Season 2008 In-House Information

LAA In-House Baseball Player Age Policy-Click here to read policy.
Snackstand Information-Click here for hours, menu and policy.

Age Requirements:
The Cal Ripken Baseball age year runs from May 1st to April 30th.  The division the child belongs to is determined by the child's age as of April 30th of each year, and by the child’s ability to safely play at that level (see LAA's Player Age Policy for In-House Baseball at the end of the section).

Divisions:
Tee Ball – This division is for 5 and 6 year-old male and female players.  The batter hits off of a tee for half the season, depending on their ability to hit a pitched ball.  The batting order uses and hits coach pitching for the remainder of the season, depending on their ability to hit a pitched ball. The batting order uses the entire team in the rotation or three outs, which ever comes first.  The focus of this division is on learning and the score is not kept.  The game is played with a Reduced Injury Factor (RIF) ball, which is the same size and weight of a baseball, but it is softer to protect the child from injury. Each child will receive a trophy at the end of the season.

Midgets  - This division is for 6 and 7 year old players.  The batter’s coach does the pitching with the exception that if the child does not hit the ball after four swings, the tee is brought out.  The batting order uses the entire team in the rotation or three outs, which ever comes first.  The score is not kept and they play with a RIF ball. Each child will receive a trophy at the end of the season.

Rookies - This division is for 8 and 9 year-old players.  They play with a combination of coach pitch and player pitch.  Walks are limited to protect the child’s arm, and keep the pace of the game moving.  This is the first year that the score is kept.  This age group uses a RIF ball to minimize injuries.  In order to have a balanced and competitive division, player’s ages 8 must attend the Rookies tryouts and the managers hold a draft. All 8 year olds will play in the rookies.  Those players age 9 that are not picked by a minor manager will play in the Rookies Division.  Each child will receive a trophy at the end of the season.

Minors - This division is for ages 9, 10 and 11 year olds.  To make the minors, those players ages 9 and 10 must attend the Minors tryouts and be drafted by one of the managers. All 10 year olds will play in the minors. Those players age 9 that are not picked by a minor manager will play in the Rookies Division.

The players pitch for the entire year.  The Division follows the official Cal Ripken Baseball rules with some local LAA changes.  There usually is a playoff at the end of the year to determine the Division Champion. Division Champion and the runner-up team members will receive a trophy.   This age group uses a Regulation Cal Ripken Baseball .

Majors – This league is for 11 and 12-year-old players.  To make the majors, those players ages 11 and 12 must attend the Major tryouts and be drafted by one of the managers. All 12-year olds will play in the majors. Those players age 11 that are not picked by a major league manager will play in the Minors Division.

The Division follows the official Cal Ripken Baseball rules with some local LAA changes.  There usually is a playoff at the end of the year to determine the Division Champion. Division Champion and the runner-up team members will receive a trophy.

Regular Season:
Practice generally begins in mid March or early April. Opening Day is usually in Mid-April. Our in-house season is scheduled to end in Mid-June and coincides with the Neshaminy School District calendar year-end.

Travel Teams – There are travel teams for each age between 8 and 13 years old.  They play in the central and lower Bucks area on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons.  It is an LAA Baseball Program Rule that all children who participate in the Travel Program MUST ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE IN-HOUSE PROGRAM!!  Playing on the travel team is a big commitment, as the children will be playing baseball games about 4 days per week. Travel teams are limited in size and there is only one team per age group. For more information on the travel teams, check out the Travel Section of our website.

Tournament Teams:
There is a post-season tournament team for every age from 8-year-old through 12.  The tournament teams consist of the leagues best and most dedicated players.  Playing for a tournament team is a big commitment, and scheduling of vacations during the tournament season should be avoided if possible. Tournament team players must play on an in-house regular season team, in order to be eligible to participate on a post-season team. 

Tournament Team tryouts are held in late May or early June and the tournament season starts with practice right after the in-house season ends. Tournament Games can continue into late July or early August, depending on the sucess of the team.

This year we will have one tournament team for each district age group.  The Cal Ripken Baseball sponsors district tournaments for the 10 and 12-year old age groups.   There are invitational tournaments for the 8, 9 and 11-year age groups, which are sponsored by a myriad of Baseball Associations.  The 10 and 12-year old champion teams in a district tournament moves on to the next level tournament (i.e. Sectional and then possibly State) while an invitational tournament champion (ages 8, 9 and 11) does not.

In-House Try-Outs:
All children between the ages of 8 through 12 in the baseball division will be scheduled for try-outs in Mid-March. Each family will be called about one week before and notified of their child’s try-out time.

LAA Baseball Fields:
The league has the use of three different sets of fields.  The Major and Minor Divisions play the majority of their games at Community Park.  Some Minor games are also played at Neshaminy Middle School. The Rookies play their games at Maple Point Middle School.  The Midget Division plays at Neshaminy and Maple Point Middle Schools.  The T-Ball Division play their games at Maple Point Middle School.  Starting in Season 2005, additional emphasis will be placed on scheduling some of our Rookies, Midgets and T-Ball games at Community Park.

Schedules:
Practice: Each team will be assigned a practice time and location for practices before the regular season.  This schedule usually is one weeknight and a Saturday/Sunday timeslot. Once the regular season begins, practices are held on a “first come-first serve basis” at a LAA field.  Practices can only be held (insurance reasons) at the Community Park baseball fields, Neshaminy Middle School and Maple Point Middle School.

Regular Season:  Teams in each division usually play twice a week – one weeknight and one Saturday game (except Saturdays before Easter and Memorial Day).  Regular season schedules are usually not available until one or two weeks before Opening Day.