Laurel Little League Player Evaluations and Draft Guidance

Scope:

This document shall outline the process of the local player evaluations and draft proceedings for Laurel Little League (LLL). This document shall be distributed to Managers of teams drafting players no later than 1 week in advance of the start of player evaluations.

Player Evaluations:

Player evaluations for LLL will be held at a suitable field or facility, weather dependent, typically around the last week of February or first week of March. Tryouts shall consist of a minimum of two tryout dates, per age group, unless deemed unnecessary, such as the event when all players will make that division (Jrs. Srs. Etc.) and agreed upon by all managers for that level and the player agent. The tryouts shall consist of a thorough warm up routine, and then player evaluations regarding throwing and catching, speed and running drills, fielding and throwing, and finally various hitting stations. A suggested schedule is 11/12s Monday night, 9/10s Tuesday night, Juniors Wednesday night (likely the only evaluation), softball Thursday night, and Saturday all day softball at 9am-11am, 11/12s at 11am-1pm, 9/10s at 1pm-3pm, and Juniors 3pm-5pm.

Draft Date and Time:

The LLL Majors and above drafts will occur the evening of the last day of tryouts (Typically Saturday), unless a separate date is agreed upon by all managers of all levels involved, and the player agent. The exact time is dependent on the conclusion of the player evaluations. This time shall be communicated to all managers appropriately. The player agent will set the rotation of drafts as they see fit. For example, Juniors first at 6pm, 11/12 majors second at 7pm, and 9/10 majors third at 8pm.  

Draft Process:
LLL will follow the approved Little League International draft method known as Draft B (See below and rulebook for clarifications). Order will be determined by a random method of the player agent’s choosing. In the event a kid 12 years of age was not previously in a major division; they MUST be selected to a 11/12 major team. It is recommended in this instance that this part of the draft is done separately prior to any other portions of the 11/12 draft, although it can be completed in one portion under the Player Agent’s control. The player agent must ensure all returning kids to the major division, as well as all 12-year-olds get drafted. It is also recommended that no more than eight players of one age be drafted to one team. For all leagues a serpentine draft order shall be followed. Below are further explanations of the draft B, as well as certain manager options such as son/daughters of Manager option, the sibling option, and a local coach’s option. Draft day trades are acceptable, but must be completed that night, in the presence of all managers of that level and the player agent. Once the draft is “concluded” a time for trades will be made available. After all trades have been completed, the teams are final.

Draft B- This draft takes place in two separate parts.

(Player Agent can select to do this in one draft pool, but it is the responsibility of the Player Agent to ensure all kids that need to be drafted get drafted.)

First part includes those players who are:

1. Returning from a Major team, AND;
2. Have registered for the current season

Second part of the draft includes:

1. All players who are eligible for selection and have attended the required minimum number of player evaluations.

This first draft of returning players must be completed before the second part of the draft, and all returning players who qualify under both conditions above must be drafted. Managers are not permitted to waive a draft choice.

Son or daughter of Manager Option:

When the manager of the team has a son or daughter eligible to be drafted, he/she may use the “Sons/Daughters of Managers” option to draft his/her child to the team. This option must be submitted to the Player Agent at least 48 hours before the draft begins. This option always takes priority over the other 3 options. The manager must exercise this option before a specified round, which depends on the division and league age of the player. Failure to exercise the option in or before the specified round results in the son/daughter becoming eligible to be drafted by any other team.

Sibling Option:

The “Brother/Sister Option” is available when there are two or more siblings eligible to be drafted. After the first sibling is drafted, the manager of that team automatically has the option to draft the brother or sister of that player on the team’s next turn in the draft. If the manager does not exercise the brother/sister Option on the next turn, the sibling becomes available to be drafted by any other team.

Laurel Little League Adaptations of Draft Method B:

It is the intent of LLL to allow the managers to preselect up to two assistant coaches. The theory behind this is to know your assistants ahead of time and be able to have committed assistants in the event the manager is not able to be at a games or practices as Laurel, MT has a large percentage of shift working coaches and managers. This is NOT to manipulate the draft proceedings. Sons and daughters of assistant coaches must be selected with the first and second round pick (the coach has two assistants), or the first round (the coach has only one assistant).

Options:

All player options must be submitted in writing to the player agent, 48 hours prior to the player draft.

Player Evaluation Forms-

The designated player evaluation form, approved by the Board, should be maintained by the Player Agent from all coaches that took notes or evaluations during the evaluation periods. These may be stored on the league computer, but only after the draft is completed as to not compromise any notes, and thus providing a fair and competitive environment. The Player Agent is encouraged to take his/her own notes and scoring for evaluations and shall be present for all player evaluation proceedings unless approved by the Board and a proxy is named.

Post Draft Notifications-

After the draft is completed, it is the responsibility of the Player Agent to ensure all players that attended the designated number of evaluations and are seeking to be placed on a majors or above team are contacted regarding the level of placement. In most cases, the managers of the teams will contact their own players selected, but in the event this does not happen, the Player Agent can notify players and parents/guardians as well. The Player Agent will be responsible to notify those players not selected to a majors or above team. This includes those players who attended the evaluation and are released to the minors. The method of communication must be Board approved and communicated to all participants at or before the player evaluation. These methods may include phone calls, emails, etc. Whichever method is Board approved, will be allowed, and shall include information such as not being selected to a majors or above team, when they should hear from the coach or league regarding minors information, and a statement that includes if there are questions or concerns to please reach out to the player agent for further discussion. This Player Agent will be able to discuss scoring/comments of player evaluations of the child in question only, not another player. This conversation should be positive in manner, and focused on providing areas the player can improve in.