Unfortunately, it is not always the best players that make the all stars. IT should be but it's usually determined by a lot of things but first and foremost the following apply. You have usually two coaches per team. This usually allows for two spots automatically filled. Secondly, remove any local home town politics and local business owners with pull. That usually accounts for about 4 players. Unfortunately, now the coaches have a couple of friends that will place their friends players and/or the team assistants children. So now we have 2 coaches kids, 4 political kids, This usually accounts for 2-4 more kids. Now you have to look and see if there are any coaches on the other age groups who has players that fall in your age group., Usually this accounts for 1-2. Now grant it some of these kids should be here by talent....but most end up there by default. What this means to big picture is that ALL STARS represent Coaches Pick and who they want. At least around here that is how things seem to go. WE moved to travel ball for this very reason. I noticed someone referred you to the bylaws book. Well we never open that book it appears. The league that my son would have played on if he had been in Dixie Youth this year only had like one or two players that were by talent only. Not to say that the others do not belong because that is not the case. Obviously, if the dad coaches the chances that child is very good. Not taking anything from the kids. Most of the time they deserve to be there. But sometimes kids that deserve it more get left out. I loved Dixie Youth but it was not competitive enough for my youngest. WE attended a camp at the University of Alabama this week and it was 11 kids that were state all stars. My child by far was mentally and physically more developed to the game in play, agressive, and general understanding. That being said... the sole reason we moved up. All Stars used to be an honor and now it's become a cliche of "Coaches Kids". Might I add here this is my opinion and not that opinion of the web site I do the admin for including the players, coaches, and or parents. Solely my own ability to and speak.

Have you seen the MLB commercial... It;s more than baseball. Stop and think about it. Baseball is the only sport in which the goal or object of the game is to get back home. I don't know if you noticed and i did not until I did a baseball field graphic design for a web page..home plate is the shape of a home.  There has to be a moral value lesson in that....unfortunately, baseball offers so much in culture but the competitive nature and favorites often shadow the sport itself. The game is wonderful.

I to agree with the former poster.  Even with rules in place.  We have had our child in two little leagues and have been told by coaches in both that the players votes and coaches votes are not considered.  That coach's kids are really the team already made up.  It is sad for those who believe the bylaws are entirely followed in their organization.  It is no different than any other political arena.  Our child is now in Junior high, thank goodness.  And the second is not interested in baseball.  And we wonder why government entitiies don't follow their rules?

The kids picked the "top3" - who got to pick the rest?

It's normally not a problem picking the "top few" players (everyone agrees on them), it's the last few picks that are normally a problem.

Around here, most leagues have the kids vote for 9 or 10 and then the manager/coaches get to fill in the last few players.

Here's the thing and I learned it early.  Allstars is all about who you know and what your daddy can do.  There will be tryouts and nominations but most times they already know who they want on the team and that's who they take.  If they are forced from bylaws to do something different than what they want then they just get around it by adding another team or not choosing a certain coach.  I must say it is very disappointing to watch it all go down and sad when you think about it.

Henry we all know better.  More often than not, certain players do not belong and made the team based on politics.

Wow I am reading all these comments and I really am surprised at the negativity about politics and coaches picking their kids! I did see in my league the manager cut the assistant coaches child,,,,,, so there is some justice and some coaches do the right thing..... Also: Just a few points, When you coach a team the coaches usually have a child who is generally good, hence thats why they coach and are supporting their child's efforts and abilities. I served on the board at a league and my husband coached,,,, it is almost like another job, I like to ask the parents if they are at every practice, every game, special events, fund-raising, or do they drop the kids off, ,,, Do they see all that the parents see? Its not just games that performance shows or doesn't show!!! It is just a lot of volunteered time,, alot.... and i think we should just remember that!!. And to hear criticism over and over I think they take a lot,,,,,

I myself just always feel that people will be true to a players ability and place them as it should be..... I like to think politics are not a part of baseball, but,,,, I guess everyone doesn't live by my morals, values and standards? Also some parents out there really just have no clue of their child's abilities and are sometimes way off the mark as to where they place among other kids!!! What I have learned over time is you cannot please everyone!!!

Playball!!!!!!!! 2009 Goodluck

Sorry stealing home 9, 

  I know where you are coming from as far as trying not to gripe about volunteers.   My husband is a high school coach of 30 years.  If they pulled, what they are doing on grown ups, no problem.  But these are kids.  Yes, we go to practice yes, we never miss a game yes, we do extra practicing in the backyard.  Yes , one of the coaches told us our child was probably the best short stop in our league.  And yes my husband has coached the past two years.  We have only lived here two years.

I don't gripe about volunteer coaches.  I gripe about leagues that say this is the way we do things and then do not follow their bylaws.  Which is supposed to be what they follow to a tee.

Have you ever been involved in a PTO or PTA?  Pta is also a national organization and every one affiliated with them is supposed to follow the bylaws.  By my understanding, Little League has bylaws that they are to follow and can, if they want change aspects they want to govern locally, if they don't want to go by what is written, just change it.  Don't tell parents you follow this, send out ballots for children to vote on and then not count them in the end.

As others have itterated,  LIttle league and being on allstars has nothing to do with what kind of player you will be later in your baseball career.  Some believe select league is the way to go.  My sister is on a school board and they had the baseball coach from Rice there for the sports banquet.  His boys never played select he doesn't promote it for kids. These are all personal decisions parents make for themselves or their children.

Our child is now old enough to play pony league.  Guess what the Little league is doing ,because they do not get along with the pony league people.  They are now starting an older group.

Go Kids