Tee – Ball/Baseball for a 6-year-old
Hi there, I’m looking for a Tee-Ball or Little League recommendation for my 6-year-old. This would be his first time playing, so a less competitive league would be better. I tried NollSoll (North Oakland / South Oakland Little League), but getting on the wait list was the best I could do. I’d appreciate any tips for leagues in Oakland or nearby East Bay cities.
Thank you and Happy New Year!
Jan 1, 2024
Parent Replies
Disclaimer: this answer is based on pre-COVID experience. Maybe everything has changed though it seems unlikely.
Youth baseball in Oakland is segregated. Black and Brown less privileged kids play on Babe Ruth teams. White and privileged kids play in the NollSoll league. I was blown away when I discovered this. I recall that initially signing my son up for Babe Ruth was less bureacratic and more about connecting with the right person (at some point I went to a park during certain hours - although I read that that person has retired). Babe Ruth teams don't do email parent communication - they texted and now may use what's app or the equivalent. NOLL/SOLL was a torrent of emails. NOLL/SOLL assigned you to a team and you couldn't change if the practice schedule was unworkable for you.
I think everything is less competitive for 6-year-olds - they're all pretty much first-time players even if they've played before. Culturally, Babe Ruth is more honest - kids get yelled at sometimes for goofing off (by their parent, maybe the coach depending on style). NOLL/SOLL was so supportive that I used to joke that a blind man wouldn't be able to tell what the play was based on the parental cheering.