LAYBS Player Divisions

Baseball Division

T-Ball Baseball
Eligibility Requirements
Age: 5 - 6
For 5 and 6 year old boys and girls, we offer a T-ball program to introduce them to the game of baseball. They will be taught hitting techniques off a batting tee, fielding and throwing skills with a soft squishy baseball, and base running skills along with introducing them to the most basic rules of the game.

Any 6 year olds who have already played a year of T-ball and are comfortable with their hitting and fielding skill level are also eligible to sign up for our Farm Baseball program, in which a pitching machine is used to pitch to the batters. For more information on this program, refer to the Farm Baseball program link under the Baseball category on the previous page.

All boys and girls league ages 5 and 6 are eligible to participate in our T-ball program, regardless of where they live. There are no evaluations for this program, and all who sign up for it are guaranteed to be placed on a team. However, proof of age (original birth certificate) must be brought to the fields (along with the registration fee if not yet fully paid) on one of our evaluation dates between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM, and presented at the sign-in table at the Snack Shack in order to certify each child for participation in the program.

Rookie Baseball
Eligibility Requirements
Age: 6 - 8

We offer a Rookie Baseball Division for 6 year olds who have played T-Ball and are ready for a higher level of play and all 7 year olds. Those 6 year olds that register for Rookie baseball must have played T-Ball before and should be prepared to hit machine pitching and field balls that may at times be hit considerably harder than in T-Ball. We also allow 8 year olds with no Rookie experience to play in the Rookie division before moving up to live pitching in the Single or Double A division.

In Rookie baseball, squishy baseballs are used as in T-Ball, but hitters will attempt to hit off of a pitching machine instead of a batting tee. However, if hitters fail to make contact off the machine in 5 attempts, they will be offered a chance to hit off a batting tee. The goal of this division is to teach all kids to be able to make contact off of a pitching machine to prepare them for higher levels of baseball.

In Rookie, since the balls are moving towards the bat instead of being stationary on a tee, and since the kids are a little older and stronger and have more developed baseball skills, the hit baseballs can come at the fielders significantly faster than in T-Ball. Any 6 year olds that may not be ready for fielding at this level should return to T-ball one more year before playing at this level. In this division players will be taught more defensive skills, including the concepts of force outs and unforced outs requiring tags.

All boys and girls league age 7 and those age 6 with T-ball experience (and inexperienced or safety-risk 8 year olds) are eligible to participate in our Rookie Program, regardless of where they live. All eligible players who sign up for this program are guaranteed to be placed on a team in this division, but must be evaluated prior to being drafted onto a team. Evaluations for this program will be held between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM on Sat. January 16 or Sat. January 23rd. You will be notified by mail of your child's exact evaluation date and time during the week prior. Proof of age (original birth certificate) must be brought to the evaluations (along with the registration fee if not yet fully paid) and presented at the sign-in table at the Snack Shack in order to certify each child for participation in the program and register him/her to be evaluated.

Double AA Baseball
Eligibility Requirements
Age: 7 - 9

We offer a Double AA Baseball program for all 8 and 9 year old boys and girls (as of April 30, 2008) and a few of the highest skilled 7 year olds who have excelled in Rookie baseball and are ready to advance to a level of baseball with live pitching. The Double A Baseball division is the biggest transition for children to make in their young baseball careers, and is the level where squishy baseballs are replaced by the regular hard balls. The players will pitch to the hitters, but if 4 balls are thrown before the batter strikes out or puts the ball in play, a coach will finish pitching to that batter. This gives pitchers the opportunity to adjust to pitching in game situations without having to worry about walks. In the latter part of the season, the transistion will be made to full player pitching with walks and regular baseball rules.

Double AA Baseball is where all players will gradually make the transition to playing complete baseball rules by the end of the season, including base stealing. This can be a very stressful experience for children, especially when they face live pitching for the first time,which tends to be very wild at this level. We take every precaution to insure the safety of our young ball players, including requiring facemasks on all batting helmets used at this level. However, getting hit by a pitch, even though they are thrown relatively slowly, is part of the game. A child not prepared for this can be traumatized and permanently discouraged from continuing their enjoyment of the game in future years. Any 8 year olds that are not prepared to make this transition should sign up for the Rookie Division, so they can get another year to acclimate to squishy baseballs being pitched from an accurate pitching machine before they venture into the arena of live pitching with hard baseballs.

