As part of the BC Minor Baseball Association (B.C.M.B.A.), WMBA offers a structured baseball program for children and young athletes of all skill levels from ages 5 to 17 years. The B.C.M.B.A. is affiliated with both the British Columbia Amateur Baseball Association (Baseball B.C.) and the Canadian Federation of Amateur Baseball (Baseball Canada).

 

Competition is organized into a spring (house) season from April through the end of June and an all-star (summer) season from the beginning of July to mid August. Fall ball opportunities may be available for some players from the beginning of September through mid to late October. Tiering is allowed at two skill levels during the spring season and three levels during the summer season.

 

SPRING (REGULAR SEASON)

Westside Minor Baseball will endeavour to field as many teams as possible to ensure all registering youth a position. The number of teams is dependent on suitable fields and qualified coaches. Registration close date is March 15th. Players registering after the March 15th close date are not guaranteed a roster position. All late registrations are subject to a $25.00 Administration Fee after March 15th. WMBA will not honour requests for team placement. This registration affords the child the opportunity to participate in a recreation league only, under the direction of volunteer coaches. An evaluation will be held and a blind draft conducted to form the respective teams.

 

SUMMER (ALL-STAR)

Playing summer baseball is a large commitment of time and money for families. Teams are usually playing most weekends between the end of June and early August, and usually practice at least twice during the week. Westside Minor Baseball all-star teams will carry at least twelve players on their roster. Tryouts for all-star teams are open to all interested players, and should begin after the Victoria Day long weekend. At least three practices should be held before selections begin. Selection criteria should be clearly outlined at the beginning of the process, and should include baseball skills, work ethic, coachability and attitude. Ultimately it is the head coach’s responsibility to use his/her judgement to choose the players who best fit the needs of the team. Appeals from parents regarding all-star selection process will be handled by the WMBA President. Where possible, final team selections should be completed by June 20 to enable parents to make arrangements for travel and accommodations for early summer tournaments.

 

FALL

WMBA is hosting Bantam AAA fall baseball in 2010.

 

 

DIVISION AGES

Age for division play is determined as of 12:01am, January 1 in the current year's baseball season. (Rule 4). Division ages are as follows:

5 and 6 years T-Ball

7 and 8 years Tadpole

9 and 10 years Mosquito

11 and 12 years Peewee

13 and 14 years Bantam

15, 16 and 17 years Midget

 

T-BALL

This format is designed to get young people interested in the game of baseball by stressing and maintaining active participation of all the players; with mandatory and free substitutions in each inning and emphasis placed on teaching the fundamentals of baseball. The ball is hit from a batting tee and the base paths are 50 feet in length. It is recommended that a soft resilient ball is used for play in this division. It is further recommended that a minimum of one coach, and a maximum of 2 coaches, while his or her team is playing on defence, be on the playing field to provide guidance and training to their team in the fundamentals of baseball. Regulation games shall be a maximum of 6 innings and a minimum of 4 innings. Other guidelines for T-Ball play may be found in Rule 19.

 

TADPOLE

The base paths are 50 feet and although Rule 19 suggests that a batting tee may be used in this division, many local associations use pitching machines or coach-pitch formats. Lead offs are not permitted and a regulation game is 7 innings. The recommended outfield fence dimension is 200 feet. Other guidelines for Tadpole play may be found in Rule 19.

 

MOSQUITO

Pitching is permitted in this division and a pitcher may pitch a maximum of 3 innings in a calendar day and 6 innings in a calendar week (defined in Rule 13 as 12:01 a.m. Monday to 12:00 p.m. (Midnight) the following Sunday). No balks may be called against the pitcher. Lead offs are not permitted. The base paths are 60 feet and the distance between the pitching rubber and home plate is 46 feet. The pitching mound is raised by a gradual slope to a height of 6 inches above the level of the base paths. The recommended outfield fence dimension is 200 feet. A regulation game is 6 innings unless called earlier for a permitted reason, in which case if 4 innings have been completed, or if the home team has scored more runs in three or three and a fraction innings than the visiting team has scored in 4 and a half innings, then the game is complete (as per Rule 14). Other guidelines for play in the Mosquito Division are found in Rule 20.

 

PEEWEE

Lead offs are permitted and balks may be called against the pitcher in the Peewee division. A pitcher may pitch in a maximum of 7 innings in a calendar day and 10 innings in a calendar week. Shoes with metal cleats are not permitted in this division. The base paths are 70 feet and the distance between the pitching rubber and home plate is 48 feet. The recommended dimensions for the outfield fence are 225 to 250 feet. The pitching mound is raised by a gradual slope to a height of 6 inches above the level of the base paths. A regulation game is 7 innings and Rule 14 applies for early termination. Other guidelines for play in the Peewee Division are found in Rule 21.

 

BANTAM

The base paths are 80 feet and the distance between the pitching rubber and home plate is 54 feet. The pitching mound is raised by a gradual slope to a height of 8 inches above the base paths. The recommended dimensions for the outfield fence are 260 to 280 feet. Pitchers may pitch a maximum of 7 innings in a calendar day and 14 innings in a calendar week. Shoes with metal cleats are permitted in the Bantam Division. A regulation game is 7 innings and Rule 14 applies for early termination. Other guidelines for play in the Bantam Division are found in Rule 22.

 

MIDGET

The playing field for this division is a regulation baseball field with 90 foot base paths and 60 feet 6 inches distance from the rubber to home plate. The recommended dimensions for the outfield fence are 320 to 400 feet. With some minor exceptions for substitutions, teams at this level play according to the regular rules of baseball. A pitcher may pitch a maximum of seven innings plus one, in the event of a tie game, in a calendar day and fourteen innings in a calendar week. A regulation game is 7 innings and Rule 14 applies for early termination. Guidelines for play in the Midget Division are found in Rule 23.