GIRLS ROOKIE BALL DIVISION

Welcome to Toronto’s ALL GIRLS baseball league.

RYBL is proud to offer one of Onatrio’s only ALL GIRLS leagues for players turning ages 8-10 in 2024. Take your daughter’s baseball game to the next level in a supportive and challenging environment!

ROOKIE BALL

Welcome to Rookie Ball – one of the most exciting levels of baseball! Divisional play is engaging and competitive but always with an emphasis on fun. Our teams focus on skill development (throwing, fielding, catching and hitting) as well as position play, baseball strategy, and being part of a team. In Rookie Ball players receive a pitched ball from a controlled velocity pitching machine.

Please see below many details on the upcoming season. Please feel free to contact me directly (contact at bottom) if you have any additional questions.

We look forward to welcoming your child and helping them to become the best baseball player they can be while nurturing a love for the game in an encouraging and exciting environment.

AGE GROUP

2024 Girls Rookie Ball will be for players born in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

SEASON / GAME TIME

Season starts the first week of May. There are two options to choose from when you register:

SPRING ONLY (Playing May and June and then returning for playoffs in Sept)
FULL SUMMER (Playing May, June, July, Aug and then Sept playoffs)

SPRING ONLY:
We will have one practice and up to 2 games per week in May and June (practice and game on weeknights and second game on Saturdays).

FULL SUMMER:
Following the success of our full-summer program last season, this year we are again offering the option to play throughout the season in July and August (previously the season ended in June). In July and August there will be one game and one practice per week (one weeknight practice and one Saturday game), so a slightly reduced schedule for the two Summer months.

Our hope is to have players who can play the full season and take advantage of a summer of baseball similar to the other divisions. The full schedule, along with specific dates will be ready and distributed asap. The goal will be to have days consistent every week so that there is predictability to the schedule.
In September we hold our playoffs. Exciting!

EXPECTED TIMING OF GAMES / PRACTICES

Weekday games and practices will commence at 6:30 pm and run 60-90 minutes. Saturday games are played usually in the morning, occasionally early afternoon, and run approximately 90 minutes.

GAME FORMAT

Defense: All players will be on the field every inning. Coaches operate the pitching machines.
Offense: Players get an at-bat once per inning regardless of how many outs before them.
Umpires: The league supplies umpires to officiate the games.

This year we are looking to fill 10 teams.

PLAY-WITH REQUESTS

Please note that only reciprocal Play-With Requests will be considered as per the Play-With policy on the RYBL Website. This means that if your child would like to play with a friend, they must select each other on their Registration. All efforts will be made to accommodate Reciprocal Play-With Requests. The only exception to this rule will be families that have more than two players registered in Rookie Ball – please email me directly if you have 2 or more children playing in Rookie this year so we can keep them on the same team.

COACHES, ASSISTANTS, ETC.

We always need volunteers to help coach and manage the teams. Please fill out your availability to volunteer on the Registration form. We do hold a pre-season Coaching Clinic in April to help prepare you. Coaching a team can be one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have – so please sign up!

SKILL DEVELOPMENT and SKILL ASSESSMENT

Prior to the commencement of the 2024 baseball season, likely the last week in April (exact date to be determined), the players will have a skill-development session at the ProTeach Indoor Facility located at 25 Whitlam Avenue (included in their registration fee). The session will be run by ProTeach Instructors with the focus on proper throwing, catching, fielding, and batting. Participation is highly recommended so that every effort can be made to create balanced teams for a more rewarding and fun season. Additionally, as part of registration, you will be asked a few questions about your player’s general level of experience to help us determine the best make-up of all teams. Remember – whatever your child’s skill level – all are welcome!

PICTURE DAY

As part of the registration fee, individual and team photographs will be taken during the first few weeks in May. A schedule will be provided by the photographer and will be part of the team schedule. Pictures usually take place at ProTeach. Details to follow.

PLAY-OFFS

Play-offs will be held in the month of September with a round robin series followed by Championship and Consolation games to be held in the third or fourth weekend in September.

REGISTER!

Registration opens at the start of February 2024. Please sign-up asap as space is limited and is filled on a first come first served basis.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions ahead of time if helpful.

Our goal is to create a nurturing and challenging baseball environment for girls of all skill levels. So whether your daughter has played Rookie Ball before and is looking to further develop her skills to become more competitive, or she is just moving up from T-Ball, or she is new to the game: we can’t wait to welcome her to our league!

The season will also be filled with additional special events, celebrations, and opportunities to make this an unforgettable summer!

It is going to be a great season and I look forward to being your convenor.

Jeff Pestell
Girls Rookie Ball Convenor, 2024
GirlsRookieRYBL@gmail.com