Baseball is a high-skill game requring a higher degree of athleticism than most youth sports programs. At LAYBS we realize that some children simply don't possess the physical coordination that others do, yet we believe they still deserve the opportunity to enjoy the wonders of the game of baseball just as much as more athletically gifted children. Furthermore, some children may not begin playing organized baseball until an older age than many kids. We wish to provide a program that can be fun for all players, no matter what their skill level and degree of athleticism, without putting anyone at risk of injury by playing in a division that is inappropriate for their skill level. Consequently, we allow a diverse range of ages in each division to accommodate such concerns. If you feel your older child has neither the experience nor the skill set to play with others their age, please make a point of signing them up in the lowest division for which they are eligible by age. They may still be selected for a higher division if their evaluation indicates they are appropriate at that level, but, in such a situation, your approval will be sought to move them up to a higher division than the one in which they are registered.

All boys and girls who are league ages 8 or 9, as well as a few of the highest skilled 7 year olds ready to hit live pitching, and the few inexperienced or unskilled 10 year olds, are eligible to participate in our Double AA Baseball program, regardless of where they live. Any player who registers for the Double AA Division is guaranteed to be drafted onto a team, but not necessarily in the Double AA division. If significant safety concerns exist for any 8 year old registrants, they may be placed by virtue of the draft process in the Rookie division instead, where there is minimal danger of being hit by a pitch since pitching machines are used. In addition, only a very small number of the top 7 year olds will have spots available on a Minor B team. Priority will be given to insure that all eligible 8, 9, and 10 year olds will be placed first on the Double AA teams, and only the remaining available spots will be allocated for the top 7 year olds in the draft. All others will be placed on a Rookie team, even if it is their 2nd year in the Rookie division.

Evaluations will be held for every registrant of this program between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM on Saturday, January 16th and Saturday, January 23rd. All registered participants will receive a card the week before their scheduled evaluation date with the exact time the child is scheduled to be evaluated. Proof of age (original birth certificate) must be brought to the evaluations (along with the registration fee if not yet fully paid) and presented at the sign-in table at the Snack Shack in order to certify each child for participation in the program and register him/her to be evaluated.

Triple AAA Baseball
Eligibility Requirements
Age: 9 - 11

Our Triple A Baseball program is a competetive level designed to prepare 9, 10, and 11 year olds for the highest level of play experienced in the Major division without the intimidation of facing the best and fastest pitchers in the league. It also affords a competetive environment for inexperienced 12 year olds to enjoy the game at a level more appropriate for their skill set than at the highest levels of play found in Majors. In the Triple A division, full baseball rules with live pitching begins from the first game. After a few practice games, scores and standings are kept for seeding in the LAYBS post season tournament. This LAYBS tournament determines which teams will advance to the post season tournament with the Simi Valley Cal Ripken league. The Executive Board and Post Season Committee has worked hard with the President and Represenatives of the Simi Valley league to insure a positive and exciting Post Season experience for our upper division players.

It is important to note that many 9 year olds who sign up for Triple A will not end up in the Triple A division, but instead will drop down to Double A by virtue of the draft process under which teams in each division are formed following player evaluations. Usually 30% to 50% of the 9 year old registrants in the league will end up in Double A, depending upon the numbers of registrants in other age groups. If you feel your 9 year old child is not quite ready for the caliber of play in Triple A, you should sign them up for Minor B instead, and note your concerns in the Special Reguest field of the registration form.

All 10 and 11 year olds are eligible to play in either the Triple A or the Major division. However, only a few of the highest skilled 10's may get drafted up into Majors, and a larger number of 11 year olds will as well, but some will not. If you want your 10 or 11 year old child to be eligible to be drafted into the Major division, you should register them for Majors instead of Triple A. However, be aware they may still end up in Triple A due to the draft process; there is no guarantee for anyone to play in Majors except 12 year olds who are not deemed a saftey risk at that level.

In rare situations where lack of experience or skills is a significant concern for the caliber of play in Triple A, 10 year olds whose safety might be endangered by the faster pitching and harder hit and thrown baseballs prevalent in this division may be considered to be held down in the Double A division. If you feel your 10 year old child's safety is a concern playing in Triple A, register them instead for the Double A division, and note your concerns in the Special Reguest field of the registration form. Approval of the league Safety Officer and Executive Board will be required for your 10 year old child to play in Double A.

