Overview
Offered for kids ages 5-6, Beginner's League is a child's first real exposure to playing baseball. While everybody is aware that it's a brand new experience for the child, what often gets lost, and something the NHAA never forgets, is that it's also a brand new experience for you, the coach and parent.

The goals of our program are to introduce the kids to the fundamentals of baseball, provide an encouraging environment, have a ton of fun, and leave the kids with a positive, memorable experience. 

Your child will participate in a structured program teaching the fundamentals of hitting, throwing, base running, and fielding, as well as through controlled games to promote the development of their skills. Introducing the children to baseball fundamentals is the primary goal of the NHAA Program.

Schedule
-  All practice/game schedules will be finalized once registration is closed, quantity of teams is determined, coaches are selected, and rosters finalized.
-  All practices/games will be held at Ross Elementary Field and Oesterle Field.
-  Depending on the weather, you can anticipate one practice/game on a weekday and one on a weekend.
-  You can anticipate each practice/game should last approximately 1-1/2 hours.    

Expectations
NHAA believes strongly in keeping things simple when teaching the game of baseball and softball. With that in mind we have developed five goal areas for each of the age groups. As a coach we want to keep these five goal areas in mind every time we plan a practice. They represent the fundamental building blocks for success. The goals at one level need to be accomplished before the goals at the next level can be pursued. 

These are the Five Goals that we hope to and you should expect your child to have achieved at the completion of the Beginner's League Level: 

Learn the Basic Rules - the right direction to run when the ball is hit; runners must touch the bases; how to record outs (catch the ball in the air, throw to first, or tag the runners); running past first base; scoring a run; three outs constitutes an inning 

Throwing Mechanics - turn the body so that the front shoulder points toward the target; keep the elbow above the shoulder; step toward the target with the no throwing foot and release the ball. 

Tracking - follow the ball with the eyes to the glove, whether on the ground or in the air (use softer balls); use two hands to catch and field; try to catch the ball out in front of the body. 

Hitting - how to hold and swing the bat; batting safety (when not to swing bats, wearing batting helmets); hitting off a tee; hitting softly tossed pitches 

Learning Positional Play - if the ball is hit to your buddy, let him or her field it

Overview
Offered for kids ages 7-8, the primary goal of the Instructional League is teaching baseball fundamentals and developing your child's baseball skills. We want this time to be an exciting, rewarding and memorable experience,which will prepare them for baseball at a higher, competitive level. Games will be "controlled" games with a balance between learning the game and a slightly increasing the level of competitiveness. There are special playing rules in place to move the game along, while still making it fun and promoting the development of their skills. At this stage, the kids will begin hitting "coach pitching" in both practice and games.

Schedule
-  All practice/game schedules will be finalized once registration is closed, quantity of teams is determined, coaches are selected, and rosters finalized.
-  All practices/games will be held at Windhurst Field,Berkeley Field and Bartlett Field.
-  Depending on the weather, you can anticipate one practice/game on a weekday and one on a weekend.You can anticipate each practice/game should last approximately 1-1/2 hours. 

New Experiences at this Level
- Coach Pitching during practices and games
- Summer Tournament Play (developmental)

Expectations
The NHAA believes strongly in keeping things simple when teaching the game of baseball and softball. With that in mind we have developed five goal areas for each of the age groups. As a coach we want to keep these five goal areas in mind every time we plan a practice. They represent the fundamental building blocks for success. The goals at one level need to be accomplished before the goals at the next level can be pursued. 

These are the Five Goals that we believe and you should expect your child to have achieved at the completion of the Instructional League Level: 

-  Learn the Basic Rules - force outs; tagging up; base running (when you don't have to run; not running into or past teammates on the base paths); balls and strikes. 
-  Throwing Mechanics - introduce the four-seam grip; point the front shoulder, step, and throw; introduce the concept of generating momentum toward the target and following the throw. 
- Catching and fielding- thrown and hit balls; fingers up versus fingers down; see the glove and the ball; use two hands; forehands and backhands; introduce the underhand flip; first-base fundamentals; crossover and drop steps. 
- Hitting - choosing the right bat; proper grip; hitting pitched balls; introduce drill work (tee work, soft toss, short toss) 
- Learning Positional Play - learn the positions and the areas each player should cover; cover the base when the ball is not hit to you; basics of cutoffs and relays.

