ABOUT
US:
Stafford Baseball
League, Inc. is a non-profit organization registered in the State
of Virginia. We are affiliated with Babe
Ruth League, Inc. and Babe
Ruth Leagues of Virginia, Inc. Membership is open to every
resident of Stafford County who is interested in advancing the
youth recreational baseball program.
At SBL we strive to create an environment that focuses not only
on the game, but also on the skills of teamwork and sportsmanship.
Our programs follow the principles of teaching sportsmanship,teamwork,
and commitment while providing quality social interaction and
skill development to children.
As a League our success is measured upon the individual experience
of each child, and the lessons and values that will remain with
him or her for years to come. SBL operates under contract with
Stafford County. The League is solely responsible for the operations
and control of the baseball program. If you would like to consider
sponsoring a team please contact us and we will provide you with
all the information necessary.
The Year 2006 marked the 15th
anniversary of Stafford Baseball League, Inc. We are very proud
to say that we have been affiliated with Babe Ruth
League the entire time. On July 6, 1999, Babe Ruth
League, Inc. announced the renaming of its youth baseball division
from the Bambino Division to the Cal Ripken Baseball
Division. At a press conference held at Oriole Park
at Camden Yards, Ronald Tellefsen, President & CEO of Babe
Ruth League, addressed representatives from Major League baseball,
the Baltimore Orioles, Babe Ruth League, corporate sponsors and
the Ripken family, "Babe Ruth League, Inc. takes great pride
in naming its 12 & Under Division - Cal Ripken Baseball. Cal
Ripken, Jr. and Babe Ruth League share a common vision - to provide
every youngster the opportunity to play baseball and have fun.
Teaching them to play the game "The Ripken Way" will
assure us of these goals."
At SBL we offer a FALL program from September-October and a SPRING
program from March-June. We also support All Star competition
baseball during July. Our Babe Ruth Baseball program is for players
age 13 and up. Cal Ripken Baseball is for 5 through 12-year-old
players.
The
Cal Ripken Divisions
Teaching baseball, "The Ripken Way," by keeping baseball
FUN, especially in the early stages of youth baseball, is a primary
concern of Babe Ruth League's Cal Ripken Division which is comprised
of Major, Minor, Rookie, and T-Ball Divisions.
Cal Ripken Baseball
is played under the Official
Baseball Rules, but implements some special rules as necessary
for the development and welfare of this young age group. The game
is played on a 60-foot and 70-foot diamond with a pitching distance
of 46 and 50 feet. There are rules that set the maximum number
of innings a pitcher may pitch in a calendar week. In addition,
SBL limits the number of pitches per game. Regulation games consist
of six innings or four innings if a game is called. Special base
running rules are also in effect.
T-BALL DIVISION:
This program is for 5 and 6-year-olds, to
teach the fundamentals of hitting and fielding. All batters will
hit the ball from a batting tee which is adjusted to a height
that allows the batter to swing level. All rostered players present
for the game bat in order, and are placed defensively in the field.
An adult coach is stationed beyond the infielders in order to
provide instruction to all defensive players. The primary goal
is to begin to instruct young players in the fundamentals of baseball
in a supportive team environment. All players play all positions.
No umpires are used, no score is kept and there is no post season
play or tournaments. The league commissioner places players onto
community teams.
ROOKIE DIVISION:
This program is designed primarily for 7
and 8-year-olds. Dr. Robert Brown, former president of the American
League formulated the concept of the Rookie League, a pitching
machine program. Babe Ruth League quickly embraced this concept
and established the rookie league as a division. By controlling
the pitches with a pitching machine, there is more action at the
plate and in the field. Fear of being hit by a pitched ball is
diminished. It makes the game safer and improves the playing confidence
and ability of all participants. It removes the boredom - which
is often the result of either overpowering or inadequate pitching
- by throwing only strikes. Fewer errors and greater throwing
accuracy are the result of increase in activity. The rookie league
is an excellent way to continue teaching the fundamentals of the
game and building player confidence.
All rostered players present for the game
bat in order, whether playing defensively or not. However, only
ten players are placed in the field defensively. No players sit
out defensively two innings in a row. All players play all positions.
No umpires are used, no score is kept and there is no post season
play or tournaments. The league commissioner places players onto
community teams.
MINOR DIVISION:
This program is recommended for 9 and 10-year-olds.
Among teammates of their own age and experience level, players
continue building and refining their fundamental skills while
they begin to understand game strategy. It is at the minor league
level that players first experience post-season tournament competition.
In the minor division player's pitch. All rostered players present
for the game bat in order, whether playing defensively or not.
However, only nine players are placed in the field defensively.
SBL rules encourage equal playing time among all players. Umpires
are used, score is kept and there is post season play or tournaments.
