Baseball tournaments give players the chance to play multiple games in a short amount of time and they give teams the chance to prove that they are the champions. Kids can play tournaments at levels appropriate for their age group and their ability level, and kids can play tournaments close to home or far away. What factors into what tournaments kids play in is locale, age group and ability level.
Little League All-Stars
Little League baseball is played worldwide and the United States features Little League baseball in virtually every community. All-Stars tournaments are held at regional, state, national and international levels. According to Little League Online, it is advised that the players in a league should choose all the selections for the all-star team. At youth levels, there are to be no more than 14 players per team. At the Senior League level for 17-year-olds it is 16 players and the Big League level for 18-year-olds it is 17 players. Teams play at the district level in a regional area and the champions advance to the next level. Champs keep advancing until the Little League World Series.
Little League Tournament of Champions
Little League teams are formed at the local level and players are allotted to teams in each league. There is not an election process to form the teams. Whichever team wins the regular season schedule, or has the best record, advances to the Tournament of Champions for its respective district, and some districts also have berths for the second-place teams. Districts combine all leagues in a geographic area. Tournament of Champions teams do not advance past district competition, as the season ends so that all-star competition can begin.
American Legion
American Legion baseball is not affiliated with high schools or Little League, but still features a local, regional, state and national progression in its tournament structure at the end of the season. In addition to postseason tournaments, American Legion tournaments are conducted all across the nation. According to the American Legion Baseball website, there are more than 50 tournaments scheduled for June all across the nation, from Alaska to Rhode Island to South Dakota. American Legion teams often travel out of state for tournaments and often play multiple tournaments in each month.
High School
High school baseball is sanctioned in every state except Wyoming and postseason tournaments are offered at district or sectional levels. Some states also conduct state championship tournaments. High school baseball teams are composed of students from each individual school and most teams are formed after tryouts. Not every kid who signs up gets to play high school baseball. High school teams are in sanctioning organizations that also put an emphasis on personal conduct and maintaining good standing when it comes to academics.
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