• January 28 AA, AAA and Majors Time  12-3
• Feb AA, AAA and Majors Time TBA

Try outs for Juniors will be announced soon.

Bring:

Your glove

Cleats

If your child was previously on the Majors, they will be on the same team this year.

BYLAWS AND GROUND RULES

All Divisions

1. No alcoholic beverages or tobacco products are allowed at any Little League activity.  Managers, please be sure that your parents and spectators are aware of this.
2. Little League Baseball is dedicated to helping children become good citizens. Our goal is to teach Little Leaguers the value of teamwork, discipline and good sportsmanship. Profanityor any other verbal abuse will not be tolerated.
   1. All Managers/Coaches/Players and Spectators are subject to immediate ejection.  If a person is ejected, they must leave the facility immediately. (Sight & Sound)
   2. Physical Abuse- Will not be tolerated and be cause for immediate ejection.  The Board of Directors will review the matter and take action as deemed appropriate.
   3. Board Members- All Board Members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner that reflects positively upon the Board and FLL.
   4.  All disciplinary actions will be done in accordance with Little League Constitution, Article III, Section 4.
   5. No Pets/Animals permitted on any facilities utilized by FLL due to insurance policy. (Assistance Dogs Excluded as permitted by law).  This includes practices.
   6. Division Alignment (Team numbers may be adjusted depending on enrollment):

Divisions will be broken down by age as follows;

Tee Ball 5-6, AA 7-8, AAA 9-10 and Majors 11-12, Juniors 13-14-15, however, due to special circumstances and with the approval of Parents, Player Agent, and League President, a player maybe moved up or down depending on playing ability/ experience.  If an older player is moved down, it shall be due to inability and/or inexperience, not out of convenience.

1. All Managers, Coaches and Umpires MUST attend a Coaching clinic sponsored by the District Administrator or Little League Baseball, Incorporated, prior to the start of the season.
2. All Managers, Coaches and Umpires should attend the FLL sponsored First Aid/CPR clinic or provide current certification of minimum Basic First Aid and C.P.R.
3. Volunteers- Each year, All FLL volunteers MUST complete and submit a volunteer application along with copy of an approved Government Identification PRIOR to participating in any Local League activity.  This is MANDATORY    
4. Registration- Each parent/guardian must submit proper documentation recognized by Little League showing their legal residence establishing eligibility within FLL boundaries.  Registration fees will only be refunded prior to the date of ordering uniforms.
5. Disputes/Complaints- All Disputes should be sent to the Board of Directors or delivered in person to a Board Meeting.  Member bringing the Dispute/complaint shall be informed of the Board’s decision as soon as reasonable, whether in person at the meeting or in writing.
6. Protests-Any protests must be done in accordance with Green Book Policy (4.19).
7. A minimum of One Coach is required to be in the dug-out at all times with a maximum of 3.  Non Official Team personnel are not permitted in the dug-out during play.  A Team Parent does count as a coach.
8. All Players should be encouraged to participate in the FLL sponsored fundraiser.  If a parent does not wish to participate, an additional $28 opt-out shall be charged during the registration process.
9. No persons shall use FLL equipment for personal use (Non team sanctioned practices or games).

Tee Ball Division

1. There shall be no Minimum number of players required for an official game.  Coaches are permitted on the field in an advisory role to assist players.  Coaches will act as Umpires.
2. A game will consist of no more than SIX (6) innings, with no inning beginning after 1 Hour and 30 minutes.  No score shall be kept.
3. All roster players will bat, constituting a half inning.  If a batter/runner is declared out, they must leave the field of play.  Each Inning the batting order shall be reversed.  After Three (3) outs, any base runners will remain on the bases.

