Evaluations & Team Formation
Evaluations
There are no evaluations or "try outs" for players baseball ages 5 through 8 (as calculated by the LL age chart). Children will be placed in divisions designed for their age groups.
Players who are baseball age 9, 10, and 11 may (but are not required to) be evaluated to play at a higher level. 9-year-olds are eligible to play in AAA; 10- and 11-year-olds are eligible to play in Majors. All 12-year-olds are automatically placed in Majors and should not attend evaluations unless they are new to SLL.
The Director of Coaching organizes evaluations for the purpose of determining the Draft Pools. In 2025, the evaluation is on Saturday, March 22 (times TBA) at D-Bat in Bloomfield.
Unless excused by the Player Agent for exceptional circumstances, all 11s and 10s wishing to be considered for the Majors and 9s wishing to be considered for AAA must attend evaluations during their scheduled time slot.
All baseball age 9 players who previously played a full spring or fall season in AA and participated in the AAA evaluations are eligible to be added to the AAA Draft.
All baseball age 10 and 11 players who are not in the Majors Draft Pool will be automatically placed in AAA Draft Pool.
After evaluations, the evaluators will determine the Draft Pool for both Majors and AAA such that all players in the Draft Pool will be drafted in that division.
Note 1: The composition of Draft Pools and the number of players who "play up" varies year-to-year. The Draft Pools are created as a result of a number of factors which change each season.
Note 2: A player's prior enrollment in AAA or Majors in SLL Fall Ball (where no evaluations occur) is not a factor in that player's Spring placement.
The Draft (AAA and Majors)
Little League recommends, and SLL has adopted, a player draft as the most effective way of balancing teams at the upper divisions. Prior to each Draft, the Player Agent will provide a list of all players in the Draft Pool to the Division managers. The list will contain the players’ names, Little League Age and evaluations from the previous season. Siblings assigned to the same division must be drafted as a "pair." Team requests are not accepted.
Team Formation (AA, A and Tee Ball)
Tee Ball teams are formed at the discretion of the Tee Ball director, who will attempt to balance the number of 5 and 6 year olds and registered assistant coaches on each team. Team requests and co-coaching arrangements may be considered.
The Farm A Director will form teams for Farm A that are roughly balanced by the number of 6 and 7 year olds and registered assistant coaches on each team. In addition, the Farm A Director will attempt to spread the stronger returning players to balance the division. Team requests and co-coaching arrangements may be considered.
The Farm AA Director will form AA teams based on prior year player evaluations, age, registered assistant coaches, player positions (notably, players who will play catcher) on each team. In addition, the Farm AA Director will attempt to spread the stronger returning players to balance the division. Team requests and co-coaching arrangements may be considered, but may not be honored at this level.