Community Program - 6th & 7th Grade

Click here for 6th & 7th Grade Rules

6th/7th Grade Community Program: The In-House program is for boys & girls in the 6th and 7th Grades. For the Community Leagues, players play with their current grade in school at time of registration (Spring of the current year).  The policy of the EPBA Board of Directors strictly prohibits players from playing up from the established rules.  

Travel programs for EPBA are offered at 6th and 7th Grade - your player can either play in the community program OR the travel program, not both.

Volunteers:   To run a successful baseball program, we need volunteers to coach. We will provide a coaching clinic for all coaches, instructional videos on the EPBA website, and a source for coaches to ask questions when needed. Please indicate if you are interested in being a Head Coach or Assistant Coach on your player's registration.

• Registration Dates: January XX - February XX
• Registration Fees: $210
• School Grade: Currently in 6th or 7th Grade
• Included in Registration Fees: Jersey & Hat
• Additional Equipment Needed: Glove, Tennis Shoes or Cleats, Baseball Pants Optional
• Optional Equipment: EPBA provides bats, baseballs and helmets. Feel free to use your own bat and/or helmet.

• Community Coach Meeting: Virtual Meeting via Zoom on XXX at 8pm and In-person Training on XXX from 12-1:30pm at the EPHS Dome
• Coaches Equipment & Jersey Pickup: XXX - 6:30pm Miller Building
• EPBA Opening Day Event: TBD
• Season Start Date (estimated): April 27
• Picture Day: TBD
• Season End Date (estimated): July 12

• Evaluations (to balance teams): No
• # of Players per Team: 11 to 13 Players
• Friend Requests Allowed: No
• Team Formation: Coach Draft

• # of Events per Week: 2 to 3
• Potential Event Days: Monday - Thursday and Saturdays; nights can vary week to week
• Event Times: 6:15-8:15pm weekdays; Saturday - morning to early afternoon
• Event Duration: 2 hours
• Event Locations: Nesbitt & Eden Valley
• Type of Hitting/Pitching: Player Pitch

Bat Regulations

• End of the Year Tournament: Yes
• Days of End of the Year Tournaments (estimated): July 10-12 - Edina

• Game Rules and Situational Awareness
• Advanced base running: delayed steals, hit-and-run, reading the defense. 
• Infield fly rule application
• Understanding and reacting to balks
• Situational hitting: knowing when to pull vs. go opposite field
• Throwing and Fielding
• Emphasizing arm care and injury prevention
• Long toss and proper warm-up routines
• Advanced fielding angles and approaches (footwork, pre-pitch setup)
• Double play footwork (turns for 2B, SS, 1B footwork)
• Developing quick transfer on relays and cutoffs
• Hitting
• Swing plane optimization for line drives
• Driving the ball to all fields (situational hitting)
• Hitting off-speed pitches and recognizing pitch types
• Sacrifice and drag bunting
• Pitching
• Refining mechanics for accuracy and arm health
• Introduction to changeups and developing secondary pitches
• Understanding pitch sequences and how to attack hitters
• Holding runners on base and pick-off moves
• Catching
• Blocking advanced pitches (off-speed, short hops)
• Footwork and quick transfers for throwing out runners
• Framing and pitch presentation for umpires
• Team Fundamentals
• More detailed bunt defenses and first-and-third plays
• Understanding defensive shifts based on hitter tendencies
• Communication between infield and outfield on pop-ups

Because the EPBA believes that no young baseball player should ever be denied the opportunity to participate in America’s favorite pastime because of temporary family economic problems we provide financial assistance to families in need.

Should you need financial assistance in order to participate in the league, please email [email protected] for more information.