Minor B Division

Minor B consists of two age groups which play separately:

Minor B follows T-ball for those that have played in previous years. However, players who are new to baseball are also welcome.

Minor B is an instructional division with the emphasis on having fun while learning basic baseball skills. There are usually 13 players per team and a special pitching machine is used for consistency. Games have 5 innings. All players are rotated through the infield and outfield positions, and all players bat through the order. This is the first baseball division in which the score is recorded.

This division is played at a special, smaller diamond in Balaclava Park at Balaclava and 31st Avenue.

The regular season begins in mid April and runs through the end of May. This is followed by two weeks of playoffs. Games are played in the evening (5:45-7:45pm) or on the weekend. Game times include a half-hour combined practice with the other team, and up to 1.5 hours of game play (plan for a 2 hour commitment). There is usually 1 practice and 1-2 games per week.

Several factors are considered in team formation for Minor B including coaching, gender balancing, and friend requests. In Minor B Sr, a skills evaluation is conducted with players prior to the start of the season to help to balance the teams. As you can imagine, team formation is a time consuming and complex task for our volunteers. In Minor B, we try very hard to place all players with at least one friend from their request list. However, we cannot guarantee that this will be possible. Please note, >once teams have been formed, they are final. No changes are possible. If you need to let us know any important information prior to team formation, please do so by emailing the Minor B Coordinator.

Minor B Sr players will be evaluated by several majors coaches on their skill and technique in throwing, fielding, batting, and catching. Pitching is not assessed at this level. This is NOT a try-out. All players will be placed on teams. These evaluations simply help us to balance teams so they are more even.

Evaluations take at least 45 mins at this age. Please make sure your player arrives ready to play at the start of their designated assessment time. You are welcome to wait in the lobby or drop them off and return for pickup 45 mins later.

Warm-up your player before their session! We don’t have much space or time in the facility to warm kids up. At best they will get a few throws. Spend 15 minutes before the session throwing a ball, stretching, and go for quick jog from the parking lot to the facility.

Remind your child that there is no reason to be nervous. The coaches just want to see what skills they already have and what they need to work on this season.

Teams will be announced just before Spring Break when you should be contacted by your team manager.

Team equipment, shirts and caps are provided, but players must have their own baseball glove. In Minor B, a batting helmet and a protective cup are also required. Most players will also have baseball pants, although these are optional.

Baseball gear can be purchased at several local sports stores including Cheapskates on West 16th, and Abbie’s Sports Shop on Main St. Both of these stores are sponsors of DLL! Two other options are Sports Exchange on Burrard, and Sport Chek on Broadway.

In Minor B, teams will have one regularly scheduled practice time. Practice times are typically 3:30 or 4:30pm on weekdays, Friday evening or Saturday morning.

Each team will have 1-2 games per week. These are played at 5:45pm on weekdays and weekend afternoons. We are aware that many players have other commitments during the week. To try to minimize disruption, each team’s game schedule will be spread over different days of the week and times. Hopefully, this will lead to a maximum of 2-3 conflicts with another weekday evening activity.

Several years ago, Minor B initiated a combined team warm-up prior to the start of each game. This warm-up emphasizes skill development for all players. In baseball, it is quite possible for a player to go through an entire game without catching, throwing or hitting a baseball! Through the use of the combined warm-up, we ensure that all players have an opportunity to practice a variety of essential baseball skills each time they have a game time. As an added bonus, by combining this warm-up practice with the other team, players have a chance to benefit from the expertise of a wider circle of coaches.

These warm-up practices are considered to be an essential part of the Minor B game time. Therefore, a team who does not have 8 players present at the start of this practice, will be considered to have forfeited the game. Game times that are listed on the schedule represent the start of the combined warm-up practice.

At the time that you register your child in Minor B, you will be asked to volunteer in some capacity with the League. You may choose to be an assistant or head coach.

Once teams are formed, you will be notified about your role on the team. In most cases, you will be assigned in the capacity you volunteered.

All DLL coaches must complete a Criminal Record Check. You will be notified at the time of team assignment about how to complete this check.

Coaches in Minor B are also required to attend a series of 3 coaching clinics. In 2017, these will be held at the following times:

April 2, 2017  3:00pm  Balaclava Park
April 5, 2017  6:30pm  Minor A Diamond, Dunbar Memorial Park
April 9, 2017  3:00pm  Balaclava Park

All coaches and managers should attend this meeting for a review of key information regarding Minor B that year. In 2017, the meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 5th at 6:30pm at the Lawn Bowling Club in Dunbar Memorial Park. The meeting will last one hour. During the meeting, practice times will be selected by lottery. Your coaching staff may wish to discuss their preferences in advance. Practice times are typically 3:30 or 4:30pm on weekdays, Friday evening or Saturday morning.

Uniforms, equipment and keys will also be available at the meeting.

All parents are expected to take on a volunteer role in the League. If you are not coaching, team managing or involved with the League administration, there are many other important ways for you to contribute.
All parents take turns as scorekeeper and doing field prep for each game. Many parents also choose to help out at Field Work Day. This year, Work Day is on April 1st at 9am. Please come to the Minor B Diamond at Balaclava Park. Bring a rake or shovel, and your community spirit to help get the fields ready for another great season.

In Minor B, trained youth from the Majors division serve as our game umpires. Coaches and parents learn that the umpire is always right!