AA-  (Minor League Machine Pitch Division)

1. Teams may start and finish with a minimum of seven (7) players without re-scheduling.
2. If the Machine is struck by a batted ball and remains within the circle, the ball is dead and will be re-played.  If the machine is struck and the ball leaves the circle, the ball shall be considered live.  The player-pitcher will stay within a 10’ radius of the mound while the coach is pitching.  Once the Machine begins pitching to the batter, any balls missed by either the catcher or the player-pitcher shall be declared dead and no runners may advance.
3. Continuous Batting Order will be in effect.  Managers/Coaches shall rotate players from the bench to the field each and every inning.
4. Each Batter is allowed a maximum of SIX (6) pitches to hit the ball into play.  There will be NO Walks.
5. No bunting, no sliding, no stealing, and no infield-fly-rule; fielders may not block home plate to approaching runners.
6. One base on an overthrow of first or third base, runners are subject to put out.
7. Players may continue to advance while the ball is in the outfield, but are subject to the put out. The runners must stop advancing once the ball is returned to the player-pitcher in the pitching circle and has control of the ball.
8. In the event of a Machine malfunction, Coaches are permitted to pitch to their team.
9. There will be a two (2) hour time limit on games and no more than six (6) innings.
10. A runner leaving the base early will be sent back to their original base with no penalty.  If the batter hits the pitch during a declared base running violation, the play is called dead.

AAA- (Minor League Player Pitch Division)

1. There will be a two (2) hour time limit on all games, with no inning beginning after the 2hr mark.  Umpire should alert both coaches at approximately the one (1) hour and 45 minute mark.
2. Open Inning- Only If/When The start of the sixth (6) inning begins (prior to the 2hr time limit), it will be announced as the OPEN INNING, Both Teams are not restricted by the Five (5) run rule.
3. When a player is called up to Majors, the player/parent has 24 hours to advise the Player Agent on their decision to move up to Majors.  If the player declines moving up to Majors, that player will then replace the player that eventually goes to Majors.  Example: Player A plays for Team 1. Player A declines moving up to Majors.  Player B from Team 2 moves up to Majors.  Player A will then be placed on Team 2 immediately.

Major League Division

1.  Ten Run Rule- If the Ten Run Rule is in effect (4.10(e)) then it will be the losing team’s                     decision to continue/conclude the game.

2.  A Manager Must notify the Player Agent when any player misses more than 2 consecutive games for any reason.  If a player is lost from a team, the Manager Must notify the Player Agent within 24 hours, then proceed with the process of selecting a new player.                                                                                                                                                                                     

Junior League Division

No additional special rules for this division

All Star Division

1. The method for selecting Tournament Team players for all divisions will be the same as the method suggested in the Little League Baseball Tournament Rules and Guidelines for the current year.  This method will serve as a guideline.  The All-Star Staff and Board of Directors will have overall say, utilizing input from all Players, Coaches, and Managers.  The All-Star Manager will be selected by the Board and in accordance to the Green Book.  It will then be the All-Star Manager’s selection to choose a second/third Coach to assist him/her with All-Stars.

If you have not signed up your child for Little League, you may do so this Friday night.

If Your Child Has Never Played For FLL
Bring:
Proof of Residency
Birth Certificate

• January 21 AA, AAA and Majors
• January 28 Juniors  9 am 13 yr 10am 14 & 15 yrs old/Noon-3pm

Bring:

Your glove

Cleats

If your child was previously on the Majors, they will be on the same team this year. Call Tracy for questions 209 786 2846

Click here to find the latest bat information, including the 2012 Little League Baseball rules and regulations governing bats, definition of terms, the moratorium on the use of composite bats, and a series of frequently asked questions, with answers.

If there is a bat-related issue that requires an explanation the answer is just a click away.

You are encouraged to you use this resource, and refer to it often to review the latest information.

Injury Prevention

• Make sure that all team equipment has been inspected by a Little League official to ensure that it is functioning properly.
• Make sure that children do not climb on fences surrounding the playing fields.
• Check playing fields before games and practices for holes, large rocks or sticks, and anything else that may cause interference for players.
• Make sure that players warm up and stretch before practices and games.
• Make sure that your child drinks plenty of fluids not only while playing, but also throughout the day before practices and games.
• Treat minor injuries with RICE – Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.
• Post warning signs in foul ball areas.
• Enforce bike helmet laws if children are riding to/from playing facilities.
• Be sure that you have enough seatbelts for everyone in the vehicle when you are transporting players.
• Watch for signs of heat exhaustion when playing in extreme heat.
• Schedule practices before noon or in the evening to avoid the hottest hours of the day.
• Schedule multiple drink breaks during practices and games.

