Hello everyone,

It's been a great start to the season with a wonderful Opening Day and lots of baseball since. Too much cold and rain for our liking, but hopefully that will change quickly!

We are happy to announce the opening of registration for 2024 Summer Ball. Summer Ball is our travel program that starts soon after the Town Ball Season. Despite the spring season just starting in the last couple of weeks, we are already making plans for this year's summer ball season. There are many things that need to get done before the start of the summer season, including registering teams for tournaments and summer leagues, order uniforms and select the teams. Therefore, it may seem early to think about Summer Ball, but its right around the corner.

Here are the details:

1. Summer Ball season starts in June. Usually teams are announced for the first week of June. Practices start right after the Spring season playoffs are complete. (Playoffs for Town Ball start Sunday June 2 and continue through June 11th) Summer ball typically lasts until the first week of August. Your child(ren) will get two games per week that are usually scheduled on weekdays. Most teams will also be entered into one summer weekend tournament which will be paid for by the League. Summer Ball Leagues try their hardest to avoid weekend games, but sometimes it is unavoidable. Cost is $200 for 8U and $225 for 9U through 12U.

2. We offer teams for 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 year olds. 8 year olds play in the Foxboro Friendship League. 9-12 year olds play in the Summer Youth Baseball League, while 10-12 year olds may also be picked on a Norwood District Team. Although, we want kids playing on these travel teams to be at every game possible, we understand summer vacations are important to all families. If one or two games during the SYBL and Friendship League seasons are going to missed because of vacations, it isn't a big deal and coaches can work around it. There is an expectation that your child will be committed to the team and make every other game and/or practice. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO DISTRICT TEAMS, AS EXPLAINED BELOW.

2. Teams are created by age group, so the playing age of your child(ren) is very important, because kids cannot play down in Summer Ball. Whatever age your child(ren) is now or the age he/she turns by Aug. 31, 2024 is their summer ball play age. Again, no exceptions. In certain cases a child may be allowed to play up to an older age team, but no child is allowed to play below their Little League playing age. It doesn't matter if they stayed back in school or started school late and all their friends play on the younger team. A child's play age controls what team they are on.

3. We offer the opportunity to play travel summer ball for playing ages 8-12. (Based on numbers some 7 year olds could be added to the 8 year old team, but we are starting now with only 8 year olds). With games starting in late June, traditionally, our teams play opponents located within, at most, a 45 minute drive. We allow both leagues to use Kelley and Wall Fields, therefore every Norwood team will have multiple home games in Norwood. However. the the summer ball leagues are currently deciding whether to use our fields based on the Coakley construction.

4. SYBL is set up with an A division and a B Division for the 9, 10, 11, and 12 year old divisions. If we end up with enough to fill a third team at any age group, both the second and third team would be entered into the B division.

5. We usually set up 2 teams for the Foxboro Friendship League for 8 year olds, but that will depend on numbers. This league plays with rules similar to our AA ball league, with kid pitching and catching.

6. It is imperative that as parents you understand that Summer Ball is a travel program and plays in competitive leagues aganst other towns. Our teams are selected by Norwood Little League, but everyone that registers will get to play summer baseball either on the A team or B team within their age group. Norwood Little League takes this process very serious because it is an honor to represent the town of Norwood in travel baseball. We implore every parent that signs up their child to know that their child must be committed to competitive baseball.

6. DISTRICT TEAMS: For playing ages 10, 11, and 12, if your child makes the A team, your child will be on the Little League International District team for that age group too. The district tournament is from late June into early July. It begins with the district tournament with games against local teams in our district. Typically its 4 or 5 other teams for 10&11 and about 8 teams for 12 yo tournament. For the 10 and 11 year olds teams if they advance they could play in the regional tournament and the State tournament later in July. For the 12 year olds, that team could advance all the way to the Little League World Series.

IMPORTANT: Making the 10, 11, and especially the 12 yo district team is a big deal and a commitment. Your child cannot miss games or practices during that time. No exceptions. We don't have tryouts for the district teams, but all Majors coaches are on the lookout for district -type players through out the spring season. The head coaches for each age group's district team will be announced in the coming weeks. Players on the district teams will be required to fill out school attendance forms and provide their birth certificates to play in the tournament. (I will be in touch with those teams after they are selected for that paperwork.) Towards the end of the spring season the district coaches meet with a panel of coaches and Board members to select the District teams. If your child is play 10, 11, OR 12 and you don't want your child to be considered for the district team, please let me know now.

I think I have covered all of the preliminary information, but please let me know if you have any other questions. Please register your child(ren) ASAP if your child is going to play summer ball this year. Also, please let me know if they are 10, 11, and 12, whether you want them to be considered for the district/A team for those age groups. Please respond ASAP to my league email address at [email protected].

Thanks,

Scott Niemisto

Norwood Little League