Hello RBI Families!
Hard to believe, but the off-season planning is almost over. To start I want to apologize for the long message. It's long but covers a lot of information. Every year we seem to have at least a few changes to the program that we want to share in advance of registration with this year being no different. Below is an overview of each program for 2019 with any changes. Some of the changes will require us to organize earlier than ever. So please make sure you register early!
With this introduction to 2019 we are now open for registration. You can register at our new website at Richfieldbaseballinc.com or visit us at one of the live registration events at the Richfield Community Center at the following times:
Saturday, February 9th 9:00am-Noon or Thursday, February 21st 6:00pm-8:00pm
If you have questions, please contact our registrations directors at
[email protected] for Travel & grades 3 and up,
[email protected] for grades 2 and younger.
Also new this year, you can now buy Richfield Baseball gear through our partnership with Custom Apparel. Click here to order now. Lastly you will also now be able find all of your RBI updates on Twitter and Instagram
The Programs:
T-Ball – Kids age 4 (by April 30th) through Kindergarten. If your player is in Kindergarten and has played in the RBI T-Ball program twice already he/she can sign up for Northern League. Must be two years in RBI’s T-Ball to “play up”. Two games a week for May and June.
Northern League –Kids in 1st or 2nd grade (or K’s playing up) in the machine pitch program learning to hit a moving ball and trying to record outs on defense. We try to sort the teams by grade. Games played Wednesday/Thursday and a practice (maybe) Monday or Tuesday in May and June. Kids in 2nd grade who wish to try and “play up” in Minors can register for that and evaluate and try to qualify into that level.
Minors –Minors is 3rd graders. This level is kid pitch (with some modifications if needed). Players in Grade 2 can try to “play up” by evaluating in March and displaying enough skill to qualify. Focus will be on developing pitching and catching skills as well as hitting from live pitching. Activities 3-4 times a week is the usual. Games are mostly Monday/Wednesday, with a couple of Saturdays. Games from early May to end of July.
Majors – Majors is 4th and 5th graders. A player in 3rd grade could try and “play up” by evaluating in the top half of the level. Last year’s Major’s rules will remain (mostly) the same. Activities 3-4 times a week is typical, games mostly Tuesday/Thursday, and games scheduled early May to end of July.
U9-U12 Travel – This is house + travel as a model (players on our tournament teams also play on a regular Minors/Majors team). We will be organizing those teams sooner than in the past. While we want more players at all ages, we really need more players in grades 3 & 4 to step up and give these teams a shot.
Nationals –6th and 7th graders. This is “full rules” baseball on a field larger than Roosevelt but smaller than full HS size. Activities 3-4 times a week is typical. Games scheduled early May to end of July. Games mostly Monday-Thursday (have not pinned down specific days).
U13 Travel Players –We will continue to offer a travel only team in the Metro Baseball League (MBL) at the U13 level with a schedule split between home and away (vs. other metro-area teams). MBL’s rules require that all players must live in Richfield or attend Richfield Public Schools.
U14 Players – U14 teams will again be in the Metro Baseball League (MBL) with a schedule split between home and away (vs. other metro-area teams). MBL’s rules require that all players must live in Richfield or attend Richfield Public Schools. Non-residents or resident players who aren’t travel ready may be considered for placement in the Nationals group above if requested.
Jr Legion/Legion – Same format as years past.
We will again be requiring all players in the National league and up, as well as all travel players U10 and above, to provide their own helmets. There will be some helmets available at the fields if a player forgets theirs or is unable to afford their own helmet. This decision was made in order to help reduce costs and for player safety to ensure proper fitting helmets for all players.
Thank you and I look forward to seeing you this summer!
Craig Buhl
[email protected]