Dukes - Boys & Girls ages 6-9
Bellevue West Little League offers a machine pitch level called Dukes. There are 3 levels of Dukes for 2008:
Dukes K-1: Introduction to Machine Pitch. This division is designed for Kindergartners and 1st graders . The pitching machine is introduced, but will be close to the plate and the ball will approach the plate at a slow speed. Games will be played with the pitching machine, but after a set number of strikes, the child will have a chance to hit off a tee. The season is also shorter with 8 games versus 10 in the other Dukes divisions.
Dukes 1: This division is designed for 1st graders The pitching machine configuration is similar to what was Lower Dukes - approximately 30 miles an hour. The division schedule includes 10 regular season games followed by a single elimination end-of-year tournament.
Dukes 2: This division is designed for 2nd graders with previous Dukes playing experience. The pitching machine configuration is similar to what was Upper Dukes - approximately mid 30 miles an hour. The division schedules includes 10 regular season games followed by an end-of-year tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How do I know what division to register my child in?
A: Make your selection based on your child's grade. If he/she is in kindergarten, sign your child up for T-ball or Dukes K-1 if he/she has already played T-ball. If your child is in first grade, sign your child up for Dukes 1 (formerly Lower Dukes) or Dukes K-1, if he/she played T-ball last year and would benefit from an introductory level to machine pitch. If he/she is in second grade, sign up to play in Dukes 2 (formerly Upper Dukes).
Q: Can my child play up?
A: We don't regularly recommend this, but, yes it is possible with permission of the coach. In the end, our goal is for the teams within each division to be working at the same developmental level. There are occasions when a child's size or athletic ability suggest that he should be playing at the next level for his own continued development and for the safety of his teammates (and competitors!).
Q: Can my child play down a level?
A: We don't recommend it. Besides being a safety concern, we believe Dukes K-1 eliminates the need to do so.
Q: What if my child has never played before?
A: Sign him/her up based on their grade. If he/she is in kindergarten, we require T-ball. If he/she is in first grade, we recommend Dukes K-1.
Q: If my child plays Dukes K-1 as a first-grader, what happens in second grade?
A: He/she plays Dukes 2 (formerly Upper Dukes). Developmental differences are most pronounced in the younger ages. The hardest adjustment for most children is the leap from the tee to a ball coming 30 miles per hour. The difference between Dukes 1 and Dukes 2 is a few miles per hour faster and a few more feet back from the plate. A child will have to make this adjustment whether he/she comes from Dukes K-1 or Dukes 1.
Q: How are teams selected?
A: We make our best effort to place children with children from their own school.
Q: Can I request to be on a team with someone or with a particular coach?
A: Yes. We prefer that you specify a coach's name. If you are not already affiliated with a particular coach, please limit requests to one or two children that your child would like to play with. We will try to accommodate your request, but because of the overwhelming number of requests each year, we can make no promises. Use the "coaches concern" section to make your request during registration.
Players are assigned to team based on school attended, neighborhood, or your request. Coaches can submit team rosters to Carolyn Janisch - BWLL Player Agent at bellevuewest@gmail.com.
Attention All Girls
You can register for a team just for girls by requesting to be on an all girls team when you register. Look for that option when registering online.