Inclement Weather
Be aware of threatening weather. Practices and games should be stopped immediately at the first sign of lightning and shelter should be sought immediately.

Your child’s coach should contact you via phone regarding the postponement or cancellation of games. Occasionally, the umpire is required to call a game prior to its completion. When this occurs, your child’s coach will inform you about make-up dates.

Should you encounter a tornado, seek shelter in a nearby permanent building. If not available, head for a low spot such as a ditch or ravine and cover your head. Do not seek shelter in automobiles or attempt to outrun tornadoes in your vehicle.

Stranger Danger
Teach children the dangers of talking to and accepting anything from strangers. This includes someone who may offer to play “catch” with them or to give them a ride home.

Tell children to report any stranger who approaches them. Make sure that at least one adult remains until all children have been picked up from practices and games.

Give your child a code word to use when you have someone else pick him/her up. This way your child will know not to go with a stranger who does not know your code word.

Do not put the names of players on uniforms or openly on equipment. This will prevent strangers from being able to convince children that they know them.

Cleaning Your Uniform
Most Little League uniforms are made of cotton and polyester. To remove stains caused by grass or dirt, it is important to wash your uniform as soon as possible. Gently rubbing a mix of cool water and a small amount of liquid or powdered detergent directly onto the stained area before washing will help prevent the stain from setting in.

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  • I will teach all children to play fair and do their best.
  • I will positively support all managers, coaches and players.
  • I will respect the decisions of the umpires.
  • I will praise a good effort despite the outcome of the game.

Your willingness to exchange time and effort for your child’s benefit and enjoyment is very important to the functioning of your local Little League. Cheering your daughter or son on from the stands is one important way to be involved, but we invite you to do even more by volunteering to help run your local Little League program.

Without a doubt, Little League is a family affair that gives parents and children a common ground for spending time together. Whether you are coaching the players, selling popcorn to the fans, or bringing soda for the team after the game, your family will enjoy being a part of Little League in your community. Most of all, your will appreciate the benefits of your enthusiasm and involvement in his or her activities.

When winning is kept in perspective, there is room for fun in the pursuit of victory or more accurately, the pursuit of victory is fun. With your leadership Little League can help your child learn to accept responsibilities, accept others and most of all, accept her – or himself.

Keeping Winning in Perspective

Are you able to keep winning in perspective? You might answer with a confident yes, but will you be able to do so when it is your child who is winning or losing, when your child is treated a bit roughly by someone on the other team, or when the umpire makes a judgment against your child? Parents are sometimes unprepared for the powerful emotions they experience when watching their sons and daughters compete.

One reason that parents’ emotions run to high is that they want their children to do well; it reflects on them. They also may believe that their children’s failures are their own. Parents need to realize that dreams of glory they have for their youngsters are not completely unselfish, but they are completely human. Parents who are aware of their own pride, who are even capable of being amused by their imperfections, can keep themselves well under control.
Being a Model of Good Sportsmanship

Flying off the handle at games or straining relations with the coach or other parents creates a difficult situation for your child. Just as you don’t want your daughter or son to embarrass you, don’t embarrass your Little Leaguer.

It’s no secret that kids imitate their parents. In addition, they absorb the attitudes they think lie behind their parents’ actions. As you go through the Little League season with your child, be a positive role model. How can you expect your child to develop a healthy perspective about competing and winning if you display an unhealthy one? Remember Little league is supposed to be a fun experience for your child, and one in which he or she will learn some sport skills. Winning will take care of itself.

Some parents seem to abandon good principles of child rearing when their child is participating in sports. However, just as your child’s home, school, and religious environment affect the type of person he or she will be, so does the sport environment especially when your child is young. Remember this:

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with praise, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they have to have a goal.
If children live with honesty, they learn what trust is.

Note: From “Great Projects Report,” Baltimore Bulletin of Education, 1965-1966, 42 (3).
Parents’ Checklist for Success

Here is a list of questions you should consider when your child begins playing Little league. If you can honestly answer yes to each one, you will find little trouble ahead.

