Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General Information
Which Little League do we belong to?
There are currently two different Little League's in San Ramon. Depending
on where you live, your child will have to register in San Ramon or Canyon
Creek. Refer to the new boundary map to determine what league your are
in.
What levels of play are provided in Little League?
San Ramon Little League includes T-Ball, Minors, Majors, Juniors, Seniors,
and Big League Divisions for ages 5 to 18, and is divided into the following
levels of play.
T-Ball and A-Ball Programs: This is instructional baseball and game
scores are not recorded. Players in this division are typically league age
5 and 6, although SRLL allows players of this skill level up to age 7. At
this level the ball is hit from a tee.
A-Ball: Players in this division are typically league age 7 and 8.
SRLL allows players that are league age 6 to play A-Ball with completion of
1 full year of T-Ball, and the passing of a competency evaluation by the A-Ball
division director. At this level, the ball is pitched by a pitching machine
or possibly a coach.
AA: This is the first division that teams play competitively, with
players pitching, umpires, game scoring, team standings and playoffs. Players
in this division are league age 7 to 11, and are selected for teams based on
player evaluations by team managers in a player draft.
AAA: Players in this division are league age 8 to 12, and are selected
for teams based on try-outs, and player evaluations by team managers in a player
draft and by the Minors player agent. Typically, San Ramon places players that
are more skilled than those at the AA level.
Majors Program: Players in this division are League Age 11 and
12, although 10 year olds with exceptional skills may also play in the Majors
division. All players are selected for teams based on player evaluations by
team Managers in a player draft. Majors is the highest level of play in Little
League for ages 12 and under.
Juniors, Seniors, and Big League Program: Players at the Juniors
division must be league age 13 and 14, the Seniors level division must be league
age 15 and 16, and the Big League division player must be league age 17 and
18. The
Juniors play on 80' and 90' diamonds while the Seniors and Big League play
on a 90' diamond. Players are selected by team managers based on a tryout.
The most common situation is that 13 year olds coming from Majors will be drafted
in to the Junior 80's program while 2nd year 14 year olds will be drafter in
to the Junior 90's program.
How old does my child have to be in order to be eligible to play Little
League? What is League Age?
Little League baseball is for children ages 5-18 and is based on how old the
child is as of April 30th of the year they will be playing, known as "League
Age". See the Age Chart to figure out your childs "League Age"
Are
there any volunteer opportunities?
There are plenty of volunteer opportunities you can do for both your team and
for the league. At the team level, you can volunteer to coach, assistant coach,
team parent, field preparation, or be the scorekeeper for your team. At the
league level there are also many committees and events that you can participate
in including, opening day ceremonies, fundraising, league publicity, picture
day, team/league sponsorship, newsletter, fall ball, team parent orientation,
tournaments, or assisting with the league's communications efforts. By participating
in these positions, you are helping the Little League Organization to provide
the best possible playing opportunities for your child! So please sign up for
a League committee or a team position at registration. The SRLL Volunteer Participation
Form can be found in your registration packet, or you can pick one up at walk-in
registration.
Who should I contact to get more information about SRLL or to get an
answer to a specific question?
The roster of board members is posted on this website. Each board member can
answer the questions pertinent to their area of responsibility.
Who do I contact if I have a problem that needs to be resolved with
the league?
This depends on the nature of the problem or issue, as follows:
For issues regarding your Child’s selection to a particular team, please
contact the Player Agent for your division. If this does not solve the issue,
please contact the SRLL President. For issues regarding your Child’s
team, please consult with your manager first. Your next option is to consult
with the particular Division Director. If there are questions regarding league
rules and more specifically, San Ramon rules, please read through the
house rules posted on the website. We will post all of the information on this
website so as to avoid any misunderstanding or confusion. For any umpire issues,
please contact our Umpire in Chief. For any field issues, please contact
VP of League Support.
The Little League Season
What equipment does my child need to play Little League?
At minimum, your child will need a baseball glove and boys also will need to
wear an athletic supporter with a hard cup. The league will supply a team shirt
and hat. Most children will also require uniform pants, belt, bat, and (non-metal)
cleats, which the league does not provide. The league provides each team with
several batting helmets and catcher gear. Players can bring their own helmets
and catchers equipment if they choose, but are not required to furnish these
items themselves. We are working on establishing an equipment recycling program
that will allow families to utilize cleats and gloves that have been outgrown
and donated by other families (this will be on a first-come, first-served basis).
When does the season begin? How long does it last?
Little League season begins around the first of March, and lasts until about
the middle of June. Teams begin to practice around the beginning of February.
Some teams may qualify for post-season play that would extend until the end
of June, and some players may qualify for all-star or tournament teams that
would play during July. A-ball and T-ball will start somewhat later than the
other divisions.
When are practices?
Practices begin in early February and are scheduled up to 3 days per week until
the start of game play in March. Teams generally practice either Monday, Wednesday,
and Saturday, or Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Formal practices are not generally
scheduled on Friday or Sunday. The number of weekly practices is reduced in
early March to accommodate game play. T-ball and A-ball teams will practice
less frequently.
