NCSP Lil Sluggers Program
North County Soccer Park’s Lil Sluggers is a non-competitive, instructional baseball program created to introduce children ages 2.5 to 6 years old to the games of baseball and softball. Lil Sluggers classes develop important baseball skills such as hitting, throwing, catching, base running, and even sliding (3 to 6-year-olds only). Developmentally appropriate equipment and games are used to teach your child the game of baseball in a fun, exciting, and positive environment.
6 to 1 child/coach ratio. Four different class levels offered: Mascots (2.5- to 3.5-year-olds); Minors (3-year-olds); Majors (4-year-olds); and Hall of Famers (5- and 6-year-olds). Scroll down for a detailed description of each class level.
- Twelve (12) classes per session (one class per week). Lil Sluggers t-shirt and award medal included.
- Trained coaches use a weekly curriculum but have the flexibility and experience to tailor the instruction for each specific class.
- All Classes are held at either the North County Soccer Park in Poway or Escondido Sports Center.
Jon Martin, Director of Poway and Escondido Lil Sluggers, or an NCSP Manager is available by phone at 858-748-4260 to answer any general questions you may have regarding the best class level for your child. We look forward to having your child join the NCSP Lil Sluggers Program!
Class Locations & Schedules
North County Soccer Park
Poway
Winter Session
December 6th – March 13th
No classes: December 20th – January 2nd
- Mask Expectations: Coaches will be wearing masks at all times. Players are not required to wear masks. All spectators are required to wear masks whether indoors or outdoors.
- Thorough Sanitization Efforts: Dedicated staff use a child-safe, CDC recommended disinfectant to clean all equipment, commonly used areas and touched surfaces at the facility before, in between, and after classes. This ensure cleanliness and no possible COVID-19 contraction from any items or surfaces.
- New Check-In Model: Parents will check-in players to their coach at a designated area on the grass field, and will be walked onto the field with their team to avoid bottlenecks and traffic jams.
- Smaller Class Sizes: Class maximum is 8 children, down from 14 to create more space in class for play and distancing.
- Spectator Limits: We ask that only 1 Parent per Child attend class to keep the amount of people at our facility at a minimum and allow for more space.
- 10 Extra Minutes Between Classes: A 20 minute buffer between classes allow for us to completely clean the facility and have the previous class hour completely gone before the new class hour arrives. This will help minimize traffic and congestion, and allow for total cleanliness of grounds.
- Modified Curriculum: Curriculum will have a new focus on personal space and hygiene to help children adjust to the new normal.
- Parent/Child Classes on Grass Field: Parent/Child classes have moved from the Stadium to the outdoor grass area. This leaves more space for play for Parent/Child classes which usually have more people on the field. It also frees up all classes on the Stadium field to each have their own quadrant and allow for more space.
Class Descriptions
Mascots
The Mascots curriculum is designed to have the children begin their baseball experience in a fun and safe environment that also introduces simple basics of the game.
Objectives:
-Simple base running and base recognition
-Hitting; holding the bat properly, focusing on making contact with the ball off of a tee
-Throwing; in an overhand motion
-Fielding; with emphasis on using two hands and not falling down
-Fitness and agility
-Improved hand-eye coordination
-An introduction to social skills such as following simple instructions, taking turns, and interacting with the Lil Sluggers coach
Minors
Objectives:
-Simple base running and base recognition
-Hitting; focusing on proper stance and level swing to make contact with the ball off the tee
-Throwing; point, step, and throw with proper motion and aim
-Fielding; with emphasis on using two hands, staying in front of the ball, and not falling down
-Improved hand-eye coordination
-Fitness and agility
-Advancement of social skills such as following instructions, taking turns, learning to interact with the coach, and teamwork.
Majors
The Lil Sluggers Majors class is an introductory baseball class for 4-year-olds. The children improve on the fundamentals of baseball in a fun, non-competitive environment with a trained coach. The Majors curriculum includes more technical instruction and some game situations using small-sided scrimmages.
Objectives:
-Proper base running and sliding techniques
-Hitting; focusing on proper stance, level swing, and follow through off the tee
-introduce hitting from a pitch
-Throwing; point, step, and throw with proper motion for distance and accuracy
-Fielding; with emphasis on using two hands, staying in front of the ball
-Catching pop flies with two hands
-Fitness and agility
Hall Of Famers
The Hall of Famers curriculum is designed to have the children continue improving their fundamentals skills while preparing them for their next level of participation, organized tee-ball.
Objectives:
-Base recognition and proper base running techniques
-Five steps of hitting with focus on proper form including full swing and hip rotation
-Correct throwing mechanics emphasizing accuracy and distance
-Proper fielding technique, keeping their body in front of the ball
-Using the baseball glove for fielding of line drives and pop fly catches
-Teamwork
-Game situations
-Fitness and agility