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Philosophy
AP Baseball PDF to Print
Stewards of the Game is
committed to teaching young people sound, age-appropriate fundamentals
of the game of baseball; regardless of the players’ skill level.
Whether a players’ interest lies in playing recreational baseball, high
school baseball, college baseball or professional baseball; we feel we
have programs within Stewards of the Game that can help players achieve
their full-God given potential AND assist them in achieving their
baseball dreams.
We have structured our
regular season baseball programs in such a way that we “strengthen the
weak without weakening the strong.” At age level 12 and below,
stronger and weaker players will play
together; with the talented players being spread across our regular
season teams to achieve team parity. This serves multiple purposes.
First, the stronger players have an opportunity to mentor the weaker
players and help them get better. This is an important outreach lesson
that is crucial for all young players to learn early in life. It also
allows the more advanced players to develop their leadership skills.
Second, this concept also allows weaker
players the opportunity to play on teams with more advanced players and
give them something to aspire to. The reality is that just because a
player is not an “All-Star” at age 7 or 8, it doesn’t mean he or she has
no chance of developing into a great player. Some players simply mature
later. We firmly believe that if we totally segregate the better
players from the less advanced players at too early of an age, we do
both groups a great disservice.
That being said, we also firmly believe that
the more advanced players need structured opportunities to play with
and against better ballplayers. As players get older, their bodies
mature and their love for the game (not their parents) begins to
manifest itself, and we must provide these players with more and more
advanced play opportunities.
The following programs are all part of our
AP Baseball strategy to provide the more skilled ballplayers with
advanced play opportunities in a manner and frequency that is
age-appropriate. These programs can start with Challenge Baseball at
age 7 and then culminate with our College Prep Showcase program for
those players with the skill and desire to play college baseball.
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ADVANCED PLAY OPPORTUNITIES
Challenge Play:
Ages 7-12
Challenge teams for these age groups will be
assembled early in the season to provide the more advanced players with
the opportunity to compete against other select teams in various
Challenge, USSSA or Nations Baseball tournaments. Challenge players
ages 12 and below will continue to participate on their regular season
teams to reinforce the spirit of lifting others up; while having the
opportunity to refine their skills against stiffer competition through
periodic Challenge tournaments on the weekends in both the spring and
fall seasons. Challenge players are not guaranteed a spot on our
All-Star teams formed at the end of the spring season. It is not
uncommon for a non-Challenge player to work hard during the regular
season, improve their game and beat-out a Challenge player to make the
All-Star team.
All-Star Play: Ages
7-18
All-Star teams are selected by
the regular season coaches at the end of the spring regular season.
These teams, formed at each one-year annual age increments (e.g. 7U, 8U,
9U….all the way up to 18U) will compete in post season Cal Ripken /
Babe Ruth Area tournaments. Top seeds from these Area tournaments can
advance to State, Regional and National level tournaments; culminating
in the Cal Ripken / Babe Ruth World Series. In the summer of 2009, our
8U, 9U, 11U, 12U, 13U, 15U and 16U All-Star teams all advanced to their
respective State Tournaments. This is a testimony to what hard working
players and coaches can accomplish when they concentrate on teaching
solid fundamentals in an atmosphere where teaching faith-based life
lessons through sports is the #1 priority. Do this well…and the wins
will come.
Babe Ruth Elite Play:
Ages 13-14
Spring 2010
Tryout Signup
We firmly believe that age 13 is the appropriate time to begin allowing
our more skilled ballplayers to practice and
play together as a unit all season. Our Babe Ruth Elite teams will
compete against other advanced-level teams in the Charlotte Babe Ruth
league. At this age, middle school baseball players are faced with the
reality of trying-out and making their middle school teams, or being
cut,. Our Babe Ruth Elite Teams will be selected based on one to two
week tryouts held early in the season. Depending on the number of
players, we may field both a 13U Elite team and a 14U Elite team.
Players not making these Elite teams will be placed on our Babe Ruth
13/14U recreational teams within Stewards of the Game and compete
against other Babe Ruth recreational-level teams comprised of players of
comparable talent.
Babe
Ruth Metro League Play: Ages 15-18
The Babe Ruth Metro League was established in 2008 to allow high school
coaches the opportunity to keep a combination of their JV / Varsity
players playing together during the summer vs. having them scatter-out
and play for various tournament-only baseball teams. This program helps
these school players to play locally against other comparable high
school teams during the summer, continue to develop their team chemistry
and continue to receive consistent fundamental instruction from their
school coaches. It also allows their high school coaches to keep a
close eye on pitch counts and avoid overuse of these young men’s’ arms.
Our Stewards of the Game Metro League team is typically coached by a
paid high school junior varsity or varsity baseball coach; thus the
higher registration fee. Since each team in the Metro League must be
associated with a specific school, we have an ongoing partnership with
Southlake Christian academy in helping us field this team. We have
typically hired one of their coaches to coach the team; while also using
their high school field. While many of the players on our Metro League
team are JV and Varsity players at Southlake, there are usually roster
spots available to high-caliber players from other schools. We compete
against the likes of North Meck High School, Hopewell High, Concord
High, Northwest Cabarrus, Mallard Creek High School and a host of other
Charlotte and Concord based high schools. Again, depending on interest,
there will be a one to two week tryout for this team early in the
season. Players not making our Metro League
team will have the option of being placed on our Babe Ruth 15/16 or
17/18U recreational teams within Stewards of the Game; assuming there
are enough players to form these teams. These teams will then compete
against other Babe Ruth recreational-level teams comprised of players of
comparable skill level.
College Prep Showcase Play: Ages 19 & Under
This is our
Stewards of the Game team formed in both the fall and spring, based
on demand, to meet the needs of players who possess the talent and
drive to play college baseball. Most college coaches agree that
players wishing to play college baseball should either be playing in
College Showcase tournaments or on American Legion baseball teams
during the fall of their junior year and the summer before their
senior year. There will be a try-out held each spring and fall for
players seeking to earn a spot on this team. The team will practice
several times a week; and then play in select Showcase Tournaments
on the weekends throughout the season. As with our Babe Ruth Metro
League Play, coaches for this team will be paid professional
coaches. Registration fees will incorporate the stipends paid to
the coaches; as well as costs for insurance, uniforms, equipment and
tournament fees. Families will be responsible for funding expenses
related to travel and hotel accommodations for themselves and their
player.
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