PLAYING UP POLICY
Policy
“There are three basic baseball skills that coaches & Commissioners look for in players: fielding, throwing and
hitting. While it is very rare for players to be strong in all three skill areas, they should have a perfect score in
all of them at their age level, and they have to be evaluated as one of the top players in the next level, not
middle of the road. Coaches/Commissioners also look for the right attitude and the increased maturity to play
up a level. In a field of approximately 950 baseball players in New Canaan, we estimate only a few will be
allowed to play up, of the total number.”
Procedures

Parents who want their child to play up must notify by email both the Commissioner for the league the child is
supposed to play in and the league the child wants to play up in, prior to the evaluations.

Phase I:
The child must attend the evaluations for his/her league. After evaluations, the Commissioner for the league the
child is supposed to play in will decide whether or not to nominate the child to advance to Phase II.

Phase II:
Phase II is held during the time set forth for “make-up” evaluations or at another designated time. The child will
attend and be evaluated by the Commissioner(s) of the older league and the League President. The
Commissioner(s) of the older league and League President will make the decision as to whether the child is
allowed to play up based on the child’s ability, and the space available in that particular league.

Playing up for one season does not guarantee that the child will be permitted to play up the next season. This
process must be repeated every year.

Playing up is for the REGULAR season only. There is NO playing up in All-Stars for baseball, and rare exception in
softball. The child must earn a spot on the All-Star team for the child’s proper age group. It is recommended
that the child participate in the ABG for his proper age group, if he is interested in All-Stars.

In Cal Ripken baseball, only the following age groups are eligible to play up:
o A. 6 year olds who want to play in the Bantam 7’s
o B. Bantam 7’s who want to play in the Bantam 8’s
o C. Bantam 8’s who want to play in the Cub 9’s
o D. Cub 9’s who want to play in the Cub 10’s
o E. Cub 10’s who want to play in the 60 Majors 11-12’s

Cal Ripken players in an age group older than 10 year olds are not eligible to play up. (ie: 11 year olds already
play with 12 year olds. 12 year olds are not eligible to play up with 13 year olds)

If a 10 year old player qualifies to play up, he must play in the 60’s majors division. He is not eligible to play in
the 70’s majors as a 10 year old.

For a 6 year old who wants to play in the 7 year old league, Phase I will consist of the child attending the
evaluations for the 7 year olds, during the last half hour of their evaluations (as there is not a formal 6 year old
evaluation). The 7 year old Commissioner and League President will then decide whether the child can play up or
whether he needs to be further evaluated during Phase II.

For Softball, the safety issue becomes the greatest factor since there are two years within each division. For
example, an 8 year old wishing to play up in the Minors 10U would have to be as strong and skilled as the best
10 year olds in order to be considered for playing up.
Thank you, The Commissioners of New Canaan Baseball and Softball