T-Ball: Players will be as evenly distributed as possible by placing an equal amount of 5 year olds and 6 year olds on each team. Returning 6 year olds will be returned, if possible, to their previous year’s team. Teams are formed by blind draw.
Minors A: Incoming 7 year olds will be evaluated and split evenly throughout the number of necessary teams for the season. Returning 8 year olds will be returned, if possible, to their previous year’s team. Each team shall have an equal number of 7 year olds and an equal number of 8 year olds.
Minors AA, AAA, & Majors: Players will be evaluated to determine his/her level of competition. Teams will then be formed by equal distribution of players based on their evaluation scores. Parents wishing to have siblings play at the same level, may opt to have a player held to a lower division if Little League rules do so allow. Team’s rosters are cleared and reformed each season.
Juniors and Seniors: Players will be evaluated by managers and coaches selected for these divisions. Players will then be drafted to teams by managers and coaches.
Big League: This is a sign up by team basis. Players signing up, but not with a specific team, will be dealt with as situations arise. Big League is handled by District 9.
Challenger: (Process is still being determined)
All evaluations will be done by an impartial panel of volunteers appointed by the Competition Committee. No manager or coach is allowed to be an evaluator for his/her own division.
A person who is managing or coaching in a division is not allowed to be part of the panel which forms teams from evaluation scores.
Draft order is determined by random draw. The draft shallow follow the procedures for a “snake” draft.
Children from a coaching staff are to auto selected starting with the 3rd round pick until all kids from the coaching staff are taken.
Player Requests:
· New 5 year olds may request to play with one other player, as long as that same player makes the same request in return.
· No other player requests or coach requests will be honored.
· Special circumstances may be presented to the board before the February Board Meeting.
Coaches wishing to be considered for an All-Star managing spot must notify his/her Coaching Coordinator by the start of the season. Those wishing to be appointed will then be monitored and evaluated by members of the HLL Board and Competition Committee. An all-star coach may be announced by mid-season, so that he/ she may begin to evaluate players during games. Coaches wishing to be nominated must be aware that:
· His/ her selection of All-Star Manager is an honor and privilege.
· By being selected as an All-Star Manager, your child does not receive an automatic selection or nomination due to his/ her position.
· District 9 holds a mandatory All-Star Coach’s Meeting at Pinery Park on the Sunday before the start of Majors All-Star play.
· All-Star Managers are expected to uphold all rules and guidelines set forth by both Little League and Hudsonville Little League.
Players nominated by their team’s coaching staff will receive a Commitment Form notifying parents/ guardians of basic rules and guidelines for the All-Star Tournament. Also explained are the expectations of Hudsonville Little League’s Board of Directors to ensure that all members of the team share equal interest. Parents/ guardians may choose to accept or decline further nomination for the All-Star Tryouts.
All managers, coaches, and umpires must attend a clinic by Hudsonville Little League. Any absence must be excused by the HLL Board, or this may effect future coaching consideration.
All trash must be removed from dugouts after games. The manager is responsible for this.