11- and 12-year old participants play in the Majors age group in the Junior Division. Rec and advanced play teams are offered for Majors players in both the Spring and Fall Season. All Majors teams compete on a 50/70 field, where the basepaths are 70 ft and the distance from the pitching rubber to home plate is 50 ft. The exception is Black Bears games in the City County League, where a 53/75 field is used.

BMBL follows the age cutoffs defined by Cal Ripken Baseball for both rec teams and advanced play teams in the Junior Division.

Follow the links below for more information on teams offered for the Majors age group.

Spring Season

In order to qualify for the Majors age group in the Spring Season, the player must be 11 or 12 years old on April 30th of the year in which they compete.

• Rec Teams
• Advanced Play Teams

Fall Season

In order to qualify for the Majors age group, the player must be 11 or 12 years old on April 30th of the year after the Fall Season in which they compete.

• Rec Teams
• Advanced Play Teams

The Majors age group is designed to allow players to experience the game of baseball with most of the standard rules. Rec coaches will continue to break the game down by position and also continue to encourage players to try all positions. Rec players will have the opportunity to pitch on a regular basis and compete at all of the positions. Players will continue to be taught the basic fundamentals of the game, good sportsmanship and teamwork as they go through this program.

BMBL offers Majors rec teams in both the Spring and Fall Seasons. In both seasons, these teams compete against other Majors rec teams in the BMBL, so travel is limited to fields located within the area of the Boyertown School District. The Majors Rec Spring Season begins at the end of March and concludes in mid-June. The Majors Rec Fall Season begins the last week of August and ends in late October.

Majors Rules and Regulations

Goals for Majors:

11-YEAR-OLD MAJORS PLAYERS:

1. Know what it means to round first and look for signal from 3rd base coach.
2. Begin to understand how to drag and squeeze bunt.
3. Begin pitching with speed and accuracy and to use a fastball and change-up.
4. Know how and when to use a pickoff move.
5. Catcher should be looking to block most balls and pick off runners.
6. Outfielders and Infielders should understand relay throws and to what base the ball goes.
7. Batters should be able to cover most of the plate area and start to take the ball the other way.
8. Fielders should know how to tag a runner and when.
9. Fielders and runners should begin to understand infield fly rule.
10. Runners should start to become proficient at secondary leads.
11. Runners and batters should understand the meaning of a dropped third strike.

12-YEAR-OLD MAJORS PLAYERS:

1. Know what it means to round any bag and look for signals from 3rd base coach.
2. Understand how to execute a squeeze bunt or sacrifice bunt.
3. Pitch with speed and accuracy for a longer period of time with multiple pitches.
4. Runners should know how to go back to a base and with which hand and what part of the bag.
5. Catcher should be looking to block all balls and pick off runners and perform basic 1 - 3 steal plays.
6. Batters will be able to cover the whole plate area and take the ball the other way.
7. Runners should be proficient at secondary leads and be able to steal home.

The BMBL offers tryout-based advanced play teams for the Majors age group in the Spring Season. For each Spring Season, we will attempt to form four advanced play teams, if the numbers allow:

• 12U-A team (Black Bears)
• 12U-B team
• 11U-A team
• 11U-B team

The Black Bears are described in the next section.

The other advanced play teams in the Majors age group (12U-B, 11U-A, and 11U-B) participate in 4-5 local weekend tournaments within a 60 minute drive of Boyertown. The 11U-A team represents Boyertown for their age group in the Cal Ripken district, state, and national playoffs (if advancing). The season for all advanced play teams in the Majors age group begins with tryouts and practices in early April and concludes in late July.

Players participating in advanced play teams are expected to also play on and practice with a BMBL Majors rec team. Participants will practice with their advanced play team on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the season. If a scheduling conflict arises between the advanced play team and the in-town rec team, the rec team should be the priority.

Players selected to a BMBL advanced play team should understand that being a member of an advanced play team is an honor and comes with an expectation of a commitment to that team. Participants should also remember that they are representing Boyertown as a member of this team and act accordingly. To be eligible for advanced play teams, each parent and player must sign the advanced play code of conduct, which details the expectations of players and their families. Fielding positions and playing time are not guaranteed on advanced play teams and are determined by the head coach and his coaching staff.

Majors advanced play team members must pay an advanced play fee, in addition to the rec team fee. This extra fee goes toward 2 jerseys, a hat, and the 4-5 local tournaments.

The Black Bears is the top advanced play team in the Junior Division and is comprised of players that are 12 years old. The Black Bears team plays in the Spring Season. Tryouts occur in mid-August preceding the spring season, to give the team an opportunity to work out together throughout the winter. However, the 12U fall season advanced play team is formed separately from the Black Bears and participation in the 12U fall team by Black Bears players is encouraged but not required.

The Black Bears play in the Diamond Division of the City County League, which is comprised of teams from Berks County. In addition, the Black Bears represent Boyertown in the Cal Ripken 12U district, state, and national playoffs (if advancing). The Black Bears also play in weekend tournaments in the area (within a 60 minute drive) and one or two regional tournaments (3 or 4 hour drive with overnight accommodations required). In a typical spring season, the Black Bears play 50+ games.

Players selected to Black Bears should understand that being a member of this team is an honor and comes with an expectation of a commitment to the team. The Black Bears team plays more games than any other Junior Division team and the time commitment is significant. Participants should also remember that they are representing Boyertown as a member of this team and act accordingly. To be eligible for Black Bears, each parent and player must sign the advanced play code of conduct, which details the expectations of players and their families. Fielding positions and playing time are not guaranteed and are determined by the head coach and his coaching staff.

BMBL will attempt to form a 12U advanced play team in the Fall Season. Tryouts for this team occur in mid-August, and the season continues until the end of October. The 12U advanced play team competes in weekend BSE tournaments, which are typically played within a 60 minute drive of Boyertown. Fall advanced play participants do not play on a fall rec team.