The DDMBA is a league designed for recreational play and is made up of five separate Minor Baseball Associations. The associations scheduled to play in the league for the upcoming season are Cole Harbour, Humber Park, Porters Lake, Eastern Passage, and The Diamond Dawgs (North Central, Woodside, Westphal Port Wallace, and Woodlawn). Teams in the recreational league will play within Dartmouth, Cole Harbour, and Porters Lake area.
All players from these Associations are eligible to try out for Competitive teams as well. These Associations all feed the Arrows AAA, AA and if applicable A Competitive teams that play in the Bluenose league. Competitive teams play and travel all over the Province. Associations may also host A-level, competitive teams.
COMPETITIVE vs. RECREATIONAL BASEBALL
Competitive Baseball: These teams represent (hence the term "rep") Their communities in all major tournaments in the province, Atlantic region, and Canada (if successful in the National Playdowns for our area). This is generally very competitive baseball requiring cooperation and commitment from both the players and the parents (guardians). Rep teams are ranked as triple A (AAA), Double A (AA), or A with AAA being the most competitive for the age group. Rep teams are selected by the coaching staff from a list of players in each division who registered to try out for competitive baseball. The coach's selections are generally based on several factors including, but not limited to, desire, attitude, and, various skills and abilities depending on the requirements of the team. Players who are not selected for the AAA team are then given the opportunity to try out for the AA team, and so on until all rep teams are selected. Any remaining players, after tryouts are completed, are then selected by the house league teams. The number of rep teams in each division depends on the skill level and the number of players registered to try out in each season. There is an additional fee for players registering to try out for rep baseball. There is generally team fundraising at the rep levels to offset the costs of tournaments. Arrows Fair Play policy is in effect for all "regular season" games in competitive baseball, but coaches are free to play "as required" for national playdowns, nationals, tournaments, and playoffs and provincials. All tournaments are at the expense of the individual teams.
Recreational (House League) Baseball: House league teams are comprised of players who did not register for competitive tryouts, as well as players who did tryout but were not selected for a rep team. House teams are formed after a skill rating process is conducted in an attempt to make all house league teams in each division somewhat equal in strength. They are also formed by association so “home” is close to your home field. There may be some team fundraising if teams decide to compete in tournaments. Teams may compete in district playdowns and provincial tournaments (at their own expense) but it is not required or expected, as these types of tournaments are typically very competitive by nature for this level of baseball. DDMBA house league teams generally avoid those events as we consider house leagues to be purely recreational baseball. However, teams may enter if players, coaches, and, parents are willing to do so. The DDMBA Fair Play policy is in effect for all games - regular season, tournament, and playoff games.