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Youth Baseball Leagues
Many don’t understand the different divisions and different organizations that make up youth baseball. Little League, Dixie Youth and Babe Ruth / Cal Ripken make up the bulk of the “recreational leagues” in the southeastern United States. By the way, we’ve mentioned Babe Ruth / Cal Ripken Baseball League several times. Babe Ruth is the main organization and the name for the 13-18 year old leagues. The Cal Ripken Division is the new name, as of the late 1990’s, for the 12 and under division of Babe Ruth Baseball. It was previously named the “Bambino Division” of Babe Ruth Baseball but in the efforts to update and reorganize the division was renamed "Cal Ripken". It's still a division of Babe Ruth League Inc. The difference between Little League, Dixie Youth and Babe Ruth / Cal Ripken is much like the difference between Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterians. It’s all baseball, just a little different interpretation here and there. There are a few minor rules differences from one to the other. Recreational league baseball is made up of several, sometimes many youth associations that join a particular governing body such as Little League, Babe Ruth or Dixie Youth. Those associations may be have formal boundaries and some draw from a wide group of players. Most offer programs from t-ball, usually ages 5-6 years old, to high school age players. Recreational leagues differ from school teams, travel teams in one main way; essentially everyone that signs up gets to play. Usually rec leagues have player participation rules and divide talent evenly throughout the organization to offer fair competition for all teams. Some rec leagues are large enough to support a game schedule within their association. Smaller rec leagues look to play each to provide a game schedule for their teams.
In Charlotte, NC and surrounding areas there are many strong youth baseball programs. Dixie Youth Baseball & Softball, Little League Baseball, Pony League Baseball, AAU Baseball, USSSA Baseball are all represented. Little League is the largest in our area and nationwide but Cal Ripken / Babe Ruth Baseball & Babe Ruth Softball has a strong grip in our area.
There are several advantages to affiliating with a national organization. Insurance through the national organization is an advantage and post season opportunities are potential for great fun.
Recreational League Post Season At the end of the regular season your association has the opportunity to enter an “all star” team in post season play. That team will play all star teams usually at a district level with opportunity to advance through tournament play to state, regional and national levels. The Little League World Series is a great example of how that process works. The teams we watch on TV in the LLWS have worked and played their way through various levels of tournament play to earn the right to represent their community, region and country in the LLWS.
Other than Rec (AAU & USSSA) Other organizations that are not “recreational” organizations are AAU, USSA. There are some others but these are the 2 main forces in youth baseball outside the rec leagues. The teams that participate with AAU (American Athletic Union) and USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association) are formed usually through tryouts or invitation. These teams play “tournament baseball”. They pick and choose various tournaments and travel to play weekend tournaments. Through a qualifying system the AAU and USSSA teams can qualify for state and national tournaments similar to rec association post season play. Many proponents of this type of team play like the travel and excitement of week in week out tournament play. Teams often stay together for several years and develop friendships that last. Some seem to form a new team anytime things don’t go their way or they jump from team to team like free agents in pro sports.
There is no perfect solution or answer for every player. Some players flourish and have fun in a rec league. Others are fit better and enjoy tournament baseball more. Either type of baseball can be fun and competitive. Just as any parent would agree you have to find what’s right for your child depending on dedication, age, maturity, ability, finances, and many other important factors.
Youth Baseball (general) There are many positives to youth baseball programs such as; healthy competition, skill development, team concepts, quality time with parents.
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