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Age Division 4U... |
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USSSA provides a skill based rec style T-Ball
program for players 4 years old. Developing
basic baseball skills is the priority of this
rookie division. |
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Age Divisions 5U - 6U... |
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USSSA provides
two (2) distinct classifications of
competition for players 5 & 6 years old in
single age divisions. This format
allows players of ALL skill
levels to enjoy competing against teams
(players) of like ability. In addition, USSSA
provides two (2) styles of competition based on
how the ball is delivered to the batter.
Coach
Pitch (5U & 6U Competitive):
The Coach Pitch Division uses an offensive
team's coach pitching overhand to the batters.
No batting tee is used in the 5U & 6U Coach
Pitch Division.
Coach
Pitch (5U & 6U A-Rec):
The Coach Pitch Division uses an
offensive team's coach pitching overhand to the
batters. If the batter is unable to put the
pitched ball in play, a batting tee is then
used. No under hand pitching is allowed. |
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Age
Divisions 7U - 8U... |
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USSSA provides
two (2) distinct classifications of
competition for players 7 & 8 years old in
single age divisions. This format
allows players of ALL skill
levels to enjoy competing against teams
(players) of like ability. In addition, USSSA
provides three (3) styles of competition based
on how the ball is delivered to the batter.
Coach Pitch (7U & 8U Competitive):
The Coach Pitch Division uses an
offensive team's coach pitching overhand to the
batters. No pitches are thrown by
a player in the
7U & 8U Coach Pitch Division.
Coach Pitch (7U & 8U A-Rec):
The Coach Pitch Division uses an
offensive team's coach pitching overhand to the
batters. No pitches are thrown by
a player in the
7U & 8U Coach Pitch Division.
Kid Pitch (7U & 8U Competitive):
The Kid Pitch Division uses a defensive team's
player pitching to the batters. No pitches are
thrown by a coach in the 7U & 8U Kid
Pitch Division.
Machine
Pitch (7U & 8U Competitive):
The Machine Pitch Division uses a pitching
machine exclusively. No pitches are thrown by a
player or coach in the 7U & 8U Machine Pitch
Division.
Machine Pitch (7U & 8U A-Rec):
The Machine Pitch Division uses a
pitching machine exclusively. No pitches are
thrown by a player or coach in the 7U &
8U Machine Pitch Division. |
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Age
Division 9U... |
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USSSA provides
three (3) distinct classifications of
competition for players 9 years old in a single
age division. This format allows players of
ALL skill levels to enjoy
competing against teams (players) of like
ability.
9U:
The 9U classification is a "catch all"
for the 9 year old age division. Because teams
play 8U in so many varieties, the 9U
classification is for all competitive "select"
teams and acts like a combination of the Major &
AAA classifications. For 9 year olds, this
is our most talented and highly skilled
division.
9U AA:
The AA classification is designed for
those "select" or "recruited" or "frozen" teams
which cannot attain qualification at the
9U level. If USSSA finds AA teams consistently
winning within the AA class, we reserve the
right (Rule 3.03) to elevate such teams to 9U.
9U A-Rec:
The A-Rec classification is designed
for those "recreation level" teams which are
bound by geographic league boundaries and
restricted rosters. |
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Age
Divisions 10U - 14U... |
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USSSA provides
four (4) distinct classifications of competition
for players 10 - 14 years old in single age
divisions. This format allows players of
ALL skill levels to enjoy
competing against teams (players) of like
ability.
10U - 14U Major:
The Major classification is designed for
the most competitive, "select" teams. Players
on these teams may be recruited from any state.
This is our most talented and highly skilled
division, and provides outstanding teams, who
take great pride in competing day in and day out
against the best competition available.
10U - 14U
AAA:
The AAA classification is designed for those
"select" or "recruited" or "frozen" teams which
cannot attain qualification at the Major level.
If USSSA finds AAA teams consistently winning
within the AAA class, we reserve the right (Rule
3.03) to elevate such teams to Major. The AAA
classification is intended to be the "middle
ground" for travel type teams in USSSA.
10U - 14U
AA:
The AA classification is designed for those
"select" or "recruited" or "frozen" teams which
cannot attain qualification at the AAA level.
If USSSA finds AA teams consistently winning
within the AA class, we reserve the right (Rule
3.03) to elevate such teams to AAA.
10U - 14U A-Rec:
The A-Rec classification is designed
for those "recreation level" teams which are
bound by geographic league boundaries and
restricted rosters. |
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Age
Divisions 15U - 18U... |
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USSSA will provide a new program for these older
age divisions starting with the 2009 season.
Watch for details coming soon! |
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USSSA
Recommendations... |
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Many
teams try to let the post-season tournament
location influence which USSSA classification
they try to play in. Regrettably, USSSA
Baseball does not operate this way. Teams are
required to play in the appropriate class which
best matches their ABILITY. Even
though a team was AA or AAA last season, doesn’t
automatically mean they are in the same
classification this season.
Sometimes teams think just because they didn't
win the World Series last season, they should
drop down a class this season. This is not
correct as most every team changes players from
season to season.
Team classification is determined EACH
SEASON based on the team's
ABILITY that season!!!
Understand that placement in a classification is
subjective. The subjective opinion of what
class a team belongs in often differs depending
on who you ask. Will USSSA be perfect in our
judgment? Probably not. When subjectivity is
involved, there likely is no perfect system.
But we WILL be fair to the best
of our ability!
In
summary, here are our requirements and
recommendations for properly selecting your
teams' starting classification:
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1. |
Your
classification is NOT
determined by your team’s
declaration, but by your team’s
QUALIFICATION within a class. |
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2. |
Any team
that finishes 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th in a
USSSA World Series last season is
REQUIRED to to start
this season in the next higher
classification. This will be closely
monitored. |
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3. |
All teams
are REQUIRED to start
this season in or above the highest
classification that they qualified for
last season. This will be closely
monitored. |
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4. |
Any team
forming with four (4) or more players
from a previous season's roster
REGARDLESS OF TEAM NAME OR COACHING
STAFF is considered a returning
team and must start this season in or
above the highest classification that
they qualified for last season. This
will be closely monitored. |
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5. |
If your
team finished among the top ten in the
state in Power Ratings last season,
STEP UP from the out
set of the season and test the stronger
competition. |
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6. |
Classification is NOT
dependent on the size of your
community. Great teams have come from
small towns, as well as large
cities. Where your team "comes" from
has NOTHING to do with
your team’s proper classification or
ability. |
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7. |
Don’t
base your classification perception on a
post-season destination. Just because
you want to go to XYZ
for the World Series does not mean your
team is a AA or AAA team. For the USSSA
program structure to work, teams can not
be allowed to simply CHOOSE
their classification based on the
post-season destination. |
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8. |
Don’t
avoid the tough tournaments. If your
team is taking the EASY ROUTE TO
VICTORIES this can lead to your
team being elevated more quickly. Play
the toughest schedule you can so that
your team can be placed in the PROPER
class. Teams can only get better by
playing tougher competition! |
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9. |
Prevention of SANDBAGGING
in the AA & AAA classifications is a
priority. However, since a team's
ability is again subjective, USSSA
reserves the right (Rule 3.04) to
elevate any team, which demonstrates a
skill level and ability, which in the
opinion of USSSA, is over qualified for
a specific classification of play. |
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