Introduction
All-Stars in Queen Anne Little League is primarily an opportunity for serious baseball players to increase their baseball knowledge and improve their skills. Winning is more important during All-Stars than the regular season, but it is not the only thing. If we were to rank priorities, they would be:
Sportsmanship and the representation of QALL
Player development
Results
Equal opportunity once on the team
Inclusion on the team
Our goal is for every single player in a QALL all-star jersey to exhibit exceptional sportsmanship and attitude. We want umpires, opposing coaches and players, and parents talking about our positive attitudes and love of the game.
By definition, all-star baseball is selective. There will be players who make the team one year, and then do not make the team the following year, and vice versa. For most of the players who tryout for all-stars, this is the beginning of their baseball career. We encourage all our players to never let their selection or (non-selection) to the team to define their character or work-ethic. Kids develop at different rates, and nothing about team selections is prescriptive of a player’s future.
Coaching Selection
At the April board meeting, the Coaching Committee with the guidance and input of the President will present their recommendations for all-star managers for league ages 10, 11, and 12 to the President for approval by the Board. The Board may approve these recommendations by majority vote. In the event that the Board does not approve the recommendations, the Board may not conclude the meeting until three managers are selected by majority vote. The Board approved managers may appoint two assistant coaches, subject only to the objection of a majority of the Coaching Committee. If the Coaching Committee objects to a manager’s selection, it will be required to provide an alternative assistant coach proposal within 24 hours. If the alternative assistant coach proposed is not acceptable to the manager, the President will decide the matter and his or her decision will be final.
Player Selection
After the All-Star Managers selection and All-Star tryouts, All-Star player selection will begin.
12’s Team
The 12’s Team is first in the process. For the 12s team and only the 12s team, there is a players’ ballot where all majors players vote for six all-stars. The top six vote receivers (regardless of league age) are all automatically elected onto the 12s All-Star team. The Majors managers and the 12’s All-Star Manager will vote on the next three players. Majors managers are encouraged to gather opinions and feedback about potential all-star selections from the other coaches on their team. In the event that the 12’s All-Star Manager is also a Majors manager, he or she is only entitled to one vote.
Each manager will submit an electronic ballot with ranking order and the ballot will be “open” to the other Majors managers and the President. These selections may include any player in the entire all-star pool (not already selected) that qualifies under Little League rules for the team. Where ranked choice voting does not settle any ties, the President will resolve all ties at his or her discretion.
The 12’s Team All-Star Manager will select the last 2-4 players or defer all or part of the selection to the Majors managers. This part of the selection process is considered confidential. The last 2-4 players selected may not be younger than league age 12.
11’s Team
After the 12’s All-Star Team selection, the Majors and the 11’s All-Star Manager managers will vote for the top 8 players. Majors managers are encouraged to gather opinions and feedback about potential all-star selections from the other coaches on their team. As above, in the event that the 11’s All-Star Manager is also a Major’s manager, he or she is only entitled to one vote. Each manager will submit an electronic ballot with ranking order and the ballot will be “open” to the other Majors managers and the President. These selections may include any player in the entire all-star pool (not already selected) that qualifies under Little League rules for the team. Where ranked choice voting does not settle any ties, the President will resolve all ties at his or her discretion.
The 11’s Team All-Star Manager will select the last 4-6 players or defer all or part of the selection to the Majors managers. This part of the selection process is considered confidential. The last 4-6 players selected may not be younger than league age 11.
10’s Team
The Majors and AAA managers and the 10’s All-Star Team manager will vote for the top 8 players. Majors managers are encouraged to gather opinions and feedback about potential all-star selections from the other coaches on their team. The same “1-person, 1 vote” rule applies as above. Each manager will submit an electronic ballot with ranking order and the ballot will be “open” to the other Majors managers and the President. These selections may include any player in the entire all-star pool (not already selected) that qualifies under Little League rules for the team. Where ranked choice voting does not settle any ties, the President will resolve all ties at his or her discretion.
The 10’s Team All-Star Manager will select the last 4-6 players or defer all or part of the selection to the Majors managers. This part of the selection process is considered confidential.
Age Issues
Any time a player is selected to play on a team at any level above their league age, the player and the players’ parents may decline the opportunity to “play up” and opt to play on their league age all-star team and the league will accommodate that decision.
If one or more league-age 11 players is selected to play on the 12’s team and will be rostered on the 12’s team, the 11’s team must be composed only of league-age 11 players.