Skills Assessments, also referred to as player evaluations, are an annual activity for all local leagues, whether a league redrafts all of its team rosters each year or only selects players to fill out rosters in their divisions, except for Tee Ball.

It is a requirement of eligibility for all player candidates to attend at least one of the tryout sessions so that managers of the Farm, AA, AAA, Majors, Intermediate, and Juniors teams can properly assess the ability of each player and give each player a proper grade based on ability. If a candidate cannot attend one of the skills assessments, and provides an excuse which is acceptable to the board of directors, the candidate may be drafted/placed on a team. If the excuse is not acceptable, the child cannot play in the league AT ANY LEVEL for that season.

All managers, nominated by the League President and approved by the league’s Board of Directors for the current season, must attend the tryout so they can assess/grade players for their own reference.

There are five recommended areas in which each candidate should be given the opportunity to (1) Batting/bunting (2) Fielding fly balls (3) Fielding ground balls (4) Throwing (5) Run in competition with children having the same league age. Each skill will be graded on a scale. Those scores would then be utilized as managers work through the draft process.

The participation in the evaluation process, and assessment of all players is contingent on each child meeting Little League’s eligibility requirements. Once a child has been graded, it is the responsibility of the team managers, the vice president of the division, and the league’s player agent to operate and assure a fair and equitable draft that follows one of Little League’s approved draft methods.