WHAT ARE EVALUATIONS?
Skill evaluations are used to determine which level of play best serves your child in improving their baseball skills during the upcoming season.
Your child's skill level is displayed in stations such as Hitting, Fielding, Pitching, and Speed. These same skill stations are tested equally for each age group and the score standards do not change based on age. Your child's score is reflected appropriately next to their peers to give us the best opportunity to place your child at the appropriate level.
For Little League Minors and Majors (Ages 9-12), it is important to know that no one is cut during evaluations, they are solely a skill assessment to help coaches and league coordinators properly place kids within divisions and create even teams. For Travel Baseball, players may be cut if there are not enough players to form an additional team after the first team is formed.
Parents will not be allowed onsite during the evaluations. NO EXCEPTIONS.
WHEN ARE EVALUATIONS?
Evaluation Calendar:
Little League Spring/Summer Season: March
- Minors and Majors Only (ages 9-12)
Little League Summer/Fall Season: July*
- Minors and Majors Only (ages 9-12)
*only for players that didn't play in Hamel Baseball's Spring/Summer Season
Travel (age 13): September
Note: "age" is the player's age on August 31 of the year in which the season is played.
WHY ARE EVALUATIONS IMPORTANT?
Evaluations are important because they are our only opportunity to observe a player's current skill level before we form teams for the upcoming season.
The current skill assessment (evaluation), prior year coaching feedback (when available), and age (we must conform to league regulations) are the combined factors we use to create teams.
- For Little League, the combined data gives us the best opportunity to create even teams in each division.
- For Travel, the combined data gives us the best opportunity to place players on teams at the appropriate skill level to further their development (e.g., A, AA, AAA).
EVALUATION CRITERIA
HITTING
Players receive pitches from a pitching machine in a batting cage. A composite score will be assigned based on the player's:
- form
- contact
- strength
- balls in play
INFIELD
A volunteer will hit ground balls to players. Players will field the ball and throw the ball to 1B (usually from a distance simulating SS). A composite score will be assigned based on the player's:
- form/footwork
- arm strength
- accuracy
- hustle
PITCHING
Players will be given a few warm-up throws. After warm-ups, the player will pitch "live" balls to a live catcher. Below is the criteria they will be evaluated on:
OUTFIELD
A volunteer or pitching machine will be used to hit/send fly balls out to the player. Players will field the ball and throw the ball to a cutoff man. A composite score will be assigned based on the player's:
- form/footwork
- arm strength
- accuracy
- hustle
RUNNING
Players will be given a few warm-up runs. Players will then be timed in a sprint (home plate to 1B) to evaluate their running speed.
WHO EVALUATES MY CHILD?
We aim to secure evaluators from an independent organization with baseball knowledge, not Hamel coaches. However, in the event that independent evaluators cannot be secured, Hamel coaches will be asked to be evaluators.
The evaluator's main goal is simple: (1) to give your child the best experience for their skill level, and (2) for Little League (ages 9-12), to help our coaches and league coordinators create evenly skilled teams.
WHAT IF WE MISS EVALUATIONS?
It is very important that you try your best to make evaluations. If you absolutely must miss evaluations, the following rules apply:
Existing Hamel Player: the Hamel Athletic Club Board will assign the player to a level of play based on past performance and coach feedback.
New Hamel Player: the Hamel Athletic Club Board will attempt to obtain a player history from the previous organization and/or parents. The Board reserves the right to move a new player to an appropriate level of play after practices begin, if necessary, to ensure the best experience for the player.
WHAT TO BRING TO EVALUATIONS
- Glove
- Helmet
- Baseball Cleats (molded rubber) or Athletic Shoes
(metal cleats are not allowed if evaluations are held in a dome or other indoor facility) - Bat - must be approved for level of play. Little League bat rules are different than Travel bat rules.
(see our bat rules page for more details)