The Tee Ball Division is for children 5-6 years old. The primary goal of Tee Ball is for the children to have fun, whether it’s running around the diamond learning the fundamentals of baseball. Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved at this introduction level
Tee Ball is offered every Sunday at Lions Park from mid-April to the end of June.
The Nelson Aces is a girls-only program for players aged 7-10. No prior baseball experience is required, and female coaches lead all practices and games. The Aces play Sundays at Queen Elizabeth Park, with practices TBD from mid-April to the end of June. Presently, the Aces only play locally in Nelson.
The Rookie division is for players 7-8 years old. The young players will begin to develop baseball skills including fielding, hitting, base running, and will start to understand how the game is played. A machine is used to pitch softer baseballs for hitting practices and games. Your child will begin to learn teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play.
Rookie teams practice and play games at Lions Park. There will be one practice per week after school and another practice or games on Sunday. Games are played with other Nelson teams and visiting teams from other towns. The Rookie season extends from mid-April to the end of June.
The progression into the Minor division (9-10 yrs) is a big step with players now pitching and teams playing a competitive schedule with home and away games. Minor teams will travel to other towns within the West Kootenay Division (Trail, Castlegar, Beaver Valley, and Salmo). The home games schedule will be posted on our website and the head coach will provide the entire schedule to parents.
Minors teams practice and play games at Lions Park. There will be one practice per week after school and games during the week and sometimes on Saturdays. The spring season extends from mid-April to the end of June. For those who would like more baseball, there is a fall season from early-September to mid-October.
Majors division (11-12 yrs) teams play a similar schedule of home and away games as the Minors, and travel to the same towns within the West Kootenay Division (Trail, Castlegar, Beaver Valley, and Salmo) but will now practice and play at our larger field at Queen Elizabeth Park.
At the Majors level, skill development will continue to progress as players will begin to use the batting cage for hitting practice and fielding and pitching machines to refine skills. Majors teams will play double headers and will have the opportunity to play night games under the lights at Queen Elizabeth Park.There will be one practice per week after school and games during the week and sometimes on Saturdays. The spring season extends from mid-April to the end of June. For those who would like more baseball, there is a fall season from early-September to mid-October.
The 15U (13-15 yrs) division teams play at Queen Elizabeth Park but will now experience longer base paths (90’) pitching distances (60’6”) which are the same as Major League Baseball. Players will have their first exposure to leadoffs and pickoffs on a large baseball diamond and, for some, home runs over the outfield fence!
The diamond and the bats are bigger, and the pitching is faster, but the game is still played the same. Away games for the 15U teams will be in Trail or Castlegar, the only other towns with large baseball diamonds. Some of the Nelson games will be under the lights.
The 18U (16-18 yrs) division is a competitive program focused on a high level of skill development with more practices and the expectation of a high level of commitment. With hard work and dedication, talented athletes playing at this level of baseball may have the opportunity to secure a scholarship.
Away games for the 18U teams will be in Trail or Castlegar, the only other towns with large baseball diamonds. Some of the Nelson games will be under the lights.