AAA FAQ's

AAA/MAJORS FAQ

Q. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AA AND AAA/MAJORS?

A. AA is a competitive intermediate level (usually the step up after rec baseball). AA is split into two divisions. NL (intermediate) and AL (advanced).

AAA/Majors is for the most advanced/proficient of players who have played at the AA level prior and typically play in weekend tournaments throughout the season. Most AAA teams play the AYL season along with playing tournaments offered by USSSA, Triple Crown, CABA and other tournament providers.

Q. HOW CAN MY CHILD PLAY AAA/MAJORS THROUGH RAPTORS?

A. The coaches of the AAA/Majors teams have 100% control their rosters. Roster spots are obtained by coaches’ invitation only or through a tryout. Raptors does not have the ability to place players on a competitive AAA/Majors rosters without the consent from the head coach. Team tryouts are typically held shortly after the baseball season ends (usually July - October). 

Q. WHEN AND HOW DOES AAA/MAJORS BASEBALL REGISTRATION OCCUR?

A. Team registration (no individual registration) for AAA & Majors will occur Mid-October through February. AAA Coaches will receive instructions and a registration link that they will forward to their team/players to register on the Raptors system.

Q. WHEN IS THE AAA BASEBALL SEASON?

A. Practice begin on 3/2/2026.

AAA/Majors AYL league games start the last week of March. 

C-prep (14U AAA) will conclude the week prior to Memorial Day in May.

10-13U AAA/Majors will conclude the first week of June.

8AAA and 9AAA will conclude by the end of June.

Q. WHAT IS THE COST TO PLAY AAA/MAJORS BASEBALL THROUGH RAPTORS?

A. The team cost for AAA & Majors baseball changes from year-to-year primarily based on our field provider’s adjustments in field usage fees, insurance costs and AYL league costs. Please check the AAA/Majors Information Page for per team cost. Teams must be registered and paid in full by February 2, 2026. 

Q. WHAT ALL DOES THE AAA REGISTRATION FEE COVER (AAA/Majors)?

A. The fee covers many items including but not limited to:

► League Fees such as: Team registration fees, Administrative meeting costs, Game Field permits, Game Field preparation and lighting costs, League Insurance, Umpire fees, League I.T. fees, website administration, scheduling fees, score reporting and championship trophies and rings

► Organizational fees such as: Practice field usage & permits, Practice Field lighting, evaluation days, evaluation software, organizational administration fees, website administration, practice scheduling, Practice Insurance, and Facility rental costs

► Raptors baseball operating expenses such as: bank fees, credit card fees, coaching evaluations, coaches training clinics, coaching education, background checks, administration costs, Coaching and Administrative training, Coaches concussion training

Q. DO TEAMS HAVE TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN INSURANCE?

Yes and No.

AAA/Majors teams will be covered by Raptors Insurance for any AYL or Raptors sponsored events/games/practices.

Any tournaments, games, scrimmages or optional practices that are not provided and scheduled by the Raptors organization or AYL are not covered under the Raptors team insurance.

Below is a link to affordable team insurance. (Usually about $150 per team)

Q. WHERE, WHEN AND HOW OFTEN IS PRACTICE?

A. Typically, all our practice fields are located within Castle Rock.

Teams have the option to register for zero, one or two practices per week. Teams will choose their own amount of practice they would like. This is doen because many of the teams within our AAA organization also practice at an indoor facility and we try to cater to those needs as well.

The start and end time for practices take into account the team's age, coaches work schedule and field availability. Practices are 90 minutes long and are from 5-6:30pm, 6:00-7:30PM, 7:00-8:30PM and 8:00-9:30pm. 

8-year-olds will have practices that end no later than 7:30pm (unless otherwise requested by the coach)

9 to10-year-olds will have practices that end no later than 8:30pm

11 and above can and will practice until 9:30pm. 

Older age groups will get earlier practices if the practice schedule allows.

Q. HOW MANY TEAMS WILL PRACTICE AT THE SAME TIME?

A. Raptors schedules practices on a top of the hour practice schedule. This means a team that starts at 5pm will have use of the full field until 6pm when the next team arrives for their practice. Teams will have the use of the majority of the field for up to 60 minutes of their practice. During the last 30 minutes of each teams practice, the next team will show up and get to use a small part of the outfield to warm up. Teams must be VERY AWARE of the time as we continually rotate teams onto the field at the top of every hour.

Q. HOW MANY GAMES ARE PLAYED (AAA/MAJORS LEVELS) WHERE AND WHEN ARE THEY SCHEDULED?

A. The AYL regular season generally consists 12 games, however AYL does not guarantee a minimum number of games. AYL will try to post schedules by March 15th.

All teams qualify for the post-season AYL World Series tournament. The number of tournament games that a team can play depends on how many games a team can win.

The AYL is comprised of Member Clubs in the South Metro area communities of Littleton, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Aurora, Parker, Castle Rock, Cherry Creek and South Jeffco. Games can be played at fields reserved by any of these organizations.

Regular season games are scheduled for Tuesday through Friday at either 5:30pm or 7:30pm. (8AAA and 9AAA will only play at 5:30pm)

The first regular-season games will be scheduled starting March 30, 2026.

C-Prep will conclude their season by May 22, 2026

10U-13U AAA will conclude their season by June 4, 2026

*u and 9U AAA will conclude their season by June 18, 2026

Postseason playoffs begin immediately following the conclusion of the regular season and continue with the AYL World Series tournament that is usually completed within the dates listed above.

Games may be postponed or canceled by weather, field issues or other unforeseen circumstances. . Cancelled Games are not typically rescheduled, but if the need arises they will be rescheduled ASAP and can be played on any day of the week at the discretion of the AYL Baseball Board.

Q. WHAT HAPPENS IF MY TEAM HAS TO FORFEIT A GAME?

A. Anytime a team forfeits an AYL league game, the AYL will mark the forfeit at a 10-0 loss and assess a fine for the forfeiting team ($100 for regular season, $200 for playoffs). There will also be field and umpire fees that will be assessed as well (usually an additional $200-250)

The Raptors Baseball Board will discuss the cause of the forfeit with the team coach.

If the forfeit was deemed unexcused and avoidable, then the team/families responsible for creating the forfeit will be responsible to paying the league forfeit fines and fees. Forfeits not only effect your own team, but your opponents, the umpires, the field providers and the league. 

Forfeit charges will be added to the account of those responsible for making their team forfeit. If the forfeit occurs during the regular season, those players responsible will become ineligible to play until their forfeit fines are paid. If the forfeit occurs in the playoffs, then the fines will be added to the players account and are due within 90 days. If they are not paid within 90 days, then the outstanding balance can and will be sent to collections.

Q. DOES EVERY PLAYER GET EQUAL PLAYING TIME?

A. As a competitive organization players may not receive equal play time. AYL does not set a minimum play time rule for the AAA level of play. For specific play time rule regulations please visit the baseball rules at www.aylsports.org

Should you have further questions please contact our volunteers listed below:

Collin Cacchione (Director of Baseball)   collin@raptorsathletics.org

Michael Levin (Assistant Director of Baseball)  Michael.raptorsbaseball@gmail.com