Last year, BYB&S introduced a new concept in the AAA and Majors baseball leagues. Each league is now broken down into two smaller divisions – Red and White. The key objective is to provide each child with a better opportunity to succeed at his or her own skill level. The Red and White divisions are designed to offer unique levels of challenge and a better opportunity for individual growth and development.
Although all BYB&S leagues stress baseball fundamentals and development, the Red division is an environment for children showing a stronger skill level in baseball for their age group. The rules used in this league are more comprehensive than in the White Leagues. Selection for the Red League is based on a try-out performance along with, if available, a rating provided by the player’s manager of the previous year of play.
There will be no interdivisional play. Teams in the White division will not play teams in the Red division. Each division is treated as an individual league, with its own playoff tournament and its own champion. This provides additional opportunities for success and recognition.
Most BYB&S families welcomed the two-division concept. Initially, as with any innovation, there was some push back. Based on individual feedback and surveys after the season, the Board believes the system worked very well. The overwhelming response of families who participated in the White division was very positive. As such, the two-division concept will be retained in the 2004 season for both AAA and Majors.
It is important that all families understand that BYB&S is committed to the development of their children. We want all the kids to develop their baseball skills and we want them to develop a love of the game. There is also a social element to the game that should not be forgotten. The kids should have fun (it is summer after all) and baseball should be an enjoyable experience. At the end of the season, our goal is for every player to want to return for the next season.
With these goals in mind, we must all be cognizant of an individual player’s development. No one should expect that all of the players have equal baseball skills. Our schools certainly recognize that children develop differently academically. Some children develop amazing artistic or musical talents, while others struggle with their creative side. So it is with baseball - children of the same age have different skills. Within any BYB&S league, the range of skills varies greatly.
The two-division concept was created with this fundamental truth in mind. The divisions are created such that children of comparable skills will be playing together. Does this make one division more “competitive” than the other? Of course not! No one who witnessed last year’s playoff games could possibly believe that. Competition is alive and well at all levels of play.
Is the system perfect? Well, it is run by human beings, isn’t it? We will try to make the best decisions that we can, but there will always be those who believe their child should be in one division as opposed to another. Decisions concerning the selection of players for specific divisions are admittedly difficult, but will be based on the best available information we have. As imperfect as any system may be, BYB&S’s decisions on this issue will be final, and we ask that everyone respect that decision.
No request to play in a “Red” division will be considered. However, BYB&S will permit a parent to request that their son or daughter be permitted to play in a “White” division. Absent some compelling reason, the request will be granted. Last year there were several examples of this including players that qualified for the Red division after try-outs. Feedback on these experiences was very positive for all the reasons mentioned above.
We welcome anyone’s comments to the two-division system. We hope everyone understands that this is a system designed for the benefit of the kids, and that the best interests of the kids are our primary concern. We think this program will help develop better and happier baseball players. If the kids have fun and continue to grow, then we have succeeded.