Fall 2024 Baseball Academy Registration

Fall 2024 Baseball Academy

2024 CLL Fall Baseball Academy

Introduction to CLL’s Fall Baseball Academy

Corvallis Little League (CLL) is excited to introduce the Fall Baseball Academy, a unique and innovative approach to fall ball designed to enhance players' skills and enjoyment of baseball. The Fall Baseball Academy will focus on maximizing player engagement and development in a fun and inclusive environment through a series of fast-paced, skill-intensive scrimmage games and optional position-specific clinics. The following is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the Fall Baseball Academy, including its benefits, structure, and how it can help our young athletes grow both on and off the field.

What is the Fall Baseball Academy?

The Fall Baseball Academy involves three teams of four to five players each participating simultaneously in a scrimmage game. Unlike traditional baseball games with two teams of nine players each, this format ensures more active participation and fewer instances of players sitting on the bench. The smaller team size and modified rules aim to increase the number of batting and fielding opportunities for each player, thereby accelerating their skill development and overall enjoyment of the game.

How Does It Work?

In the Fall Baseball Academy, three teams are on the field at the same time, with one team batting, one team playing infield (1B, 2B, SS, and 3B; no catchers), and one team playing outfield (LF, CF, RF) and pitching. Players are required to switch positions each round (e.g., if the player played SS last time at the infield, the player would need to play either 1B, 2B, or 3B). The batting team continues until they achieve three outs. Once three outs are made, the teams rotate: the batting team moves to infield, the infield team moves to outfield, and the outfield team goes to bat. This rotation ensures that all players get ample time to practice both offensive and defensive skills.

The modified rules of the game are designed to keep the pace fast and engaging:

Three balls for a walk
Two strikes for an out (with unlimited fouls)
90-minute games with each team batting three times

Benefits of the Fall Baseball Academy

The primary benefit of this format is the increased number of repetitions for each player. More at-bats and more fielding opportunities translate to better skill acquisition and refinement. This intensive practice model helps players develop their baseball skills more effectively than traditional game formats, where they might spend considerable time on the bench or see limited action.

The fast-paced nature of the games keeps players constantly engaged, reducing downtime and maintaining high energy levels throughout the scrimmage. This engagement not only improves their physical skills but also enhances their mental focus and understanding of the game.

Why the Change?

The shift to the Fall Baseball Academy is driven by a desire to make fall ball more accessible and engaging for all players, especially those who might participate in other sports or activities during the fall season (which we encourage). By reducing the number of players on each team and increasing the number of plays each participant is involved in, we create a more inclusive and enjoyable experience for everyone. This model also allows us to better utilize our resources and provide more opportunities for younger age groups to develop their skills.

Schedule and Commitment

The Fall Baseball Academy will run from September 4th to October 25th, with team assignments being announced before Labor Day. Players can expect to participate in one scrimmage game per week on weeknights, one small group practice with their team, and have the option to attend position-specific clinics on Friday nights. These clinics will cover various aspects of the game, such as pitching, catching, hitting, and infield play, providing targeted training to enhance specific skills.

The commitment level for the Fall Baseball Academy is designed to be lower than that of the regular season, allowing players the flexibility to miss scrimmage games whenever scheduling conflicts, illness, or potential burnout risk may arise without negatively impacting their team. This approach makes it easier for families to balance baseball with other fall activities and commitments.

Age Groups

The CLL Fall Baseball Academy will cater to different age groups, ensuring that all players can participate in a way that is appropriate for their skill level and developmental stage.

Majors & Minors (Ages 8-12): This level is considered "competitive" baseball during the regular season, with scores kept during games and standings maintained throughout the season. In the Fall Baseball Academy, this level will focus on development, but also keep score and standings at this level (e.g., 3 points for a win, 2 points for second, etc.).
Farm Level (Ages 7-9): Kids pitch in farm games, and coaches relieve when walks are issued. This level is aimed at providing players with a more structured and pre-competitive experience to introduce the situations of baseball while emphasizing skill development.
Rookie Level (Ages 6-8): At this level, mostly coaches (and some kids) pitch, and tees can be used when strikeouts occur. This setup ensures that younger players get plenty of opportunities to hit and field, fostering their development in a supportive environment.
T-Ball Level (Ages 5-7): Focused on fun and fundamentals, T-Ball is designed for our beginners to enjoy the game while learning the basic skills of baseball. In the Fall Baseball Academy, this level will also emphasize development by maximizing opportunities to play.

Unlike the regular season, there will be no skills evaluation for the Fall Baseball Academy. Players are encouraged to register for the level they would like to play in during the Spring 2025 season.

How to Register

To ensure the success of the Fall Baseball Academy, we need volunteers to coach or manage the small teams. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop coaching skills in a supportive and less stressful environment. For the best development opportunities we will require at least a 1:5 coach-to-player ratio, so please consider registering as a coach or team manager this fall.

Let's work together to make this Fall Baseball Academy a fun and developmental experience for all our young athletes.