The Rising Stars Baseball Program, a division of Ponte Vedra Athletic Association Baseball, is in its 12th season for 2018.  Created to give girls and boys from the Jacksonville, FL area who are unable to “SHINE” in a traditional little league an outlet to have fun with baseball, build self confidence, teamwork skills and lasting memories and friendships.  By creating ability-specific levels and a high coach to child ratio, Rising Stars Baseball is able to support a range of abilities; from mild coordination concerns to moderate gross motor planning challenges.  For kids that have been apprehensive about baseball, or didn’t feel they were skilled or coordinated enough, Rising Stars is also a great way to start playing the game.

Rising Stars will offer 2 day-camps for boys and girls age 8 – 18 – March 3rd & April 14th. Camps will run from 3pm to 6pm, (somewhat shorter for younger participants), with ample breaks, and will include instructional sessions followed by a game.

The cost to participate is free as a result of the generosity of our sponsors Microsoft, HEAL (http://www.healautismnow.org), UBS (http://financialservicesinc.ubs.com/fa/jonathanawad/), and the Greenwood School (http://www.greenwoodjax.org), and numerous individual supporters. All sessions will be held at Cornerstone Park 105 Cornerstone Dr Ponte Vedra, located at the southern end of Ponte Vedra just off A1A.

We operate our games under three main premises:

1.  We want the kids to be successful and have fun – relish in the small victories
2.  Challenge the kids – adapt the level of challenge to each child’s abilities so they are appropriately pushed, yet experience success
3.  Treat this as a real game (the level of alignment to a typical little league game increases with each division) – the kids know, or are learning, what “real” baseball is all about.  They will also know when they are not playing “real” baseball

The game of baseball isn’t about hitting a home run every time a player is up to bat.  A great major leaguer only reaches base safely 3 times out of 10 tries.  This game, which teaches terrific life lessons, is about celebrating small successes along the way through overcoming adversity.  I believe our Rising Stars, many who have faced adversity their entire lives, will be more joyous in their success if they are not successful every try.  And keep in mind; we want both the defensive and offensive players to experience success.

Based on these guiding principles you will see the following in our games:

• Use of a tee for one batter and an overhand pitch to another, or start with a tossed ball and move to a tee if not successful.  For the majors, we expect them to hit an overhand pitched ball, but will adapt the speed to the child’s abilities.  High School  players that join our games will bat with opposite hand
• Often players will get more than 3 swings, especially if the player swings at bad pitches. (hitting a pitched ball is said to be the most difficult thing in all of sports)
• For Rookies and Minors everyone will get to bat once each inning.  Majors will play to 3 outs.
• A base runner is awarded 1 base on an over-throw (Rookie & Minors), Majors can continue to run until an out is made.  We don’t want kids running all the way around the bases, as this is not representative of “real” baseball nor does it reinforce success for the defensive team/players
• We will only keep score in Majors games
• For Rookies it is OK to have more than 4 defensive players (plus pitcher) in the infield, since the ball is rarely hit to the outfield.  For Minors and Majors traditional positions will be played (though outfield will likely be covered by less than 3 players).
• It is expected that players’ jerseys will be tucked in and hats are worn facing forward.

We love working with your kids and seeing the joy that playing Rising Stars Baseball brings to them, and appreciate your support of our efforts.

Coach Bob