All Star Selection Policy and Basic Overview-Spring 2026
As a league, Bulverde Little League strives to make sure that the regular season offers as much opportunity to play and experience baseball and softball as possible. The League implements numerous local rules to make for a more enjoyable playing experience for ALL players. Our League has many different playing levels, each geared to accommodate players based on their age and ability of play. The All-Star Season is a completely separate season from the regular season. It is an opportunity for a significantly higher level of play within the regional Little League system. Players will have a significantly higher level of commitment, and will receive a higher level instruction, and will compete against other All-Star teams.
When it comes to All-Star teams, it is the intent of the Bulverde Little League Board to field a team that will best represent our league in competition and character. Bulverde Little League believes that it is important to include the players themselves in the selection process and that the process be transparent and fair to all kids. All baseball and softball players need to have an opportunity as well as to make the team regardless of popularity, school affiliation, parental influence, or manager prejudice. For those that are not selected for the team the details regarding their candidacy shall be held in the strictest of confidence and remain private. All selection decisions regarding All-Star teams need to be made with these Board approved ideals in mind. Several characteristics permeate our selection process for players and managers for the All-Star team. These include: Skill-level and ability to compete, attitude, hustle, team spirit, team leadership, and overall character, integrity, and sportsmanship. Winning is fun, but it is very important that we remember that Little League is a Child Development Program and that we are about teaching life lessons, building and demonstrating positive ideals, and characteristics that we hope for all our children.
General Selection Process and Procedure Timing:
The All-Star team CANNOT be announced at any earlier date than is prescribed by Little League Rules each year. The All-Star practices typically begin in mid-May. Practices can begin immediately upon team announcement and usually run 2 hours per day and can be (this is at the discretion of the manager) 5-7 days a week. The All-Star Tournaments begin in mid-June. If a team were to win the District All-Star Tournament, the team would then move on to Sectionals and potentially State playing into early July. The older teams also have a regional tournament and the Little League World Series that will take place in early to late August should they advance that far.
Player and Parent Commitments:
Each interested player will submit their name for consideration by completing the All-Star Commitment Form. BLL is striving to field the most competitive All-Star team possible and assure that it is comprised of players and managers/coaches that represent the attitude and character we desire. With this in mind, BLL wishes to involve only parents and players who are committed to the hard work and practice time that is required to participate at this level of competition. The player and parent commitment to All-Stars must be a solid commitment. Tournament Players must bear in mind that their first commitment is to the BLL team before any other non-Little League team or to any other sports events during the All-Star Season.
Number of Players:
Each All-Star team representing the BLL will consist of 12 players. The BLL All-Star Manager has the discretion of choosing a 13th or 14th player which is eligible for the team. Additionally, the All-Star Manager shall appoint a new player should the team need to replace a player due to injury, lack of commitment, ineligibility, or other unforeseen circumstance. Per Little League rules, some players may be eligible for multiple teams, however, an individual may only be selected or allowed to practice with one All Star team.
Managers are chosen based on demonstrated skills in organization, sportsmanship and overall understanding of Little League rules and procedures. Manager selection is in no way related to regular season team success.
Teams and age groups:
Baseball:
· Little League Team: The "Major’s All-Star" Team will be made up of players who are league age 10 to 12 and who played in the BLL Majors division during the regular season.
· 9-11 year-old Team: The 9- 11 year-old All-Star team will be made up of players who are league age 9 to 11 and played in the BLL Majors OR Minors division during the regular season.
· 8-10 year-old Team: The 8-10-year-old All-Star team will be made up of players who are league age 8 to 10 and played in the BLL Majors OR Minors division during the regular season.
Softball:
· Little League Team: The "Major’s All-Star" Team will be made up of players who are league age 10 to 12 and who played in the BLL Majors division during the regular season.
· 9-11 year-old Team: The 10- 11 year-old All-Star team will be made up of players who are league age 10 or 11 and played in the BLL Majors OR Minors division during the regular season.
· 8-10 year-old team: The 10- year-old All-Star team will be made up of players who are 9 or 10 years of age who played in the BLL Majors OR Minors division during the regular season.
All-Star Player Selection Process:
The process for selecting All-Star Teams will multiple steps. The recommended team must be approved by the BLL Board and submitted to the District.
Try Outs:
The Board has chosen to conduct a try out/skills assessment on May 8th for softball. Attendance is not required to be selected to the team but will be highly encouraged for those players that receive invites.
Final team configurations:
The selection committee (Made up of League President, League VP of Softball, League VP of Baseball, Deputy VP of Softball, Deputy VP of Baseball, League Player Agent and multiple coaches from each division) will meet together to review notes and evaluations from the All Star tryouts. At this meeting, committee members will vote by confidential ballot, one player slot at a time, until the first 9 players are chosen for the team, players must receive a 2/3rds majority to be included. The 10th-12th players are directly selected by the approved All Star Manager.
Players are evaluated on multiple criteria including the player’s performance, attitude, sportsmanship and teamwork. The team is completed on the basis of these criteria and on the needs of the All-Star Team (i.e. will there be an adequate number of catchers and pitchers as well as other key positions). Once the managers have completed their deliberations and the final recommended slate of players for each team is submitted to the Board and President for final approval. The BLL President (or Board Representative) shall be involved in the manager deliberations and shall make the final decision to accept the manager recommended roster on behalf of the BLL Board, unless the President feels that there is sufficient enough reason to call for a Board meeting to resolve an issue.
Confidentiality and Oversight:
The process and meetings are facilitated by the League President and assisted by the Player Agent. The selection results (number of votes, selection order, etc.) and Manager Deliberations about the prospective players are strictly confidential.
Player notification:
The All-Star Team manager is asked to notify all team members as promptly as possible on May 15th. Managers of players not chosen will notify those players as soon as possible following the May 15th announcement of the roster.
Manager selection criteria and eligibility, per little league rules:
· All-Star Managers shall be a Manager or Coach during the regular season for the level they wish to manage.
· Any regular season Manager or Coach may “manage down” and manage an All Star team at a lower level but managers may not “manage up” into a higher division or age group.
· A manager or coach that has participated in another youth baseball and softball league may be eliminated from All Star participation if their participation in the other league is deemed “detrimental” to league operations. After the Manager vote and other input are received, the BLL board shall hold a meeting to discuss the manager candidates and discuss the President’s findings and act upon the President’s recommendation to the Board. The President shall seek proxies from all board members not able to attend and those with direct conflicts in the decision shall be excused. Should the board not be able to reach a consensus, the league President shall seek counsel from the district administrator and make the final determination on the Manager for each team.
· The manager is allowed to choose the 2 coaches after the players have been selected, provided that each person is a rostered manager or coach during the regular season for the selected level (or above) and meets all other eligibility requirements.