All-Stars Division

At the end of the regular season and after the end of the playoffs, the second season of Little League All-Stars begins. CNLL participates in four available levels including 8-10’s, 10-11’s, 11-12’s (Majors), and 13-14’s (Juniors) and 15 – 16’s (Seniors). Each level participates in the District Tournament with the winner of the division advancing to the State Little League Tournament. The Major’s Division can advance from the State Tournament to the Western Regional Tournament to the Little League World Series played in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and aired on ESPN, the ultimate prize!

Players 9 – 16 years of age have an opportunity to participate on CNLL’s All-Star teams. With over 1,000 players that participate in CNLL, you can imagine that the competition is stiff. Mandatory playing time for every player is still in effect. Sportsmanship, courage, respect, and character are pillars of CNLL’s All-Star teams and a “win at all costs” mentality is not tolerated.

How are All-Star Managers Chosen?

All regular season managers have an opportunity to become an All-Star manager by simply applying for the position. If two or more managers apply, a vote takes place and the manager with the most votes will be awarded the team. CNLL’s Board of Directors and other managers from within their Division can vote for the manager they feel will represent CNLL best.

How are All-Star Players Chosen?

Chandler National Little League has an open evaluation where any player that plays in the regular season has an opportunity to attend the All Star evaluation. All-Star coaches and evaluators are present during the evaluation to provide the Manager with information and feedback to help choose the players that ultimately make the team. Please note that it is not a requirement to attend the evaluation in order to be part of the All-Star team. All-Star Managers have the daunting task of choosing the final players they feel will best represent the league and give them the best opportunity to win in a tournament setting. The Board of Directors do not have any authorization on which players will make the team.

How do All-Star Managers Evaluate Players for the Team?

All-Star Managers evaluate players during the regular season as well as at the end of season evaluation. Regular season managers are the best source of information for All-Star Managers and are strongly encouraged to participate in the All-Star selection process by providing information regarding regular season statistics and the overall performance of players they feel have an opportunity to succeed during All-Stars. While the end-of-season evaluation is important in determining the players that will be chosen, even more important is how each player performed throughout the regular season. All-Star Managers are chosen early enough for them to attend several regular season games as well as the league’s playoffs to evaluate players in game situations.

By the time the end-of-season evaluation takes place, most All-Star coaches have an idea of the players they feel will fit their team and give them the best opportunity to win. Realistically, the Manager may only be looking for the final 4 or 5 players to make the team. The two to three hour evaluation gives the manager an opportunity to meet all the players they have scouted, run them through some drills, and ultimately finalize the roster.

What is the Time Commitment for All-Stars?

Managers, coaches, players, and their families have a significant time commitment to be part of an All-Star team. There is also a financial commitment that is necessary to participate. Many times, the commitment means canceling your family’s Summer vacation plans because the All-Star season could last up to 3-months. Teams begin practicing as soon as June 15th and generally teams practice 6 days a week leading up to the District Tournament. During the tournament, teams play 5 to 6 games over a two-week stretch with many games on back-to-back nights.

Teams that win the District Tournament move onto the State Tournament. Teams that move on will continue to practice up to 6 days a week leading up to the State Tournament. And more than likely, travel to the State Tournament is a strong possibility. Majors and Junior’s teams can continue to play if they win the State Tournament as their journey continues. While the All-Star season is a great and memorable experience for our children and families, there are many sacrifices along the way.