The Roadmap
12u
Priority is Development
To develop each player’s abilities in all parts of the game, helping make them a well rounded ball player. That from start to finish they will have a basic understanding of all aspects of the game and a strong foundation in the fundamentals of throwing, fielding, hitting & pitching. Games will be played on a 50/70 to help the adjustment from the Little League Diamond to the 60/90 field. We believe that at this age players should not be limited to one position but rather be given the opportunity to play multiple positions to discover where they feel most comfortable and have the most success. We focus on implementing a strong foundation on fundamentals ensuring that each player will be able to build their skills confidently as they grow and mature. Our goal is to help the players not only grow in their abilities but their love and enjoyment of the game.
Players should expect equitable playing time, but will be rewarded for their effort, attitude and performance.
13u
Priority is Development
To develop each player’s abilities and help them make the transition from the small field to the big diamond (60/90). Throughout the course of the season the goal is for them to become comfortable on the big field while developing into more advanced aspects of throwing, pitching, hitting & fielding. This is one of the most crucial years for youth baseball players and where across the nation we see a significant drop off in youth baseball numbers.. It is an extremely challenging transition and our goal is to make it as smooth as possible while building confidence in their abilities while still carrying that passion and love of the game.
14u
Priority is Development
To develop each player’s abilities while advancing into a higher level of goals and expectations. Players will be pushed to achieve their goals and higher standards will be set by their coaches who will work tirelessly to continue to implement new drills and skills for them to master. With high school in sight we want our players to push themselves to reach their goals while understanding the workload that is needed to reach them. We feel that at this age it is valuable for each player to begin to focus on more advanced aspects of the game to help them identify their strengths and weaknesses on the field. It is the start of learning how to focus more heavily on specialized skills and maximizing their potential.
15u & Up
Objective is to begin to play to each player’s strength, so that they may begin to focus on particular aspects of the game. This begins the recruiting age for these players and therefore the focus will be to get them exposure where they fit best on the field. Creating college lists, learning how to communicate with college coaches who may reach out. Allowing them to play to their best ability in front of the right people to give them as many opportunities as possible. This is where the rubber meets the road and players have to make the decision as to what they want for their future and we as coaches will not only help them continue to develop but help guide them through the recruiting process. As well as preparing future college players for that experience so that they go into it with a solid understanding of what will be expected of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What separates the Berkshire Bears from other travel or town programs?
All of our coaches have playing or coaching experience at a high level, we have multiple former college players, professional players, former professional scouts, college coaches & college recruiters that have years of experience in the game.
The level of development is unmatched, we feel that with our staff of coaches & facility access there is no better place for a young ballplayer.
The Den Baseball is open to all team players whenever they need it year round.
No one gets turned away because they can’t afford the cost of the team, we offer every player the opportunity to get sponsorships and fundraise.
Do you allow parents of players to coach or be involved?
We have a firm belief that we would only allow a parent of a player to be a coach if we feel that we would hire them due to their coaching and playing experience, even still any parent who may be hired as a coach would only be an assistant coach, never a head coach.
We love having parents involved in our program outside of the dugout, we have roles for parents to help each team in an effort to create fundraisers, team dinners, assist with hotel and travel accommodations.
What’s included in the cost for the team?
We understand the cost can be a hurdle for a lot of families, and we try our best to keep the cost down. The value of the Berkshire Bears includes; quality coaching, high level practices, winter workouts with 4-6 coaches per practice, multiple practices per week, highly competitive games and tournaments. Aside from the team gear each player will receive year round access to The Den Baseball Facility, discounts at all clinics, lessons & camps hosted by The Den coaches.
Can my son still play Little League and play for the Bears?
Yes! In fact we require our young players to play for their towns Little League program. It is important that they have the opportunity to play with their friends and for their town! We run our winter workouts from January until the beginning of the Little League season, so that our players are fully prepared to play for their town. Our games & practices start up at the conclusion of their town ball season (Mid June).