How do I apply for a team?
Simply follow the "Download Applications" link under More Resources. The page the link takes you to will give you an option to download the appropriate application. Simply click on it, print it, fill it out, and mail it in!
How do I get in touch with BCC Baseball to ask questions about the teams and leagues?
By clicking on the "Contact" button at the top of the page you can view a lot of contact information, such as email links and phone numbers. To email, simply click on the name of the individual you'd like to get in touch with. An email will automatically be generated, and you can write your question and click send. You may also call the office, but due to the number of phone calls, we are better able to serve your needs through email.
What does "League Age" mean?
For the upcoming fall 2009 season, a child’s league age is based on the child's age on May 1, 2009.
League age is required for select and travel teams.
Recreational teams are formed by grade.
Age is merely a guideline for rec teams.
Can a player participate on more than one in-house or recreational team?
No, due to scheduling conflicts, a recreational player may not participate on more than one team. This includes teams in the National, American, Minor, Major, Minor Select, Major Select, Prep, and Senior Leagues.
Frequently Asked Questions for Select Leagues
Selecting Coaches
Fall 2009 Tryouts
Age Eligibility
Why have a Minor Select?
Current Major Select players
Difference between Travel and Select teams
Playing with friends/Playing on a recreational team
Playing for a specific manager
Rule differences with recreation leagues
Number of games
Guaranteed playing time
Switching teams
Select team costs
How are coaches selected for Major/Minor Select?
Unlike the recreational programs where individuals can form and enter teams into a league, the Minor and Major Select coaches are chosen from a pool of candidates. Anyone interested in becoming a Select coach are required to complete and submit a Select Coach Application by May 1.
The application will be available on the BCC website by April 1 and should be submitted according to the instructions on the form. Coaches chosen for a Select team are expected to have meaningful baseball coaching experience and will be informed of coaching selections by May 15.
Individuals interested in coaching will also need to understand the level of commitment required to be a Select coach. Additional practices and games per week, tryouts and drafts in the early summer, and winter clinics require a level of commitment beyond what is expected for recreational coaches.
When will tryouts be held?
Minor and Major Select tryouts are held in June. Travel teams tryouts are held in October.
Who is age eligible to play in Minor and Major Select
Only league age 10 and 11 may play in Minor Select and only league age 12 and 13 may play in Major Select. While there may be occasional age exceptions in the recreational leagues (younger players playing "up", or in a high age league), there are NO exceptions in the Select programs.
Spring 2009, the eligible ages are:
Minor Select: must be born between May 1, 1998 and April 30, 2000 (inclusive)
Major Select: must be born between May 1, 1996 and April 30, 1998 (inclusive)
Why have a Minor Select?
There are a number of reasons for creating a Minor Select division:
• Demand for competitive opportunities.
Tryouts for Travel teams have been well-attended, but not everyone can be on a Travel team. Also, some players want the option of playing locally instead of traveling around the area.
• Travel teams begin in BCC at league age 10
The Select divisions provide opportunities for players who did not make and/or choose to leave a Travel team.
• Creating a Minor Select doubles the number of players who can play.
• Creating a Minor Select for ages 10 and 11 allows the Major Select to
• include league age 13.
This fills an existing gap between the current Major Select and high school for most U13s.
• Players graduating from existing Major Select typically return to
• recreational baseball for a year before moving on to high school
• baseball.
• Provides better alignment of age-based skills and abilities
• Coaches are selected by the league based on proven coaching abilities and will be expected to participate in continuing coaching classes, providing a higher level of instruction for the players.
What will happen to the players currently in Major Select?
All players currently in Major Select will be eligible to remain with their existing teams for the next two seasons (fall 2009 and spring 2010), without having to re-tryout. Players will have until June 1, 2009, to declare if they wish to remain in Major Select for the following two seasons.
What is the difference between the Travel teams and the Select
divisions?
Travel is a highly competitive program that allows very skilled players the opportunity to compete with other competitive teams from all over the MD/DC/VA area. Our best players compete against the best in their age groups.
The Select divisions group the best players within our league to play against each other.
I want to stay on a team with my friends, can this be arranged?
Can I play on both my recreational team and my Select team?
A player who chooses to try out for a Select team can only play for that team and cannot be guaranteed a spot on a team with his/her former teammates and/or friends. While it is not uncommon to be selected for a team that has friends on it, players and parents should anticipate and look forward to making new friends with new teammates. This process of breaking up the “old gang” might seem traumatic, but it really does work out and the kids adapt to the challenge! There are NO exceptions to this rule.
A player CANNOT be a member of both a Select and recreational team.
Can I pick the manager I want to play for?
Since teams are selected through a draft process, the coaches will be choosing the players; players will not have the choice of coach, if selected.
Are the rules the same as the Minor and Major League recreation level?
In many cases, they are, but basepaths and pitching distances are different. Both Select divisions allow leading and stealing (Minor League rec does not), so pitchers will learn to pitch from the stretch and hold runners on base.
See chart below to compare leagues.
Minor League
|
Select Divisions
|
Recreation
|
| League Age |
10 & 11 |
10 & 11 |
| Basepath length |
60 feet |
60 feet |
| Pitching distance |
46 feet |
46 feet |
| Leading / stealing |
Allowed |
No Leading |
| |
|
|
Major League
|
Select Divisions
|
Recreation
|
| League Age |
12 & 13 |
12 & 13 |
| Basepath length |
75 feet |
70 feet |
| Pitching distance |
54 feet |
50 feet |
| Leading / stealing |
Allowed |
Allowed |
How many games will we play?
There will be two games per week, on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons. The spring season will be 14 games plus playoffs (one to three additional games).
The fall season is a bit shorter (typically 12 games) and there are no playoffs. The spring season starts in April and is targeted to end, including playoffs, by the time Montgomery County schools let out for the summer, usually in mid-June.
Everyone should consider the playoffs before making summer vacation plans.
Are there guaranteed playing opportunities at the Select level?
Yes, teams bat in a consecutive batting order in which all twelve batters are in the lineup. Starting lineup positions in the field are determined by skill, particularly at pitcher and catcher. All players must play at least three innings in the field and often get to play four or more. The better players may well play the entire game at the most important positions.
If I make a team and decide after playing one season I want to play for another team, is that possible?
The short answer is yes and no.
A player may re-enter the draft after playing one season and it is understood that his previous team will not draft the player.
However, no guarantee can be provided as to what other team will select that player, or even if the player will be drafted at all. The only way to ensure that a player will be able to remain in the Select division the following season is to stick with your team.
How much do the Minor and Major Select leagues cost?
The total fee for participation in a Select division will be up to $200 for each of the spring and fall seasons. This includes twice as many games as the recreational league, an upgraded uniform, fees for the winter indoor clinics, and more experienced umpires.
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