North Seattle Baseball Boundaries
North Seattle Baseball has open boundaries to residents of Western Washington for ages 9U and up. For the younger ages below 9U (Shetland and Pinto), the historic boundaries (ship canal, north to 205th; and from Lake Washington to the Puget Sound).
Where do teams practice and play games?
Games and practices are generally held in the North and Northeast section of Seattle at various fields; Dahl Field, Pinehurst Playfield, Meadowbrook Field, Jane Addams/Summit, Bitter Lake, Lower Woodland (Green Lake), Ingraham High School and other fields in the area on occasion.
What makes NSB Pony Baseball different from local Little Leagues?
Both are youth Baseball and Softball organizations but there are a few differences between the two. One of the biggest differences between Pony and Little League Baseball is that Pony extends the field size as kids get older, bigger, and stronger. T-Ball is played with 50 foot base paths, coach pitch and early kid pitch is played at 60 foot base paths and then older kid pitch for 11 & 12 year old players is at 70 feet, 13 & 14 YOs at 80 feet, and then on to 90 feet for 15s and up with the mound moving back correspondingly. This graduated approach is more appropriate for the players and eases the transition to the full diamond. Baserunning and pitching are another key difference. Pony allows full leadoff and steals starting at the 9U level and pitchers must learn to pitch from the stretch. This also helps them simplify their mechanics and become more effective pitchers. Combining ages, 7 & 8, 9 &10, 11 & 12, and so on allows for continuity and better quality of play by having kids in their second year of that division help lead the way.
How Competitive is NSB?
We have been told that many people perceive NSB to be more competitive than the local Little Leagues. We do take baseball/softball seriously and we have a lot of passionate coaches and players. But, first and foremost, we are a recreational league designed for players of all skill levels with the goal of making the game fun for all.
Which division should my son or daughter play in?
We group kids according to their league age as of August 31st for Baseball and Birth Year for Softball.
Can my son or daughter and their friends play together?
For Baseball - We allow teams at the Shetland (tee-ball) and Pinto (Coach Pitch) levels to build their teams with the oversight of the applicable commissioner. This means that in most cases, we can keep friends and classmates together. Occasionally, for demographics reasons, we must split up teams in an effort to try to improve parity in the league. At the Mustang level and Bronco levels, we use a player evaluations and player draft in an effort to establish parity amongst all teams. Pony Cascade, due to travel considerations, allowances may be made to allow friends to play together, but an effort to maintain parity still exists.
For Softball – All teams are formed as “buddy ball”, allowing friends and classmates to play together whenever possible. Adjustments may need to be made to ensure parity. Softball does not have a T Ball division.
For the league season, everyone who signs up will be on a team and play.
Can my son or daughter play up or down?
Yes; only one (1) level of play, however. See our play up application request for Pinto, Mustang and Bronco. For Pony Olympic, Colt and Palomino, it is through individual team tryouts and/or permission of the Pony/Colt/Palomino Commissioner. Pony Cascade (13U & 14U) openly accepts 12U players but not 11U players. Play Downs are considered on a case by case basis for all divisions other than Shetland (T Ball). We want to ensure that players are playing at the appropriate level and for others in that division.
What is the All-Star Team Selection Process?
The All-Star teams often begin their formation in the late-April time frame. We begin to assemble these teams in this time frame in order to send our best teams to the various Memorial Day tournaments held in late May. We leave open the possibility that some kids may not have had enough time to shine, therefore the teams at the Memorial Day tournaments may go through a few changes even after Memorial Day. Generally speaking, an All-Star coach is voted upon by the All-Star Coaches Selection Committee. After tryouts, the head coach and the other coaches in that division then select the majority of players. The head coach and his staff select the remaining players as described in the All-Star Policy. Following the selection of the All-Star team and based on enough interest (of players and coaches), a tournament team may be formed. Tournament teams play in 2 to 4 summer tournaments and players from outside of NSB are allowed to participate on these teams. NSB supports the tournament teams with practice fields, equipment, uniforms and sometimes coaches.
Can I help or volunteer?
By all means, yes. At various times, we form committees to look into issues. And we always need help setting up for special events such as the Spring Jamboree, the Memorial Day Superbash, Championship Weekend in June, and the Pinto Round-Up. We always need head coaches, assistant coaches, and umpires, etc. If you would like to become a board member, generally our first fall meeting every year is to establish new board members. If you are interested in coaching, please contact the Commissioner in that age group or check the home page of this website for current openings. You need not have a child on the team in order to coach.
Are there rules and by-laws under which NSB operates?
Yes, please see our Documents page.