• Can you share your son or daughter?This means trusting the coach to guide your child’s Little League experiences. It means accepting the coach’s authority and the fact that he or she may gain some of your child’s admiration that once was directed toward you.
• Can you admit your shortcomings?Sometimes we slip up as parents, our emotions causing us to speak before we think. We judge our child too hastily, perhaps only to learn later the child’s actions were justified. It takes character for parents to admit they made a mistake and to discuss it with their child.
• Can you accept your child’s disappointments?Sometimes being a parent means being a target for a child’s anger and frustration. Accepting your child’s disappointment also means watching your child play poorly during a game when all of his or her friends succeed, or not being embarrassed into anger when your 10-year-old breaks into tears after a failure. Keeping your frustration in check will help you guide your son or daughter through disappointments.
• Can you accept your child’s triumphs?This sound much easier than it often is. Some parents, not realizing it, may become competitive with their daughter or son, especially if the youngster receives considerable recognition. When a child plays well in a game, parents may dwell on minor mistakes, describe how an older brother or sister did even better, or boast about how they played better many years ago.
• Can you give your child some time?Some parents are very busy, even though they are interested in their child’s participation and want to encourage it. Probably the best solution is never to promise more than you can deliver. Ask about your child’s Little league experiences, and make every effort to watch at least some games during the season.
• Can you let your child make his or her own decisions?Decisions making is an essential part of young person’s development, and it is a real challenge to parents. It means offering suggestions and guidance but finally, within reasonable limits, letting the child go his or her own way. All parents have ambitions for their children, but parents must accept the fact that they cannot mold their children’s lives. Little League offers parents a minor initiation into the major process of letting go.

Throughout the guide Dr. Martens discusses your responsibilities as a Little League parent. Here we summarize the major responsibilities for you to review.

Parents Responsibilities

1. Let your child choose to play Little League and to quit if he or she does not enjoy baseball or softball. Encourage participation, but don’t pressure.
2. Understand what your child wants from participating in Little League and provide a supportive atmosphere for achieving these goals.
3. Set limits on your child’s participation in baseball or softball. You need to determine when she or he is physically and emotionally ready to play and to insure that the conditions for playing are safe.
4. Make certain your child’s coach is qualified to guide your child through the Little League experience.
5. Keep winning in perspective by remembering Athletes First, Winning Second. Instill this perspective in your child.
6. Help your child set realistic goals about his or her own performance so success is guaranteed.
7. Help your child understand the experiences associated with competitive sports so she or he can learn the valuable lessons sports can teach.
8. Discipline your when he or she misbehaves, breaks the rules, or is uncooperative or uncontrollable.
9. Turn your child over to the coach at practices and games, and avoid meddling or becoming a nuisance.

Little League should not demand all of your child’s leisure time. She or he should have the opportunity to learn other sports and recreational skills as well as to attend to schoolwork and the natural pursuits of youth. We urge you once again to let your children determine the degree of his or her commitment to Little League without pressure from you or the coach.

For most 8-year-olds, two or three 1 hour practices a week and one or two games is about right The season should not be too long, either 8 to 12 weeks is enough. As a child’s age, skill, fitness, and interest increase, so too can the length and frequency of practices and games.
What is the risk of injury to my child in Little League?

We know that injuries constitute one of parents’ foremost concerns, and rightly so. Injuries seem to be inevitable in any rigorous activity, especially if players are new to the sport and unfamiliar with its demands. But because of the safety precautions taken in Little League, severe injuries such as bone fractures are infrequent. Most injuries are sprains and strains, abrasions and cuts and bruises. The risk of serious injury in Little League Baseball is far less than the risk of riding a skateboard, a bicycle, or even the school bus.
Can I help my child’s performance through her or his diet?

Not only can you help your child perform, you can help him or her establish healthy eating habits for life. Explain to your Little Leaguer that the body is like an engine; it runs as well as the fuel it has to burn. “Junk food” is junk fuel, which causes the engine to sputter. “High performance” fuel comes from a diet that’s good for all of us one high in complex carbohydrates (60%) and low in fat (20%) and protein (20%).

