Frederick Baseball Association: Spring 2008 Divisions
Cal Ripken: The most experienced level of Cal Ripken Baseball, recommended for 10, 11 and 12 year old players. Cal Ripken Baseball is played under the Official Baseball Rules, but implements some special rules as necessary for the development and welfare of this young age group. The game is played on a 70-foot diamond with a pitching distance of 50 feet. In order to encourage the league to train more pitchers, there are rules that set the maximum number of innings a pitcher may pitch in a calendar week. Regulation games consist of six innings or four innings if a game is called. Special base running rules are also in effect.
Rookie
Rookie: Recommended for 8 and 9 year olds. Among teammates of their own age and experience level, players continue building and refining their fundamental skills while they begin to understand game strategy. It is at the rookie division level that players first experience post-season tournament competition, with district, state, and regional levels of play.
Senior Coach Pitch
Senior Coach Pitch: Designed primarily for 6 and 7 year olds. This division uses its coaches to pitch to the batters from a distance of 36 feet with 60 foot base paths. Reduced Injury Factor balls are used in this division. With the child's coach pitching the ball, the fear of being hit by a pitched ball is diminished. It makes the game safer and improves the playing confidence and ability of all participants. It removes the boredom - which is often the result of either overpowering or inadequate pitching - by throwing only strikes. Fewer errors and greater throwing accuracy are the result of increase in activity. The program receives high praise from coaches, players, parents, and league officials. The Senior Coach Pitch division is an excellent way to continue teaching the fundamentals of the game and building player confidence.
Junior Coach Pitch
Junior Coach Pitch: A program recommended for 4, 5, and 6 year olds to teach the fundamentals of hitting and fielding. All batters will hit the ball pitched by their coach from a distance of 15 feet with a base path of 40 feet. Reduced Injury Factor balls are used in this division. All rostered players present for the game bat in order, whether playing defensively or not. An adult coach is stationed beyond the infielders in order to provide instruction to all defensive players. The primary goal is to begin to instruct young players in the fundamentals of baseball in a supportive team environment.
The Fields