When are games played?
Games begin in early March and are generally scheduled 2 times per week; however,
there may be weeks where 1 or 3 games are scheduled. Games may be scheduled
on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, but generally not on
consecutive days. In general, no games are scheduled on Friday or Sunday, although
there may be occasional exceptions to this rule. Game play continues until
the season ends in mid-June.
Where are games played?
Games and practices are conducted on local fields here in San Ramon. SRLL works
with the City of San Ramon to secure field usage rights, and the exact fields
we are assigned may vary from year to year.
What are the differences
between Little League rules and house rules?
Little League rules are those rules to which we are strictly bound. Little
League rules are strictly adhered to at the Majors level of play. Each year
Little League publishes updated rules that are well founded in history and
are focused at every kid getting a chance to play Little League. House Rules
are those rules adopted by the San Ramon Little League Board to enhance the
game for the players. The house rules generally apply to the AAA and below
levels. An example of house rules is a continuous batting order where all the
kids attending the game bat in succession until all have batted. After all
have batted the batting order reverts to the top of the batting order. House
rules are posted on the SRLL website and are voted on each year.
Are there time limits on games?
Yes, there are time limits on all T-ball and A-ball games, and on Minors games
when it is necessary to clear the field for another game. Time limits are detailed
in the house rules for each Division. Any game can also be called due to darkness
(by the home plate umpire) in the interest of safety for the players.
Are there must-play rules? Does everyone get to play regardless of
ability?
Yes and yes. The must-play rules become less stringent at higher levels, but
all players must play in every game, regardless of ability. In general, SRLL
house rules require more play for each child than the standard Little League
rules do.
What is inter-league play?
Little League rules allow SRLL to schedule games with adjoining leagues if
this is mutually agreeable. In general SRLL will pursue inter-league play opportunities
when possible in the upper divisions. At lower levels, where the number of
teams is greater, we will probably not actively pursue inter-league play. The
extent of inter-league play may vary from year to year.
Team Formation
Can the Majors Division redraft each year?
The Majors level can redraft if approved by the SRLL Board. The redraft can
occur when there are sufficient players available at the Majors level to increase
or decrease the number of teams. Additionally, if it is felt by the board that
the teams are no longer equal in skill level that a redraft can occur. Yearly
the board will make the decision based upon number of players available at
each level of play and or number of players registering. It should be the expectation
of all players at the Majors level of play that a redraft could occur each
year.
When are teams selected? What is the process for team selection?
Upon completion of the registration process the league will determine the number
of teams to be formed within each division. This typically occurs prior to
the tryouts in December. The draft typically occurs around the end of January.
Teams
are selected, based on the criteria of their official Little League age and
their individual skills. The manager and coaches evaluate the players abilities
during the tryout process. This is an objective evaluation of the Childs
baseball skills. Four basic skills are evaluated during the tryout: throwing,
fielding, hitting and running. Throwing and fielding evaluations occur by
having each player field 3 fly balls and 3 grounders all thrown back to specific
bases. Managers will then evaluate and grade each child on basic form, ability
to track the ball and arm strength. Next, the player is given 5 balls to
hit; on the fifth ball, hit or miss, the player is instructed to run from
home to 2nd base. Managers again will evaluate the player on bat speed, swing
mechanics and ability to run the bases. Lastly, all players will be lined
up for short sprint to evaluate their overall speed.
All Manager scores are
captured and an average tryout score for each child is created by the Player
Agent. The Player Agent will use this average scoring with the managers to
create a draft structure that promotes parody among the teams at each level.
The basic objective of tryouts is to rank all the players based upon their
age and abilities so that when the teams are drafted, teams can be equally
balanced.
Can I keep my child in a lower division or
bring them up a division early?
SRLL encourages all parents to allow their children to play at a level of baseball
that compliments their age and ability levels. As such, parents request to
keep their children at a specific level will only be considered up to the A-ball
level.
At the lower division levels (e.g. T-ball, A-ball), age, experience and
Official Little League rules factor into the decision of where a child can
play. SRLL's T-ball division is typically for children of Little League age
5 and 6. However, children who are Little League age 6 and have played 1 year
of T-Ball are welcome to attend a Safety Evaluation if they would like to be
considered for the A-Ball program. This Safety Evaluation will be used as a
means of determining whether the child can safely participate at this level.
Once a child reaches Little League age eligibility for the Minors division
(AA/AAA) a tryout process is in place to determine their ability level and
a draft is in place for the purposes of distributing the talent evenly to all
teams at that level.
Can my child be placed on a team with one of their
friends?
The league will do its best to accommodate requests at the A-ball and T-ball
levels. As the skill level increases the draft selection process does not allow
this to happen (Majors, AAA and AA). When filling out the San Ramon Little
League sign up form please note the friend's name on the sheet and the league
will do the best it can.
What division does drafting begin? Why is it needed?
