What are the JBO divisions?
LYBS can offer nine levels of play under the Junior Baseball Organization (JBO) umbrella. There are three major divisions, broken down generally as follows.
- Seniors- 13-14 year olds (7th & 8th grade)
- Juniors- 11-12 year olds (5th & 6th grade)
- Midgets- 9-10 year olds (3rd & 4th grade)
Within each of the three major divisions there are three skill levels that teams are assigned to:
- Federal (advanced)
- American (above average)
- National (average)
So, a team in the Junior American subdivision is the middle skill level for 5th & 6th grade players.
While most players play in their grade-level divisions, age and grade in school are factors in which division your child is eligible to play for. If your child is exceptionally young or old for their grade level, contact LYBS for guidance on selecting the right division or to request a waiver to play at a different level.
What is the purpose of the player evaluations?
LYBS's player evaluations are intended to provide a means to place kids on teams that are consistent with each player's individual skill level. The goal is to maximize play time, development and enjoyment of the game.
When are the player evaluations?
Evaluations are held at different times and days depending on your child's age and grade in school. Check the LYBS website for the latest information on dates and times.
Who evaluates my child's skill level?
To the best of our ability, we try to find knowledgeable baseball people in the area that are independent of the LYBS program to evaluate players. When needed, we will use evaluators from the LYBS board of directors, or experienced baseball coaches from Lincoln High School. In no case do we use a family member of any child being evaluated.
Prospective head coaches also participate in the evaluations, but their scores and notes are for their personal use only and are not used by LYBS for skill level assignment.
What if my child cannot attend the player evaluations on the scheduled date?
We offer a makeup evaluation date for players who can not make the main evaluation session. A registered player who cannot attend the scheduled evaluations will be placed at the lowest skill level. In the event that the player is a returning player in the same age division, they will be placed at the level they played at the prior year.
What is the Federal tryout?
In the event that your child places in top 20 or so in the player evaluations, they will be invited to a separate tryout for the Federal team after the main evaluation session.
When can I expect to hear what level my child will play at?
If your child is in the Federal tryout group, you will find out within a day or two of the main evaluation session. Otherwise, you will hear after the player draft, which may take up to two weeks after the evaluations.
How many teams are at each level?
It depends on the total number of players we have at each age division, which varies from year to year. JBO defines the number of teams at each level based on the number of total teams within a club's age division.
When will I find out who my child's coach is?
After the federal tryout (if selected to the federal team), or after the player draft.
When do practices start?
At the coach's discretion, but generally practices begin the week after spring break. Older teams may elect to start prior to spring break.
When do games start?
Little League teams (T-ball, A, AA,) begin games in April. JBO teams (Midget, Junior, Senior) begin games early- to mid-May, depending on level. Senior teams begin pre-season games in April.
What days of week are games played?
T-ball teams play weeknight games only. A and AA teams play games on weeknights and Saturdays. JBO teams (Midget, Junior, Senior) play league games on weeknights. Most JBO teams will opt to play in additional weekend tournaments at varying locations throughout the season. (Tournaments may begin prior to league play.)
Are there extra costs for weekend tournaments?
JBO teams (Midget, Junior, Senior) play tournaments. Costs for any weekend tournament hosted by LYBS are included with your registration, but LYBS teams and families are expected to help out with the work of hosting the tournaments. Costs for all other weekend tournaments are the responsibility of the participating team.
Where will my team practice?
Practice fields are selected by the coaches. For T-ball, A and AA teams the league groups players together by elementary school, so practice fields are generally in the neighborhood. Junior and Senior teams will practice on the larger home fields in the district, like West Sylvan and Gabriel Park.
Where are the games?
League teams (T-ball, A, AA) play on local fields (Bridlemile, Wallace Park, Robert Gray, East Sylvan, etc.) against other LYBS teams.
JBO teams play home games on local fields (West Sylvan, Robert Gray, Pendleton Park, Gabriel Park) and away games elsewhere in the district.
LYBS plays in the West Hills JBO district (for National and American teams) and the Washington County district (for Federal teams). Typically, league games are in Sherwood, Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Southwest Portland. Federal teams may have extended travel requirements.
When does the season end?
T-ball teams finish up at the end of May and, AA teams play through the end of the school year, in mid-June. For Midget, Junior and Senior teams, regular-season games end in early July. Depending on team performance, advancement to district and/or state tournaments may extend the season until late July.
What are the governing rules for LYBS?
As a league, we operate under established bylaws. All Little League play is governed by the official rules of Little League, which can be found on the Little League website. All JBO baseball play is governed by National Federation of State High School Association rules, with JBO-specific modifications. JBO rules can be found on the JBO website.
Who coaches baseball teams?
Little League teams are coached by parent volunteers. If you are interested in coaching or assisting, please register at http://www.lincolnyouthbaseballsoftball.com/sam/registration, register as a coach and email lincolnyoutbaseballsoftball@gmail.com.
JBO teams are coached by experienced volunteer parents, and paid coaches. Coaches from Lincoln or other area High Schools have been used in the past as well as paid coaches from other sources. There could be a coaching fee if paid coaches are used for your child's team.
