Player Evaluations FAQ

Fairfield American Little League requires all 9, 10, 11, and 12 year old players to attend an evaluation session prior to the start of the Spring season. The only exceptions to this requirement are 12-year-old players who participated in the Majors division last spring as 11-year-old players.

Evaluations may seem intimidating, and we know your child might be nervous. Our goal is to make sure every player feels comfortable and confident, and we make sure to keep the atmosphere positive and fun.

Following are answers to common questions about the evaluations:

Is the evaluation a try-out?

No. Everyone who wants to participate in FALL and attends the evaluation will be placed on a team.The evaluation process helps determine the correct division placement for each player, and it gives managers the opportunity to assess each player's skills in certain areas prior to the season draft. This helps us create balanced teams so that we have better competition throughout the season. Managers also have a chance to see how players they know have grown since the prior year and meet any newcomers to our community.

What will happen during the evaluation?

After checking in at the front desk, each player will go into the gym and wait his or her turn to participate. It’s a first in, up process. Parents and guardians must wait outside the gym.
Players are evaluated individually or with another player. At any given time there may be 20 or so other players waiting their turn. There may also be up to 30 coaches sitting in the bleachers to observe the evaluations.
All players will field a few ground balls and pop flies and then play catch with another player or coach.
Lastly, the player will take about 6-12 swings at a live hitting station, facing pitches from a Fairfield American coach. Pitches will be soft-toss and in the strike zone to allow each player the best possible opportunity to make good contact.

How long will the evaluations take?

The actual evaluation for a player takes about ten minutes. However, we move children through the evals on a first come, first served basis. If you arrive when there are ten or more players in front of your child, it could take up to an hour to move your child through the process. If you are on a tight timeline, please alert the volunteers at the desk and we will do everything we can to move your son or daughter to the front of the line.

What should players wear and bring?

All players should wear baseball pants or shorts, shirts and sneakers. NO BASEBALL CLEATS are allowed in the gym!
Players should bring their own glove. They are welcome to bring their own bat and batting helmet as long as it adheres to Little League’s USA bat requirements. We will have bats and batting helmets available for players that do not bring their own gear.

When and where will evaluations take place?

Evaluations for 2026 will be held on Sunday, March 15th. All sessions are held inside the gym at Ludlowe High School.

What if my child can’t attend the evaluations that day?

Please let us know in advance by sending an email to [email protected]. Depending on the amount of data we have on your child, we may want to schedule a make-up evaluation at a future date.

Any other questions?
If you have any questions or concerns, please email [email protected]

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