Shetland League (5-6)
Shetland Introduction
Send questions and comments regarding the Shetland League to: shetland@shawparkbaseball.com
League Overview
The following information should provide you with a general overview of the Shetland league program designed and developed for our youngest players at Shaw Park. The age group for Shetland is determined by PONY Baseball that is adjusted before each Fall season. For Fall, the child has to be 5 or 6 as of April 30th of the following year. For Spring, the child has to be 5 or 6 as of April 30th of the current year. With this schedule, there are some 4 ½ year old kids that will qualify for this league.
League Objectives
The Shetland League at Shaw Park is dedicated to introducing young players to the game of baseball. The focus is on basic skills required to play the game including: throwing grip and mechanics, glove catching positions, base running, and batting mechanics. We also focus on the mental aspect of the game to include proper base running, single and double play outs, control of the ball, and much more. We focus on these skills during our field and batting practices and encourage parents to exercise these at home in the yard. During the games, each player can show off what they have learned during previous practices. It is really nice to see the smile on their faces when it all comes together.
Artificial Turf Baseball Field
One of our greatest assets is our state of the art Artificial Turf baseball field. Working closely with Cobb County Parks and Recreation’s VP, Eddie Cannon and his dedicated staff, the field was installed prior to the Spring of 2003 season.
This field provides the best environment in the state for teaching the game of baseball. It provides a very consistent playing surface for our development of our players. Ground balls offer a consistent bounce allowing the players to master fielding ground balls faster than other surfaces. It has proved to increase the efficiency of our field practices and makes the games fun and exciting.
Because of the excellent drainage, we can continue to play games while other fields have to close due to excess water and muddy conditions. With the dirt gone, we have eliminated the problem of kids digging holes in the outfield. The kids appear to be more focused on the game. It doesn’t get any better than this!
Overview of the League Divisions
The Shetland League consists of two divisions: American and National. The American League provides the optimal environment for our first year players, generally within 4.5 – 5.5 years of age. The rules for the American League have been developed to maximize the experience of our youngest players while providing then the opportunity to experience all positions on the field. A significant difference here is the use of a “T” is allowed for all players. We want our youngest players to experience the fun of getting a hit and running the bases – a “T” ensures everyone hits!
The National League allows our experienced, second-year players (generally 5.5 – 6.5 years of age) to further strengthen their talents in preparation for the Pinto League. Here, we emphasize coach pitch, and players are allowed to strike out. This age is also more competitive than the American League, with aggressive base-running, great defensive plays and will likely see several “home runs” hit over the fence!
Please see the Shaw Park Playing Rules document for complete details of the Shetland League rules for each division.
Overview of a Game
You are generally asked to be at the field 15-30 minutes prior to your scheduled game time. Players are allowed to warm-up on the field for 5-10 minutes before the start of the game. Shetland games last approximately 1 hour. Most team managers will hold a brief team meeting after the game to talk about game situations, exciting plays and discuss the next team events. Typically this league will play 3-4 innings per game in the allotted time. Innings are limited to 3 outs or 4 runs scored.
Overview of Seasons
We offer both a Fall and Spring season in our Shetland program. The Fall season begins registration in the August timeframe with about 6 weeks of games beginning in early September. The Spring season begin registration in the January timeframe with about 8 weeks of games beginning in early March. Opening day for both seasons is preceded with three weeks of practice. Once the games begin, a typical week consists of 2 games (1 Saturday and 1 during the week) and 2 practices (1 field and 1 batting).
At the end of the Spring season, there is a two-week tournament that includes all teams. This is a double elimination tournament offering great fun for the kids and families.
Following the Spring Season Tournament, we create four in-park All-Star teams that will play a couple of games over one weekend. This allows the top players of the league to really test their talents among the best of the league and proves to be very exciting for the kids. We also create a 12 player tournament All-Star team that will play in a couple of local tournaments and will ultimately represent the park in it’s own Larry Hutson Tournament. The Larry Hutson Tournament is held at Shaw Park during the first part of June and hosts top teams from all over the state.
Managers, Coaches and Team Mom/Dads
The opportunity to be a Shetland Manager, Coach and/or Team Mom or Dad is likely one of the most rewarding activities that is available to any volunteer as you are up close and personal to some of the best baseball and baseball players in north Georgia. The park sponsors clinics to help new managers get acquainted to what is needed to coach at this level. All managers and coaches will need to complete a Manager Application allowing us to complete a background check on everyone who applies. We also have a great Team Mom Coordinator to help Team Moms/Dads to understand the key aspects of setting the snack schedule, team parties, etc. It takes a several volunteer for each team to make the season work. Please let us know if you are interested in any of these positions when registering – and Thank you.
Equipment needed for this League
Good equipment is essential to learning and performing our best. The following is a sample of the equipment needed for this league:
Player provided
| Glove | One of the most important tools that a player uses. Nothing can replace a good leather glove. New gloves take a while to break-in. You may consider a glove that your child will be able to use for a couple of years. Please consult with the local sporting goods store for recommendations on a glove size. |
| Bat | Another important tool of the game. It is worth the expense of purchasing your child a new bat for them to use during the season. As bats come in different lengths and weights, it is important for your child to use the same bat during practice and games for consistency. For this league, player typically use bats ranging from 25 – 27 inch. Do not buy a bat that is too big for your child, it will only slow down his progress. Please consult with a local sporting goods store for assistance. Bats contain a “drop” number (ex. –10) that represents the weight as compared to the length. An adequate bat for this league can be purchased from a sporting good store for between $20 and $40. |
| Tennis Shoes | Due to the Artificial Turf surface, cleats are not allowed on the field. Each player should wear normal tennis shoes. This will save you the expense of purchasing cleats. No Cleats! |
| Protective Cup | Each player should wear a protective athletic cup for personal protection during every practice and game. |
Park provided
| Uniform | The park will provide a uniform for each player and the coaches on the team. For the Fall Season, the park provides a team hat and shirt. During the Spring Season, the park provides ateam hat, shirt, pants, and socks. |
| Team Bat | Available for use for those who do not want to purchase a bat or anyone that forgets their bat for a particular event. |
| Batting Helmet | The park will provide batting helmets with the required face mask for each team |
| Catcher Equipment | Catcher’s helmet, chest protector and shin guards will be provided |
| Baseballs | The Shetland league plays with an 8-inch baseball that fits better in the hands of our young players. This helps the players of this age group get a better grip on the ball and better master the art of throwing. |
Contact Information
Any questions that you have regarding the Shetland League program at Shaw Park can be directed to the Shetland League Coordinator’s by email.
