Last Updated: March 21, 2009 TEE BALL (5-6)- The ACB Tee Ballprogram is a training process by which boys and girls can learn,develop and practice fundamental baseball skills at an early age and receive maximum enjoyment from the experience. Conventional baseball and softball requires that a pitcher throw accurately across home plate within each batter's defined strike zone. Most boys and girls 5-6 years old have not developed skills to pitch accurately nor to hit a pitched ball. Consequently, neither the batter nor fielders are given ample opportunity to develop fundamental hitting and defensive skills outside an organized Tee Ball program. The young player benefits in several ways hitting the ball from a prescribed tee or from the hands of a coach. The youngster has the opportunity to develop hand-eye coordination and swing technique without fear of being hit by a pitched ball, and the defensive team is allowed more opportunities to develop fundamental fielding A key to a successful Tee Ball program is the careful selection of managers and coaches. Adult leadership must reflect positive and constructive direction tempered with patience. Patience is probably the most important virtue necessary when managing youngsters of this age. The learning experience must be fun coupled with developing fundamental skills of hitting, throwing, fielding and running. The basic concept should be total team participation in a congenial environment under the direction of concerned and competent adults. Remember, the value of these two programs is the learning experience. Participants in these programs are in a critical developmental period. A manager's reward will come from being a positive factor and influence in each child's development. GIRLS 7-8 Coach Pitch- The ACB Girl's Coach Pitch program is a training process by which the girls can learn, develop and practice fundamental softball skills at an early age and receive maximum enjoyment from the experience. Conventional softball requires that a pitcher throw accurately across home plate within each batter's defined strike zone. Most girls 7-8 years old have not developed skills to pitch accurately nor to hit a pitched ball. Consequently, neither the batter nor fielders are given ample opportunity to develop fundamental hitting and defensive skills outside an organized Coach Pitch program. The young player benefits in several ways hitting the ball from the hands of a coach. The youngster has the opportunity to develop hand-eye coordination and swing technique without fear of being hit by a pitched ball, and the defensive team is allowed more opportunities to develop fundamental fielding skills. Youngsters will learn to play and enjoy softball through good instruction and participation experience in Coach Pitch. A key to a successful Coach Pitch program is the careful selection of managers and coaches. Adult leadership must reflect positive and constructive direction tempered with patience. Patience is probably the most important virtue necessary when managing youngsters of this age. The learning experience must be fun coupled with developing fundamental skills of hitting, throwing, fielding and running. The basic concept should be total team participation in a congenial environment under the direction of concerned and competent adults. Remember, the value of these two programs is the learning experience. Participants in these programs are in a critical developmental period. A manager's reward will come from being a positive factor and influence in each child's development. The Austintown Girls 7/8 team plays in the Meander League giving them the opportunity to play against other communities. Home games are played at Champ Field and the girls participate in a tournament at the end of the season. Every girl plays in every game in order to develop her softball skills. GIRLS (9-10),(11-12) ACB is the only girls fastpitch league in Austintown. The ACB Girls Fastpitch program is designed for the 9-12 year old girl. This division will utilize player pitchers and is divided into the 9-10 year old division and the 11-12 year old division. Both divisions are part of the Meander League, playing other communities. All home games are played at Champ Park. Both divisions use a 60 foot diamond with the pitching distance set at 35 feet. The girls participate in an end of the year tournament with the winner qualifying for the State Tournament. In these divisions, the girls learn the fundamentals of fastpitch softball that you don't see in other slow pitch leagues. The girls learn to pitch/catch if they desire, they learn to steal, slide, read signs, hit from a player pitcher, and to play strong defense. It is the only league in Austintown that plays with the same fundamental rules as in High School.
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