This aint no Little League anymore ...

"Progress always involves risk. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first"

North Hills Bronco:

In the winter of 2007, the NHAA re-evaluated our "Little League" Program and decided that it was not preparing the kids for the next level as much as it should be. In fact, other than the name and the ages, it wasn't much different from Minor Leagues. When the kids moved from "Little League" to Pony League, it took several games if not the entire season to adjust to the longer pitching and baserunning distances, learning how to properly lead off and steal a base, and learning the proper pitching "pick off" moves.

From one level to the next, the players were being forced to go from a 46' pitching difference to 54', and from a 60' distance between bases to an 80' This was quite a jump, and we felt this was too big of an adjustment to expect the kids to make.

Therefore, in 2008, we decided to leave "Little League" behind and adapt to Bronco League. This decision wasn't made easily, and required a complete overhaul of Bartlett Field. Through fundraising and donations, the field improvements were made and now allow the field to be transformed within minutes from Minor League pitching/baserunning distances to Bronco League. The Bronco League distances allowed us to ease the transition to that next level.

Other areas we observed the kids having problems adjusting where learning how to take leads off of bases, how to "live" steal a base, how to effectively "pick off" a baserunner and how to notice a pitcher's "pick off" move. In "Little League", much like Minor League, a runner cannot steal until the pitched ball crosses the plate, the runner cannot leave a base until the ball is hit, and there's no reason for a pitcher to ever throw to a base because the runner can't lead. Enter .. The NHAA Bronco League.

Bronco League Rules:

• Allow a runner to take a lead off a base at any time
• Allow a runner to steal a base at any time
• Allow a pitcher to throw directly to a base in an attempt to "pick off" the leading runner
• Allow the kids .. to do what they've been asking the coach to do since Tee Ball!

Expectations:

The NHAA believes strongly in keeping things simple when teaching the game of baseball and softball. With that in mind we have developed five goal areas for each of the age groups. As a coach we want to keep these five goal areas in mind every time we plan a practice. They represent the fundamental building blocks for success. The goals at one level need to be accomplished before the goals at the next level can be pursued

These are the Five Goals that we believe and you should expect your child to have achieved at the completion of the Bronco League Level:

• Learning the Basic Rules - infield fly rule; balks.
• Baserunning - leads; steals; extra-base hits.
• Pitching and Throwing Mechanics - wind-up versus stretch; four-seam grip; shuffle, throw, follow' pitcher covering first
• Hitting - repetitions; drill work (tee work, soft toss, short toss, stick-ball, lob toss, one-arm drill); bunting.
• Learning Team Fundamentals - cutoffs and relays; basic bunt defenses; basic first-and-third situations; underhand flip and double plays; defending the steal; infield and outfield communication and priorities.

It didn't take long for Bronco to take off .. literally. Soon people were "filling the hill" for Friday Night Lights to see real baseball, and the "Bronco Blast" was born!

Bronco Blast Champions

* current regular season record 

"We Put it Outta The Bart"

A season-by-season list of all Bronco Blasters

 Did YOU "put it outta The Bart"? Let us know, and we'll add it to the list!

Need a trip back in time?  Visit our Bronco League Memories