New Little League rule

[Anonymous]

Little League rules are changing this year so there are no boundary requirements for kids aged 4-7. You can switch between any leagues with no issues. From my reading of the rule, it sounds like if you are in the geographic boundary of League A, but play in League B at age 7, you can continue in League B until you age out as long as you don’t miss a season. However, if you play in League A at 7 or don’t start until 8, you are bound to League A. Is this accurate?

[Anonymous]

It's so parents and leagues can for dominant leagues/teams without cheating the waiver process for tournament teams.

Pick whatever league you want, just make sure by 7 years old it is sorted out so it doesn't look so bad when kids hop leagues at age 12.

LL is so dirty.

[Anonymous]

Yes that's correct.

The old rule was basically you could stay in the league if you had to move but you had to get a waiver. I agreed with that rule. New rules will probably kill some of the smaller leagues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's so parents and leagues can for dominant leagues/teams without cheating the waiver process for tournament teams.

Pick whatever league you want, just make sure by 7 years old it is sorted out so it doesn't look so bad when kids hop leagues at age 12.

LL is so dirty.

That’s what I figured. It stinks for parents who have no idea at age 7 and just put their kid in the neighborhood league.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes that's correct.

The old rule was basically you could stay in the league if you had to move but you had to get a waiver. I agreed with that rule. New rules will probably kill some of the smaller leagues.

It already has. I’m visiting my sister in their medium sized town. They just found out the 2 little leagues are merging. Their kids have always played in their neighborhood league. That league has dominated all stars and the other one has gotten smaller over time. I’m sure they think the one will continue to dwindle as the “better” kids or experienced parents flock to the “better” league. There were already lots of shenanigans by 12s. It’s a shame because they for 50 years they held an amazing city tournament for all the majors and minors teams pitting the leagues against each other. For many of those kids, it was their first tournament experience and a highlight.

Their youngest is 12 and made all-stars each year, but not as a dominant player. With half of those opportunities gone, the politics will be even more intense.

[Anonymous]

This will kill a bunch of the DC LLs. Banneker and Satchel Paige will probably fold…Banneker because it’s so poorly run and Satchel because they can never attract enough kids to play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This will kill a bunch of the DC LLs. Banneker and Satchel Paige will probably fold…Banneker because it’s so poorly run and Satchel because they can never attract enough kids to play.

Yeah but not a lot of parents in those leagues will figure that out by 7 though. So not much will change.

[Anonymous]

Can totally see a lot of NWLL families bailing for Cap City.

[Anonymous]

Yes it is accurate, and what is interesting is that OLDER siblings can join younger siblings. So if you have an 11 or 12 years old and a 6 year old, you can chose whatever little league for your 6 year old and your 8-12 year old can switch leagues as well as long as the 6 year old keeps playing.

This is the end for many poorly run leagues, leagues with not as nice of baseball fields, smaller leagues, etc.

In my hometown one little league has really nice fields. Over 60 years ago a ranch donated land to the little league so they own their own fields. There are 4 baseball only fields with different size dimensions from T/Ball through intermediate. It is a gated complex on a dead end road that is locked when not in use. It is kept in pristine conditions. In comparison the three other leagues have to use city owned fields that are also used as soccer fields and adult softball. Any rain and they are closed.

It was nice when little league was by address only because we met several families in our neighborhood who live a few blocks away. There was a nice community feel. My kids were on all stars but not one of the top 5 players. No way with the new rule that they would still make it. All the good players I heard are now moving over and registration is way, way down for the other leagues and they are probably combining to try and keep their leagues alive.

[Anonymous]

Reminder thar LL moved the boys league age date to 8/31 because they they it looked bad to have 13 year old kids play in the LLWS on TV.

All of this seems geared towards creating super teams/leagues for States/Regionals.

Lots of smaller leagues will probably fold.

But some dad's might be to make a mound visit on ESPN!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes it is accurate, and what is interesting is that OLDER siblings can join younger siblings. So if you have an 11 or 12 years old and a 6 year old, you can chose whatever little league for your 6 year old and your 8-12 year old can switch leagues as well as long as the 6 year old keeps playing.

This is the end for many poorly run leagues, leagues with not as nice of baseball fields, smaller leagues, etc.

In my hometown one little league has really nice fields. Over 60 years ago a ranch donated land to the little league so they own their own fields. There are 4 baseball only fields with different size dimensions from T/Ball through intermediate. It is a gated complex on a dead end road that is locked when not in use. It is kept in pristine conditions. In comparison the three other leagues have to use city owned fields that are also used as soccer fields and adult softball. Any rain and they are closed.

It was nice when little league was by address only because we met several families in our neighborhood who live a few blocks away. There was a nice community feel. My kids were on all stars but not one of the top 5 players. No way with the new rule that they would still make it. All the good players I heard are now moving over and registration is way, way down for the other leagues and they are probably combining to try and keep their leagues alive.

Oh wow. It’s basically a free for all then. Sounds like the post season is the focus now. It’s too bad and will continue to decrease registration.

Looking back at when my oldest was 7, we would have had no idea what league to put him in. We were new to the area and definitely weren’t up on little leagues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reminder thar LL moved the boys league age date to 8/31 because they they it looked bad to have 13 year old kids play in the LLWS on TV.

All of this seems geared towards creating super teams/leagues for States/Regionals.

Lots of smaller leagues will probably fold.

But some dad's might be to make a mound visit on ESPN!!!

Agreed! My husband despises little league and its blatant exploitation of kids. Gearing the whole season for all stars is such a waste and the opposite of what should happen. The timing of the local league means there are 4 months of birthdays that never play at their age. For example, my July birthday kid only played 11s at age 11 when he played an all star game on his birthday. Every other year, he was never his “age.”

[Anonymous]

Little League is all about Williamsport now and how it looks on TV. They admitted as such in the regional meetings All they care about is all stars and trying to maintain the TV revenue that comes from ESPN.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely see parents signing up a sibling that has zero interest in playing LL, but is 4-7, in whatever league they want to get their 8-12 year old in, especially in the next couple of years for the older kids that were 8 when this rule was passed. Wow, this is going to be insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely see parents signing up a sibling that has zero interest in playing LL, but is 4-7, in whatever league they want to get their 8-12 year old in, especially in the next couple of years for the older kids that were 8 when this rule was passed. Wow, this is going to be insane.

It's going to transition from a no-cut sport since there won't be enough spots for the local kids. You can't just add more teams since field access is finite.