FAQ - Competitive Programs

Competitive Programs

What is Rep?

Rep is KBA’s first tier of competitive play under the Ontario Baseball Association (OBA) charter. 

KBA is a member of the National Capital Ontario Baseball Association (NCOBA), the easternmost affiliate for OBA, which also includes the Seaway Surge, Bytown Dodgers, Ottawa Whiskey Jacks, and Ottawa Valley Highlanders associations. KBA operates teams at the 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U, 13U, 14U, 15U, 16U, 18U, and 22U age categories as defined by the OBA Rep Constitution.

Participation in the Rep program comes with an increased level of commitment, travel, and cost. The Rep program is a “full year” program running from October to September.

Teams are formed in October via tryout for play in the next calendar year. Teams often meet in the fall for team building and athletic development. Indoor training begins in January with a minimum of 2 hours per week development time, generally held on weekends, and continues through to April. The playing season runs from May to August and finishes with Provincial championship tournaments in late August or early September.

During the playing season, players should expect to be on the field 3-5 times per week and on most summer weekends. Practices and home games are held within the KBA charter boundaries, but teams should expect 8-10 regular season away games with NCOBA and partners in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. In addition, teams may participate in 3-5 tournaments and weekend exhibition play requiring travel in Ontario, Quebec, and New York. All teams are expected to participate in the KBA home tournament for their age category.

KBA Rep teams are expected to classify at A or AA, and represent NCOBA, should they qualify, at the Provincial championship tournament for their age category. At most age categories, this tournament is held on Labour Day Weekend.

Rep players are responsible for purchase of their own uniforms and play at this level often requires the purchase of additional equipment. Teams are expected to fund exhibition play and tournament fees as part of team fees; these costs are often offset through profits from the KBA tournament at their age category and fundraising activities.

What is Dedicated Select?

Dedicated Select is KBA’s second tier of competitive play under the Ontario Baseball Association (OBA) charter. KBA is a member of the National Capital Ontario Baseball Association (NCOBA), the easternmost affiliate for OBA, which also includes the Seaway Surge, Bytown Dodgers, Ottawa Whiskey Jacks, and Ottawa Valley Highlanders associations. KBA operates teams at the 11U, 13U, 15U, and 18U age categories as defined by the OBA Select Constitution.

Dedicated Select differs from Select within OBA, in that there is no requirement for players on Dedicated Select teams to also play in qualifying OBA House Program. KBA operates the Rep and Dedicated Select programs in exactly the same way, all of the characteristics of the Rep Program described above apply to Dedicated Select. The primary differences between Rep and Dedicated Select are:

• Teams are formed with players born in two birth years, e.g. 15U Dedicated Select includes players who would qualify for Rep 14U and Rep 15U.
• Dedicated Select teams are eligible for play in both Dedicated Select and Select tournaments
• OBA defines some minor rule differences for Select play under their constitution; these rule changes do not impact the competitive nature of play during the game

Dedicated Select teams are formed as part of a combined tryout with the Rep program, i.e. players may be invited to join Rep or Dedicated Select team as a result of the tryout sessions in October.

What is All-Star?

All-Star is KBA’s top tier of competitive play under the Little League Canada charter offered to players aged 9 to 12. KBA operates All Star teams at the Little League Minor and Major age categories.

All-Star is a “full season” program running from May to August. Teams are formed via tryout in early May. To participate in the tryout, players must also play on a Spring Little League House team.

While playing with their regular spring House team, members of the All-Star team will meet in May and June for additional practices, exhibition play, and tournaments (typically held on weekends). The All-Star team will begin regular season play in July as part of the All-Star division in the Interlock League hosted by Little League Ontario District 2. In season, players should expect to play 2 games and practice at least once per week. Away games are generally held in the greater Ottawa area, but may be anywhere in Eastern Ontario depending on participation from other organizations. Interlock Interlock League playoffs are held in August.

