Multi-League Baseball

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Don't worry about your kid's skills or experience; Multi-League is for fun, recreation and learning how to play baseball. Some frequently asked questions are answered below. If you have any other questions or comments, please call either Peter Carroll (938-9918) or Barney Siri (938-9327).


 
  1. What is the difference between Multi-league and Little League?
    Multi-League is a beginning to intermediate league and is less competitive than little league. We are a bridge to softball or little-league, an option for parents and/or kids who don't want to play little league, and an opportunity for an older child who previously showed no interest in baseball to try their hand at baseball in a calmer environment. We play all our players all of the time and the coach pitches the entire season. We keep score. All teams have a playoff game and each team is expected to play in the play-offs. With use of the team standings, the playoff game matches equally skilled teams which makes it fun for all the kids.

  2. What time does the Rating Session begin on Saturday, January 24, 2009?
    In order to improve our player evaluations and minimize your waiting time, we are once again staggering the times as follows:

    10:00 AM: 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th graders
    10:30 AM: 2nd graders
    11:00 AM: 1st graders

    The rating session will take place at the Murwood school fields. If it’s dry enough, we’ll use the fields; otherwise we’ll conduct the ratings session on the blacktop. A make-up rating session will take place on Saturday, February 2nd (9-10 AM).

  3. May Kindergartners Play in Multi-League?
    Multi-League believes that T-Ball is better situated to help develop most kindergarteners. Multi-League will accept kindergartners only if the kindergartner has played at least 1 year of T-Ball AND a parent coaches (or assistant coaches) the kindergartner's team.

  4. How many teams will Multi-League have each year?
    Probably between 18 and 24: 14 - 16 Lower Division teams and 4 - 6 Upper Division teams. Lower Division (Div 1) is made up of 1st - 3rd graders; Upper Division (Div 2) is made up of 4th -6th graders. Some of the top third graders may be assigned to an upper division team. If we have more kids and coaches, we'll form more teams!

  5. How many players are on a team?
    Multi-League typically has 240 to 300 players each year which reults in 11 to 12 players per team; all children will play each entire game.

  6. How are teams formed?
    For those children who have not played Multi-League before, their skill levels in hitting, fielding, throwing, and running will be evaluated at the January 26th rating session (or make-up session on February 2nd). Returning players will have their coaches' ratings from the prior season. These evaluations will be used to form teams that are evenly balanced among skill levels, grades, ages, and geographic considerations. Special requests for teammates or specific coaches will be considered, but not guaranteed. If too many players sign up the extra players are placed on a waiting list if we don't have enough coaches to accommodate all the players who register.

  7. How important is the Rating Session?
    It's essential for all children who have not played Multi-League before!!!! In order to form teams as equally balanced as possible, we must have an opportunity to see and evaluate each player's skills. If you have siblings in different age groups scheduled for different times during the rating session, you can bring them all at one time. Returning players need not attend the rating session, but may come and be rated if they wish to. New players who do not attend the rating session will not be placed on a team.

  8. Where and when are games and practices?
    Multi-league Baseball plays at Buena Vista, Murwood, Parkmead and Walnut Heights Elementary School fields. Games (Lower Division) are on Tuesday or Thursday evenings (starting at 5 pm, or 5:30 pm after Daylight Savings), Upper Division games are on Wednesday evenings (also starting at 5 pm, or 5:30 pm after Daylight Savings). Coaches select time slots at any of the four fields to suit their schedules. Practice times may be at 3:30 pm or 5 pm on weekdays, or 8:30 am or 10 am on Saturdays. Coaches typically practice twice per week. In the event of a rainy season, some make-up games may be scheduled on Saturdays.

  9. What are the requirements to coach Multi-League?
    Enthusiasm for the game and a basic understanding of the rules. The ability to relate to children on their level is very helpful. It's a great opportunity to contribute your personal time and energy to the community your family lives in and make a difference in our kids' lives. Both Moms and Dads make good coaches. Our emphasis is on teaching and having fun more than on winning.

  10. How important are the coaches?
    Without volunteer coaches and assistants, we wouldn't have Multi-League. The extent to which our program exists and how good it is depends entirely on our ability to attract and develop good coaches. We will conduct a coaches clinic again this year (during the first coaches meeting) emphasizing techniques on coaching children. NOTE: Coaches may request only a specific assistant coach; they will decide when and where their team will practice.

  11. What is the Website address?
    Go to www.multi-league.org. It contains all the information that you will need to know concerning Multi-League Baseball. If you have further questions, send us an email through the website.