Baseball is a high-skill game requring a higher degree of athleticism than most youth sports programs. At LAYBS we realize that some children simply don't possess the physical coordination that others do, yet we believe they still deserve the opportunity to enjoy the wonders of the game of baseball just as much as more athletically gifted children. Furthermore, some children may not begin playing organized baseball until an older age than many kids. We wish to provide a program that can be fun for all players, no matter what their skill level and degree of athleticism, without putting anyone at risk of injury by playing in a division that is inappropriate for their skill level. Consequently, we allow a diverse range of ages in each division to accommodate such concerns. If you feel your older child has neither the experience nor the skill set to play with others their age, please make a point of signing them up in the lowest division for which they are eligible by age. They may still be selected for a higher division if their evaluation indicates they are appropriate at that level, but, in such a situation, your approval will be sought to move them up to a higher division than the one in which they are registered.

All boys and girls who are league ages 9 through 11 are eligible to register for the Double A division, regardless of where they live. Evaluations will be held for every registrant of this program between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM on Saturday, January 16th and Saturday, January 23rd. All registered participants will receive a card the week before their scheduled evaluation date with the exact time the child will be scheduled to be evaluated. Proof of age (original birth certificate) must be brought to the evaluations (along with the registration fee if not yet fully paid) and presented at the sign-in table at the Snack Shack in order to certify each child for participation in the program and register him/her to be evaluated.

Major Baseball
Eligibility Requirements
Age: 10 - 12

We offer a Major Baseball program for 10, 11, and 12 year olds. This is the premier Cal Ripken League division, whose All Stars play in a series of postseason tournaments that lead all the way to the Babe Ruth World Series held every August rotating locations around the country. Only the very best of the 10 year olds and the better 11 year olds will make this division. New this year to the Major Division are new rules for more advanced play. Our Field 1 has been converted to represent these rule changes. For the first time in Long Beach at the Major Division level, we have 70 foot bases, a 50 foot pitching mound, and baserunners get to lead off bases and steal without waiting for the ball to cross home plate. Also, if a player strikes out and the the ball touches the ground, the batter can run to first base (if open or 2 outs) and be safe if the catcher does not throw him out (dropped 3rd strike rule). The pitching is very advanced, with fastballs usually in the 50-60 MPH range and offspeed pitches commonplace. Hit baseballs (line drives) can often exceed 100 MPH! Players should only register for this program if they are fully prepared to participate at this most advanced level of Cal Ripken play.

In very rare situations where safety is a significant concern, 12 year olds whose safety might be endangered by the high speed pitching or very hard hit and thrown baseballs prevalent in the Major division may be considered to be held down in the Triple A division. If you feel your 12 year old child's safety is a concern playing in Majors, register them anyway for the Major division (age eligibility precludes Triple A registration of 12 year olds on the website), but note your concerns in the Special Reguest field of the registration form and someone from the league will personally discuss your situation with you following evaluations. You will reguire league approval of the Safety Officer and Executive Board for your 12 year old child to play in Triple A.

Evaluations will be held for every registrant of this program between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM on Saturday, January 16th and Saturday, January 23rd. Everyone who signs up for this program must be evaluated to be drafted onto a team in this division. All registered participants will receive a card the week before their scheduled evaluation date with the exact time the child is scheduled to be evaluated. If a scheduled evaluation date is missed the first weekend, it will be rescheduled the following weekend. If both evaluation dates are missed, the child will not be eligible to play in Majors and will be drafted into Minor A instead. Proof of age (original birth certificate) must be brought to the evaluations (along with the registration fee if not yet fully paid) and presented at the sign-in table at the Snack Shack in order to certify each child for participation in the program and register him/her to be evaluated.

Softball Division

2010 SPRING SOFTBALL - DIVISION DETAILS

Ponytail (6U)	4 1/2 years to 6 years Birthdates from January 1, 2003 to June 30, 2005
8U	8 yrs old and under Birthdates from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2002
10U	10 yrs old and under Birthdates from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2000
12U	12 yrs old and under Birthdates from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 1998
14U	14 yrs old and under Birthdates from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 1996

Ponytail Softball
(6 & UNDER)
10” softball (RIF)

This division introduces softball to very young girls who have likely never played softball and whose skill and coordination are just developing. Each batter will receive four (4) coach pitches then the batter will hit off the tee. Every inning, the team will bat every player and the defensive team will play all players on the field. No outs will be enforced, but if the batter or runner is put out by a defensive player, she will return to the dugout, the tie will always go to the runner. First and third base coaches will also act as umpires. Players are taught the very basics of how to throw the ball, field a grounder, swing a bat, and which way to run the bases. No scores are kept. Ponytail games are on Saturdays and each team will hold one practice per week (day of the week TBD).

