NCBSA Programs

The NCBSA conducts a wide range of programs for boys and girls from Kindergarten through 8^th grade who are interested in playing baseball and softball. Participation is limited to New Castle Residents, or children enrolled in the Chappaqua School System.

Players school grade, not age, determine the division they will play in for all our Recreational programs. There are more specific age guidelines for the Travel Team Programs, and are driven by the leagues that they play in. The Recreational team coaches will provide details of these and more Travel program information during the season if they are not specifiied below.

NCBSA Philosophy

The philosophy of the NCBSA towards our Spring recreation program is to provide a participatory program in which children with all levels of ability can learn and play baseball and softball safely, with as much fun as possible. Our emphasis is on the teaching and development of fundamentals skills, and not on competition. We expect all players to be accorded equal playing time and to be given the opportunity to try playing different positions in the field, regardless of ability, and we expect our coaches and, in turn, our parents to help provide a safe, joyful and nurturing playing environment for our kids.

Spring Season

Our Spring baseball and softball seasons run from early April until mid June. We have over 1,000 children participating on over 90 teams in our Spring program. The Spring seasons are intended to be participatory in nature -- we hope that all players, regardless of ability, can have fun playing ball. Our emphasis is on skill development and the invaluable lessons that participation in youth sports programs can provide -- sportsmanship, team work, and camaraderie. Our program is organized into several Divisions, primarily by grade level, as described below:

Developmental Kindergarten

Our entry level program for both boys and girls ages 5 and 6 who are in Kindergarten. We try to introduce the fundamentals of throwing, catching and the basic rules of playing the game. Hitting is done off of a batting tee. We conduct sessions once a week on Sunday afternoons. Sessions typically involve a 45-minute practice followed by a 45-minute scrimmage against another team, where each team bats through the order. Commencing with the 2006 season, we created separate boys and girls Developmental Kindergarten divisions.

Developmental 1^st Grade

A continuation of our entry level program for boys and girls ages 6 and 7 who are in 1st grade. Hitting is also done off of a batting tee, and again, sessions are once a week on Sunday afternoons. As with the entry program, we have created separate boys and girls Developmental 1^st grade divisions commencing with the 2006 season.

Baseball

For all three of our youth Baseball divisions (2^nd to 6^th grades), the season begins with a series of 3-5 practices. Thereafter, each team (other than in the Juniors Division) has 2 games and 1 practice per week, until the last two weeks of the season when we schedule games only. We do not keep team records or standings during the season in an effort to de-emphasize winning and losing. With the exception of the Majors American division, there are no playoffs. Our youth division teams play on Little League size fields – base paths of 60 feet and pitching distance of 46 feet.

Juniors - 2nd grade - At this level we introduce a pitching machine that is run by coaches during games and practices. There are no walks. Other than for the rules relating to the pitching machine, the games are played consistent with regular Little League baseball rules (e.g., 3 outs to an inning; 9 players in the field including a catcher). Practices are held on Saturday afternoons and games on Sunday afternoons.

Minors - the Minors Division includes players who are in the 3rd and 4th grades, usually 8 through 10 years old. This is the first level at which we introduce live pitching.

National League - 3rd graders

American League - 4th graders

Majors - the Majors Division includes players who are in the 5^th and 6^th grades, usually 10 through 12 years old. This is the first level at which we introduce stealing after a pitch has reached the plate. The Majors American League division holds playoffs at the end of the season, with playoff games officiated by certified “patch” umpires.

National League - 5th graders

American League - 6th graders

Baseball Seniors

Our Seniors program for baseball is organized in conjunction with the Central Westchester Baseball Association ("CWBA"). This association includes teams from other surrounding communities -- Mt. Kisco, Bedford Hills, Pleasantville, Pound Ridge, etc. The NCBSA sponsors several "New Castle" teams that compete in this league among themselves and against teams from these other towns. Although this inter-community play results in brand of baseball that is more competitive than our other Spring recreation baseball programs, this program still comfortably accommodates players of all abilities who have a desire to play the game. Play is conducted under the auspices of official High School Baseball Rules, as modified by the CWBA.