It can be, if your child is made to feel that self-worth depends on how she or he plays baseball. When the things most important to your child such as love and approval are made contingent on how well he or she hits and fields, your child is likely to experience high levels of stress. But fortunately, research has shown, this doesn’t happen very often. For the great majority of children, baseball is no more stressful than many other activities in which they participate. When coaches and parents keep winning in proper perspective, Little League rarely causes too much stress.
But what if my child appears to be overly stressed?

Begin by talking with your child, and perhaps to the coach, to uncover the cause of the problem. Almost always the stress is caused by anxiety about how the coach, teammates, or you will feel about your child if she or he performs poorly. Help your Little Leaguer understand that striving to win is important, but that his or her worthiness as a person is not determined by how well he or she plays or whether the team wins or loses the game. When young people know that their self-worth is not determined by their batting averages or fielding percentages, they are likely to fin Little League to be overly stressful.
Can my child care too much about Little League?

It is good for children to be committed to activities like baseball, to care about how they perform, and to push themselves to achieve excellence. Developing commitment is a useful lifetime skill. Let your child care, and care with your child. But sometimes children care too much: They equate their self-worth with winning and losing, they mope around the house endlessly after a loss, they ignore their other responsibilities. When this occurs, it is your job to help your child put things in perspective.
What do I say after a game when my child did not play well?

Sometimes it’s hard to know what to say to your child after a disappointing outcome. When children know they did not play well, they don’t want to be told “You played great!” And when they have just lost a game they do not want to hear “It’s really not important.” At the moment , it is important to them, and they expect to be permitted the dignity of their unhappiness.

Although parents mean well, comments like these sound superficial and reflect a lack of sincerity. Children seem to have a built-in apparatus for detecting “phony” comments, and they resent them deeply. When parents are insincere or provide false praise, the child learns to place less value on their words and later may be unable to get full satisfaction from deserved praise. In short, be generous with praise and sparing with criticism, but don’t be a phony.
Should parents attend practices and games?

Attending a few practices during the season so you can see what your child is learning is a good idea, but always being there may not be. We encourage you to attend all your Little Leaguer’s games, but if your presence appears to make your child nervous, it may be better not to go to the games until your child gains more confidence in her or his playing abilities. The best way to find out if you should attend practices and games is to ask your child if he or she would like you to come!
What if my child misbehaves?

Throughout this guide we have placed most of the burden for a successful sport program on adults you as the parent and your child’s coach. But sometimes children misbehave they break the rules or are uncooperative, uncontrollable, or irresponsible. Children should be helped to understand that they have obligations to their parents and to the coach when they become part of the Little League team. They are responsible for cooperating with coaches and teammates, for being prompt to practice and games, and for managing their own conduct. When children misbehave, the coach has some right and responsibility to discipline them. Ultimately, however, the responsibility to discipline belongs to you, you must fulfill it wisely.

Little league encourages awards of honor certificates, team pictures, and inexpensive medals or pins at the end of the season. Are these awards desirable?

Children wish to be recognized for their accomplishments just as adults do. Giving children recognition for their achievements is fine as long as the rewards are not extravagant and they are awarded fairly. The danger in these practices occurs when children lose perspective about the significance of such recognition, wanting to play only when tangible rewards are at stake. You need to help your child see these rewards merely as recognition for past accomplishments, not guarantees of future success. Your child needs to realize that these extrinsic rewards are only one benefit of sport participation and that the more important outcomes are the intrinsic rewards of fun and satisfaction.

Of course, we cannot tell you about your child’s particular coach; you will need to find that out. But we can tell you some things about Little League coaches in general. They come from all walks of life, motivated by their love of baseball and their desire to teach young people. All Little League coaches are volunteers; two of every three have children participating in the program. They donate many hours a week throughout the season to coach your child and other young athletes.

Unfortunately, as in many human endeavor, there are a few “bad apples” in the coaching world. Little League does all it can to eliminate ( or reeducate) them, but once in while a poor coach slips through. Thus, it is important that you make sure your child’s coach acts in your son’s or daughter’s best interest.
Evaluating Your Child’s Coach

Use the Coach Evaluation Checklist to help you find out about the person with whom you are going to entrust the welfare of you child.

