ABYB Divisions - Spring and Fall Baseball

In Spring and Fall seasons, ABYB is divided into six grade and age-based divisions. The information below will help you understand what to expect at each level.

For Summer Baseball, refer to the Summer Baseball page.

T-Ball

The T-Ball division is for our youngest players in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. In T-Ball, expect:

Coaching instruction by parent volunteers, teaching the basics of baseball: an introduction to batting, fielding, throwing, base running, and defense.
This division emphasizes participation, learning and having a fun team sports experience. Therefore, wins/losses and team standings are not recorded.
One weeknight practice on the same night each week, lasting 60-75 minutes.
One 3-inning game each Saturday, lasting 70-90 minutes. (If games rain out, make-ups might be scheduled on Sundays or on weekdays.)
Practices and games are primarily at Douglas School and Holiday Inn field 1 with 45- to 50-foot base paths.
Each player bats once per inning, 3 times per game, hitting from a batting tee.
Players play all defensive positions during the season but players do not pitch and catchers are not in full gear.
Coaches and players are assigned to teams by the T-ball division coordinator. Coordinators typically try to group schoolmates together if possible.
Players receive team shirts and hats and an end-of-season participation trophy.

Minor C

The Minor C division is for our first-grade players. In Minor C, expect:

Coaching instruction by parent volunteers, teaching the fundamentals of batting, fielding, throwing, defense, and base running, with an emphasis on fun as players develop.
This division emphasizes continued learning and having a fun team sports experience. Therefore, wins/losses and team standings are not recorded.
One weeknight practice on the same night each week, lasting 60-75 minutes.
One 3-inning game each Saturday, lasting 70-90 minutes, possibly with make-up games on Sundays or weekdays.
Practices and games are primarily at McCarthy-Town School and Holiday Inn field 2 with 50-foot base paths.
Each player bats once per inning, 3 times per game, with a coach pitching. Some players may be required to bat from a batting tee after 4-6 missed swings.
Players play all defensive positions during the season. Pitchers do not pitch but field, and catchers retrieve pitches from the coach.
Coaches and players are assigned to teams by the Minor C division coordinator. Coordinators typically try to group schoolmates together if possible.
Players receive team shirts and hats and an end-of-season participation trophy.

Minor B

The Minor B division is for our second-grade and many third-grade players. Third graders are assigned to Minor B or to Minor A based on player evaluations by coaches. In Minor B, expect:

Coaching instruction by parent volunteers, teaching the fundamentals of batting, fielding, throwing, defense, and base running. Coaches introduce pitching and catching at this level, as well as defensive strategy.
As always, there is a focus on fun in a structured team-oriented environment. Scores are kept during games, but standings are not kept.
The Division Coordinator assigns coaches to teams, and players are assigned to teams during a player draft, with a goal of creating balanced teams.
One weeknight practice on the same day each week, lasting 60-75 minutes.
One 6-inning game each Saturday, lasting 90-120 minutes, with potential additional games and make-up games on Sundays or weeknights.
Games and practices are held primarily at Hart field (Conant School) and Liberty field (Boxborough) with 60-foot base paths (standard Little League field dimensions).
An inning ends after 3 defensive outs, scoring 5 runs, or if all batters bat in an inning.
Batters hit coach-pitch (with swinging strikeouts) for the first 4 games of the season and a blend of coach-pitch and player-pitch (with swinging and called strikeouts and walks) for the second half of the season.
During player-pitch, a coach or another volunteer serves as umpire.
Players play most defensive positions during the season, with pitching and catching introduced.
Players receive team shirts and hats and an end-of-season participation trophy.

