Player Evaluations – Novato South Little League

2023 PLAYER EVALUATIONS (Tryouts)

2/3/23 - 2/5/23

Please read this email for an important update on our Sunday Schedule!

This year's Player Evaluations will be held at the San Marin High School baseball field February 3rd-5th. More details and a full schedule are below.

The purpose of player evaluations is to assess every participant with the goal of creating well balanced and competitive divisions. The teams in the Majors, AAA, & AA divisions are selected via draft. The teams in the 50/70, Single-A, and T-Ball divisions are assigned manually. Every registered participant will be on a team (hence why these are officially called Player Evaluations rather than Tryouts).

It is required that ALL players League Age 8-12 that want to play in the AA Division or higher attend tryouts. If your child is League Age 7 and you feel they are ready to play at the more competitive AA Level (Kid Pitch), it is required that they attend Player Evaluations. For players League Age 7 and younger for which the more competitive AA Division (Kid Pitch) is not yet appropriate, your season will begin soon after the player evaluations. Single-A, T-Ball, and T-Ball Kidz do not hold a tryout.

Any player who will not be 8 years old by August 31, 2023 does not need to attend Player Evaluations unless they wish to play in AA.

Any player who is League Age 13 and signed up for 50/70 does not need to attend tryouts.

Please find our player evaluation schedule for 2023 below.

All players age 12 try out on Friday. Players age 11-8 (optional 7s) try out on Saturday or Sunday based on the first letter of their last name. Remember that all ages are league ages, which might differ from your child's biological age.

Friday Feb 3: A-Z

League Age 12

(DOB: 9/1/10-8/31/11)
03:45pm Check-In
04:00pm Start
05:30pm End

Saturday Feb 4: A-M

League Age 11

(DOB: 9/1/11-8/31/12)
08:45am Check-In
09:00am Start
10:30am End
League Age 10

(DOB: 9/1/12-8/31/13)
10:15am Check-In
10:30am Start
12:00pm End
League Age 9

(DOB: 9/1/13-8/31/14)
12:15pm Check-In
12:30pm Start
02:00pm End
League Age 8 (Optional 7)

(DOB: 9/1/14-8/31/15)
01:45pm Check-In
02:00pm Start
03:30pm End
Players age 7 hoping to play AA try out in this slot.

Sunday Feb 5: N-Z

League Age 11

(DOB: 9/1/11-8/31/12)
08:45am Check-In
09:00am Start
10:30am End
League Age 10

(DOB: 9/1/12-8/31/13)
10:15am Check-In
10:30am Start
12:00pm End
League Age 9

(DOB: 9/1/13-8/31/14)
12:15pm Check-In
12:30pm Start
02:00pm End
League Age 8 (Optional 7)

(DOB: 9/1/14-8/31/15)
01:45pm Check-In
02:00pm Start
03:30pm End
Players age 7 hoping to play AA try out in this slot.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Which children need to try out?

What equipment should my child bring?

What should we expect from tryouts?

After checking in and warming up, all kids will be evaluated on several baseball skills: baserunning/speed, infield groundballs, outfield flyballs and batting. Expect to take around 4 grounders and flyballs and see around 8 pitches when batting. Players who would like to pitch get to show their skills at the end of the session. Kids would would like to catch get their reps during the pitching drills.

Coaches will be taking notes of each player, but kids needn't be nervous about these drills. Every kid will be on a team, and NSLL is dedicated to creating balanced teams in each division.

We encourage parents to stay back, watch, and let their kids play to the best of their ability while enjoying the experience!

Is there a makeup weekend for tryouts?

Can we attend at a different time?

Will my kid make the team?

Every child who signs up before Player Evaluations will play on a team, regardless of their skill level. NSLL guarantees participation, but - except for 12 & 13-year olds - does not guarantee the division that a kid will play in.

All players who are league age 13 will play 50/70.
All children who are league age 12 will play in Majors unless they are specifically waived down.
All other players league age 8-11 will be drafted into a AA, AAA or Majors team. Typically, Majors team rosters are comprised of 10-12 year olds, AAA team rosters are comprised of 9-11 year olds, and AA team rosters are comprised of 8-10 year olds. Younger kids who are very advanced for their age may find themselves "playing up".
Children who are league age 7 may try out for the AA division, but we do not guarantee that they will be drafted onto a AA team.
All team rosters for the younger divisions, T-Ball Kidz to Single A, are assembled manually.