Aquafina Pitch, Hit & Run Program Overview:

• Managers/coaches score their own players in the three categories (as part of their own team’s practice)—before 10 May, 2008.

• Age categories/grouping are 7-8*, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14** (boys and girls)

o PH&R age determinant date is 17 July, 2008

o Note*: Must be at least 7 to participate in official competition

o Note**: ANSLL players aged “13” (for PH&R competition) do not need to be scored in 1st level competition (will automatically participate in final competition)

• Snapshot of categories/requirements

o Pitching: 6 pitches—from 45 feet to 17” by 30” strike banner (20 inches off ground)

o Running: from 1st base (using base path and touching 3rd) to home plate

o Hitting: Off of batting tee (distance/accuracy)

• 1st level competition is conducted in accordance with attached instructions—all players who compete in final competition will compete in all categories

• Scores are recorded/certified on attached scoring sheet

• Scoring sheet is turned into applicable league commissioner (Majors, AAA, AA, A)—by 10 May, 2008

++ KEY COMPETITION RULES. PRACTICE IS FINE (BUT PRACTICE SCORES DON’T COUNT!), BE SURE TO TELL THE PLAYERS EXACTLY WHEN THE COMPETITION STARTS. THEN FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FOR SCORING.

++ A PLAYER IS SCORED ONLY ONCE—AND THERE IS NO “TURNING BACK” ONCE STARTED. PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW PLAYERS TO TRY TO GET BEST POSSIBLE SCORE BY RUNNING THE COMPETITION A 2nd or 3rd TIME.

++ TO AVOID MISUNDERSTANDING/CONTROVERSY—PLEASE DON’T HAVE COACHES/PARENTS BE THE SOLE SCORER OF THEIR OWN SON

Pitching:

PREPARATION: Strike zone banners (yellow) are already at fields—45ft distance marked red-orange paint.

• Player stands 45ft from strike zone banner mounted on fence (pitching from existing mounds to fence is not possible—i.e right distance)

Note: Field is marked with red-orange painted line 45 ft from strike zone banner—if not visible, then re-measure 45ft from banner (mark spot and conduct competition)

• Player has ONLY 6 pitches

• Any pitch that hits any part of the banner is recorded as a “strike”

Note: Position a judge where pitcher is standing (make sure player is standing at mark). Position second judge (scorer) near strike zone banner

• Record score on scoring form (provided in this packet—extra forms in PH&R kits in sheds)

++There are no redos

Hitting:

Preparation: Using measuring tape (provided in PH&R kit in storage shed) mark a distance/accuracy centerline tape by “rolling out” the tape from home plate, directly through second base to centerfield fence.

• Player hits from tee positioned at home plate—for DISTANCE and ACCURACY

• Hits three balls off of tee (mark hits using flag provided in PH&R kit in storage shed)

Note: Mark where ball first hits ground—NOT distance ball travels on ground. ONLY the best distance/accuracy hit is recorded.

• Measuring distance/accuracy:

o Use string/twine (provided in PH&R kit in storage shed) to measure distance (left or right) from the centerline tape.

o Stretch string from centerline tape (best estimate of parallel length) to where ball hit

o Then take the ball end of the string and stretch it back along the centerline tape (toward home plate) to deduct the distance the ball went left or right of the centerline tape

• Record score on scoring form (provided in this packet—extra forms in PH&R kits in sheds)

o A player only gets three “hits”—but is allowed a total of three miss hits/swings (i.e. ball does not travel 10 ft). Therefore a player could take a minimum of 3 swings (hits every time) or a maximum of 6 swings (which could all be misses)

ANTICIPATED QUESTIONS/CONCERNS

• My team has players of different ages.
Doesn’t matter, competition requirements are same for all ages—and players compete/advance by age groups, not teams. You are just recording scores.

• Some of my players do not want to participate.
Not required (simply enter player’s name on form and indicate he/she did not want to participate).

• How will you decide which kids compete in final competition?
There will be a cut-off score for each age group (TBD). Anticipate 15 kids in each age group will compete in final.

• PH&R kit equipment is missing (PR, Howery, Micklewright) or pitching distance not marked.
Report missing equipment to ANSLL POC (see email address bottom of page). If no mark for pitching distance is visible, simply measure 45ft and conduct competition.

• There is no PH&R equipment at my practice field (e.g. Kings Park).
Arrangements will have to be made for your team to use Howery, Pine Ridge or Micklewright when available (after a late game?)…or borrow equipment on the afternoon of your scheduled team practice (contact ANSLL POC).

• All my players were not at the team practice when I ran the competition.
There is no requirement to score all players at a single practice. You can score some at one practice and catch others at another practice or time (but do not score players a 2nd time).

Note: If only one or two players has missed your team competition, you may want to find out if they can be scored at another team practice (especially so that you don’t have to set up hitting equipment again) .

• When is the final competition?
Tentatively scheduled sometime around the week of Monday, 12 May. “Rain date” TBD. Howery field is scheduled location for final competition (to include rain dates—lighted field).

• Your final competition conflicts with my practice time (my kids need to be at my practice).
We will work with you to schedule your players at a competition time that least conflicts with your practice (but it will be during hours of the scheduled competition).

• When/where is the “sectional competition? PH&R has said it will be memorial day weekend —will update you with this information when available.

• What if a kid/parent doesn’t want to travel to sectional competition?
We will pass on sectional competition time/location as soon as possible—so that we know upfront who doesn’t want to participate (or will have to take 2nd place if 1st place declines).