Eau Gallie Little League FAQ’S

 

What are the boundaries for Eau Gallie Little League (EGLL)?

 

What sports and levels of play does Eau Gallie Little League offer?

 

I noticed that there are overlapping ages for the divisions. Why is that?

 

How do players get placed on a team?

 

I have a favorite Manager. Can my child be placed on that Manager’s team?

 

We have finished tryouts. How do I know what team my child is on?

 

My child is in T-Ball or Machine Pitch, how do I know what team my child is on?

 

How many players are on a team?

 

Can my child change teams or divisions?

 

I missed the registration sessions, can I still register?

 

Why are registrations held in November when the season does not start until February?

 

When and where will practices be held?

 

Where will games be held?

 

Wait a minute. My daughter played softball last year and had to play at locations other than Crane Field. Why is that?

 

When are games played?

 

What equipment do I need to get and where can I get it?

 

What equipment does the league provide?

 

If I sponsor a team, can I pick the team’s name?

 

If I sponsor a team, can I sponsor a specific child’s team (my son, granddaughter, etc.)?

 

How can I assist my child’s team?

 

Who decides if a game is rained out?

 

How can I find out if a game is rained out?

 

Why do you allow kids to umpire games?

 

Why was my son called out at home for not sliding?

 

My child is finished playing for today. Can they come and sit with us in the stands? Can we sit

with them in the dugout?

 

What do I do with the uniform at the end of the season?

 

What team will my child be on next year?

 

What’s the deal with “league age”? How is that determined?

 

I have a question/concern, who should I contact?

 

What is the Eau Gallie Little League calendar like?

 

When and where are Board Members elected?

 

I have a FAQ of my own, how do I get it answered?

 

What are the boundaries for Eau Gallie Little League (EGLL)?

North: From the Indian River, West on the South side of Central Blvd and Business Center Blvd to Wickham Road. Then North on Wickham Road to the Northern border of the Pineda Crossing Development, then a straight line from Wickham Road along the Northern border of the Pineda Crossing Development to the Brevard County line.

East: The Indian River Lagoon.

West: The Brevard County line.

South: From the Indian River West on the North side of Fee Avenue to Babcock Street, then North on the East side of Babcock Street to Hibiscus Avenue. West on the North side of Hibiscus Avenue to Evans Road. North on the East side of Evans Road to NASA Blvd. West on the North side of NASA Blvd to Wickham Road. North on the East side of Wickham Road to Ellis Road. Then West on the North side of Ellis Road and a straight line to the Brevard County line.

 

What sports and levels of play does Eau Gallie Little League offer?

EGLL offers baseball for both boys and girls from ages 5-16 and softball for girls from ages 6-16.

 

For Baseball, EGLL offers the following divisions and suggested ages:

 

Age      Division

5-6        T-Ball

6-9        Machine Pitch (also known as Pre-Minors)

8-11      Minors (kid pitch)

9-12      Majors

13-14    Juniors (Big Diamond)

15-16    Seniors (Big Diamond)

 

For Softball, EGLL offers the following divisions and suggested ages:

 

Age       Division

6-9         Machine Pitch (also known as Pre-Minors)

8-11       Minors (kid pitch)

9-12       Majors

13-16     Juniors/Seniors

 

Both boys and girls play T-Ball and teams usually have both boys and girls on them. Starting at age 7, boys play baseball and most girls play softball. However baseball at all levels is open to girls who want to play.

 

I noticed that there are overlapping ages for the divisions. Why is that?

As children grow older, some have better skills than others. It is a natural part of life. If players are placed into divisions rigidly by age, some players are simply not ready to compete at that level yet. By allowing some amount of flexibility, the parents and EGLL officials can place players in divisions that fit better into their level of play. Most players would rather be in a lower division if it means they get to play more and learn more rather than sit on the bench in a higher level that is beyond their current abilities.

On the other hand, children who are ready to move to a higher division can do so with parent approval. For example, if an 8 year old has played Machine Pitch and the parent feels the child is ready for Minors, that child can try out for Minors.

