CHATHAM YOUTH LEAGUE BASEBALL


THE BASEBALL CLUB OF CHATHAM, N.J., INC.: The Baseball Club of Chatham, N.J., Inc. ("BCC") is a private, non-profit 501 (c)(7) organization that governs and administers Youth League Baseball and Travel Baseball Programs ("the Programs") in the Borough of Chatham and the Township of Chatham. BCC itself is governed by a Board of Trustees that delegates authority to a Committee and Sub-Committees to manage and execute the myriad responsibilities attendant to running the Programs. BCC is affiliated with Ripken Baseball, specifically, its Ripken Division for grades K through 6 and its Babe Ruth Division for grades 7 through 9. BCC strives to develop every player's baseball talent within a safe, educational, and enjoyable baseball environment.

MISSION STATEMENT: Our mission is to foster, promote, and teach the game of baseball in a safe baseball environment, with an emphasis on skill development, teamwork and sportsmanship.

LEAGUE STRUCTURE: BCC factors each player’s grade and ability when determining Youth League placement. The following is a general picture of Youth League composition.  Our league placement process is primarily grade based, not age. As grade enrollment varies from year to year, the club may change the grade composition of the leagues as needed to maintain an equal distribution of players and teams in each league.

Our season runs from early April to early June for ~9-10 weeks. The game and practice times below are meant to be approximate and can vary from year to year based on field availability, weather, etc. 

-WINNERS LEAGUE (All Kindergarteners): This is an instructional, non-competitive league that uses a soft baseball. Players hit off a tee for most of the season, at the end of which coach pitching may be introduced. Winners games are on Sat and last ~1hr. Game start times vary from week to week.  Practice nights are on Mon or Tues evening beginning around 6pm.  Please note your child needs to be a resident of Chatham and enrolled in a public or private K program to register for our program.  We cannot register a 5 yr old who is in pre-K.

-ROOKIE LEAGUE (1^st graders): This is an instructional, non-competitive league in which players generally hit against coach pitching, with a tee used when necessary. Rookies games are on Sat and last ~1hr. Game times will vary from week to week.  Practice nights are on Mon or Tues evening beginning around 6:45pm.
 
-A LEAGUE (mostly 2^nd graders): Transitional league that continues to focus on skill development. Players continue to hit against coach pitching, with a goal of introducing player pitching if appropriate. Some player pitch and catching may be introduced later in the season. A League games are on Sat. and practices are on Wed evening. 

-AA LEAGUE (mostly 3^rd graders): Player-pitch league that provides the first true baseball game experience for most players. AA games are on Sat. and practices are on Wed evening.  AA games have teen volunteer umpires.

-AAA LEAGUE (mostly 4^th graders): Higher level player- pitch league with an introduction to stealing.  AAA games are 2x per week, with one weeknight and one Sat game.  Practices are at the discretion of the coach.  AAA games have professional umpires.  The AAA league has a playoff round at the end of the season to determine a league champion. 

-MAJOR LEAGUE (5^th and 6^th graders): Highest level of small field baseball with leading, stealing, and bunting permitted; played on a 50' by 70' field located at Shunpike #2. Majors games are 2x per week, with one weeknight and one Sat game.  Practices are at the discretion of the coach.  Majors games have professional umpires.  The Major league has a playoff round.

-PONY LEAGUE (7^th and 8^th graders, and a small group of 9^th graders (who do not play any spring HS or club baseball)): Pre-High School baseball played on the large, 60' by 90' field. Pony games are 2x per week, with one weeknight and one Sat game.  Practices are at the discretion of the coach.  Pony games have professional umpires.  The Pony league has a playoff round.


YOUTH LEAGUE PLACEMENT for the season will be sent out in late February. Other than grade, factors relevant to a player's placement in a particular Youth League may include the player’s previous year's Youth League season evaluation, and input from each league coordinator. The placement process strives to place a player in a Youth League commensurate with his physical and baseball skills and that will allow the player to learn, develop, achieve, and have a safe, enjoyable baseball experience.