Q: WHEN DOES SPRING BALL BEGIN AND END? A: The spring season begins in January and ends in May. Q: WHEN DOES FALL BALL BEGIN AND END? A: The fall season begins in September and ends before Thanksgiving. Q: WHAT DAYS/NIGHTS ARE PRACTICES/GAMES? A: Prior to the games beginning, each team typically practices twice per week or as determined by the team manager. The younger ages will get the earlier time slots for practices. Once the games begin, each team typically plays two games and has one practice each week. The game schedules, days, and practices cannot be determined until after all registrations are completed and teams have been assembled. Q: HOW ARE PLAYERS PLACED ON TEAMS? A: T Ball and single A teams are assembled by team managers along with the player agent, president and other board members. Q: HOW DOES THE LEAGUE DETERMINE WHICH DIVISION MY CHILD WILL PLAY IN? A: Your childs age as of a date specified by Little League is referred to as his/her league age. Dunedin Little Leagues bylaws then determine which division(s) your child is eligible for. Depending on previous experience and ability, the player agent will place your child in the appropriate division of play. Q: WHAT IS THE REGISTRATION FEE USED FOR? A: The registration fee is used to help cover operating costs for the league. It is very expensive to operate a local Little League. Just a few of these costs are uniforms, insurance, charter fees, equipment, supplies and much more. Q: WHY WAS I CHARGED A LATE FEE? A: Uniforms must be ordered by a specific date in order for the players to have their uniforms for pictures (spring only) and for the first game. When uniforms are ordered after that date, the league is charged additional fees to insure that the late players will have their uniforms on time. The league prepares for registration in advance in order to give families enough notice to enable everyone to register on time to avoid late fees. Registration information is made public in many different ways. Flyers are sent home through every local school, signs are posted within the boundaries of Dunedin Little League, the website is updated at least 30 days before the first registration session, online registration is made available, the community center provides the information to the public, an email is sent to previous players, flyers are passed out at local events. Q: WHY DO I HAVE TO WORK THE CONCESSION STAND? A: Little League is a not profit organization. Aside from registration, sponsorships, and fundraisers, the concession stand provides the only source of income for the spring and fall seasons. That income helps to offset the operating expenses and hopefully provide some funding for the league to improve and maintain the facilities where your child plays. By having every parent who is not a board member or a coach work concession shifts, it is only on small burden to each of us. Q: CAN I REQUEST A MANAGER/TEAM FOR MY CHILD? A: T Ball and single A parents can make requests, however, there is no guarantee that it will be granted. We will try to do so, but we also have to balance the teams by age and experience to make the games fair. AA, AAA, Major, Junior and Senior teams are drafted by team managers following player evaluations. If there is a legitimate concern over placing a child on a team with a coach or another player, that concern should be discussed with the player agent or the president at the time of registration. If deemed necessary, appropriate measures will be taken. For example, being placed on a team with a friend or wanting the same manager as last season are not situations that will be considered. Q: WHY CANT MY CHILD PLAY THE POSITION HE WANTS TO PLAY? A: In the younger divisions, every attempt to rotate players into all positions will be made. If there is an issue concerning safety, the manager may make the decision to avoid putting a player in a specific position. AAA players and above will play in the positions determined to be best asset for team play by the managers. Q: WHY DOES MY CHILD HAVE TO SIT OUT DURING THE GAME? A: Every player must take their turn sitting out. The minimum participation rule for each division may differ. Please feel free to discuss any concerns with your childs team manager at any time except during a game or practice. Q: WHAT EQUIPMENT WILL MY CHILD NEED TO PARTICIPATE? A: Each player must have their own glove, cleats and athletic cup (boys). Bats and helmets are supplied by the league. If a player has his own helmet, it must have a mandatory face mask for all T Ball, A, and AA players. Fall uniforms consist of a shirt and hat. Spring uniforms consist of a shirt, pants, hat and socks. Q: WHY DO I HAVE TO PROVIDE PROOF OF RESIDENCY? A: Little League determines every local leagues residential boundaries. All players must live within those boundaries. Players who falsify information will not be eligible for tournament play (all stars), nor are they insured by Little League. Q: WHY ARENT PARENTS PERMITTED IN THE DUGOUT? A: Only league approved volunteers are permitted in the dugout. All league approved volunteers have submitted volunteer applications and have been background checked. This is for the protection of your children and no exceptions will be made. Q: WHY IS THERE NO FOOD PERMITTED IN THE DUGOUT? A: The focus should be on the game. The minute one child gets something to eat, they ALL get hungry! Please feed your child a light meal before games and practices. Q: WHO MAKES THE RULES FOR LITTLE LEAGUE? A: Local leagues must follow the Little League green book rules. The local league has the option to tighten up on some rules, but the local league can never make a rule weaker or simply ignore the rules. Any rules that are adjusted by the local league can be found in the local league bylaws. Q: CAN I DROP MY CHILD OFF AT GAMES/PRACTICES AND PICK HIM UP WHEN IT IS OVER? A: It is not recommended that a parent simply drop off any child for a number of reasons. If a child is injured during practice or a game, they want to have their parent there with them. In the event that there is an emergency, it is always better to have a parent available. There can also be situations that can cause a game or practice to end earlier than scheduled or expected. If that happens and there is no parent present to take a player home, the manager or coach is forced to wait with the player until someone arrives. Q: WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS OF PARENTS IN LITTLE LEAGUE? A: Parents are expected to have their player at all games and practices on time and ready to participate. Positive encouragement and support is expected from all parents before, during and after games and practices. Any help or support that can be offered to the league is greatly appreciated and benefits the children in your community. Parents who maintain a positive attitude as a spectator or volunteer can often diffuse those who want to criticize. Q: HOW DO I FIND OUT INFORMATION ON CANCELLATIONS DUE TO WEATHER? A. There is a dedicated phone line for weather related information. That number is 736-1682. The information on that line will ONLY be updated in the event of the cancellation of games/practices or when there is uncertainty as to weather conditions and field playability. The phone line is updated first and foremost. The website is updated as soon as possible. If there is not a board member with a computer available, the website may not have the most up to date information. Cancellations are not made until late in the afternoon during the week, so please DO NOT CALL ANY OTHER NUMBER IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET INFORMATION. The minute the decision is made to cancel activities, the rainout line will be updated. There will be times where the decision will need to be made at the time of games or practices. We make EVERY effort to let the kids play ball, but weather is very unpredictable. PLEASE BE PATIENT! |