The basic objective of having a player draft is for all teams at a given level
to be relatively equally balanced.
Drafting begins for players who are age eligible and have the ability to play
in the Minors (AA/AAA) division. Tryouts are held for all players in the Minors AA/AAA
(Little League age 7-12) and Majors (Little League age 9-12) programs.
This
year there will be 2 separate tryouts, one for the Minors division and one
for the Majors. Only those players attending tryouts for the applicable divisions
will be eligible to participate in that division's draft. Any player, not making
a Majors team roster will automatically become eligible for the Minors. All
players who are Little League age 9 and above are guaranteed a position on
a Minors team as well.
In the event any Major's team during the regular seasons
requires a player to be added to their roster, those children who attended
the Majors tryout are to be given first choice to move up. Only after every
child in the Player Pool who attended this tryout is offered the opportunity
to move up, but declines will a team be able to select within the Minor's Player
Pool.
All parents must understand that attending the Major's tryout is declaring
your child's eligibility for the Major's Division. It is to be understood that
any player who is drafted initially or as the result of a player call up later
in the season will be expected to accept their opportunity to join a Major's
team. If a player who is drafted by a Major's team and declines, they will
immediately be placed on the Minor's waiting list. Player will then be placed
on a team only following the need for an additional player within the Minor's
Division.
How many teams are in each division, and how is that determined?
The number of teams in each division may vary from year to year, as this is
a function of how many children register, their ages, and their skill level.
Is there post-season play? How are teams selected?
Invitational Tournaments for 9 to 12 year old players start the last week of
June and run through the first week of August. The process of selecting the
all-stars at each level varies by age level. 10, 11, 12 year olds have 10 players
selected by regular season managers vote and the last 2 to 3 are picked by
the all- star manager. At the 9 year old level all of the managers from the
minors division collectively select 10 players, and the all -star manager picks
the last 2 or 3.
Managers, Coaches, and Umpires.
What is the process for selecting managers?
Managers apply to manage/coach by using our On-line registration system known
as sPortability.
At least 2 Board members (President, League Director and /or
Player Agent) interview each manager. The major focuses in the interview
are coaching background and skills, communication ability to children and
parents, and commitment.
All managers and coaches must pass a thorough background
check before managing.
A Recommended List of Managers, based on the number
of teams needed for each division, is presented to the Board for discussion
and final approval.
How many coaches can a team have?
Little League rules allow for a maximum of 3 managing/coaching personnel in
the dugout during games. Therefore, teams may have 1 Manager plus 2 Coaches
of Record, all of whom must be approved by the SRLL Board of Directors. Teams
may request to have an additional Coach of Record to serve as alternate in
the event that one of the primary coaching personnel is unavailable for a given
game.
Who umpires the games? How can I become an umpire?
At the AA, AAA, Majors, and Junior level the games are umpired by anyone interested
that is 12 years old or older, including adults. The umpires are trained prior
to league play and depending on years of experience and skill are assigned
to the various levels. The umpires are paid a fee for this work. Fans should
not be communicating (good or bad) about umpire calls. It is the responsibility
of the managers on each team to communicate with the umpires if there is an
issue. At the A-Ball and T-Ball levels, umpires are not needed since the coaches
are on the field and fill in as umpires. Volunteers are a key in making this
a successful program. If you are 12 or older and interested in being an umpire
please contact the Umpire in Chief.
Who keeps score, and how is it done?
Each team at the AA, AAA, Major, Junior, Senior, and Bigs levels is to have
a scorekeeper who is familiar with keeping score. If possible (not mandated),
the home and visitor scorekeepers should sit together. The home team scorebook
is the official scorebook. If there are any questions by the umpire or others
on the status of the game, the home scorebook is used. Score is not tracked
in T-ball or A-Ball and a scorekeeper is not required from teams at these levels.
Financial
Please explain the Little League assistance program is financial assistance
available?
SRLL's policy is that no child will ever be turned away from our program due
to a financial hardship. Please see any SRLL board member for specific needs.
Is it possible to get a refund if we change our mind about playing
in SRLL?
SRLL has a specific refund policy, which is described in the registration packet.
The amount of the refund varies depending on the date of the request.
Are fundraisers needed?
Fundraising is vital to the success of the league. Registration fees cover
only about 60% of all cost associated with running the league. The rest comes
from fundraising in one form or another.
How do I ensure I get my volunteer credit?
In general, your volunteer work will be validated by either a board member
(if associated with a board-level activity ore event such as Picture Day) or
your team's manager (for team-level roles such as Team Scorekeeper or Coaches).
The Registrar is responsible for billing all members of the league who do not
complete their volunteer commitment.
How do I sponsor a team?
There are many levels of sponsorship available, please take the time to review
and consider one of these sponsorship opportunities that is appropriate for
you. The Sponsors names will also be posted on the SRLL Leagues web site. You
can obtain a form listing levels of sponsorship, which can be completed and
mailed into SRLL headquarters along with your donation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)