Overview
Offered for kids ages 9-10, the primary goal of the Minor League is to transition from a "coach-controlled" environment to one that resembles an actual competitive game, while still maintaining the major goal of learning, developing, and having FUN. This is probably the biggest transition your child will make throughout their baseball career because it introduces them to seeing actual live pitching from other kids as well as throwing pitches themselves.  It is also a very big transition for YOU the parent because, while your child may have been a great hitter throughout Beginners and Instructional, they may struggle a bit adapting to other kids throwing the ball. Our advice is to just be patient, and for that brief moment they're in the batter's box or on the pitchers mount ... take your parent hat off and just be a fan.

Schedule
-  All practice/game schedules will be finalized once registration is closed, quantity of teams is determined, coaches are selected, and rosters finalized.
-  All practices/games will be held at Berkeley Field, and some at Bartlett Field.
-  Depending on the weather, you can anticipate one practice/game on a weekday and one on a weekend.
- You can anticipate each practice/game should last approximately 2 hours (or 6-innings)

New Experiences at this Level
- Kid Pitching during games
- Umpired 6-inning games
- Base stealing (after the pitch crosses the plate)
- Pre-season Player Evaluations
- Teams selection via a Coaches Draft
- Post-season Playoffs and Championship
- All-Star Game
- Summer Tournament Play

Expectations
The NHAA believes strongly in keeping things simple when teaching the game of baseball and softball. With that in mind we have developed five goal areas for each of the age groups. As a coach we want to keep these five goal areas in mind every time we plan a practice. They represent the fundamental building blocks for success. The goals at one level need to be accomplished before the goals at the next level can be pursued. 

These are the Five Goals that we believe and you should expect your child to have achieved at the completion of the Minor League Level: 

- Learn the Basic Rules - introduction to and explanation of the infield fly rule
- Base running - stealing, extra-base hits
- Pitching and Throwing Mechanics - four-seam grip, shuffle, throw, follow, pitcher covering first.
- Hitting - repetitions; drill work (tee work, soft toss, short toss, stick-ball, lob toss, on-arm drill); bunting
- Learning Team Fundamentals - cutoffs and relays; basic defenses; basic first-and-third situations, underhand flip, infield/outfield communication and priorities.

Overview
Offered for kids ages 11-12. 

Schedule
-  All practice/game schedules will be finalized once registration is closed, quantity of teams is determined, coaches are selected, and rosters finalized.
-  All practices/games will be held at Berkeley Field, and some at Bartlett Field.
-  Depending on the weather, you can anticipate one practice/game on a weekday and one on a weekend.
- You can anticipate each practice/game should last approximately 2 hours (or 6-innings)

New Experiences at this Level
- Allow a runner to take a lead off a base at any time
- Allow a runner to steal a base at any time
- Allow a pitcher to throw directly to a base in an attempt to "pick off" the leading runner
- Allow the kids .. to do what they've been asking the coach to do since Tee Ball!

Expectations
The NHAA believes strongly in keeping things simple when teaching the game of baseball and softball. With that in mind we have developed five goal areas for each of the age groups. As a coach we want to keep these five goal areas in mind every time we plan a practice. They represent the fundamental building blocks for success. The goals at one level need to be accomplished before the goals at the next level can be pursued. 

These are the Five Goals that we believe and you should expect your child to have achieved at the completion of the Bronco League Level: 

- Learning the Basic Rules - infield fly rule; balks.
- Base running - leads; steals; extra-base hits.Pitching and Throwing Mechanics - wind-up versus stretch; four-seam grip; shuffle, throw, follow' pitcher covering first
- Hitting - repetitions; drill work (tee work, soft toss, short toss, stick-ball, lob toss, one-arm drill); bunting.
- Learning Team Fundamentals - cutoffs and relays; basic bunt defenses; basic first-and-third situations; underhand flip and double plays; defending the steal; infield and outfield communication and priorities.

• Introduce basic baseball and softball skills (hitting, catching, running, and throwing) through fun games.
• Encourage teamwork and communication with peers.
• Foster social connections and build friendships within the community.
• Promote physical coordination and motor skills development in a supportive environment.

• Duration: 6-8-week program.
• Event Frequency: Once a week on Sunday afternoon, for 1 hour each session.
• Age Group: 3 to 4-year-olds.
• Location: Local community field.

• Fun & Playful Atmosphere: The goal is for kids to have fun, not to feel pressured to "win." Every child gets a chance to try all aspects of the game.
• Skill Development: Simple, child-friendly drills are used to build motor skills and confidence.
• Community Building: The program encourages kids and their families to connect with others in the local community, fostering friendships through a shared interest in sports.