In the fall of 2022, BCC launched the 8u and 9u Next Level Development Programs and the feedback has been extremely positive. 70 kids showed up in late October for the tryouts for the spring/summer 2023 season. Every objective and commitment initially made since rolling out the program and forming the initial two teams has successfully been met.
As a bridge to our highly competitive Big Train travel baseball program beginning at 10u or the BCC Select program for 9/10-year old’s, we introduced a more moderate transition level for 8u and 9u eligible athletes. The program is designed for young ball players who really enjoy playing baseball, want professional coaching and are looking to take a step up from rec baseball - without necessarily going all-in solely on baseball at such an early age. It provides a test drive of sorts for players/parents to evaluate and decide what their best next move may be.
“Coach Al” Bidwick oversees and coaches the 8u and 9u teams. With over 30 years of experience coaching youth baseball from t-ball to high school, he is fully committed to developing his players both in the fundamentals of the game and as individuals – the building blocks to success on the baseball field and in life.
Here are Coach Al’s fundamental coaching principles that provide the foundation of the program:
Academics are priority # 1 – whatever it takes to succeed in the classroom always trumps scheduled baseball activities.
At 8u and 9u, kids should enjoy playing the game. Baseball is hard enough on its own, with plenty of failure inherently built into it without having to deal with outside pressure and expectations from coaches and parents.
Winning baseball games always takes a back seat to player development. Winning is merely a by-product of good coaching and player development – and that goes for every player on the team.
Defense – throwing and catching the baseball are the keys to success for a youth player. The team that can collectively play catch the best typically wins. But all kids do love to hit!
If we pick ‘em, we play ’em. Every player on the team bats, plays the field and pitches. While better players may play more frequently in the field, no player sits on the bench two innings in a row. Nobody gets better sitting on the bench.
Kids develop and mature at different rates, physically and athletically. Young kids are highly encouraged to play multiple sports (especially in the off-season) – you just never know how things are going to turn out for a young child – keep the options open as long as you can. Increased athleticism, improved motor skills, balance, endurance, speed and agility are just a few examples of the benefits of multi-sport participation. Who knows what sport a player may ultimately fall in love with?
In order to truly improve as baseball players, kids need to play with and against better competition whenever possible.
Tryouts:
For 8u and 9u, tryouts are conducted at the end of each season for the succeeding season – in the summer for the fall season and in late fall for the spring/summer season. You do not have to make a full-year commitment. If you try it for a season and it’s not for you, easy out.
For the FALL 2023 season (September thru October 2023):
The fall baseball season is a shorter season (September-October). The season begins in early September, ending in late October. Optional practices will be held beginning in August for any players in town able to make them. In the fall at both 8u and 9u, in addition to two weekday practices, the teams will play league games and one or two local weekend tournaments not requiring an overnight stay.
(Note: Players only need to attend one of the two tryouts sessions.)
(Note: Players only need to attend one of the two tryouts sessions.)
For the SPRING/SUMMER 2024 season (March thru mid-July 2024):
Tryout date: Saturday, October TBD
Location and TIME: TBD
If you have a conflict on the scheduled tryout dates and times, contact Coach Al and he will make every effort to arrange for an alternative workout/evaluation for you.
Tryout sessions are basically like attending a free clinic – players are evaluated in the 5-Tools of the game: throwing, fielding, speed, hitting for contact and hitting for power. Parents are welcome to observe the tryouts. At the end of the day players (and parents) get a read on where they stand in relation to other players at the same age level. The 12 best players/athletes will make the teams.
Life lesson – if a player has confidence in his/her abilities, try out. It takes courage for a child to try out and it is often more stressful for a parent than the player. A player will learn from the experience one way or the other. Everyone worries about trying out and not making the team. As almost everyone knows, Michael Jordan famously got cut from his varsity basketball team – he didn’t give up and look what happened!
Player evaluations and selections for the 8u and 9u teams are conducted by independent coaches. Selected players receive professional instruction in all phases of the game. On average, players will both practice 2 days per week and play games 2 days a week in the spring/summer and fall seasons. In the fall, weekday practices tend to be shorter in length simply due to daylight restrictions. Over the winter months (January and February) players will practice for 2 hours every Saturday at the BCC Baseball Indoor Training Facility – flex scheduling is provided around winter sport commitments (e.g. basketball, wrestling, swimming, hockey, etc.).