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2025 jUNIOR lEAGUE Tryout and Evaluations Information


​​​​​​​Where

Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Where

Friday Jan. 31, 2025
U11 (Testing) 5-7pm 
   - Check in 4:30pm

U13 (Testing) 7-9pm
   - Check-in 6:30pm
   - Jersey Sizing 9-9:30pm

U15 (Testing) 9-11pm
   - Check-in 8pm 
   - Jersey Sizing 8:30-9pm

Saturday Feb. 1st, 2025
U11 (Pitching/Catching Eval.) 6:30pm

U13 (Pitching/Catching Eval.) 7:15pm

U15 (Pitching/Catching Eval.) 8pm

Those athletes wishing to attend the Pitcher/Catcher evaluations MUST also attend the Testing on Friday.

Parents can watch the tryouts, but we will be enforcing a few protocols.  Please no parents in the pitching tunnels or on the turf, only watch from the upstairs balcony.  We ask that parents do no lean over the balcony side, as well as make any gestures/loud noise down towards the turf.  Please be respectful to all the players, instructors and executive members  while the tryouts are going on.  Please do not approach any of the instructors before or after the evaluations. 

The Hustler zone is the first to have its tryouts.  The 222's do not release the results until all the zones have completed their tryouts.  So typically the zone will not receive the results until the end of February.


What to Expect at tryouts


Player Requirements

Participants are required to bring their own glove, helmet, bat and running or turf shoes (NO CLEATS). There will be some catcher's gear available, but players are encouraged to bring their own equipment.

Evaluations

Parents and players always have questions about this process and how players are placed. We feel it is important that there is full disclosure of this process in advance of evaluations. Our goal as an organization is to hold unbiased evaluations and give every player an equal chance of making the team. The Zone has developed an evaluation process that intends to place players on teams matching their individual skills and competitive level. We recognize that players develop at different times and intervals. Some players will develop the most from being one of the top players and driving the team flow. Some players will develop the most from being one of the lower players and having to step up their level of play. The goal is to build teams that consist of players with similar abilities and drive, in a competitive atmosphere, while fostering skills development.

Should a player have an illness or injury, or cannot attend tryouts, immediately contact the Zone Commissioner or the Zone Coordinator to discuss the situation.

For those players that have chosen NOT to be considered for an A team, they are still encouraged to attend evaluations so they can be properly evaluated based on their skill level which helps us make our teams at the B level. 

The Zone makes every effort to ensure a fair, impartial, and balanced evaluation of players for our various Teams. This is a difficult task that our association and evaluators undertake in any given season.

Your Evaluators:   Once again all Zones will be using the 222's,  lead by Keith Mackintosh, Dean Holoien and their team of instructors for the 2025 evaluations. Click here for the 222's website.


222's Zone Evaluation Format

This year, we will be running evaluations as a circuit. It will comprise of 4 area's. Hitting, Infield, Outfield, and Arm Strength Velocity. We will split each age division into 4 groups, and they will move through the circuit to complete all 4 area's.  These 4 areas of the circuit will be running simultaneously to maximize time and space.

Sign-in Required - when you arrive at this year's Evaluations, you will be required to sign in with the Executive. You will be assigned a Group Leader (an Executive member) and you will be with that group for the entire evaluation process. This is to ensure that we stay on track, as well as keep it flowing properly. More importantly, this is to ensure that everyone gets through the circuit and is properly evaluated.

Hitting – Each player will get 10 live pitches and 10 soft front toss pitches.  The player will be scored on contact, swing mechanics and power.

Bat Exit Speed Velocity – Each player will hit a ball into a bow net from 10ft away.  The speed in which the ball comes off the bat will be recorded and the player will be given points based on their ranking.  Each player will be given 4 attempts.

Infield – The Player will field a rolled ground ball 75ft from 1st base at the shortstop position.  The test is glove to glove time. Time starts when the rolled ball hits the player’s glove and stops when it reaches the coach’s glove at first base.  Points are also given for accuracy and mechanics and these points are combined to give a total score for the attempt. Each player will get 4 attempts, the best two attempts will be averaged for their score. Each player will also get 5 ground balls hit to them that they must field and throw to first base from the shortstop position.  The evaluator will give a score based on mechanics, body positioning and skill proficiency. This score will be added to the time testing score for an overall Infield score.   

Outfield – The player will catch a pop up, thrown to them, and then throw the ball 120ft to home plate. The test is Glove to Glove time.  Time starts once the tossed ball hits the player’s glove and time stops once the ball reaches the coach’s glove at home plate.  Points are also given for accuracy and these points are combined to give a total score for the attempt. Each player will get 4 attempts. Each Player will also get 4 fly balls thrown to them that they must attempt to track and catch and throw the ball back to the coach.  The evaluator will give a score based on mechanics, body positioning and skill proficiency. This score will be added to the time testing score for an overall Infield score. 

Arm Strength Velocity – Each player will throw a ball into a bow net from 10ft away.  The speed of the throw will be recorded and players will be given points based on their ranking.  Each player will be given 4 attempts.



Pitching and Catching Evaluations

Pitching – Each Pitcher will be asked to throw a set number of pitches.  The evaluator will record speed, location and spin as well as assess mechanics. The number of pitches are determined by the age division.

  • U11 -  3 attempts of each pitch that they throw or a combined total of 9 pitches
  • U13 – 3 attempts of each pitch that they throw or a combined total of 9 pitches
  • U15 – 3 attempts of each pitch that they throw or a combined total of 12 pitches

Catching – Each Catcher will be tested on the following items:

  • Test 1 - Each catcher will be tested on 3 attempted bunt throws to first base on a movement to glove time.  The catcher will start 4ft behind home plate in the squat position and field a bunt in three different locations in front of home plate and throw the ball to first base.  The bunts are timed as three separate attempts with time starting on the catcher's first movement and stopping when the ball reaches the coaches glove at first base. Accuracy points will also be awarded for each attempt.
  • Test 2 – Pop Time – Glove to glove test on a throw from behind home plate to second base.  The catcher will receive a pitched ball from a coach and then make a throw to second base.  Time will start when the ball hits the catcher’s glove and stop when the ball reaches the coaches glove at 2nd base.  Accuracy points will be awarded to complete the overall attempt score.  Each catcher will get 3 attempts.