The All Star team will represent KBA in the District Playdowns typically held in July. Winners of the District Playdowns have the opportunity to advance to Provincial and National Championships, and at the Major Level, the Little League World Series. The All Star team will also play in the Scott Tokessy Memorial Tournament (Kanata) and may play in additional tournaments in Ontario or Western Quebec.

Player uniforms (ballcap and jersey) are included in the registration fees and teams are provided with appropriate equipment for this level of play. All regular season play, District Playdowns, and entry to the Scott Tokessy Memorial Tournament are also covered by registration fees. Exhibition play and additional tournament entry fees are the responsibility of the team and may be offset through fundraising activities.

What is 19U GOBL?

19U GOBL is a local league hosted by the administrators of Little League Ontario Districts 2 and 6 for players aged 17 to 19. This league replaces, with local modifications, the Big League program which was canceled by Little League Canada in 2016. 

This is a competitive program which offers an opportunity to continue in baseball for players who have aged out of the Senior League. Due to the highly competitive level of play, teams are created through a tryout process held in April. Regular season play begins in May with playoffs held in August. Players should expect to play 2 games and practice at least once per week.

Player uniforms (ballcap and jersey) and all costs related to play are covered by registration fees. Teams are provided with appropriate equipment for this level of play. Travel is limited to the greater Ottawa area.

How do I know which Competitive Program my child is eligible for?

There is no prerequisite to play in any KBA competitive program. However, players must meet the age requirements for the program, noting that the definition of player age differs for programs operated under the Ontario Baseball Association and Little League Charters.

• Ontario Baseball Association age definition: The age a player will be on December 31 of the year in which games are played. E.g. a player born on February 21, 2009 would be considered 14U for the 2023 season.
• Little League Canada age definition: The age a player will be on August 31 of the year in which games are played. E.g. players born February 21, 2009 and November 6, 2009 would be considered 14 and 13, respectively, for the 2023 season.

You can use this app to explore the Competitive Program options available to your child.

What is the commitment level for Competitive Programs?

In general, Competitive Programs require a higher level of commitment than Recreational Programs with good levels of attendance at all games and practices. Competitive Programs often have games scheduled any day of the week and will have field times on most summer weekends.

• Rep and Dedicated Select - 1-2 indoor sessions per week January to August, 3-5 field times per week May to August
• All-Star and GOBL - 2 games and 1-2 practices per week May to August

What are the costs to consider when participating in Competitive Programs?

Competitive Programs are typically more expensive than Recreational Programs owing to the longer season and larger number of games and practices. Families also incur additional costs with the purchase of more advanced equipment, additional team activities, and travel. It is important to note that KBA is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. All fees go directly to the cost of operating the program, KBA does not subsidize any programs with fees from another. 

The actual cost of the program will be outlined to members prior to payment of tryout registration fees.

What are the travel requirements for Competitive Programs?

Competitive Programs tend to require more travel than Recreational Programs, although it varies considerably based on the program. Typically, competitive teams participate in a regular season loop that has participants drawn from a wider geographic region requiring same day travel which could be as much as 1.5 hours in each direction (e.g. Morrisburg or Kingston). 

Competitive teams also typically attend two to four out of town tournaments which may take place anywhere in Ontario, Quebec, or New York. Some teams may elect to have weekend travel for exhibition play.

All-Star and 19U GOBL teams play in the Greater Ottawa Area. All-Star teams may choose to attend one or more out of town tournaments requiring an overnight stay.

When are tryouts held for Competitive Programs?

All competitive teams are formed through a tryout process held per the schedule below, visit www.kanatabaseball.com to register for a tryout.

• The Rep and Dedicated Select combined tryout is held in late September to early October.
• The All-Star tryout is held in late April or early May (note players must participate on a spring Little League House team).
• The 19U GOBL tryout is held in April.

I thought Select was a House League Program in OBA?

Yes, it was. This changed in 2022. The Ontario Baseball Association now has two different programs: House League Select and Dedicated Select, both operate under the Select program definition in the OBA constitution. KBA only offers Dedicated Select, which is run as a Competitive Program.

Follow this link to learn more about the difference between House League Select and Dedicated Select.