Some divisions have more rigid age limits that cannot be modified. Those ages are reflected

Above.

 

How do players get placed on a team?

The T-Ball and Machine Pitch Divisions (both baseball and softball) are non-competitive, instructional divisions. The Player Agent places players on the teams, trying to balance children of different ages so each team is roughly equal in age groups and abilities.

In the Minors, Majors, Juniors, and Seniors divisions (both baseball and softball), all players must tryout. Tryouts are generally scheduled in January. The Managers of their respective divisions evaluate each player. About one week after the final tryouts, each division holds a draft to place players on each team.

Note that tryouts are purely for evaluating players’ skills and for team placement. ALL children are drafted and ALL children will play. No child that goes through tryouts will be left off of a team under any circumstances.

As noted above, T-Ball and Machine Pitch Divisions do not have tryouts and are placed on teams automatically by the Player Agent.

 

I have a favorite Manager. Can my child be placed on that Manager’s team?

It depends on the division your child will play. For T-Ball and Machine Pitch, parents can request specific Managers during registration and EGLL will attempt to honor their request when possible. For divisions that involve tryouts (Minors, Majors, Juniors, and Seniors), the request cannot be honored. The child must go through the tryout and draft process.

If you have a problem with specific Managers, it is best to let the Player Agent know during the Registration Period. EGLL is willing to work with parents, but cannot guarantee that requests can be honored.

 

We have finished tryouts. How do I know what team my child is on?

Check the EGLL Calendar of Events for the scheduled draft days. The EGLL Calendar is generally on the Home Page of the EGLL Web Site (www.eglittleleague.org). The draft is held 1-2 weeks after tryouts. EGLL asks that all Managers contact their players within one week after the draft to set up their first meeting or practice. If you have not been contacted within that time, please contact the Player Agent.

 

My child is in T-Ball or Machine Pitch, how do I know what team my child is on?

As noted previously, T-Ball and Machine Pitch Divisions (both baseball and softball) do not hold tryouts. The Player Agent will place all players on teams, attempting to balance each team with roughly the same amount of children of the same ages. Check the EGLL Calendar on the Home Page of the EGLL Web Site (www.eglittleleague.org) for the Manager’s Meeting. For T-Ball and Machine Pitch, the managers will get their team rosters at that time. Managers are encouraged to call all their players within one week of that meeting. If you have not been contacted within that time, please contact the Player Agent.

 

How many players are on a team?

For most age levels, EGLL normally places 11-13 players on each team. This allows more players on each team a chance to play rather than having to sit on the bench to allow everybody to play. For the older divisions (Senior Baseball and Junior/Senior Softball), sometimes rosters will go up to 15 players. In these divisions, often players will have jobs or participate in various school activities that prevent them from playing full time; so more players are required to insure at least 9 are available for each game.

 

Can my child change teams or divisions?

Sometimes circumstances dictate that a change is necessary. There are times when a player does not play well at tryouts and is placed in a division lower than their true ability. Or they are playing in a division above their true ability. Sometimes players will improve dramatically during a season. Also, sometimes teams in a higher division lose players and need to bring a player up to the higher division during the season to balance their roster. And sometimes a player and/or parent do not like a Manager’s style.

Because circumstances can change, EGLL will consider player moves during a season. If you feel that your player would benefit from a change, please discuss that with your Manager and/or with the Player Agent. EGLL is willing to work with all players to provide a satisfying experience.

 

I missed the registration sessions, can I still register?

EGLL will accept registrations up to the start of tryouts, although after a certain date you will have to pay a late fee. EGLL has both registration sessions and Online Registration, so you can register in the manner most comfortable to you. For divisions that do not have tryouts, your child will then be placed on a team (see How do players get placed on a team?).

If your child is in a division that has tryouts (i.e. Minors or above) AND if you have registered prior to tryouts (regardless of the method) AND your child attends at least one tryout, they will be drafted to a team and will play.

