Player skills assessments are scheduled for February 4th at the Bellevue College softball field (this is an outdoors event). Based on the division that you've signed your child(ren) up for, here are the times that your player will be assessed:
- Pony: 9 AM
- Bronco: 9 AM
- Mustang: 9:30 AM
- Pinto: 10:30 AM *
*Due to higher than anticipated registrations in the Mustang Division, Pinto has been moved from 10am to now: 1030am
Of Note:
- There should be about 200 players going through assessments on Saturday morning.
- If you have requested to play-up or play-down, your child will need to participate in both division assessments. Example: If you’ve requested to play up to Mustang, you’ll need to be assessed at the Pinto level
- We’ve been informed there’s construction going on around the campus, parking will be difficult, please be patient and careful in the parking lot and on the roads. You may need to park beyond the gymnasium.
- Clothing:
- It will be in the mid-40s and with likely some rain in the morning. Wear multiple thin layers on the upper body including a sweatshirt and baseball pants or sweatpants on your legs. Refrain from wearing coats during assessments activities as they are bulky and impact player performance.
- Boys: if you have a cup, wear it
- Wear baseball or soccer cleats if you have, else sneakers.
- Cap (either stocking cap or baseball cap)
- Baseball gear
- Bring your bat, helmet, and gloves (cleats mentioned above)
- If you don’t have one or more of these items, share with a friend or other participant at the event.
- Skill stations:
- Catching, fielding, and throwing the ball as an outfielder
- Catching, fielding, and throwing the ball as the shortstop
- Sprinting from home to 3B (60 feet)
- Pitching to a catcher, distance longer by division.
- Hitting off a pitcher in the cage
- New gear for 2023 season
- Dick’s Sporting Goods is providing 20% off the weekend for February 10-13 (separate email to be distributed). If you’re looking for a new bat, our league uses the USA bats not the USSSA bats.
Check-In Process
- Players to check-in with the Registrar (Cal), I’ll need to know who the player is, and some information about your playing history as another data point to aide coaches for the player draft.
- Players will be given a pinnie based on their division, we will need these back at the end of the assessment
- Players/Parents If you’re unsure of the exact jersey size for your player(s), a secondary booth to try on sizes will be available (hosted by Kelly)
- Coaches you will check-in with Kelly at the 2nd booth (if there’s a long line please come up to the front where you’ll be given a gold pinnie, score sheet, and clipboard**
**Only Newcastle Board, Coaches, Bellevue College Players, and Staff are allowed on the softball field (parents who are not in any of these volunteer roles must watch from the hillside).
Assessments are likely to conclude around noon since all players in attendance have been assessed, so please try to be on time for your player's assessment time. If you have to come earlier or later due to another event, send email to [email protected].
Note: many board members have commitments that conflict with assessments, so we would love to have a few volunteers to help with various assessment activities. If you are available, please send an email to [email protected]. This would greatly help us to streamline things.
We are also in need of coaches at all divisions. Coaching is a low-stress, high-fun activity that greatly enriches the experience that you and your child(ren) will have this coming season. If you would like to help out, please reach out to [email protected].
For those that haven't registered yet, here is the registration link: Available Programs (newcastlebaseball.com).
We look forward to another fun season!