Cazenovia Little League: Division Structure and Developmental Goals

Little League baseball is structured into various divisions, each designed to meet the developmental needs of children at different ages and skill levels. The journey typically begins with Tee Ball, which is aimed at introducing children aged 4 to 6 to the basics of baseball. 

Tee Ball

The primary goals of Tee Ball are to have fun, instruct children in the fundamentals of baseball, and allow them to experience the value of teamwork. Players start by hitting off a batting tee and may progress to hitting coach-pitched balls as the season advances. The focus is on developing basic skills such as throwing, catching, and base running in a supportive environment.

As players progress, they move through Coach-Pitch, AAA, and Majors levels.

Minors Division (Co-ed Coach Pitch)

Coach-Pitch is part of the Minor Baseball Division and focuses on building a solid foundation in baseball fundamentals. It introduces children to coach-pitched balls, emphasizing team-building and the development of emotional resilience. 

AAA Division

The AAA division introduces players to pitching and catching and is more competitive, targeting players aged 9-11 who have demonstrated basic skills. It emphasizes further skill development, teamwork, and an increased understanding of game strategies, preparing players for the Majors level. 

Majors Division

The Majors level is the most competitive, focusing on strategies and tactics while reinforcing fundamental skills. It prepares players for higher levels of competition and is typically for players aged 11 and 12. Throughout these divisions, the overarching goal is to foster a love for baseball, promote physical and emotional development, and teach valuable life skills like teamwork and sportsmanship.

The USA Baseball American Development Model (ADM)

Our Little League divisions align closely with the American Development Model (ADM) for baseball, which is a long-term athlete development plan created by USA Baseball with support from Major League Baseball. The ADM provides a multi-stage developmental pathway that corresponds to the various Little League divisions, focusing on age-appropriate skill development and fostering a love for the game.

The ADM consists of seven stages, with the first three being particularly relevant to Little League divisions:

1. Activate (Entry to 7 years): This stage aligns with Little League's Tee Ball division, focusing on fun, fitness, and fundamentals.

2. Discover (7-12 years): This stage corresponds to Little League's Minor League and Major divisions, where players continue to develop skills and learn more about the game.

3. Progress (12-14 years): This stage aligns with Little League's Intermediate (50/70) division, which serves as a transitional program.

4. Develop (14-16 years): This stage corresponds to Little League's Junior and Senior League divisions, where players further refine their skills.

The ADM emphasizes key principles that are reflected in Little League's structure:

1. Health and Safety: Both ADM and Little League prioritize keeping athletes active and safe, promoting long-term development and lifelong fitness.

2. Education and Development: The ADM provides resources and best practices for athletes, parents, coaches, and umpires, which aligns with Little League's focus on player development.

3. Grow the Game: Both initiatives aim to create opportunities for people to play baseball, regardless of ability.

4. Universal Availability: Little League and the ADM work to remove barriers of entry and provide playing opportunities for athletes everywhere.

5. Competition: Both emphasize positive teaching moments and life lessons through competition.

By following the ADM principles, Little League divisions provide a structured pathway for young players to develop their skills, fostering a love for the game while ensuring age-appropriate training and competition. This approach aims to increase participation, optimize performance, and create a positive baseball experience for all involved.

The Five Pillars of a Successful Baseball Practice Plan

Baseball practice plans are as varied as skillsets, builds, and ability levels. Obviously, there will be some key differences between college baseball practice plans and Little League baseball practice plans. Outdoor practices have more space to work with, while indoor baseball practice plans will be more limited in the range of drills to work with. Nevertheless, there are some key guidelines that nearly all successful practices follow.

1. Warm-Ups & Conditioning.
2. Skill-Specific Drills.
3. Team Drills.
4. Fun Drills.
5. Water Breaks.

Interested in learning more about being a coach, please reach out to Mike @ [email protected] with any questions!

All Star Selection Process for Softball and Baseball: 

Specific Little League rules that must be followed for All-Star team selection include:

- Participation in eight (8) regular season games in an age-appropriate division is required with his/her regular season team

- Players must be of the proper league age to participate on any Tournament team

- The announcement of the Tournament Team cannot be before May 15th 

Team selection process:

- Goal to have enough players to participate in all three levels of tournament play, which includes:

o   Minors Division (AAA level players but no Major players)

o   AAA Division (10U, eligible Major’s player can play in this level)

o   Major Division (12U)

- Minor and AAA divisions:
o    Each head coach will select the top 24 players within their division to participate in evaluations, if only able to field one team will select top 16 players 
- Major division:
o    Each head coach will select the top 16 players within their division to participate in evaluations

- CBSA executive board will collect and compute the results
o    The players receiving the most votes will be invited to the evaluation at the date set by the CBSA board

Evaluations:

- There will be two separate evaluations

o   One for Major division

o   One combined for Minor and AAA divisions

- The expectation is that all players participate in the evaluations if selected

o   If a player is selected for the evaluations but cannot make the date (i.e. is sick) this will not exclude them in the final team selection process

- Cazenovia varsity or junior varsity or college coach will conduct evaluations

o  If a Cazenovia varsity or junior varsity or college coach is not available the executive board will appoint a major's coach, AAA coach or player agent to lead the evaluation. The coach must not have a child being evaluated. 
o   Regular season coaches and board members may volunteer to assist in the evaluations but will not assist determining team selection unless above is enacted 
- Varsity or junior varsity or college players will assist with the evaluations
  - The executive board will appoint two current coaches from majors or AAA or the player agent or the coaching coordinator to assist in the selection process along with the varsity/JV coach. The coaches must not have a child being evaluated.  

Final Player Selection:

Process determination for final player selection:
- Note that players can be moved from the division they played regular season in to another depending on age and selection of teams (example, 10-year-old that played major division in the regular season can play for the AAA All-Star team)
- Group for final determination of team rosters include:
o    Cazenovia varsity or junior varsity or college coach
o    Player agent or coaching coordinator
o    Major or AAA coach 
- This three-person group will vote on the rosters for each team in their respected divisions

- The head coach selection process will occur after the All-Star team has been selected

Once teams have been selected, each head coach for their respected division will notify the players/families of their selection to the team

Those players who do not receive enough votes are placed into a pool, should there be a vacancy on the Tournament Team. If a vacancy arises, and the Board of Directors decides to fill it, the player who received the next-most votes is automatically placed on the team after verification of eligibility. However, these players MUST NOT travel with the team and are not covered by Little League Accident Insurance when traveling to and from games.

Team selections will be completed on May 16th to allow for more practice time for the tournament teams prior to tournament play beginning.