If you register after tryouts, EGLL normally will continue to accept players throughout the season. If a player in the divisions requiring a tryout does not attend any tryouts, they cannot be drafted. If a team has an opening, the Player Agent will place the player on that team. If no openings exist, the player will be placed on a Waiting List until an opening appears. EGLL will make every effort to place all players on teams. Players who have signed up prior to tryouts and participate in tryouts are guaranteed to be placed on a team. No matter how many players sign up, EGLL will expand the number of teams if required to accommodate the number of players.

However, at some point, the number of teams must be fixed. Managers must be selected, uniforms must be ordered, and schedules must be made. After that time, the number of players on each roster is fixed and late signups may have to wait for a roster opening. EGLL will make every attempt to place all players on a team, but cannot guarantee it for late signups. Please make every attempt to sign up your player by the appropriate deadline.

 

Why are registrations held in November when the season does not start until February?

In part, this because we are not allowed to use the fields after Thanksgiving until mid-January. The Parks Department uses this time to refurbish the fields, perform any needed maintenance, new construction, etc. In addition, historically registration during December is very low dues to the busy holiday season and the expenses associated with them. Please remember that Registration is just the beginning of the hard work. Registration determines the number of teams. The number of teams then determines the number of sponsors required, the number of Managers, Coaches, and Umpires needed, the number of uniforms required, the amount of equipment that will need to be purchased, etc. Once we have a solid number of players signed up, all that work can begin and dates can be set for tryouts, manager meetings, coaches’ clinics, practices, etc.

Remember that over 700 children play in EGLL every year. It is simply not possible to register that many children at the same time right before the season begins. Earlier registration allows us more time to get things in order before the start of the season.

 

When and where will practices be held?

That is left up to the Manager. Between Draft Day and Opening Day, EGLL will assign fields and times to each team for practices. Managers are free to use the time and location provided or to find other practice locations. After Opening Day, it is up to each Manager to schedule practices at a time and location of their choosing. Most managers attempt to work out schedules that are convenient for the majority of the team.

 

Where will games be held?

EGLL averages about 700 children in the spring leagues with about 55 teams in all divisions. There are a variety of fields that games are played at, depending on the division. Crane Field is the main location for EGLL. There are three fields at Crane. Crane #1 and #3 are baseball fields with 60 foot bases with raised pitching mounds used for Machine Pitch, Minors, and Majors baseball. Crane #2 is a softball field with an all dirt infield and no pitching mound. All softball divisions (Machine Pitch, Minors, Majors, and Junior/Seniors) play on Crane #2. Tball games can be held on all three Crane diamonds. McGrath Field is the “big diamond” field. There are two fields at McGrath. Both fields have 90 - foot bases. Both Juniors and Seniors baseball play at McGrath. Jimmy Moore Field has a single field with 60-foot bases and a raised pitching mound. T-Ball, Machine Pitch, Minors, and Majors baseball will have both games and practices scheduled at Jimmy Moore. Softball does not schedule games at Jimmy Moore (because of the pitching mound) but does sometimes schedule practices there. Carver Field has a single field for baseball with 60-foot bases and a pitching mound. Carver also has a dedicated T-Ball field. Games are not normally scheduled at Carver, although make-up games and practices often are.

 

Wait a minute. My daughter played softball last year and had to play at locations other

than Crane Field. Why is that?

The number of girls registered for softball is less than the numbers that play baseball. In most years, there are not enough EGLL teams to play all games among themselves. Therefore EGLL plays Inter-League games with other local Little Leagues. Therefore most softball teams have to play some games on the road at other Little Leagues. In baseball, the Juniors and Seniors teams will usually play some amount of Inter-League against other Little Leagues also. T-Ball, Machine Pitch, Minors, and Majors baseball normally have enough teams that they do not generally have to play Inter-League games.

 

When are games played?