There are no evaluations for this program, and all who sign up for it are guaranteed to be placed on a team. However, proof of age (original birth certificate) must be brought to the fields on one of our evaluation dates (along with the registration fee if not yet fully paid) and presented at the sign-in table at the Snack Shack between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM on Saturday, January 16th or Saturday, January 23rd, 2010, in order to certify each child for participation in the program.

8 and Under Softball
Pitching Distance 30’
Base paths 55’
10” softball (RIF)

This division seeks to explain and demonstrate the sport of softball to its players by introducing a greater elaboration of game rules. Players begin to pitch for themselves, and are also assisted with the help of a coach’s pitch (until midway during the season per ASA rules). Emphasis is on good fundamental throwing, fielding, and hitting skills and all players are encouraged to develop something of a sound pitching motion. Coaches are encouraged to introduce other skills such as bunting, sliding, and stealing. During the season scores and standings are not kept. The season will conclude with an in-house championship tournament. Occasional inter-league home & away games may be part of the schedule (as needed). Equal playing time is emphasized, everyone bats in the order, no players will sit out two innings in a row and no one sits more than two innings per game. Every player should have an inning of infield and an inning of outfield per game. Paid professional umpires are used for the games after the initial few weeks. Games schedule will typically include 1 game on Saturday and 1 game during the week, as well as practice per the manager’s discretion.

Evaluations will be held for every registrant of this program between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM on January 16th or Saturday, January 23rd, 2010. All registered participants will receive a card the week before their scheduled evaluation date with the exact time the child is scheduled to be evaluated. Proof of age (original birth certificate) must be brought to the evaluations (along with the registration fee if not yet fully paid) and presented at the sign-in table at the Snack Shack in order to certify each child for participation in the program and register her to be evaluated.

10 and Under Softball
Pitching Distance 35’
Base paths 60’
11” softball (RIF)

Fundamentals are still emphasized here but some competitive spirit begins to show among the players in this division. More advanced rules are introduced and pitching development is a big priority. Some finer points of hitting are developed and bunting becomes part of the game. Base running skills and team defensive play are introduced, while basic throwing; fielding, and hitting skills are reinforced. The season includes 1 mid-week game and a Saturday game each week. The season ends with an in-house championship tournament. Occasional inter-league home & away games may be part of the schedule (as needed). Scores and team standings are kept after the first month of the season. Inter-league games do not count toward standings. Equal playing time is emphasized, everyone bats in the order, no players will sit out two innings in a row and no one sits more than two innings per game. Every player should have an inning of infield and an inning of outfield per game. The Free Substitution rule is used and pitching limits, run limits and a few other limitations to the game are imposed. Paid professional umpires are used for the games.

Evaluations will be held for every registrant of this program between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM on Saturday, January 16th or Saturday, January 23rd, 2010. All registered participants will receive a card the week before their scheduled evaluation date with the exact time the child is scheduled to be evaluated. Proof of age (original birth certificate) must be brought to the evaluations (along with the registration fee if not yet fully paid) and presented at the sign-in table at the Snack Shack in order to certify each child for participation in the program and register her to be evaluated.

12 and Under Softball
Pitching Distance 40’
Base paths 60’
12” softball (Dream Seam)

While strong advanced skill development, team play, and fun are still the emphasis, the girls become noticeably competitive. Pitching development, developing more than one pitch with pitchers is encouraged. Advanced hitting, bunting, and base running techniques are taught. Team play is emphasized on defense while a consistent demonstration of fielding fundamentals is now the goal. The full complement of ASA rules is in effect. The season includes 1 mid-week game and a Saturday game each week. Occasional inter-league home & away games may be part of the schedule (as needed). The season ends with an in-house championship tournament. Paid professional umpires are used for the games.

14 and Under Softball
Pitching Distance 40’
Base paths 60’
12” softball (Dream Seam)

This more competitively oriented division is comprised of many players who may be advancing to high school play. The goal is to get these players ready for this level of play. Pitchers have probably been at it for a few years and pitching strategy and throwing more than one pitch is emphasized. Advanced team play and offensive and defensive game strategies are taught and executed. Depending on the number of teams that get formed in this division the games are usually inter-league game with an inter-league end of season the tournament. The season will include mid-week games and a Saturday game. Paid professional umpires are used for the games.

Los Altos Youth Baseball & Softball