Methods of Voting for Little League Baseball Allstars

Every summer, thousands of Little Leagues across the United States decide which players will participate in all-star tournaments with the hopes of making the world championships in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Choosing these players is an inexact science and allegations of cheating and/or bias for coaches' sons sometimes are made. Many leagues have gone out of their way to curtail these problems.

  1. Each Coach Gets A Vote Method

    • The most common voting method is that head coaches offer two to four players from their team. All head coaches then vote on the player nominees with the highest vote getters selected. The list of nominees is trimmed and voted on until a full roster is selected. The upside of this method is that every coach gets input.The downside is that coaches tend to favor their own players and might strike deals before to make sure certain players are picked.

    Coach's Choice

    • A second method can be best described as coach's choice, which is when the other coaches pick a starting nine through ballots and then the all-star team coach fills out the roster with the remaining players on the ballot. The upside is that it gives the all-star team coach some control over the selection process. The downside is that good players may not make the team because a coach does not believe they are needed.

    Kids' and Coaches' Pick

    • In the kids' and coaches' option, the players nominate their peers to an all-star ballot. The coaches then vote on the players to be placed on a roster in the same way they would normally vote. The upside is that the players can vote for their peers. The downside is that kids who are talented but not popular may not get selected.

    No Own Children Rule

    • Some leagues have implemented rules that prevent coaches from nominating or voting for their own children. The rest of the coaches are left to nominate those players. The upside is that it cuts down on the nepotism charges. The downside is that many coaches feel it is unfair to their children.