Games are scheduled Monday through Saturday. Of course, not every team is playing every day. Most teams play two games a week. Saturday is the biggest day of the week. Every team will normally play a game on Saturday unless a division has an odd number of teams. Then each team will usually play one other game from Monday to Friday. What day varies week-to-week depending on the division and the team. Occasionally a team will play three games in a week, either scheduled or for a make-up game, but that is rare. Most managers will also practice at least once a week. The day, time, and location are up to them.

 

What equipment do I need to get and where can I get it?

For all age divisions and all sports (baseball and softball), the minimum equipment the parent needs to provide is a glove. Gloves can be purchased from any sporting goods store, such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is a corporate sponsor of EGLL. Make sure the glove is flexible enough for the child to close the glove. This is especially important for the smaller age divisions (T-Ball and Machine Pitch). Often cheap gloves purchased from large department stores (you know who we mean) are very stiff and smaller children cannot use them. Cleats are very important. They provide traction, especially when playing in the outfield at night. They are optional in T-Ball, but strongly suggested in all older divisions. Bats are optional. The league does provide bats, but most players prefer to provide their own bat. All bats must be Little League approved. Make sure that all bats state “Approved for Little League” or “Approved for T-Ball” (or something similar) or they will not be allowed in competition. Don’t get too heavy a bat. It is better to have a light bat that the player can swing faster than a heavy bat that is too much for the player. Although the league does provide batting helmets, most players get their own. Again, make sure the batting helmet is approved for Little League or for T-Ball (as appropriate). Generally any color helmet is acceptable, as long as that color is from the manufacturer. Helmets that have been altered are not allowed in competition. Some players prefer batting gloves, but that is an individual preference. In the older age divisions, players who play catcher often prefer their own catcher’s equipment. Again, the league does provide catchers’s equipment, but many players prefer their own. A sports bag specially designed for baseball or softball is very useful to carry around the player’s equipment.

 

What equipment does the league provide?

The league provides bats, batting helmets, and catcher’s equipment for all teams. The league provides all game and practice balls. Of course, equipment at the field (bases, home plate, pitching rubbers, lights, the field itself) is provided either by the league or by the City of Melbourne Parks Department. For the Spring season, EGLL also provides every player with a hat, jersey, pants, and socks, in the team’s logo and colors. For the Fall season, EGLL provides a hat and jersey only.

 

If I sponsor a team, can I pick the team’s name?

EGLL currently uses Major League Baseball Team names (Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, etc.) for all baseball teams. Softball teams use names from Professional Softball. EGLL will attempt to honor requests for specific teams where possible, but cannot guarantee it. Please discuss any specific requests with the Sponsor Coordinator.

 

If I sponsor a team, can I sponsor a specific child’s team (my son, granddaughter, etc.)?

As with the team name, EGLL will make every attempt to honor the sponsor’s request. Again, please discuss any specific requests with the Sponsor Coordinator.

 

How can I assist my child’s team?

All parents – regardless of their knowledge of baseball or softball – can assist their child’s team in some manner. Remember that ALL adults associated with EGLL are non-paid volunteers. They can all use your help. Every team needs one or more coaches. In the T-Ball and Machine Pitch divisions, baseball knowledge is usually not required. Parents can often assist the Manager by helping to keep order in the dugout, on the field, putting helmets on upcoming batters, etc., all without any baseball knowledge. It is not at all unusual for a T-Ball team to have 4-6 coaches in addition to the Manager. In the older divisions, the number of coaches is usually less (1-3) and some amount of baseball or softball knowledge is usually helpful. But any help is usually appreciated. Just ask the Manager what you can do to help. For the older divisions (Minors and up), every team needs to provide one or more scorekeepers. All teams will have scheduled times to work in the concession stand. All teams need a Team Mom or Team Dad to assist the Manager in scheduling, arranging for a team party, trophies, etc. The Manager cannot run the team by themselves. All Managers need assistance from parents or grandparents of the players. Just ask the Manager what you can do to help.

Who decides if a game is rained out?

