What is the relationship between the Recreation Department and RYAA?
When was RYAA formed?
Is RYAA a Chartered Little League?
When does the season start and end?
What does the league provide?
How often do the kids practice?
What night do they play?
Where are the games played?
Are there mandatory play requirements?
What are tryouts?
What is the annual fundraiser?

What is the relationship between the Recreation Department and RYAA?
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RYAA is a separate organization from the Raymond Recreation Department. It is a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation, registered with the State of New Hampshire. Although RYAA and the Recreation Department are separate, both organizations work cooperatively to foster the youth athletics in the town. The Recreation Department assists RYAA with general administrative and field maintenance work. All other operating costs of Little League and Babe Ruth, including insurance, equipment, league fees and capital improvements, are funded through registration fees, RYAA fundraisers, concession stand operations and the generosity of sponsors.

When was RYAA formed?
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The original founders drafted and presented the Constitution and Minutes of Organization of RYAA at its first official meeting of the incorporators on Nov. 21, 1977. The State of New Hampshire soon after issued the organization's charitable non-profit seal on April 21, 1978.

Is RYAA a Chartered Little League?
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RYAA is an auxiliary member of the Lamprey River Little League. Lamprey River Little League consists of the New Hampshire towns of Candia, Deerfield, Nottingham, and Raymond. Each town manages its own youth association: RYAA in Raymond; CYAA in Candia; Deerfield Youth Baseball in Deerfield; and Nottingham Youth Association in Nottingham. All auxiliary organizations combine to form the Lamprey River Little League.

RYAA is also an auxiliary member of Lamprey River Baseball Babe Ruth. The Lamprey River Babe Ruth Baseball League, the group for 13-15 year old players, consists of New Hampshire towns of Candia, Deerfield, Raymond, Chester, Brentwood, Epping, Danville, and Fremont.

Assuming that there are enough players to field a team(s), RYAA also offers a Babe Ruth Baseball program exclusively for 13 year olds and (eligible 12 year olds). In this program, the 13 year old prep team competes against other 13 year old prep teams in the Seacoast area. This program allows player transitioning from small to big diamond to compete among players of the same age.

RYAA is also offers Babe Ruth Softball for girls 8 to 17 years old (if you are 16 on January 1 you are eligible to play) to be able to play softball in U10, U12, U14 and U16 programs

When does the season start and end?
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The opening day for the Little League regular season for all divisions is tentatively scheduled for first Saturday in May. The season will run through about the 2nd week in July. If your child is chosen to participate in one of our All-Star teams, then those teams will have tournaments and practices through the 2nd week of August.

All-Stars from Major Little League Baseball are selected by the coaches in Lamprey River Little League (includes coaches from other participating towns of Candia, Deerfield and Nottingham) near the conclusion of the regular season.

Lamprey River LL also conducts tryouts in June for the Jimmy Fund tournament teams which are for 9 and 10 year old players and 11 year old players. The purpose of the Jimmy Fund Tournament is to provide competitive baseball while at the same time raising money to benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Center.

The season for Babe Ruth Softball U10 and U12 programs is tentatively scheduled for first Saturday in May.  The season will run through the second week in July.  If your child is chosen to participate in one of our All-Star teams, then those teams will have tournaments and practices through the 2nd week of August.

The season for Babe Ruth Baseball 13-15 division begins mid-April and ends mid-June. The 13-15 division plays a 17 game schedule for all who tryout and make the team(s).

The season for Babe Ruth Baseball 13-year old prep starts mid-May and ends the last week of June.

The Babe Ruth Softball U14 and U16 programs will not begin until first week in June. This eliminates any conflicts for those of you playing at the high school level. The U14 and U16 teams will be playing a minimum of 10 regular season games for all who tryout and make the team(s). Our schedule will include teams from all over the state, not just Candia, Deerfield and Nottingham.

What does the league provide?
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RYAA supplies the uniform shirt, hat and socks and all catchers' equipment and batting helmets, umpires, and equipment needed for a safe and fun game. Players are required to provide their own shoes, glove, white baseball pants [black shorts - softball) and glove.

If you have not turned in your uniform shirt from last year, we request that you notify drop off the uniform as soon as possible at the Raymond Recreation Office.

If a player has his/her own bat that is Little League/Babe Ruth approved for that level of play (stamped with LL/BR seal), he or she may use it.

How often do the kids practice?
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That is up to each coach. Practices will begin immediately after tryouts (indoor and outdoors).

What night do they play?
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That depends upon the league of play, but all leagues generally play on Saturday. Although subject to change, weekday games for each Little League of play were historically played on the following days:

Babe Ruth Softball U10 and U12: Varies;

Major Baseball: Tuesday or Thursday (generally, one weekday game, but no more than two);

Minor Baseball: Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday (generally, one weekday game, but no more than two);

Farm Baseball: Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday (generally, one weekday game, but no more than two);

Rookie (Tee Ball): Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday (only one weekday game).

Fridays are left open to reschedule make-up games for league play above Rookie level.

Officials from Lamprey River Little League prepare the final 2008 game schedules -- these schedules will be available for distribution sometime during the last week of April.

Where are the games played?
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The Raymond Softball teams U10, U12, U14 and U16 generally play home games at softball diamond (stone dust infield) at the Rt. 107 Welch Field. They also travel to play away games in the surrounding towns of Candia, Deerfield, and Nottingham as well as other surrounding towns in the state.

The Raymond LL Major, Minor and Farm Baseball teams generally play home games at two fenced little league baseball diamonds at the Cammett Complex (Onway Lake Road). They also travel to play away games in the surrounding towns of Candia, Deerfield, and Nottingham.

The Babe Ruth Baseball team(s) (13-15) plays home games at the Babe Ruth diamond at Rt. 107 Welch Field. They play several away games in the participating towns in the Lamprey River or Seacoast Babe Ruth League.

The Raymond Rookie teams only play within the town of Raymond. The Rookie/Tee Ball field is located at the Rt 107 Welch Field.

Are there mandatory play requirements?
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There is a minimum that each player who attends a game is required to play. In LL Major Baseball, every player on a team roster will participate in each game for a minimum of six defensive outs and bat at least one time. In other divisions, all players are put in the batting order and there is free substitution.

In the Babe Ruth Baseball (13-15 year olds) and Softball (U14 and U16) divisions, there is no minimum play rule; however, it is the mission and objective of RYAA and coaches to make sure that all players have an opportunity to play in each game.

What are tryouts?
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Little League tryouts are really player evaluations. Tryouts are scheduled in the last week in March or first week in April - each player will be called as to the exact time and location for his/her age group. Player evaluations are held so that teams can be balanced. Managers and board members observe the players so that teams can be selected with a good mix of pitchers, fielders, and hitters.

Shortly following the tryouts, Raymond Youth Athletic Association conducts drafts at the Major League Baseball and U12 Softball divisions only. The coaches prior to the start of the season draft players. Minor League coaches conduct a "blind" draft whereby players of equal evaluations are selected randomly and placed on teams. T-Ball, Instructional and Farm division players are assigned to teams randomly. You will be notified of team assignment soon after the tryouts.

What is the annual fundraiser?
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RYAA is a non-profit, self-supporting organization. The League fundraisers are just one of the ways that we raise money to help purchase the proper equipment (balls, bats, uniforms, hats etc.) and insurance for the children of our league. Without these fundraising events this league would not be able to operate. Each family is required to participate in the annual fundraisers. More information will be provided in fundraiser letter.