• Coaching Philosophy
  Does the coach keep winning and losing in perspective, or is this person a win-at-all -costs coach?
  Does the coach make sure that learning baseball is fun?
• Motives
  What are the coach’s motives for coaching?
  Does the coach seek personal recognition at the expense of the players?
• Knowledge
  Does the coach know the rules and skills of the sport?
  Does the coach know how to teach those skills to young people?
• Leadership
  Does the coach permit players to share in leadership and decision making, or does he or she call all the shots?
  Is the coach’s leadership built on intimidation or mutual respect?
• Self-Control
  Does the coach display the self-control expected of the players, or does she or he fly off the handle frequently?
  When kids make mistakes, does the coach build them up or put them down?
• Understanding
  Is the coach sensitive to the emotions of the players or so wrapped up in his or her own emotions that the kids’ feelings are forgotten?
  Does the coach understand the unique make-up of each child, treating children as individuals?
• Communication
  Do the coach’s words and actions communicate positive or negative feelings?
  Does the coach know when to talk and when to listen?
• Consistency
  Does the coach punish one youngster but not another for the same behavior?
  Is the coach hypocritical, saying one thing and then doing another?
• Respect
  Do the players respect and listen to what the coach says?
  Do the players look up to the coach as a person to emulate?
• Enthusiasm
  Does the coach demonstrate enthusiasm, for coaching baseball?
  Does the coach know how to build enthusiasm among the players?

There are several ways to learn more about your child’s coach. Don’t feel you are snooping; you are fulfilling your obligation as a responsible parent!

1. Talk with the coach to find out answers to the questions in the checklist.
2. Observe the coach in practice and games.
3. Talk with other parents who have had children play under this coach.

Remember, no coach will be perfect (just as you are not a perfect parent), but you need to be satisfied that your child’s coach meets some minimum standards.
Dealing With Unsatisfactory Coaching

Parents often have a difficult time dealing with their child’s coach when they decide that he or she is coaching in a unsatisfactory way. Thoughtful parents are reluctant to interfere and hesitant to remove their child from the team. Children may resent being forced to quit; they fear losing face and may enjoy the sport so much that they want to continue participating in spite of a poor coach. Parents must use good judgment in such situations, communicating with both the child and the coach to resolve the problem.

We recommend that you begin by discussing the problem with the coach. Explain your concern and then listen to the coach’s perspective.

If the problem with the coach is not severe, consider taking special steps with your child explain the coach’s unsatisfactory behavior when it occurs. When children have help to recognize negative behavior, they often can learn positive lessons. For example, if the coach throws a temper tantrum whenever a player makes an error, help your child understand that this reaction is the coach’s problem of self-control. Explain that mistakes are part of learning. Make it clear that you value the improvement your child continues to show, despite the coach’s negative reactions. This intervention requires wise counsel and time on your part to avoid pitting your child against the coach’s methods or philosophy.

If discussing the issue with the coach does not resolve the problem, then you need to consider going to your local Little League officials. If they cannot remedy the problem to your satisfaction, then determine the feasibility of transferring your daughter or son to another team.

If all these fail, and you consider the problem to be bad enough, you may need to remove your child from Little League. If the coach’s actions are illegal, then of course you need to contact the appropriate legal authorities.
Helping Your Child’s Coach

Remember that most coaches are striving to do the best they can. You can help make the coach’s job a bit easier, as well as help your child enjoy Little League more, by doing the following things:

1. Let your child know you support his or her participation in Little League. Get involved volunteer your time in the league, practice with your athlete, attend games, and show that you care.
2. Provide your child with proper equipment and encourage its correct use.
3. Monitor your child’s participation so that you know how your child is developing.
4. Do not interfere with the coach unless the coach has clearly erred.
5. Keep the coach informed if your child is injured or ill.
6. Make certain your child is sleeping and eating property.
7. Help the coach when asked to do so. You might be needed to raise funds, drive kids to games, keep score, or even be an assistant coach.
8. Keep control of yourself show by your example how you want your child to behave on and off the field.