Merillon Athletic Association will be making some changes to our Boys Spring Intramural Division alignment for next season. These changes will only affect the Upper Farms, Lower Farms and Instructional Divisions. All other Divisions will remain the same including our Summer and Fall Travel Programs.
After careful consideration of the likely impact of these changes, we have concluded that they will create a stronger development path for your children both on and off the baseball field. Similar to when your child attends school wherein the curriculum changes each year they move up in grade level, we are taking the same approach from a baseball perspective.
Currently, all Divisions are set based upon a league age which is determined by your child’s actual age on April 30th of the current season. For example, if your child is 8 years old on April 30, 2011, he would be considered a league age 8 year old for the entire baseball year. This age requirement is set by USA Amateur baseball for all levels.
Based on this league age requirement, it is not uncommon for players in our Upper Farms Division to include children ranging from 2nd to 4th grade which we believe creates a great deal of disparity throughout the Division. The same applies to our Lower Farms and Instructional Divisions.
In addition, our Spring Season has always been designed as a community based baseball league in which players who attend school together play together, especially at the younger age levels. Our most competitive Division is our Majors Division and that has players who are 5th grade and older in which grade disparity becomes less of an issue due to both physical and mental maturity along with more baseball experience for the child. Players are separated on ability at those levels.
We have therefore outlined some adjustments that will be implemented beginning next season.
Boys Upper Farms Division
• All League Age 9 Year Olds
• All Players in 3rd Grade – League Age 8 or 9
• Professional Umpires
• Player Pitch Only – No More Coach Pitch
Lower Farms Division
• All Players in 1st and 2nd Grade, Regardless of League Age
• Coach Pitch League
• All Rules Remain The Same
Instructional Division
• All League Age 5 Year Olds
• All Players in Kindergarten, Regardless of League Age
• Tee Ball Games on Weekdays will be added beginning the Monday after Mother’s Day
We look forward to seeing all of you on the baseball field next spring. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please email schanter@optonline.net.
