Baseball and Softball team roster for the current season and is concurrently participating in any manner, full-time or alternate, for a team that is unaffiliated with Wilson Youth Baseball and Softball is considered to be “double rostered”. Upon receiving credible evidence of a player being double rostered, which may include information obtained via social media, tournament documents, photographic documentation, or credible eyewitness accounts, the parent or guardian of the player will be contacted to discuss the matter. Information will be presented to the Wilson Youth Baseball and Softball Board of Directors, at which time, the Board will vote on any potential disciplinary action. Disciplinary action may include player suspension and loss of registration fees based on the findings of the Board and past violations of the double roster policy.
Wilson Youth Baseball and Softball.