Q: How and when does Lower Loudoun Little League operate?

A: LLLL has two baseball seasons, the Spring season, which is more competitive and concludes with playoff games, and the Fall season which is also competitive and is considered to be more developmental.

The Spring season usually begins at the end of March and runs through the begining of June. As a rule of thumb the Spring season usually ends at about the same time as the school year ends for Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS). The start of the Spring season depends on several factors including when Loudoun County Parks and Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) opens the county fields.

The Fall season usually begins the last week of August or the first week of September and runs through the end of October.

All Spring players are assigned to an appropriate division and to teams by the LLLL Player Agent based on:

Participant’s League Age

LLLL is open to players with a League Age of 5 to 14 inclusive for T-Ball through Little League Juniors, and League Age 15-16 for Little League Seniors. In April 2014, the Little League International Congress approved a new league age determination amendment for Little League Baseball. Click here for an explanation of the revised League Age determination.

Previous Little League experience (number of seasons played and previous divisions)

Coach/Manager evaluations from any previous season

Number of players/teams at each level that can be accommodated by available fields and available managers

Overall benefit to league (e.g., competitive balance, scheduling, etc)

Player Evaluation (tryout) results

Parental request on the registration form

Draft results (for the AA, AAA, Majors, Juniors and Seniors divisions; players wishing to play at the next highest division based on their League Age who are not drafted will play at the division for their age group).

All Fall players are assigned to an appropriate division and to teams by the LLLL Player Agents based on:

Participant’s League Age

LLLL is open to players with a League Age of 5 to 14 inclusive for T-Ball through Little League Juniors, and League Age 15-16 for Little League Seniors. In April 2014, the Little League International Congress approved a new league age determination amendment for Little League Baseball. Click here for an explanation of the revised League Age determination.

Previous Little League experience (number of seasons played and previous divisions)

Coach/Manager evaluations from any previous season

Number of players/teams at each level that can be accommodated by available fields and available managers

Overall benefit to league (e.g., competitive balance, scheduling, etc)

Parental request on the registration form

Important Notes:

The division of play in a Fall season has NO bearing on the division of play for a subsequent season. This is highlighted on the Registration web page for the Fall season, but often forgotten by the following Spring.

Little League International regulations require that all League Age 12-year-olds must be placed on a team in the Majors division. Any exception requests will require a special waiver.

GAMES & PRACTICES
LLLL teams usually play a regular season of between 12 and 14 games depending on the level of play (TBall, Machine Pitch, AA, AAA, Majors, Juniors, Seniors), field availability, and weather conditions. Games are usually played on Saturdays. LLLL teams usually practice one or two nights during the week, and usually on the same fields where we play our games. Game and practice schedules may vary depending on the weather (rain-outs), and on the schedules our coaches work out with their team parents.

GAME LOCATIONS
LLLL games are played at our League fields, Jeff Cobb Field and Jack Jennings Field, adjacent to Sterling Middle School and at elementary and middle school fields in Sterling / Potomac Falls. Please see the “Fields” tab on the main menu of this web site for field locations, addresses and driving directions.

HOLIDAYS
Games are NOT scheduled during the LCPS Spring Break or over holiday weekends (e.g., Memorial Day or Labor Day weekends).

ALL-STAR GAMES
At the end of the regular Spring season, LLLL fields All-Star teams for participation in Little League-sanctioned tournaments. The tournament teams are selected from among the players who participated in the regular season. LLLL will have one team in each tournament for League Age 11 and 12 year old players, League Age 10 and 11 year old players, and League Age 9 and 10 year old players. The 11/12 tournament culminates in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA for the top 16 teams from around the world. The 10/11 and 9/10 tournaments result in the crowning of a Virginia State Champion in each age group.

CHALLENGER DIVISION
The Challenger Program provides boys and girls with disabilities the opportunity to experience the emotional development and the fun of playing Little League Baseball. Note that the Challenger Program is offered only during the LLLL Spring season and is dependent on having enough interested players.

MEMBERSHIP
Membership in Lower Loudoun Little League is as prescribed by Little League International and defined in the LLLL Constitution. In general terms all Officers, Board Members, Committee Members, Managers, Coaches, Umpires and Volunteers who have completed and submitted a Little League Volunteer application (available under the “Forms and Handouts” button), passed a background check, and have been approved by the Board of Directors are Regular Members of LLLL. Other membership categories include Honorary Members and Sustaining members. Individuals with an active interest in and who wish to support LLLL may become members by submitting a Little League Volunteer application, paying a $10 annual fee to the League, and approval by the Board. Applications for membership along with a check for $10.00 should be mailed to: President, LLLL, P.O. Box 23, Sterling, Virginia 20167 prior to May 1 of each year.

REFUNDS
Please note that LLLL incurs costs based on the number of players who register for each season. As a result LLLL has a no refund policy for registrations.

VOLUNTEERS
Lower Loudoun Little League is an all-volunteer organization. The League depends on each family to make a volunteer commitment in one or more areas. This volunteer activity is extremely rewarding. Contact a LLLL Board Member to learn more about volunteer opportunities including Team Manager, Assistant Coach, Field Maintenance, Opening Day Coordinator, Tryout Coordinator, Fundraising, etc. Thank you!

Posted in FAQ