All-Star Process
ALL-STAR SELECTION PROCESS
Thank you and your family for participating in and supporting another season of the Newport Beach Baseball Association (“NBBA”) Pony League. Though we are near the beginning of our Spring season, it's important we explain the all star selection process that occurs each summer.
While our regular season will end in May, including playoffs for Pinto National and above, the season will continue for certain players who are chosen to participate on our All-Star teams. We expect to have All-Star teams for at least Pinto National and above.
NBBA Pony All Star teams will continue to play tournaments into June/July. Your Board of Directors and I want to clearly explain the manager/player selection process for All Stars. We want our process to be understood and transparent.
As a reminder, while NBBA does have Sunday Select programs at the 8u, 9u, and 10u levels, participation in these programs is not an automatic entry onto the all star team. Likewise, a lack of participation in the program does not mean your child has less of a chance to make the all star team. Players will be selected on the basis of their regular season Rec division play.
Managers
Managers and coaches from the season volunteer to become an All-Star manager. This is a significant responsibility which involves a great deal of coordination and effort including arranging practices and weekend tournaments.
Each prospective All-Star manager is evaluated by our Managers Selection Committee. Once all prospective managers have been evaluated, the Board discusses the candidates and then votes to offer managers the All-Star manager role.
Players
Players are nominated by their team manager in mid-April and placed on a "watch list" so they can be evaluated by all managers and coaches in their division through the second half of the season. Players must participate in 75% of team activities (practices and games) to be eligible for nomination.
During the last week of the regular season each division's managers meet with the Division Coordinator and discuss all nominated players. It is not uncommon to hold multiple meetings to ensure all relevant aspects are discussed fully. At the conclusion of this meeting, the managers confidentially rank all the players. Rankers players is a rigorous process in which criteria for pitching, hitting, speed, fielding and attitude are all considered. These rankings are given to the Division Coordinator.
The Division Coordinator tabulates the individual rankings from each manager and produces an aggregated ranking of nominated players. Once this ranking is completed, the Division Coordinator provides the top 15 players by rank to the All-Star manager.
The All-Star manager then compiles his or her team. The top 10 players are automatic selections while the All-Star manager is allowed up to two or three “coach’s picks” from the next five players to ensure key positions are adequately filled. This process also involves meeting with NBBA’s All Star Committee to discuss the rankings and recommendations from the manager. All teams should consist of a roster of 11 to 13 players, unless special circumstances warrant otherwise. The league’s preference is for each All Star team to have 12 players.
This preliminarily sets the team roster, but is just the beginning of the process. A player nominated, recommended, and selected to the All-Star team may accept or decline a selection. Participating in All-Stars is a significant commitment to multiple practices per week and weekend tournaments, extending well into the summer months and can often conflict with summer travel plans, camps, etc.. In accepting a roster spot on an All-Star team, players are committing to making NBBA their baseball (and sports) priority during the All-Star season. In addition, because All Star teams are built for more competitive play, playing time will not necessarily be equal among All Star players. As a result of these factors, some players and their families decline the invitation. When this happens, the All-Star manager must find (from the Division Coordinator’s ranking of the top 15 players) a suitable replacement who is willing to participate.
Players who are selected will be contacted by their All-Star manager at the conclusion of the season, and players who are nominated but not selected will be contacted by the NBBA All Star Coordinators. The league expects to post the All-Star teams on the league website by the end of May, or as soon as all rosters are confirmed.
I hope this communication answers any questions you or your player may have regarding the All-Star team and manager selection process. Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any additional questions.
Erich Schellenberger, NBBA President (president@nbbaseball.com)