Minor AAA division is the second "Upper Division". Upper division kids tryout for placement to a team. Kids drafted to a team at this level are making bigger throws, hitting harder, and facing better pitching and competition. Scores are recorded at this level and teams participate in an end of year city tournament. Kids who play in AAA are eligible for post-season teams (All-Stars, Renegades, and Hooligans).

Having fun while playing baseball is still the most important aspect of the Minor AAA division. The CCLL wants each player excited about playing the game and eager to return for another season.

Kids drafted to a team at this level are making bigger throws, hitting harder, and facing better pitching and competition.

Innings are three (3) outs or five (5) runs scored to retire the side, whichever comes first. The five-run limit does not apply in the last declared inning.

Batters are allowed to bunt.

Runners may steal home and may steal an extra base on a throwing/fielding error when the ball is returned to the pitcher.

Teams participate in an end of year city tournament.

Your mission as a coach is to develop each individual on the team. Winning at the expense of development is not acceptable. Below are the minimum set of skills we expect players to have by the end of the Minor AAA season.

• Master ability to always throw with the 4-seam grip
• Consistently use proper throwing mechanics: "Ready, Break, Throw" (YouTube Throwing Drill)
• Strength to throw across the diamond (e.g., Third Base to First Base)
• Strength to throw from outfield to infield

• Consistently gets into ready position
• Consistently uses proper footwork when fielding a ground ball: "Right, Left, Catch; Right, Left, Throw"
  (YouTube Video Explaining Groundball Footwork Fundamentals)
• Consistently able to field ground balls in rhythm
• Consistently able to throw to correct base
• Consistently receives a thrown ball
• Ability to catch a fly ball
• Know the fielding responsibilities on a baseball diamond
• Know backup responsibilities on the baseball diamond
• Know cutoff responsibilities on the baseball diamond
• Ability to anticipate the next play (i.e., before the pitch, know where you should go with the ball if it is hit to you)
• Understanding of situational defense

• Consistently uses proper hitting fundamentals to hit a pitched ball
• Does not throw the bat
• Ability to recognize a strike zone
• Ability to avoid a bad pitch or how to get hit by a bad pitch safely
• Learning to bunt a baseball (directional bunting and situational bunting)

• Consistently runs through 1st base
• Consistently uses ready position on the base (one foot on, one foot off)
• Consistently gets a legal secondary lead
• Knows situational running (e.g., to tag up on caught fly balls or line drives, running on a force, always running with two outs)
• Ability to steal a base on a pitch and know when foot can leave the base on the pitch
• Ability to consistently slide feet first into a base
• Consistently get a secondary lead on the basepath every pitch

• Consistently use proper pitching fundamentals
• Mastery of a 4-seam fastball
• Learning a changeup
• Consistently cover first base on appropriate plays
• Consistently cover home plate on passed ball with runner on third base

• Learning different catcher stances (e.g., primary position and secondary position for when runners are on base)
• Ability to setup in the catcher stance (e.g., appropriate distance from the batter, do not reach into swing patch, and keep throwing hand out of harms way)
• Learning to give pitch signs
• Consistent fundamentals to block a bad pitch
• Ability to recognize a runner stealing a base and make appropriate throw

• How to be a good teammate (e.g., Do not laugh at others when a mistake is made; encourage each other; be patient while others are learning)
• Able to handle adversity (baseball can be hard and the results of the play won't always go your way)
• Know dugout etiquette (e.g., Cheer for your team; do not jeer at the other team; know your spot in the lineup and be ready for your turn at bat, batter in the hole retrieves the bat)
• Know situational calls like batter interference and catcher interference and how to avoid those calls

Practice is necessary to develop players' skills. Coaches should hold one or more practices a week throughout the season in addition to games.

At this level, appropriate practice duration is 60-90 minutes. Below are practice plan templates to help you have a fun and productive practice.

• CCLL Practice Plan Template - Minor AA, Minor AAA, and Majors divisions