Players attend a tryout and are drafted onto
teams. Any registered player that did not attend the tryout has
their name drawn from a hat and is placed on a team. 8-year-olds
are permitted to tryout for the minor division, but are not gauranteed
a spot. Any 8-year-old not drafted by a team will be placed on
a rookie division team by the league commissioner.
MAJOR DIVISION:
The most experienced
level of Cal Ripken Baseball, recommended for 11 and 12-year-old
players. The major divsion is played on a 70-foot field with a
pitching distance of 50 feet. The major division utilizes an extra
hitter or EH to add more offense to the game and have less players
sit out. Nine players are placed defensively in the field. SBL
rules encourage equal playing time among all players. Umpires
are used, score is kept and there is post season play or tournaments.
Players attend a tryout and are drafted onto
teams. Any registered player that did not attend the tryout has
their name drawn from a hat and is placed on a team. Players under
the age of 11 are not permitted to tryout for the major division.
Umpires are used, score is kept and there is post season play
or tournaments.
AA DIVISION:
During the Spring
season SBL offers a AA Divsion for 9 to 12-year-olds. The AA Division
is organized at the competitive level to provide an opportunity
for players with highly developed skills to advance to district,
state, and national level of competition. All players participate
in a cross-county season schedule. In addition, an All-Star pool
of players are selected from each age group for travel teams.
Players are selected through tryouts at a single county location.
The AA division is subdivided into a Major and Minor Divsion.
Players not selected
for this division should attend the Minor or Major divisional
tryouts and will be placed in the Minor or Major division draft.
As a general rule, players are not allowed to play up or down
from their age group in the AA Division.
The
Babe Ruth League Divisions
Babe Ruth League, the group for 13-15 year
old players, was founded in 1951.
Each local league chartered is an organization
with authority to administer its own program within the framework
of the Rules and Regulations and guidance of Babe Ruth League,
Inc. officials.
Each state, province or territory in the
13-15 division is operated by an elected State Commissioner, and
in most states, there are District Commissioners who assist the
State Commissioner with his/her many duties. (Some states, with
approval from Headquarters, also receive the assistance of Area
Commissioners).
In turn, the states are grouped into eight
regions with a Regional Commissioner to oversee the Regional operation.
These Regional Commissioners also serve as members of the Board
of Directors of Babe Ruth League, Inc.
Teams from each league are eligible to enter
tournament competition and move along the tournament trail to
the championship tournament - the World Series.
13-YEAR-OLD PREP LEAGUE:
In an effort to encourage more participation
in the game of baseball, the International Board of Babe Ruth
League, Inc. approved at the beginning of the 1976 season the
introduction of the Babe Ruth Baseball Prep League.
Under the Prep League rules, the team rosters
must be composed of all 13-year-old players and shall consist
of no less than 12 players and no more than 15 players. In order
for the Prep League to be accepted by Headquarters, the local
parent program must be a chartered Babe Ruth 13-15 League.
Studies have shown that many young players
lose interest in the game of baseball when they do not get ample
playing time in games once selected for an organized team. In
addition, it has been found that players have expressed fear of
competing with 14 and 15-year-old players who have already experienced
one to two years playing on the standard 90-foot diamond.
With the Babe Ruth
Baseball Prep League, the 13-year-old player now has that chance
to play, avoiding the possibility of his losing interest in playing
baseball. Babe Ruth Baseball also features a 13 Year Old World
Series.
SBL will offer a
Prep Divsion in the Spring season only if there are enough registered
13-year-olds to have a dvision. Otherwise 13-year-olds will be
placed on a Babe Ruth Division team.
BABE RUTH LEAGUE:
Babe Ruth 16-18 Baseball was born in 1966
and has increased steadily since its inception. The 16-18 division
is designed to provide organized regulation baseball competition
for 16, 17 and 18-year-old players as a development plateau where
they can continue to learn and practice those principles which
will help carry them through to a satisfactory and productive
adulthood.
The 16-18 division was organized because
Babe Ruth League, Inc. was aware its job was far from completed.
No organization was making available similar opportunities for
young players once they had surpassed the Babe Ruth 13-15 baseball
age. Just as the 13-15 Division filled a gap, the 16-18 Division
was designed to address a similar void.
In the 16-18 division,
which is played under regulation
baseball rules, can be found the opportunity to practice the
ideals of sportsmanship, fair play, high morality and democratic
spirit which the participant has learned at the Babe Ruth 13-15
level. The primary objective of the 16-18 division is to provide
a community-level program which eventually gives the players an
opportunity to participate in the 16-18 World Series.
16-year-olds cannot
be placed on a 13 to 15-year-old team. Therefore SBL will only
offer baseball to 16-year-olds if there are enough registered
players to stand up a 15/16-year-old division. Currently SBL does
not have a 17/18-year-old divsion, but could initiate one should
there be enough community interest.
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