7^th Grade Division – commencing with the 2006 season, this Division will play on a full regulation field of 90 foot base paths and a pitching distance of 60 feet, 6 inches. Home games will be played at the Horace Greeley High School Varsity and JV baseball fields.

8^th Grade Division – same full regulation field and High School rules as for the 7^th Grade Division, but for players in the 8^th grade.

Softball

The NCBSA softball program is chartered by the American Softball Association ("ASA"). The ASA is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Softball Federation as the governing body of amateur softball in the United States. As our Spring program is recreational in nature, NCBSA modifies ASA rules to allow more opportunity for instruction.

Instructional Division- 2nd grade – this division provides the opportunity for further skill development and better understanding of game situations. An 11" RIF softball is used. Commencing with the 2006 season, we used a pitching machine that is run by coaches during games and practices. Games and practices are held on Sunday afternoons.

Minors and Majors Divisions

For the Minors and Majors Divisions, the season begins with a several practices. Thereafter, each team has two games and one practice per week for the duration of the Season. Like our baseball programs, we do not keep team records or standings during the season in an effort to de-emphasize winning and losing. Pitching clinics are offered during the season to supplement instruction.

Minors Division - 3^rd and 4th grade – this Division provides the opportunity for further skill development and better understanding of game situations. Players are given the opportunity to pitch, but after four balls are thrown, the coach of batting team comes in to pitch in order to keep game moving. The pitcher returns to face the next batter. An 11" RIF ball is used.

Majors Division - 5^thand 6^th grade – In this Division players do all pitching with no coach intervention. Stealing is added in this division to encourage development of catchers. A 12" RIF ball is used.

Seniors Division- 7^th and 8^th grade. The Seniors Softball division is a continuation of our softball program for older girls. While currently under review, in past seasons the teams from New Castle have participated in a league where they competed against the other New Castle teams as well as teams from other towns. Each team typically practices once per week and plays two games each week.

Summer Travel Team Programs

NCBSA has been participating in the WPBA summer Baseball and Softball leagues for the past 9 years. The WPBA (the Westchester and Putnam Baseball Association) is a competitive travel league ranging in age groups from 9 and under to 18 and under for baseball and age groups from 10 and under to 16 and under for softball. Try-outs for the travel teams generally are held in late April or early May. Information on the travel team try-outs will be communicated through the Spring recreation program coaches and posted on the NCBSA website at www.ncbsa.com. All NCBSA players are eligible to try out for the travel teams for their respective age groups, provided that they are actively participating in our Spring recreation programs for that season. The Summer travel team season typically begins in mid-June and continues until early August, and involves a substantial time commitment during the season for games and practices each week.

Fall Travel Team Programs

The baseball and softball programs offered in the Fall are essentially continuations of the Summer travel program for those teams where sufficient player interest is expressed. On occasion the NCBSA has sponsored Fall-only teams when there have been sufficient numbers of qualified travel team level players interested in playing baseball or softball only for the Fall season. The Fall travel team season typically runs from early September until the end of October.

Coaches Clinics

The NCBSA conducts various coaching skills clinics for all head coaches and assistant coaches, including clinics held at the Pro Swing facility in Mount Kisco. Dates for each clinic are posted on the NCBSA website at www.NCBSA.com.

Players Clinics

The NCBSA also conducts players skills clinics for each of the different age groups and divisions. The players clinics generally will take place in late March and early April. Dates for each clinic are posted on the NCBSA website at www.NCBSA.com.

Coaches and Other Volunteers

The NCBSA is a volunteer organization. In order to provide the 1,000 plus children in our program the best youth sports experience possible, we expect and need for the parents of those children to volunteer their time and assistance. Among other things, every season we need additional parents to serve as coaches and assistant coaches, and to volunteer to umpire games.

All NCBSA coaches are required to have a current NYSCA certification (video programs to obtain the certification are offered each Spring).

Code of Conduct

We expect parents and players alike to abide by the Code of Conduct they sign during the registration process. We also adhere to the National Standards for Youth Sports.

NCBSA Website

Additional information on the NCBSA and our programs, together registration information and forms, can be obtained online from the NCBSA’s website at www.ncbsa.com.