PROGRAMS
Through simple, basic lessons and proper supervision of regulation competitive baseball, Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball teaches skills, mental and physical development, and the basic ideals of sportsmanship and fair play. In adopting rules, in establishing standards, and in all planning, the primary consideration is the welfare of the children who participate.
FACILITIES
The Bud Anderson Field facility includes a concession stand, a drinking fountain, and restrooms. Parking is available on Stetson Road. Visitors are reminded to be alert for bats thrown and balls thrown or hit from the field.
The infield soil area is covered with a special mixture of clay and small rounded pebbles that reduce bad ball hops and make the surface safer for sliding. Big league fields use the same mixture.
SPRING SEASON (Opening Day TBA)
Rookie League Division. Grades 1-3. Designed to teach the fundamentals of the game and build player confidence with coaches pitching.
AAA League Division. Grades 3-6. An entry-level player-pitch division. AAA League players will learn to pitch, catch, and play infield positions with players of similar experience.
Major League Division. Grades 4-6 (12 or under on May 1). The most experienced level of Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball. Players continue to build and refine their skills while they apply game strategy in team competition.
Important: Returning minor league players who wish to play in the AAA or major league, and all newcomers, must attend a Player Orientation and Skills Assessment, time and place to be announced.
Cost*: $85 for 1 child, $120 for 2 or more children (2009 prices listed)
SUMMER MAJOR AND AAA LEAGUE SEASON (after the conclusion of the Spring Season)
An extended season of games, plus interleague competition, for Major and AAA league players from the spring season. Players will form the pool from which All-Star team(s) are selected to compete in the Cal Ripken district tournament ... and beyond?
Cost*: TBD
(After the conclusion of the Spring Season)
A season of informal pick-up games for all spring baseball players and newcomers, ages 7 to 12. No additional cost.
*No child will be turned away or limited in participation because of a parent's/guardian's inability to pay a full fee.
LEAGUE PHILOSOPHY
Playing time and youth sports
Berkshire Eagle Sports columnist Tom Ryan began his February 20 column:
"Playing time is something that any of us who have played sports is all too familiar with. The two words bring smiles and joy to an athlete's face, or create sorrow and tears. At the high school level, playing time is an issue. Always will be. At the youth level, playing time is becoming more of an issue. Kids want to play. I say that they should."
Tom made some informal surveys of players while watching youth games. Here is some of what the kids said was most important to them:
"Kids just want to play." "They do it for the love of the game, but there must be some reward. Playing time is that reward."
"Kids want to learn and improve. When I was a kid, I had a coach who sat us down before the season fired up and made us one promise: Over the course of the season, he would make each of us a better player than we were at the start."
"For many of us, of course, sports is about winning. As I talked with the kids, though, I realized I was the one who had to bring that word up." "Not one of the 50 or so kids I talked to used the word winning once. Now, many of you coaches may say, 'Not my kids; they want to win.'" "When I asked them, though, none of them said that winning mattered. Of course, they don't enjoy losing either. But unlike the grown-ups, the bummer for them lasts all of five minutes."
"In any event, it's time for all of us to look carefully at the true meaning of youth sports. We're not talking about Lebron James here. We're talking about kids playing ball. They should be having a ball as well."
Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball
Our league adopted an equity playing time policy last year, before the 2002 season. The policy provides an opportunity for each child to play one-half of each game and one full game per week. The policy was adopted for two principal reasons. First, we realized that some children were quitting baseball because they sat the bench 4 out of 6 innings. Second, we acknowledged that children need to play to improve their skills and confidence as individuals, and as a team.
The policy was a no brainer for children and parents. Most coaches embraced the policy, and, not surprisingly, their players have returned this year. Tom Ryan has it right: playing time (and playing time in different field positions) is more important to children than winning games. Your support will take us closer to our goal that all children will have a ball while learning to play ball.
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