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Clinic Baseball
Clinic Baseball is intended for our youngest and least experience children. Generally offered to children aged 4 to 7 years old, Clinic Baseball provides non-competitive games (no scorekeeping and no standings) with equal playing time for everyone in the field and at bat. The age groups are deliberately set to overlap each other so that children just beginning to play organized baseball can be placed where most appropriate. The Club reserves the right to ultimately decide the division for each child based on the safety of all concerned.
Please see the FAQ at the bottom of this page, or contact the VP-Clinic for more information.
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Clinic Divisions and Rules
Clinic Playing Rules - click here for PDF version
l Junior Tee Ball - 4-5 year olds; straight tee ball
l Senior Tee Ball - 5-6 year olds; starts as straight tee ball and ends as coach pitch with tee rescue
l Junior Coach Pitch - 6-7 year olds; starts as coach pitch with tee rescue and ends as straight coach pitch
Game Schedules are available on the left menu.
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Clinic Baseball Trophy Case
| Team |
Manager |
Title |
| 2005 Jr Coach Pitch Tournament Team |
Tim Ratliff |
Linthicum-Ferndale - 6U Tournament Champions |
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Clinic FAQ
What is the difference between the Clinic divisions? The clinic divisions are designed to gradually introduce baseball to our youngest and least experience players.
l Junior Tee Ball - Mostly 4 year olds. Straight tee ball all season long.
l Senior Tee Ball - Mostly 5 year olds. Starts out as straight tee ball but switches about half-way to coach pitch with tee rescue.
l Junior Coach Pitch - Mostly 6 year olds. Starts out with tee rescue but finishes as straight coach pitch.
What is the difference between Clinic coach pitch and Intramural coach pitch? Clinic coach pitch is non-competitive, mostly for 6-7 year olds, and starts out with tee rescue before ending as straight coach pitch. Intramural coach pitch is competitive (we keep score & standings), mostly for 7-8 year olds, and is straight coach pitch all season long.
What is "tee rescue"? If a batter cannot hit a pitched ball after x number of pitches, the tee is brought out for the batter to hit from instead of having the batter return to the bench. In straight coach pitch, the batter is "out" if he cannot hit the pitched ball.
Can I move my child to another division based on his individual skill and experience? Yes. We will generally allow parents to choose the clinic division to play in, but we reserve the right to make a change at any time based on the safety of all concerned.
How are clinic teams formed? Players are not evaluated - we randomly sort the teams based on age and experience. Because clinic games are non-competitive, we allow parents to request players or coaches to play with. We can't guarantee all requests, but do our best to honor them at the clinic level.
Do we get uniforms? Yes. Full uniforms (shirt, pants, socks, hat) are included with your registration fees. You will receive them just before games begin.
What other equipment do we need to provide? Each player should have his/her own fielding glove. Gloves do not need to be expensive, but should not be plastic, and sized to fit your child's hand. Plastic soccer or baseball cleats are recommended, but otherwise tennis shoes are acceptable. Again, cleats do not need to be expensive. An age appropriate bat, and batting helmet, are optional. Each team will be provided with a couple bats and batting helmets.
When do PRACTICES start? How often? What days are they on? Clinic teams usually start practicing in mid March. You should get a phone call from a team manager in early March letting you know your schedule. Most teams practice twice a week (once on weeknight and once on weekend. Each team will have a different schedule that will repeat each week. There is no way to predict the practice schedule until after teams are sorted.
When do GAMES start? How often? What days are they on? Games start in mid April (usually first weekend after Easter) and end in mid June. You can expect 1 to 2 games a week. Games are held each night of the week, so your game days will vary during the season.
Where are the games and practices held? Most games will be played at Havenwood Park, but some will also be played at the Meadow Road fields (in Riviera Beach) and at Poplar Ridge Park (under the lights!). Practices will take place at these same fields.
Will we get to use the batting cage? Junior Coach Pitch teams will have scheduled times to use the cage as a team. There will also be free time available, but players will have to coordinate with a manager or board member to open it up and supervise its use.
What other events take place? Opening Day Parade, Team Pictures, Bat-a-thon(r), Oriole Day Parade at Camden Yards, All-Star games, Closing Ceremonies. See the calendar and talk to your team manager or parent to stay informed.
Will there be a closing ceremony? Yes - as long as we have volunteers to help organize it. The ceremonies are mostly for the clinic division parents and kids, and we MUST have your help to make this happen. Please contact the VP-Clinic to find out how.
Why do we have fundraisers when we already have to pay registration fees? Baseball is expensive. Your fees cover the bare minimum necessary to operate the league. Fundraisers like the raffle tickets and Bat-a-thon(r)are REQUIRED for basic field maintenance and team equipment. Additional fundraisers like the Bull Roast are used to improve our facilities, such as the Batting Cage at Havenwood Park.
What is the Bat-a-thon(r)? This is a chance for your child to try and hit the ball as far as he can while also raising money to improve our fields and facilities. You get pledges and collect contributions from friends and neighbors, your child comes out and hits the ball. You can earn incentive prizes based on the amount of money you and your team collect. See Fundraisers on the left menu, or your team parent, for more information.
Do I have to work in the concessions stand? Yes. If your team is the home team at Havenwood Park, your team is REQUIRED to send one person to the concessions building. Your manager or team parent will make a schedule. Assuming one parent to every player, and 12 games of which only 6 are home - even if all 6 home games are at Havenwood, then you should only have to work one time for half a game the entire season. Maybe twice if you have fewer than 12 players on your team - but that's it!
Who takes care of the fields? We do! That means you and us together. Please help your manager and team coaches and ask them what you can do to help them. Don't just bring your kids and drop them off. If its been raining recently, some work will have to be done in order to play.
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