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12 year old Play
Starting in the 2010 season, 12 year olds will no longer be placed on a major league roster automatically. In past years, any 12 year old player (regardless of skill) was placed on a major league roster. Given the play in the majors is very competitive, this exposed players with less skill of being seriously injured. The board met and voted unanimously to change this rule such that all players must make a major league roster based on merit and not age. Any player not making a major league roster will be guaranteed a roster spot on a minor league team.
FAQ
What has changed?
Starting with the 2010 season, the Board has decided overwhelmingly to make major-league play for 12-year-olds merit-based rather than mandatory. All 12-year-olds who played in the majors last year (as 11-year-olds) will automatically be placed on the same team in the majors this year.
Why was it changed?
In the past seasons, there have been several concerns regarding some 12-year-olds who were exposed to the higher speed and power at the major-league level than they were capable of handling safely. All other towns except Littleton observe a similar policy.
What will happen to 12-year-olds not placed in the majors?
All 12-year-olds not placed in the majors will automatically be placed in the minors.
How will placement be decided?
The selection process will be based on the players’ performance at the March evaluations as well as input from last year’s coaches. The overriding factor in the decision will be concern for the players’ safety.
How many teams will there be in the majors?
We expect the same number of teams (5) as last year, but this number will be dictated by the number and skill of available players.
If my 12-year old child players on a minors team, he may be playing with kids 2 school grades lower - can't something be done to have him/her be with friends on a major league team?
Our policy in the past has been to place players more in line with school grades. However, this has exposed kids who were not skilled to a level of play that did not promote fun and/or safety for anyone. The board is sensitive to have players play with their peers, but it was felt that safety was the over riding factor in making this decision. 12 year old players that may not make a major league roster will have a better opportunity to succeed and enjoy themselves playing the game.
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