That depends greatly on when the rain comes. If you have lived in Florida for any length of time, you know that it can rain at any time, regardless of the forecast. If the rain occurs early enough and hard enough, then the City of Melbourne will close the fields for play. If this happens, they usually notify the League President and EGLL will post it on the web site (www.eglittleleague.org), so try checking the web site. However, with a typical 4 PM summer shower, that is generally too late for the City to make a determination. Then the League President or some other Board Member will make the call after inspecting the fields. Generally speaking, this is an easy call, because once the fields become soaked and slippery, it is a very time consuming project to make them playable again. If it continues to rain or threatens to rain, all scheduled games will be postponed and rescheduled. If it is not raining and conditions border on playable, it is up to the managers prior to a game to decide whether a game will take place. However, if an agreement cannot be reached, it is up to the Home Plate Umpire or a Board Member to make the decision. Once the game starts, all decision to play or continue a game are up to the Home Plate Umpire, who is the only person who can stop a game once it has begun. If play is halted due to rain, PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE THE PARK. A “rain delay” is much different than a “rain out”. The Managers will get the players to a place of safety, such as the concession stand or the pavilion. Parents will be allowed to take their children to their car, but please do not leave until directed to by the Manager. Lightning may also cut a game short without any rain present. Obviously safety is a concern here and EGLL will always err on the side of caution. EGLL has purchased lighting detectors that indicate the lightning distance. To keep everybody safe, the Home Plate Umpire will be informed when lightning strikes are between 8-20 miles. When the indicator states that lightning is striking between 3-8 miles, play will be stopped and all players will retreat to a location of safety, normally the concession stand or the pavilion.

How can I find out if a game is rained out?

This is the more difficult question. As noted above, if a decision is reached early enough, it will be posted on the Web Site (www.eglittleleague.org). However, if the decision is later, there is not enough time to call everybody that might be playing that day. When possible, check with your Manager to see if they have been notified. Most Managers will attempt to contact their players once they know the game has been rained out, which is why it is important that Managers have as much contact information as possible. If you have not been contacted, then it is best to simply go to the field and find out. Don’t be fooled by the weather conditions at your house or office. Numerous times it is raining in one part of town and nothing at the field. If you don’t know, then continue to the field.

Why do you allow kids to umpire games?

It’s a question of need. Remember that volunteers operate the entire program. All adult umpires are volunteering their time and are not paid for umpiring. Unfortunately, there are a limited number of adults volunteering to umpire and it becomes necessary to use kids to help fulfill umpire requirements, especially in the Minor Leagues. The majority of Junior Umpires have come up through the program and some know more about Little League than some of their adult counterparts. However, it is also difficult for a 13 year-old to stand up to an angry adult. Until more adults step up, EGLL will continue to use Junior Umpires. If you feel the need to complain about a call, feel free to contact the Umpire Coordinator and volunteer to umpire a few games. It will give you a different perspective on the game and make you appreciate that these kids are willing to give their time back to the game.

 

Why was my son called out at home for not sliding?

The primary mission of Little League is Safety. Little League requires that a player avoid collision, primarily by sliding. Unlike what you see in the Major Leagues, a player is NOT allowed to run over a catcher. The runners must give themselves up, slide, or otherwise avoid contact with the catcher or risk being called out. In extreme circumstances, the player will not only be called out, but be thrown out of the game. At the lower levels, a Manager may be warned about sliding on a close play, but as they progress through the program, players may be called out without warning.

 

My child is finished playing for today. Can they come and sit with us in the stands? Can we sit with them in the dugout?

No and NO! First, since re-entry and courtesy runners are allowed at all levels of play, a player is never really finished playing for the day, even if they are not in the game at the moment. Little League requires that players remain in the dugout while the game is still in progress. If a player needs to leave the premises early, they may do so as long as they notify the Manager. As for visits to the dugout or the field, it is expressly prohibited for anyone other than players, managers, coaches, or umpires to be in the dugout or on the field. There are NO exceptions to this rule. Little brothers and sisters may want to be with their siblings during a game, but this is not only violating Little League rules, it also violates the provisions of our insurance policy. If EGLL loses our insurance, then nobody can play.

