Advanced Rally Cap (ARC)
What is Advanced Rally Cap?
This is a competitive division for 2015-born players (for the 2024 season) with experience playing baseball (ie.
confident batting, comfortable catching/throwing, and begging to understand rules of the game).
If your player doesn’t seem to fit in that description, no problem as you can still register for
regular Sr. Rally Cap for the normal May/June season if your player wants to play at
developmental level or is learning the basics of the game.
The Advanced season runs from mid-May until the middle of July and will include pitching and
11U A rules from the start. Players can go through 11U (formerly Mosquito)
evaluations and (as in past years) could choose to play at that level if they're evaluated to be
ready for that level of baseball. The purpose of the new Sr. Rally Advanced division is to create
a more level playing field for those 2015-born players who have experience playing. In the past,
there has been a gap between older Sr. Rally players (typically finishing Grade 3) and some of
the players who are two years younger (finishing Grade 1).
Do they go through evaluations for 11U if we sign up for ARC?
We encourage all players to go through 11U evaluations and ARC players are automatically
registered for them. The evaluations will measure hitting, pitching, infielding and outfielding skills. If they rank in AAA or AA, they may be asked to play at that level. The evaluations are good practice and a good chance for the ARC coaches to see trends in what players need to work on during the season. You can opt out of evaluations by letting us know at [email protected] and cc’ing [email protected]
Can they opt out of 11U to play ARC?
Yes. They don’t have to play 11U if they make one of the 11U teams after evaluations. We know
many players will want to play with friends their own age.
What is the commitment level?
There will be two games per week on variable days (Monday-Thursday). Most teams at this
level will also practice once per week. The season runs until the end of July so players and
families are committing for an extra month of baseball (and less time at the lake, we know).
There will be a citywide tournament at the end of July.
It’s my child's first year playing baseball. Should I do Advanced or Sr. Rally?
This is the #1 question so far. It depends on the player but experience playing ball is (generally)
a prerequisite. A first year baseball player should register for regular Sr. Rally Cap where they
can up their Baseball IQ, not worry about facing live pitching, or pitching from a mound.
Most of all we want to promote the development of confident ball players who enjoy the game
and set them up in an environment that they can achieve -- that is the goal. Even if your child
has played in rally cap before but is not confident hitting from the machine, or catching the ball,
ARC may not be the right fit for your child to develop.
That said, there are some athletic kids who have played a lot informally, gone to private baseball
sessions, and played other sports competitively who can play at this level. Arm strength is one
of the biggest factors here since they’ll be throwing across the infield and from a 40-foot pitching mound. If their arm strength still needs work then regular Sr. Rally Cap is a great league for development and recognized across the country as top of its class.
Can 2016 players join?
No. We don’t want to take players away from regular Sr. Rally Cap. There may be
exceptions to make team sizes work, but Baseball Saskatoon introduced the Advanced
Rally Cap age for 2015 born players only. We may ask some exceptional 2015 players to join
practices and help out if numbers are low on a team.
Who’s coaching?
Team composition and coaches will be worked on after evaluations. The goal is to give
everyone a great year of ball. We know we’ll potentially need at least one more head coach as
we look at the numbers. Email ARC Coordinator Braves President Tyson
Almasi [email protected] back to express interest. It’s a great level to
coach.
What if I no longer think Advanced Rally Cap is the place for my player?
No problem. Simply let [email protected], our interim registrar,
[email protected] know. They’ll move them
back into the system as a Sr. Rally cap player and get them on a team. You’ll get the difference
in cost between the divisions back if you indicate the change before evaluations.
This is a competitive division for 2015-born players (for the 2024 season) with experience playing baseball (ie.
confident batting, comfortable catching/throwing, and begging to understand rules of the game).
If your player doesn’t seem to fit in that description, no problem as you can still register for
regular Sr. Rally Cap for the normal May/June season if your player wants to play at
developmental level or is learning the basics of the game.
The Advanced season runs from mid-May until the middle of July and will include pitching and
11U A rules from the start. Players can go through 11U (formerly Mosquito)
evaluations and (as in past years) could choose to play at that level if they're evaluated to be
ready for that level of baseball. The purpose of the new Sr. Rally Advanced division is to create
a more level playing field for those 2015-born players who have experience playing. In the past,
there has been a gap between older Sr. Rally players (typically finishing Grade 3) and some of
the players who are two years younger (finishing Grade 1).
Do they go through evaluations for 11U if we sign up for ARC?
We encourage all players to go through 11U evaluations and ARC players are automatically
registered for them. The evaluations will measure hitting, pitching, infielding and outfielding skills. If they rank in AAA or AA, they may be asked to play at that level. The evaluations are good practice and a good chance for the ARC coaches to see trends in what players need to work on during the season. You can opt out of evaluations by letting us know at [email protected] and cc’ing [email protected]
Can they opt out of 11U to play ARC?
Yes. They don’t have to play 11U if they make one of the 11U teams after evaluations. We know
many players will want to play with friends their own age.
What is the commitment level?
There will be two games per week on variable days (Monday-Thursday). Most teams at this
level will also practice once per week. The season runs until the end of July so players and
families are committing for an extra month of baseball (and less time at the lake, we know).
There will be a citywide tournament at the end of July.
It’s my child's first year playing baseball. Should I do Advanced or Sr. Rally?
This is the #1 question so far. It depends on the player but experience playing ball is (generally)
a prerequisite. A first year baseball player should register for regular Sr. Rally Cap where they
can up their Baseball IQ, not worry about facing live pitching, or pitching from a mound.
Most of all we want to promote the development of confident ball players who enjoy the game
and set them up in an environment that they can achieve -- that is the goal. Even if your child
has played in rally cap before but is not confident hitting from the machine, or catching the ball,
ARC may not be the right fit for your child to develop.
That said, there are some athletic kids who have played a lot informally, gone to private baseball
sessions, and played other sports competitively who can play at this level. Arm strength is one
of the biggest factors here since they’ll be throwing across the infield and from a 40-foot pitching mound. If their arm strength still needs work then regular Sr. Rally Cap is a great league for development and recognized across the country as top of its class.
Can 2016 players join?
No. We don’t want to take players away from regular Sr. Rally Cap. There may be
exceptions to make team sizes work, but Baseball Saskatoon introduced the Advanced
Rally Cap age for 2015 born players only. We may ask some exceptional 2015 players to join
practices and help out if numbers are low on a team.
Who’s coaching?
Team composition and coaches will be worked on after evaluations. The goal is to give
everyone a great year of ball. We know we’ll potentially need at least one more head coach as
we look at the numbers. Email ARC Coordinator Braves President Tyson
Almasi [email protected] back to express interest. It’s a great level to
coach.
What if I no longer think Advanced Rally Cap is the place for my player?
No problem. Simply let [email protected], our interim registrar,
[email protected] know. They’ll move them
back into the system as a Sr. Rally cap player and get them on a team. You’ll get the difference
in cost between the divisions back if you indicate the change before evaluations.
