CCLL Baseball

Please check the CCLL calendar page for exact league dates and events. Typically, the season consists of player registration in January/February, player assessments in late February,  practices which begin immediately after the draft in early March, regular season games in early April, playoffs in early June and then culminating in All-Star selection and play throughout the months of July and August.

The CCLL regular game season usually lasts April through May with playoffs ending in mid June (typically during the last week of the local school schedule).  The season is extended for players that are selected to the All Star tournament teams. Parents who want their children to be considered for All-Stars need to understand the potential impact upon summer vacation plans. All Star teams typically play well into July and August.

The main complex for CCLL players 12 & under is at Harry Daniel Park at Ironbridge (fields 1-4).  Because of the number of fields, the league does use fields at the local high schools, middle schools, elementary schools or Goyne, Matoaca, and Point of Rocks Parks for a LIMITED number of games.  Those fields are used extensively for practices however.  Please see the field maps page for precise directions to all fields. Please check your team schedule and the fields’ maps page to be sure of the exact location.

CCLL uses a combination of parent volunteers and paid umpires. The majority of those umpires are from the paid umpire pool but it is important to understand that the pay is MINIMAL and most of those umpires are players in the league ages 13-16 who do so primarily for the love of the game.  All umpires are required to attend training clinics. A plate umpire and a field umpire are used in all games unless a scheduling issue arises causing a shortage of available umpires. In the T-Ball division, coaches manage the flow of the game and umpires are not assigned.

If by mid-March your child has not received a call about placement on a team, please the player agent for your child’s division.

As discussed in the answer to the “uniform” question, most of your child’s fees go to cover the expense of the league furnished uniform.  Of the total fees paid, approximately 50%-60% are used to cover those expenses.  OK, then what happens to the remainder?  From the remaining fees, the league is responsible by its charter with Little League International to cover expenses such as Liability Insurance, certain equipment items (helmets, catcher’s gear, baseballs), tournament entry fees, and umpire expenses.  In addition, the league is responsible for a portion of the maintenance and upkeep of the facilities.  Although they are county owned facilities, the league must make any improvements above and beyond the minimal requirement of the Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department.  When you see items such as new batting cages, replacement nets for the cages, upgrades to the bullpens, field maintenance equipment necessary to have fields playable on severe weather days, dugout additions, covered stands for the scorekeepers, and other such items, those expenses must be covered by the league.  As you can imagine, the fees alone will not pay all of those expenses.  That is where the fundraiser and sponsors come into play.  When you consider just the uniform items provided alone and then compare the CCLL fees to other leagues in the area, you will find that we have succeeded in keeping our fees lower than other local leagues yet still provide your child much more in return for those fees.

While the answer to this question is dependent upon the number of players registered and the corresponding number of volunteer coaches available, CCLL has been successful in keeping EVERY team at 13 or less players.  Historically, our T-ball and Rookie teams will carry 13 players since they are allowed more players on the field at any given time.  At all other levels, we typically fill each team with 11-12 players. By doing so, it provides for smaller group instructional sessions with your coaching staff AND it provides greater playing time opportunities.

Let’s tackle the first piece of the question first.  Yes, a player may be kept at a lower division for safety or skill considerations, depending on the age division.  Please contact the player agent for more information.  The second piece of the question is just a little different.  Since the teams are set by the draft, players may be assessed to play at a higher level or division but it is up to the managers/coaches at that level to rate the player such that he/she warrants being drafted by the required round for their age at that level or division.  Specific requirements may be found at the "Player Draft" procedures.

T-ball and Rookie games are limited to 1 hour 15 minutes. Minor and Major-Minor games are limited to 1 hour and 30 minutes.  Major, Junior, and Senior division games are limited to 1 hour 45 minutes (or the time established by the league at the beginning of the season).  For those levels (Major-Minor, Major, Junior, and Senior) where the players are eligible for one or more levels of District All-Star play, those games may be extended to guarantee they meet "regulation" game requirements.  Those levels must have at least 12 games which met regulation game requirements for those players to be eligible for District All-Star selection.  Regulation play for Major-Minor and Major games is defined as 3 1/2 innings if the home team is winning or 4 innings if the visiting team is winning.  For Juniors and Seniors that minimum increases to 4 1/2 or 5 innings.

What does this mean?  It means that if the game has reached those minimum inning requirements when the time limit is reached, the game will end in accordance with the time limits established for each level above.  However, if the time limit is reached but a "regulation" game is not recorded, the game will be extended only for the time necessary to reach those minimum inning requirements.  Again, this ONLY applies to those levels where District All-Star selection is a consideration (Major-Minor, Major, Juniors, Seniors.)  This DOES NOT mean games are played to "total completion" (i.e. 6 innings or 7 innings depending on level)  but only to the length or time necessary to reach "regulation."  In those rare instances where a game does not appear to provide a reasonable opportunity to reach regulation (i.e. the score is 22-14, it is only the 2nd inning, and the game has already reached 2 hours) the game may be stopped without meeting the regulation requirement.  The effected levels are specifically addressed in the CCLL local league (White Sheet) rules.

Every team has a manager approved by the Board of Directors. Each team's manager can have as many assistants as they can find for practices, but only two assistant coaches are allowed in the dugout during games, except at the Rookie and T-ball levels. In the Rookie division, three assistant coaches are allowed, and in T-ball there is no set limit, as more involvement is often necessary to keep the little ones focused. Any manager, coach or volunteer that comes into contact with players MUST complete the CCLL on-line volunteer application and submit to a background check.  Identification must also be provided. The volunteer application and instructions on obtaining the background check may be obtained at our website www.ccllbaseball.com.

