Click here for 2010 assessment schedule for American League, National League, Majors and Juniors baseball.
Assessments for softball are scheduled to February 28 but the date is subject to change.
The detailed days-and-times schedule will be posted in January.
About baseball assessments and the draft:
Beginning at age 9, NESLL assigns baseball players to teams via a player selection draft. Before the season starts, players participate in a skills evaluation day (our software templates force us to use the word "tryouts," which is a bit of a misnomer). Coaches observe the players at evaluation day and then "draft" them onto teams in accordance with NESLL rules. The draft is intended to promote competitive balance between teams, giving teams a chance to win every week. The order in which the players are chosen is known only to managers. Players and parent/guardians may not be told.
About softball assessments and team formation:
"Tryouts" and team assignments for NESLL girls softball are handled differently than in baseball and vary slightly by division, with the Majors more similar to baseball. While we think it is important for girls to play with their friends, we also believe that the teams should be as competitive as possible so all the girls have a positive experience.
NESLL requires all girls to attend an assessment session prior to the season. The purpose of this assessment is to allow the coaches to balance the teams as evenly as possible. Even returning players are required to attend the assessment.
As with tee ball and coach-pitch baseball, 78ers softball teams are formed independently, but if any girl signs up individually without a team, the league will assign the player to a particular team. This is done by request to play with other friends, kids who attend the same school, etc.
Minors softball teams are allowed to form independently so girls can stay together with their friends as much as possible. Girls who sign up individually without a team will be assigned to a team by NESLL in such a way as to balance the skill level of each team.
Majors softball teams are allowed to form independently, but to a lesser extent than at the Minors level. NESLL makes more effort to balance the teams for skill level by having a coaches' meeting prior to the season.