GBA Programs
GBA typically offers the programs listed below - the programs offered, as well as their formats, are subject to change from season to season based on demand or other factors.
Overview
GBA is a “house league,” meaning that everyone plays and it is a community-based program for all players. We offer Fall, Spring, and Summer programs. Note that the Summer program is more of a “house plus” (see the description below for more details on this).
Players looking for a more intense program can supplement house league with travel. GBA partners with KWBA for travel. What that means is that Glencoe players looking for a travel league can play in KWBA’s Fall and Summer travel programs. Note that players must play in the Spring GBA house league if they wish to play in the KWBA Summer travel league. As such, GBA makes sure that our house league schedule does not conflict with the KWBA travel schedule.
There are of course other “pay for play” programs in the area but GBA does not have any partnership with those.
For more information please check out the programs listed below, the KWBA website, or email info@glencoebaseball.org
The following are based on the grade that the child is in at the start of the season:
Fall
Boys’ and Girls’ (combined) Baseball
Kindergarten:
Registration opens in mid-July.
The season runs from just after Labor Day through late October.
There are weekend games and possibly an optional clinic during the week.
Coach pitch with the use of a tee as needed, coach at first base.
No score is kept.
There are no outs.
Every player bats each inning.
Friend requests are taken, but not guaranteed.
All events take place in Glencoe, typically at K Field behind West School
1st – 2nd Grades (Pinto, Stallion):
Registration opens in mid-July.
The season runs from just after Labor Day through late October.
There are weekend games and possibly an optional clinic during the week.
If there are enough players, 1st grade (Pinto) and 2nd grade (Stallion) are separated into their own leagues. In this case, the rules for the 2nd grade league may be closer to those in the Spring. Otherwise the two grades are combined and teams are a mixture of 1st and 2nd graders.
Coach pitch with the use of a tee as needed, coach at first base.
No score is kept.
Outs are acknowledged (player returns to dugout).
Every player bats each inning.
Friend requests are taken, but not guaranteed.
All events take place in Glencoe, typically at Berlin or Takiff fields.
3rd – 8th Grades (Mustang, Bronco, Pony):
Registration opens in mid-July.
The season runs from just after Labor Day through late October.
Leagues consist of 3rd + 4th grade (Mustang), 5th + 6th grade (Bronco) and 7th + 8th grade (Pony).
There are usually games during the week as well as on the weekend plus practices at each coach’s discretion. Typically 1-3 events per week.
Score and team records are tracked; the season includes a playoff tournament.
Games are played in a league with other teams from nearby suburbs.
Games take place in Glencoe and the nearby suburbs.
Home fields are: Berlin for Mustang, Watts for Bronco, and Pony (behind West School) for Pony.
Teams are arranged to be fair; friend requests are not taken.
Girls’ Softball
1st-8th grade
Season runs from early September to late October.
Games are Saturdays and practice up to one time per week at discretion of coach.
If there are enough players the league is run Glencoe only. Otherwise we look for other nearby communities to partner with.
Games are played in Glencoe and/or possibly nearby suburbs.
Coaches draft players to form balanced teams.
Divisions are as follows:
1st/2nd grades - coach pitch, soft 11 inch softball
3rd/4th/5th grades - player pitch, standard 11 inch softball
6th/7th/8th grades - player pitch, standard 12 inch softball
Spring
Boys’ and Girls’ (combined) Baseball
Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Grade (Pinto):
Registration opens in early January.
Pre-K indicates one year prior to entering Kindergarten.
The season runs from early May through early July.
Pre-K and K are combined into one league (K); 1st grade is in a separate league (Pinto).
There are weekend games and up to one practice per week.
Coach pitch with the use of a tee as needed, coach at first base.
No score is kept.
There are no outs.
Every player bats each inning.
All events take place in Glencoe, typically K Field behind West School.
Friend requests are taken but not guaranteed.
2nd Grade (Stallion):
Registration opens in early January.
The season runs from early May through early July.
There are weekend games and up to one practice per week.
Kid pitch with coach assist as needed.
Kid catchers.
Score is kept, but team records are not tracked.
Outs are acknowledged. The side is retired after 3 outs or 4 runs, whichever comes first.
All events take place in Glencoe, typically at Berlin or Takiff fields.
Teams are arranged to be fair; friend requests are not taken.
3rd – 8th Grades (Mustang, Bronco, Pony):
Registration opens in early January.
In early March there is an evaluation (not a tryout) to facilitate fair team formation.
The season runs from early April through early June.
Leagues consist of 3rd + 4th grade (Mustang), 5th + 6th grade (Bronco), and 7th + 8th grade (Pony).
There are games and practices during the week as well as on the weekend. Typically 2-3 events per week.
Score and team records are tracked; the season includes a playoff tournament.
Games take place in Glencoe and possibly surrounding suburbs, depending on the team count in each league.
Home fields are: Berlin for Mustang, Watts for Bronco, and Pony (behind West School) for Pony.
Teams are arranged to be fair, friend requests are not taken.
For the Mustang and Bronco leagues there is an All Star game per league in early July.
Girls’ Softball
1st-8th grade
Season runs from early April to mid June.
Games are Saturdays and practice up to one time per week at discretion of coach.
If there are enough players the league is run Glencoe only. Otherwise we look for other nearby communities to partner with.
Games are played in Glencoe and/or possibly nearby suburbs.
Coaches draft players to form balanced teams.
Divisions are as follows:
1st/2nd grades - coach pitch, soft 11 inch softball
3rd/4th/5th grades - player pitch, standard 11 inch softball
6th/7th/8th grades - player pitch, standard 12 inch softball
Summer AKA G-Town
Boys’ and Girls’ (combined) Baseball
* Based on the grade that the child is entering in the Fall *
The summer program has more of a “house plus” feel. It is more demanding and competitive than house, but more relaxed than travel. The league will not restrict players from personal travel, family vacations, sleep away camp, etc. However, it does require that these plans be communicated in advance so that they can be taken into account when making schedules and teams to ensure the best experience for all players.
Rising 3rd – 8th Grades:
The season runs from mid-June through early August.
Teams are formed by age (not by grade).
The hope is that everyone will get to play. However, depending on the participant count there may be the need for tryouts and cuts as a last resort.
There are games and practices on weekday evenings and on the weekends. Typically 3-5 events per week.
Paid coaches (not volunteers).
Games are played in a league with other teams from nearby suburbs, score and team records are tracked. The season also includes a playoff tournament.
Teams may also participate in a few local tournaments.
Games take place in Glencoe and the nearby suburbs.
Registration opens in early January. Given that the coaches need to be recruited and hired depending on team count registration will close in early March.
The goal is to have teams of 11-13 players (depending on travel plans). We do our best to let everyone play, but in the event that we end up with an odd number of players we may decide to make cuts to ensure that teams are not too large. This is done in a first come, first served fashion with possible preference given to those who played GBA Spring House so registering early is the best way to ensure your child’s spot on a team.