2022 Spring Baseball – Program Overview

CAL RIPKEN BASEBALL (Ages 5-12)

New Canaan Baseball has aligned our Cal Ripken Divisions to enhance the skills and aptitude of our players at all ages and development levels.

Our youngest division is the Cub Division, which is broken out into Bitty Rams, Cub Junior, and Cub Senior includes players that are pre-K through first grade.  The multiple tiers within this division are grade-based, providing for positive social interactions with classmates and ease of scheduling with other sports.

Our older divisions (the Minors and Majors Divisions ) are grade and ability based, which were age and ability based.  The grouping of players with similar ability provides for the greatest developmental environment for our players while also maximizing player safety. As with younger divisions, Players in 2^nd thru 7^th grades*** will participate in skills development training and evaluation sessions in March to facilitate player drafts and team selection. 

*** Note that 7^th graders who turn 13 on or before April 30^th, 2022 are no longer eligible for Cal Ripken Baseball but are eligible to play Babe Ruth Baseball.  Information on Babe Ruth baseball is available on the NCBB website.  Registration will open in early 2021.

Note that a player’s “League Age” is defined as his age on April 30, 2022.

MULTI-SPORT PLAY AND SCHEDULING:

New Canaan Baseball encourages children to participate in multiple sports, which develops well-rounded athletes and helps to mitigate the risk of sport-specific injuries.

We try to work actively with other sports organizations in town to craft a schedule for all age groups that allows for such multi-sport play.  Definitive schedules for all divisions will be provided in early 2020 after having coordinated with these other sports groups.

Cub Senior Division teams will play one game per week on Saturday with one practice (Cub Junior teams do not practice during the week).

Minor and Majors Divisions will play games on Saturdays in addition to one mid-week game and one-weekday team practice.

NEW CANAAN BASEBALL LEAGUE STRUCTURE

Bitty Rams (Pre-K, T-Ball)
Bitty Rams is a tee-ball league for 4 and 5 year old’s who are presently in or graduating from pre-k, and introduces baseball to our youngest players in a fun and stress free environment.  Program will run for 6 weeks beginning in early May and ending mid June (no games week of memorial day). Practice / Games will run be Saturday mornings with the time to be determined 

Cub Junior Division (Kindergarten, coach pitching)
Cub Junior, our division for 5 and 6-year-olds, establishes a love for the game by introducing baseball to our new players in a fun and dynamic environment.  Stations of skill “games” introduce them to the basics of throwing, batting, fielding a position and game-play while keeping them “on the move” and having FUN. 

Cub Senior Division (1^st Grade, coach/machine pitching)
Our Cub Senior Division continues to focus on fun and fundamentals while taking a big step forward in real game-play.  Coaches will handle pitching duties (live or by machine) and provide instruction from the field, as Cub Seniors incorporate more aggressive baserunning, 3-out innings, and real scorekeeping.  The season will culminate in a playoff.

Cactus Division (2^nd and 3^rd Grades, machine pitching)
Our Cactus continues to focus on fun and fundamentals while taking a big step forward in real game-play.  Coaches will handle pitching duties using a pitching machine and provide instruction from the field, as Cub Seniors incorporate more aggressive baserunning, 3-out innings and real scorekeeping.  The season will culminate in a playoff.  *** See Note, above.

Minor League A Division (typically 2nd-4th graders, player pitching: 46’, bases: 60')
A Division players continue building and refining their fundamental skills while they begin to understand game strategy.  This Division introduces player pitching and base stealing for the first time with some moderations to ensure proper game flow.  Teams will be selected via a player draft and the regular season will culminate in a single-elimination playoff.  *** See Note, above.

Minor League AA Division (typically 3rd-5th graders, player pitching: 46', bases: 60', moderated base stealing rules)
AA is played under Official 60’ Baseball Rules but implements some special exceptions as necessary for best developing this age group.  AA Division players continue to hone their individual skills while deepening their understanding of game strategy.  This division’s broader base stealing rules expose the players to more complex aspects of the game while ensuring player safety and proper game flow. Teams will be selected via a player draft and the regular season will culminate in a single-elimination playoff.

Minor League AAA Division (typically 4th-7th graders, player pitching: 46', bases: 60', Official 60’ Baseball Rules)
AAA, our top Minors division, is played under Official 60’ Baseball Rules, the closest thing to “real baseball” played on a 60’ diamond.  Balks will be called as warnings only, for instructional purposes. Teams will be selected via a player draft and the regular season will culminate in a single-elimination playoff.

Majors Division (typically 5th-7th graders, player pitching distance: 50', bases: 70', Official 70’ Baseball Rules including lead-offs and balks)
Majors, the premier Cal Ripken Division puts it all together with bases at 70', pitching at 50', lead offs, balks and dropped third strike rule in effect. Per Cal Ripken league rules, Major teams will be composed of mostly 12-year-olds with the balance being 11-year-olds.  Four New Canaan teams will be selected via a player draft and together with four West Norwalk teams will make up this eight-team division.  The regular season will culminate in a single-elimination playoff.