Season Play
To be eligible to play in a particular age category, a player's age that they turn during the current calendar year is the age division that they participate in. (e.g. a player who turns 8 in October of this calendar year will register for 9U rookie ball)
7U Minor Rookie Ball
9U Rookie Ball
11U Mosquito
13U Peewee/Peewee Girls
15U Bantam
18U Midget
21U Junior
Senior
WOBA Programs
The WOBA offers various graduated levels of baseball for kids of all ages and caliber to enjoy. These programs are run by volunteers at a reasonable cost and make it affordable so that everyone can participate.
◊ Many local centers have implemented either the Blue Jays or Baseball Canada’s Rally Cap program. This teaches the young beginner the very basics of baseball in action packed, loads of fun sessions. Proper ball grip, throwing technique, batting stances and even learning how to slide are taught by knowledgeable volunteers.
◊ WOBA’s 7U program is currently run for the youngest ball players. This program focuses on FUN and development. Kids learn the game with the use of a pitching machine and develop skills at the Minor Rookie age division in a semi competitive setting. A year end FUN tournament in August celebrates their accomplishments.
◊ The 9U Major Rookie program is divided into multi tiers to provide local associations a level of competition best suited for their young players. Tier 1, being the most competitive, is ideal for the more skillfully developed players that a local may have. Players continue to develop and sharpen their skills in all of the divisions, while enjoying a competitive atmosphere geared for their skill-sets. Some of the Tier 1 Major Rookie teams roster with Baseball Ontario and play at additional OBA or Select tournaments throughout the summer. All 9U programs have a year-end tournament in August.
◊ Every player who registers to play baseball in WOBA participates in League play. This requirement facilitates repetition play, especially for players looking to play Rep level competition. Players who play league may tryout for their local OBA Rep or Select team. If their local Centre does not have a Rep or Select team they may try out for a Rep or Select team in another nearby local within the WOBA. OBA Rep and Select have their Provincial year end championships on Labor Day weekend.
◊ Select baseball is a program for competitive teams that also travel to tournaments but do not roster Rep. This program is as equally competitive. The territorial boundaries of Select are different from that of Rep, thus why some locals prefer to roster Select. Some locals roster their second travel tournament team Select so to continue to provide competitive play at the caliber best suited for their players. Select also has their own Provincial year end championships on Labor Day weekend.
◊ The WOBA 'Bulls' Program is ideal for ball players looking for a higher caliber and more competitive level of baseball in addition to their local rep teams. Players must conform to player eligibility in order to participate and play on this team. This enrichment program does not not play a set league schedule but rather is a tournament only team playing at ‘AA’ and ‘AAA’ tournaments during the summer. Chris Taylor is the Bulls GM and can be contacted via the Bulls website www.wobabulls.com
◊ Every other year the WOBA has tryouts for a 15U Bantam team that participates at the Ontario Summer Games. Next set of Games will be held at London in August 2020. Information regarding tryouts will be posted on the WOBA’s website www.wobabaseball.ca.
◊ Local centers also provide winter-ball programs, inter-squad rookie house-league, baseball camps, coaching clinics and invitational tournaments for various age groups. Contact your local executive for details.
◊ The WOBA now offers opportunity for its players to try out for the London Badgers 'AAA' program. These teams play a full league schedule and participate in tournaments in Ontario and the US. WOBA, LDBA and the London Badgers have a Memorandum of Understanding (Click here for more general info) whereby WOBA players may try out for the Badgers without a release. Click here to access the London Badgers website.
◊ The WOBA is a member of EBLO (Elite Baseball League of Ontario) which offers opportunity for its players to try out for teams whose organizations are members of as well. Click here for more general info. These teams play a full league schedule in the Elite league and participate in tournaments in Ontario and the US. Tryouts have a specified timeline beginning in August. If a WOBA player is selected for an EBLO team, during the EBLO's specified window for tryouts, a release is automatically provided. Click here to access the EBLO website for information pertaining to participating organizations, tryout information and schedules.