 

What do I do with the uniform at the end of the season?

The players keep their uniform at the end of the season. Nothing is returned to the league.

 

What team will my child be on next year?

Teams are “turned over” every year. Some children on every team move up to the next level. For all children in divisions requiring a tryout, all players will tryout every year and be drafted onto their respective teams. For lower divisions (T-Ball and Machine Pitch), the Player Agent will place players on new teams.

 

What’s the deal with “league age”? How is that determined?

A player’s League Age is determined differently for Baseball and Softball.

For Baseball, the age of your child is determined based on how old your child is on April 30 of the current league year. This is a “hard” cutoff, so a child born on April 30 is a different age than another child that is born one day later on May 1. See the examples below. For Softball, the age of your daughter is determined based on how old your child is on December 31 of the previous year. Again, see the examples below. Your child’s League Age stays the same throughout the season, even if they have a birthday during the season. Baseball examples: It is November 2009 and you are registering your child for the Spring 2010 season. Your child was born on Dec 22 2001 and is 7 years old at registration. League Age is 8 years old, since they will be 8 by April 30 2010. Your child was born on April 30 2002 and is 7 years old at registration. League Age is 8 years old, since they will be 8 by April 30 2010. Your child was born on May 1 2002 and is 7 years old at registration. League Age is 7 years old, since they will be 7 by April 30 2010. Softball examples: It is November 2009 and you are registering your child for the Spring 2010 season. Your child was born on Dec 22 2001 and is 7 years old at registration. League Age is 8 years old, since they will be 8 by Dec 31 2009. Your child was born on April 30 2002 and is 7 years old at registration. League Age is 7 years old, since they will be 7 by Dec 31 2009. Your child was born on May 1 2002 and is 7 years old at registration. League Age is 7 years old, since they will be 7 by Dec 31 2009.

 

I have a question/concern, who should I contact?

Questions? Suggestions? Ideas? Concerns? Want to help? Checkout the Board of Directors page to find the appropriate Board Member to contact. E-Mail and phone numbers are provided for all Board Members. Call or E-Mail the appropriate Board Member to let them know your thoughts.

 

What is the Eau Gallie Little League calendar like?

Many people think the league just runs for a few months in the spring. In truth, it is a year round job. In addition to the Spring League that most people are familiar with, EGLL also has a Fall Season that is devoted to instructional play with no competition. The EGLL “year” starts in August every year with the election of a new Board of Directors. All Board Members serve a one-year term and stand for re-election every year at the General Meeting. The EGLL year generally follows this pattern:

• August: General Meeting, new board elected. Registration begins for Fall Ball.

• September: Fall Ball starts.

• October: Fall Ball continues.

• November: Fall Ball ends. Registration begins for Spring Ball.

• December: Registration continues for Spring Ball. Managers are selected. Equipment and  

   uniforms are purchased for the Spring season. Fields are refurbished.

• January: Managers meeting, coaches clinics. Tryouts and draft.

• February: Practices begin. Opening day for the Spring Season (last Saturday in February).

• March: Spring Season continues.

• April: Spring Break. Spring Season continues.

• May: Spring Season ends. End of Season tournaments (Minors and above).

• June: District 2 County Tournament (Majors and above). All-Star teams selected and begin

   practicing.

• July: All-Star tournaments.

As can be seen above, every month has something going on. EGLL is active year round, not just in the spring.

 

When and where are Board Members elected?

Board Members are elected at the Annual General Meeting that is held every August. If you are a registered member of the league (which is anyone who paid the $5 registration fee), you should receive a postcard in the mail with the date, time, and location of the meeting. The web site will also contain this information. Anybody can be elected to the EGLL Board of Directors. If you are willing to put the time in for the kids, then ask what you can do to help. You might be surprised about what you can do to help.

 

I have a FAQ of my own, how do I get it answered?

E-Mail it to the Webmaster. We will try to get your question answered and posted for all to benefit.

 

info@eglittleleague.org  

Contact the webmaster with any questions/concerns.