AAA-Majors Player Evaluations & Team Formation Guide
Overview
Redmond West Little League’s process of evaluating and drafting players aims to ensure that all participants are placed on teams generally appropriate for their age, physical maturity, and skill, and that teams within each of our three upper divisions of play (Majors, Coast, and AAA) are fairly balanced and of roughly equal potential – both internally, and as compared with anticipated interlock opponents. It is important that parents and players understand that all who sign up are placed on a team, so this is not “tryouts” in the sense of choosing which players “make the team.”
A. Age Groups
To be assigned to a team in AAA, Coast, or Majors Division, a player must participate in Softball Player Evaluations. Generally, players who are League ages 9 through 12 are permitted to participate in Player Evaluations. Eight-year-olds desiring to play AAA may also participate in Player Evaluations and request to be placed on a AAA team. Depending on space availability and the relative skills of the player, in the League’s determination, an 8-year-old who participates in Player Evaluations will be assigned either to AAA or AA Division.
B. Evaluation Standards
At each station, one or more raters will evaluate players on each rated skill. We evaluate players in four general areas: fielding, hitting, running, and pitching. In some instances, the evaluation requires a simple objective (“raw”) measurement: run time, hitting contact, and pitch velocity, for examples. In many other instances, however, the evaluation requires a subjective determination of skill.
The individual ratings have different relative weights in the evaluation process. Raters do not adjust an individual skill score on the basis that they think it does not reflect the player’s overall skills. Managers will have an opportunity to do appropriate adjustments at the Pre-Draft meeting.
C. Check-In Area (Registration Area)
Players will “check in” with the League Registrar at the third base dugout of Field 6, adjacent to the parking lot south of Field 6. After checking in and receiving a number, players will move to just outside the “warm-up” area.
Numbering - Player numbers will:
• Receive bib numbers in order of arrival at the Registration area;
• Be correlated to the player’s name and other identifying information in our registration database; and
• Have the player’s photo taken after the bib has been attached to the shirt (as a “double-check” in case of confusion.). The photo is voluntary; however, we are requesting a photo from each player to assist in ensuring the player is associated with the correct bib number.
D. Field Layout Plan
After checking in, players will proceed to the warm-up area, where a coach will facilitate warm-ups. After warming up, players will proceed to the fielding station, the pitching station, the running station, and finally the hitting station. After hitting, participants will “check out” by leaving their participant bib number with a volunteer at the exit point between the two fields. ***Throughout the evaluation, parents will be asked to remain outside the fenced area.***
To help with the flow, volunteers will direct participants to the next station once they complete their current evaluation station. Please see the map below for a visual guide to the process.
E. Evaluation Stations
1. Warm-Up Area
Players will be invited to play catch with one another (or another volunteer). Several pairs of players can, and should, be warming up simultaneously. When the line at the next station (the running station) is nearly vacant, the volunteer will instruct the first two players in the warm up area to advance together to the next station, and in turn, will invite additional players to enter into the warm-up area.
2. Fielding Station
At the direction of the coach volunteer, the player starts at the infield position. She catches three grounders and throws each ball home and then moves to the outfield to field three fly balls and throw the balls home. Players will be evaluated on a subjective scale as to their ability to field ground balls, field fly balls, throwing strength and accuracy, and hustle during the drill and moving from position to position.
3. Pitching Station
Players will queue up at the pitching warm-up area, where a volunteer will speak with the player to determine whether she would like brief instruction on pitching mechanics, and the player will be able to throw a minimum of eight (8) warm-up pitches, which will not be evaluated. When the player ahead vacates the official “rating rubber,” the player will then move to that rubber and, at the direction of the coach, deliver five (5) pitches to a catcher behind home plate. Players will be evaluated for velocity, accuracy and pitching mechanics. Velocity and accuracy will be recorded as raw scores. Accuracy will be scored by entering how many of the five pitches were, in the raters’ judgment, thrown for a strike. Pitching mechanics will be scored on a subjective scale.
After participating in the pitching station, a player will answer some brief questions by a coach regarding experience and desire to play the position of catcher.
4. Running Station
At the direction of the coach volunteer, each player will sprint 40 yards (approximately the distance running from first to third base). A raw score of the timed run will be recorded for each player.
5. Hitting Station
Players will enter the hitting station through the outfield end of the third-base dugout. Once there, players will find a helmet and queue up for their turn at the plate. Upon entering the field, the player will choose a bat and position for “3 free cuts.” After these 3 warm up pitches, the player will receive 5 pitches to “swing away.” Players will be evaluated for their ability to contact (simply counting the times the ball contacts the bat, whether fair or foul), hit for power, and overall mechanics.
F. Check-Out
Once finished with the hitting station, players will exit past the registration area. Be sure that your player has attended the fielding, pitching, running, and hitting stations. A volunteer will pull the player’s number, and then deposit the number in a collection box. Once a player has left the field, the player must remain outside the fenced area.
G. Make-Up Evaluations
We will offer a make-up for those players unable to attend the regular evaluations (date posted here and on the league calendar). We will run the same basic system at make-up evaluations. We encourage as many raters as possible to attend the make-up evaluations, again to maximize consistency of scoring.
H. Score Compilation and Distribution
After the evaluation is completed, the Softball Player Agent will collect the data into an Excel workbook. After the data input is completed, the Player Agent will complete “composite scores” for all three skill areas (fielding, hitting [including timed run], and pitching) and one overall composite score. Catching scores will be maintained separately, due to not all players participating. Players will be ranked according to their overall composite score. Player evaluation scores will under no circumstances be disclosed to anyone other than the divisional managers and league officials with a need to know.
I. Draft
The aim of the draft process is not only to place players at a level of play appropriate for their age, physical maturity, and skill, but also to form teams that as of the beginning of the season are: (1) of equal potential within the division; and (2) competitive with the anticipated Interlock opponents the teams will be playing. Managers work cooperatively to help the League accomplish this goal, and in doing so, strengthen the League as a whole.
At the pre-draft meeting, managers will have an opportunity to identify those players in the rankings who, in their opinion, were rated inappropriately (either too high or too low). By consensus, players may be moved up or down in the overall rankings as a result of these discussions, subject to approval of the Player Agent and the Vice President of Softball. Managers will identify starting pitchers and catchers, and coaching candidates, and where practical make adjustments so that these are fairly distributed across the teams in the division. Please note that buddy requests are not permitted in AAA, Coast, or Majors Division.
At the draft meeting, managers will make final adjustments to the team rosters and then be randomly assigned a team. Swaps will then be made as needed to place each manager’s child on his or her roster.
Within three days after the draft, the Player Agent will make any final adjustments to rosters based on extraordinary parent requests or other circumstances requiring attention to potential player-manager or player-player issues.
J. Team Announcements
Rosters will be finalized with the League Registrar and distributed to managers in advance of Family Night.
Teams will be announced on or before Family Night, which will be held in late-February (specific date posted on the League calendar).
