Q – Who Can Play in Novato Babe Ruth for 2016?
A: Players who are 13-15 years of age, and who reside within Marin County, are eligible to
play in the Novato Babe Ruth League. Any player born prior to May 1, 2003, and on or after
May 1, 2000, will be eligible for Babe Ruth 13-15 League competition. Players on their High
School Baseball team (Frosh, JV, or Varsity) may join their team when their High School
Baseball Season ends. Freshmen players will not miss any Regular Season games.
Q – I’ve been playing Travel Ball, can I still play Babe Ruth?
Players who are currently playing games with ‘Travel” Teams are eligible to play in
Novato Babe Ruth provided their last Travel Team game is played prior to the beginning
of the Babe Ruth Regular Season. This means we ask that you not play Travel Ball for just
a few weeks during our Regular Spring Season. Our league has concluded that the
demands of the area’s Travel Teams, with their extensive game schedules, do not leave
room for the commitment needed to maintain a healthy team environment we feel is a
cornerstone for our Babe Ruth League. In addition, we feel playing on two teams at the
same time creates a greater risk of injury.
Q – Why should we consider Novato Babe Ruth in this age group?
A: Novato Babe Ruth is proud of the success we have achieved in meeting our dual goals:
1.) To provide a competitive league environment where High School varsity-bound players
may compete against other highly skilled players while sharpening their skills. Our 2008,
2009, and 2011 13 year Old All Star, 2010 and 2012 14 Year Old All Star, and 2012 and
2013 15 year Old All Star Teams took the District title, and advanced to the Babe Ruth
State Tournament.
2.) To offer a developmental program for younger players who need basic skills training
and experience on the regulation-sized fields. Our Managers and Coaches must meet the
National Babe Ruth Organization Coaches Certification standards that cover baseball
skills and knowledge, and utilize effective coaching approaches for youth baseball.
Teams are comprised of players from the 13, 14 and 15-year-old age groups. The younger
players get the chance to learn the game while playing with kids they may well play with or
against in High School. Older players have the opportunity to develop their skills against
other High School players, and also gain team leadership experience. Your Babe Ruth
skills will prepare you to play against High School Players who can throw the ball and hit
the ball much harder than in Little League.
Q – Do I need to attend tryouts?
A: A player who is new to the Novato Babe Ruth for the Spring Season must attend the
scheduled tryouts. If you came up from Little League, and then played in our Fall Ball
program prior to the Spring Season, you are still considered a new player, and are
expected to be at tryouts. Tryouts give the players an opportunity to demonstrate their
skills and show how they might have changed and improved from the previous season.
Players should give their best effort at tryouts. This gives managers the information they
need to properly draft players the following day, and helps keep the league balanced.
Players can change a lot from year to year (and even from Fall to Spring!).
Q – How should I prepare for tryouts?
A: Tryouts are conducted on a regulation size field, with 90-foot base paths. Players should
throw and swing the bat well in advance of the tryout date to prepare for longer throws, as
well as do some hitting off a live pitcher. While we caution players to “take it easy”,
sometimes the competitive spirit takes over, and a player will try to throw too hard, and
risk injury. Therefore, please balance preparation with over-preparation. Bring cleats and
tennis shoes in case of bad weather. Babe Ruth bats are the larger 2-5/8 bats, and you may
bring your own bat for the tryout hitting session. Expect to be at tryouts for about three
hours. If you are a Pitcher or Catcher, be sure to also participate in the bullpen sessions at
tryouts. It is vital that the coaches know who can pitch or catch. Catcher’s gear will be
available, but, of course, you may use your own. Also, bring sweaters or jackets to stay
warm, especially during down time between tryout sessions. We also suggest that you bring
snacks and water.
Q – What is the season like?
A: NCS High School rules prevent High School Baseball players from joining Babe Ruth
teams until after the High School season ends; therefore, the Spring Season is broken into
two parts: Pre-Season and Regular Season.
Pre-Season: After tryouts, a draft of new players is conducted to fill out the Spring Babe
Ruth Teams (a combination of new players plus returning players, some of whom also play
High School baseball). During the Pre-Season, which usually spans from mid-March to
mid-May, “Spring Training Teams” are formed. “Spring Training Teams” are comprised
of a combination of non-High School players from two Spring Babe Ruth Teams. PreSeason play allows for skill development in a real game setting. Practice for the Spring
Training Teams usually begins in mid-March. Your team manager will share the practice
and game schedules with you, and this information will also be posted to the Novato Babe
Ruth website.
Regular Season: Regular Spring Season usually begins in mid-May (generally on Mother’s
Day). When the Regular Season begins, players return to their Spring Babe Ruth Teams,
and play three games a week – one week day game plus games on Saturday and Sunday.
Spring Babe Ruth Teams are divided into American League and a National League. Four
teams from each League advance to the Playoffs at the end of June. We typically play a
seventeen game Regular Season, plus Playoffs; weather, field conditions and other factors
may impact the league schedule. Again, your team manager will share the practice and
game schedules with you, and this information will also be posted to the Novato Babe Ruth
website.
Q – Will I really get to play, or will I just sit the bench?
A: Novato Babe Ruth works diligently to achieve the goals of being both a competitive and
a developmental league. Games are played at a high;y competitive level – often leading to
league championships – but we also have a “Minimum Play” rule, so that all players can
develop balanced skills. All players at a game must have a minimum of two innings in the
field, and have at least one at bat. Typically, players average more than that for the season.
In addition, our teams stay together from year to year, so managers and coaches have an
even greater incentive to prepare and develop players over time. As you might expect, a
good attitude and consistent effort can earn more playing time. Young players get a lot of
playing time during our “Pre-Season / Spring Training” games, when the High School
players are unavailable. The emphasis here is on fundamentals and skill development, with
games played to prepare for the regular season. Call 415-258-4814 for more information.
Q – What level of commitment is expected from the player and the player’s family?
A: Baseball is a team sport, and youth baseball is only as successful as its volunteers.
Teams need to be able to rely on the consistency of player participation; that means being
at and participating in practice and games throughout the season. Plan on committing to
your team from mid-March through the end of June. We recognize school and family
events occur during the season, and players must miss practices and games at times;
however, we expect players to meet their responsibilities to their team and teammates.
Player families are expected to volunteer in the numerous roles that make Babe Ruth
function properly: this may include Snack Shack duty, Field Prep and Scoring
assignments. Additionally, League sponsorship funding is getting harder and harder to
secure, so donations and/or sponsorships to help defray the cost of field and equipment
upkeep is appreciated. Your financial donations also help to keep registrations fees down.
Q – What are key differences between Babe Ruth and Little League?
A: There are a few notable differences, including:
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Regulation size fields are used – 60’6’’ pitching mounds, 90’ baselines.
Base runners can lead off bases. Pitchers must therefore learn to pitch “from the
stretch”.
Balks may be called.
Most players use the larger 2-5/8 barrel bats. Composite barrel bats must be
BBCOR certified. Younger players may still use their 2-1/4 bats from Little League;
however, they are not recommended for use against harder throwing Babe Ruth
pitchers. (LL bats must still be BBCOR certified.) More information is available on
our Approved Bats page.
Games are seven innings, not six.
Pitchers can pitch no more than seven innings in a week, and must have two days’
rest if they pitch more than three innings in a game. Pitch count maximum for a 13year-old is 75 pitches in a game. There is no days’ rest requirement based on pitch
count, and pitchers may pitch in consecutive games.