What is Quickball?
Quickball is a fast-paced, active, and inclusive introduction to baseball for our youngest kids, ages 3-4 (DOB 5/1/2020 to 4/30/2022) with the program and equipment specifically designed for the youngest children, for a fun and engaging learning experience focused on fundamentals like running the bases, hitting a pitched ball, catching, and throwing.
When is Quickball?
Quickball is once per week for forty-five minutes on Sunday morning at either 9 am or 10 am. Your child will be assigned to a team that plays at the same time every week. Opening day is Sunday March 30 and closing day is Sunday June 8. We play every Sunday between those dates EXCEPT for Easter (4/20) and Memorial Day weekend (5/25). You can indicate a preference for either 9 am or 10 am in the notes or comments section of registration, and while we cannot guarantee a specific time slot, we will try to honor as many requests as possible.
Where is Quickball?
We anticipate two fields -- Palumbo (10th and Fitzwater) and Markward (26th and Pine). Your child will play at the same field, at the same time, every Sunday. If you make a note in your registration, in the notes section or any comment section, we will try to honor your preference for a field or time slot. HOWEVER, we cannot guarantee a specific field or time slot. In addition, the City of Philadelphia controls our field availability. If a field we anticipate using needs construction or repair, or is otherwise unusable, we may have to utilize one of our other fields, such as Shot Tower, or Columbus Square.
What does my child need to bring to Quickball?
Nothing, other than clothes that can get dirty. No gloves or cleats are necessary or part of the program. Your child will receive his or her own Quickball bat and ball to take home, and each week will receive an All-Star Character Education card related to the lessons of the week. Your child will also receive a jersey and hat.
Can I request my child be on the same team with a friend?
Yes. We cannot guarantee that friend requests will be honored but we endeavor to grant as many as logistically possible. DO NOT indicate a friend preference on your child's profile. Coach Ned does not have access to that information -- it either needs to be in your registration in a notes/comments section, or e-mail [email protected].
What if I cannot find a note or comment section on the registration to indicate a field, time, or friend preference?
Just e-mail [email protected] with your field, time, or friend preference.
When do I need to register?
Registration is currently closed but we have a waitlist open. There are fewer than 10 slots left, and pulling children off the waitlist is dependent on having enough coaching volunteers -- the kids need your help! Please see the question below regarding volunteering as a coach.
Do we make up rainouts?
No, we cannot make up rainouts. Field space in the city is limited and it is not logistically feasible to get teams together on days other than our scheduled Sunday mornings.
How do I register?
Go to Phillydragons.com and create an account. Creating an account is free and does not obligate you to sign up for anything. Once you create an account, create a profile for your child, and then Pee Wee/Quickball will appear as an available program once registration opens. After you create an account, you will receive emails notifying you of when registration is open. Click on the link for that, and follow the prompts to register. Please make a note of friend requests, field preference, and time preference in your registration any place it is possible, such as a notes or comment section. The cost is $175.
Why should I sign up to coach Quickball?
Because your kid will be proud you are the coach of the team, it's a ton of fun, and it's a great way to make friends and be involved in your community. No coaching or baseball experience is necessary or even relevant. Commissioner Ned will hold a clinic before the season starts to walk through everything you need to know, Quickball provides easy-to-follow practice plans, and there are even reference videos for coaches. This is NOT about trying to win a little league world series, its about building community and helping kids learn to have fun in a group environment. If that appeals to you, please strongly consider signing up to coach. We particularly need “head” coaches. “Head” coach is not what you think of at older divisions, you do not really need to make any “coaching” decisions like traditional baseball, it's more like being a primary point of contact. We also honor coach requests for field, times, and friends first -- its is a necessity for team organization.
To sign up as a coach, go to www.phillydragons.com, log in with the same login credentials you used to sign-up your child. Then go to your account, and follow the volunteer tab on the left. In registration, we do require a background check for volunteers. Here are the links to the two background checks and a required training:
PA Child Abuse Clearance: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/keep-kids-safe/child-abuse-clearances/pa-child-abuse-history-clearance.html
PA Police Clearance: https://www.pa.gov/en/services/psp/request-a-criminal-history-background-check.html
The third clearance is required by Little League, and is a training session, link here:
https://www.littleleague.org/university/articles/abuse-awareness-training-course/
These do not take long, the child welfare clearance is valid for five years, and you can use these same materials to volunteer for many youth organizations (they’re even applicable to chaperone a public school field trip).
How do I contact the Commissioner with questions that are not covered here?
[email protected]