7/8U Fall 2024 Academy
2023 Peninsula Rays Fall Baseball Academy Information
Peninsula Rays Fall Baseball Academy will be held from early September through mid-October 2024 with instructional clinics for rising 7- and 8-year-old USSSA players. Led by experienced Peninsula Rays coaches, the Academy is designed for aspiring young ball players that want to work on developing a solid foundation of baseball fundamentals, e.g., proper throwing and catching techniques, approach to fielding ground balls and fly balls, hitting basics, and an introduction into travel baseball.
The Academy program typically runs for 10 session clinics across 5-6 weeks. We will group kids accordingly by age and ability.
Eligible players for the Academy are rising 7- and 8-year-olds according to USSSA guidelines for the 2025 spring season.
- Rising 7-year-old players have birthdays between May 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018.
- Rising 8-year-old players have birthdays between May 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017.
Rays Academy is a great way for players to get introduced to the Club in a fun, stress-free learning environment. We look forward to seeing you and your athletes this Fall.
Schedule:
September through mid-October, 2024
Requirements
All Players who meet the requirements below are invited to attend the 2024 Rays Baseball Academy.
1) Age: Player's birthday must be between May 1, 2016 to April 30, 2018
2) Cost: $250.00 (Includes: Insurance coverage for participants, practice shirt, practice hat, and training sessions)
3) Player Skill Requirements:
| 7 Year Olds in the 2025 Baseball Season |
8 Year Olds in the 2025 Baseball Season |
| Can hit one out of four overhand pitches from a coach. | Should be able to throw the ball from second base to first base in the air but not always accurately. |
| Shows lower body movement (weight shift or step) with the swing. | Should be able to catch balls thrown to them with 50% success, high or low. |
| Can field a ground ball showing proper technique. | Should be able to catch pop-ups in the infield if right at them. |
| Can understand and practice the concepts of catching a ball above or below the waist (thumb to thumb, pinky to pinky). | Should understand basic baserunning concepts no longer playing station to station. |
| Knows infield and outfield positions by name. | Should hit at least 75% of pitches from the coach. |
| Will listen to the directions of base coaches (run through, make a turn, go to second, etc.). | Should lose any inappropriate fear of the baseball |
| Assumes "baseball ready" stance on every pitch (or at least will upon reminder) | Should understand the basics of when to tag the runner and when there is a force out. |
| Can throw the ball using the "scarecrow" technique keeping the elbow above the shoulder during acceleration. No more of the tee-ball push that looks like a shot-put throw. | The basics of the baseball swing should be well established including lower body movement, hip pivot, and follow through. |
Rays Competitive Teams(s) Overview
The Rays 8U Division usually consists of two teams. The Rays Red team will primarily be 8-year-old players while the Rays Blue Team will be made up of a combination of 7- and 8-year-olds. Each team will consist of approximately 12 players for the summer/fall season. Both teams will register in local tournaments ranging from South San Francisco to Santa Cruz and will be playing 3-5 games per tournament against other local club and Little League teams. During the summer months of May through early August, teams will enter between 4-6 tournaments for the season.
In early spring (usually March) each year, the Rays Baseball Club holds formal tryouts for nearly all their age groups including 8U. Once the rosters are set, there will be 1-2 practices a week leading up to the tournament season.
