Grades/Training

Teeball / 12U

In our youth sessions players have a focus on hitting, baserunning and having fun. Throwing and catching is difficult at the best of times for trainee players so these skills are taught organically during game time so it is not stressful for beginner players. We have two development tracks for our youth programme:

Teeball: Ages 4-10

Minor Ball (12U): Ages 8-12
This is a hybrid version of teeball/baseball where players are taught to pitch, catch and perform skills required for full baseball. But Coach-Pitch is incorporated to ensure consistency of hittable pitches and so every player gets to bat, hit, run bases and touch home plate!

For more advanced 10-12 year olds, please see our junior division.

Training

This year we are excited to provide more training locations:

Teeball + 120: Thursdays, 4-5pm at Champion Green (behind Garin College)
12U: Thursdays, 5-6pm at Neale Park in Nelson

Players don't need to be in teams, they can just show up as an individual. Practice consists of fun drills followed by a mini game. As players develop, games for the 12U teams will be scheduled during the term.

The subscription fee for the entire season (October-April) is $45. If a player joins for only one term the cost is $25. Players can register as a team or as an individual.

Ages quoted mean the player must be that age as of 31 August 2023 to play in the grade. However dispensations are available for local play from the Association if the coach thinks the player needs to play up or down a grade to suit their abilty and for the safety of themselves and other players.

There are no dispensations allowed for national tournaments.

History

Nelson Heat implemented its Teeball programme in the 2017/2018 season.

In 2018 the region held its first teeball tournament, at which 22 primary school teams participated. The tournament was again held in 2019, where 18 teams participated and has become an annual fixture on the baseball calendar. This year's tournament will be held in December. Date TBC.