Minor A

The Minor A division is for some of our third-grade, all fourth-grade, and some fifth-grade players. Third graders and fifth graders are assigned to Minor A based on player evaluations by coaches. In Minor A, expect:

Coaching instruction by parent volunteers, teaching batting, fielding, throwing, defense, pitching, catching, and base running. Coaches introduce offensive and defensive strategy.
The Division coordinator assigns coaches to teams, and players are assigned to teams during a player draft, with a goal of creating balanced teams.
In the Minor A level, scores are kept which provides strategic opportunities in some games, but records are not kept.
One weeknight practice each week, lasting 75-90 minutes.
One or two 6-inning games each weekend, lasting 90-120 minutes, and possibly a few weeknight games during the season.
In Spring 2009 and Spring 2010, the Minor A Division Coordinator organized weekly Skills Nights, providing coaches and players from multiple teams a combined practice and scrimmage. We expect this to continue in Spring 2011.
In Spring 2009 and Spring 2010, the Minor A Division Coordinator organized Inter-League Day that arranged players named after American League teams into squads to play against players from the combined National League rosters. The games were hosted at Veterans Field and we expect this event will happen again in Spring 2011.
An inning ends after 3 defensive outs or when all batters have batted in an inning.
Games and practices typically are held at MacPherson Field (Conant School) and Flerra Field with 60-foot base paths.
Players pitch from the mound (strikeouts and walks) and are limited by pitch counts and innings per game.
For the first time, batters can bunt and runners can steal once the pitch crosses the plate. This allows the pitcher to concentrate on pitching and allows the offense and defense to be more dynamic than in younger divisions.
With a live ball, catchers become an integral part of the game. Game savvy is valued.
Players play most defensive positions during the season. During the season coaches endeavor to ask most players to pitch in a game, however some players might not pitch during the season.
ABYB assigns junior umpires to officiate Minor A games.
Players receive team shirts and hats. In the spring, players receive an end-of-season participation trophy or other giveaway (TBD).

Majors

The Majors division is for some of our fifth-grade, all sixth-grade, and some seventh-grade players. Fifth-grade and Seventh-grade players are assigned based on coaches evaluations of players. In Majors, expect:

Coaching instruction by parent volunteers, teaching batting, fielding, throwing, defense, pitching, catching, base running and situational strategy. At this level there is an increased focus on strategy and teamwork.
The Division Coordinator assigns coaches to teams, and players are assigned to teams during a player draft, with a goal of creating balanced teams.
In the Majors level, scores are kept and posted online. Records are kept and determine end-of-season playoff rankings. (Playoffs are in Spring season only).
One weeknight practice each week, lasting 75-90 minutes
Two 6-inning games each weekend and possibly one weeknight game each week during the season. Games are time-limited with no new inning starting 1 hour and 45 minutes after scheduled game start.
Games and practices are typically held at the two diamonds at Veterans Field with 60-foot base paths.
An inning ends after 3 defensive outs.
Players pitch (strikeouts and walks) and are limited by pitch counts and innings per game.
Players begin to specialize in a few defensive positions during the season.
In past Spring seasons, the Majors division has had an All-Star game and Home Run Derby.
ABYB assigns umpires to officiate Majors games.
Players receive team shirts and hats.
In the Spring, the season ends with playoffs, with the winning teams players and runner-up teams players receiving trophies. The Fall season is developmental with the focus on instruction and skill development.

Babe Ruth

The Babe Ruth division is for players aged 13, 13 to 15, and 16 to 18. In Babe Ruth, expect:

In the Spring, there is a Babe Ruth 13's division, for 13-year-olds moving up to the full-sized (90 foot) diamond for the first time. Additionally, there is a Babe Ruth division for all 13- to 15-year-olds. 13-year-old players car participate in both. In 2010, ABYB will field a team of 16-to-18 year olds.
13 Year Old Division: Play games during the week in the Minuteman League: Patriot Division. Practice on the weekend at coaches' discretion.
13-15 Year Old Division: Play Games on the weekends in the Minuteman League. Practice during the week at coaches' discretion.
16-18 Year Old Division: Play games on the weekends in the Minuteman League. Practice during the week at coaches' discretion.
Games are played on full-sized diamonds at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School and Jones Field, with 90-foot base paths, as well as in other towns participating in the Minuteman League.
Some players specialize in defensive positions (e.g., catcher, pitcher).
There are specific rules for playing time and pitching that all teams in the Minuteman League follow.