The team manager oversees the management of the team throughout the season. They are responsible for setting a practice schedule, developing a practice format, creating a lineup card for every game, monitoring pitch counts to protect their pitchers’ arms, and ensuring kids get their minimum playing time in each game. Managers are the focal point of the team and must be committed to following through with managing the team from mid-February to mid-June. Time commitment is usually around 5-10 hours a week depending upon division. Managers need to be able to commit to be at most practices and games. Managers also must attend a pre-season meeting as required by the league, and a manager's meeting with the division representative. As well, they must schedule and conduct a parent meeting prior to the first practice of the season. Managers are assisted by a volunteer team parent that helps with things like concession stand scheduling, fundraising events, uniform distribution, and picture day.

For the Minor division and above, only two assistant coaches are allowed in the dugout during games. However, a manager may elect to use more than two coaches during practice. At T-ball the league encourages as many coaches as possible even during games (to assist on the field and in the dugout) but they must ALL have a background check card.  At the Rookie division, teams are allowed three coaches in addition to the manager.  This allows Rookie teams to maintain two base coaches, the manager using the pitching machine, and a coach remaining in the dugout per LLI requirements.  Coaches provide support during practice to ensure kids get enough attention while developing their skills and they help in completing some of those things required of the manager. Coaches are under the guidance and direction of the manager. Typically, a manager will design a practice format and have assistants take care of coaching small groups of players, assisting with batting practice, hitting grounders or fly balls, or other assistant duties. Assistant coaches should commit to be at all practices and games, generally about 2-8 hours a week depending upon division. All actions of an assistant coach during games are the ultimate responsibility of the manager.

Absolutely. CCLL does not tolerate foul language or taunting at any level by the players, parents, managers, or coaches. Any spectator, player, manager or coach that is warned is subject to being ejected from the premises and banned from the complex for additional games. Each participant’s parents must acknowledge and sign the league and Chesterfield Countycode of conduct during the registration process.  Additionally, they acknowledge this code of conduct again at the first team meeting.  As part of the effort to emphasize positive conduct, the manager is responsible for having his/her coaching staff sign the Coaching Code of Conduct and provide a copy to the appropriate league coordinator prior to the start of the season.

Every year, CCLL fields All-Star teams to represent our league and showcase the talents of the very best that CCLL has to offer. There are two types of All-Star tournaments: District and Invitational.  Between those two tournaments, CCLL typically provides the opportunity for over 1/3 of the league participants to represent our league on those ALL-STAR teams. While the below provides a short synopsis of the All-Star selection process, details may be found in the league by-laws regarding All-Star selection.

District All Stars make up a single team to represent a specific age group of players. These teams compete in the official Tournament coordinated and run by Virginia District 5. District All Stars are selected through a lengthy process that includes voting by the players in the respective league, voting by the Managers in the respective league, with the final roster spots selected by the Team Manager, who must select from the finalists from the Player & Coaches’ ballots. Tournament Rules are used in lieu of the Regular Season Rules, which alters several parts of the game, the most noticeable of which are the batting order (bat 9 instead of the whole roster) and the minimum play requirements (players only have to play 6 consecutive defensive outs on defense). The District hosted tournaments are rotated annually from league to league and are conducted at five levels.

Invitational All Stars make up one or more teams per level (the number of teams depends on several factors, including the total number of players at the level) and play in Tournaments hosted by individual Little Leagues within the District. Players are nominated and voted on by the Managers from the respective levels.  With the exception of the Rookie tournament, all other tournaments are conducted using Little League Tournament rules as is done during the district tournaments.  The purpose of the Invitational Tournaments is to provide the opportunity for more players to participate in the Little League tournament experience.

If at any time you have a problem or just want information, you can e-mail the league at any time. However, please first discuss any concerns with your child's manager or coach, and then with the division's player agent (who is a Board Member assigned to oversee that Division). If still not satisfied, contact the appropriate League Coordinator.  Contact information is on the CCLL Board member page.

Volunteers are absolutely vital and essential to the success of the league.  There are primarily three methods of contact for volunteer purposes.  First, during player registration, you may indicate on your player application that you are interested in various volunteer capacities.  By doing so, your name and interest will be captured in the league database and the appropriate board member will contact you.  Second, if you have not been contacted or decide to volunteer after you have completed the player application, you may contact ANY board member to express your interest.  At that time, they will either discuss that interest with you or connect you with the appropriate board member.  Contact information is on the CCLL Board member page. Third, you may call and express your interest on the league hotline at 271-0160 or you may notify your team’s manager, coach or team parent who will notify the appropriate board member.

The league's web site is at www.ccllbaseball.com. The site offers all the information you need to stay informed about registration, events, schedules, rules, board member contacts, sponsorship information, baseball clinics, umpire training, etc. If you have a question that is still unanswered, please contact the league at the appropriate person from the CCLL Board.

Here is where our league has improved by leaps and bounds over the last few years.  In many cases we tend to err on the side of providing too much information with the desire that no parent, player, or volunteer ever has the need to ask a question.  First, there is always our web-site at www.ccllbaseball.com.  We will strive to keep that updated at all times.  Second, as you registered, you hopefully provided us with one or more email addresses.  This allows us to notify all 850+ participants in the league of important announcements like weather related cancellations, upcoming events, clinic opportunities, etc. using our mass email system.  Doing so, we can announce a cancellation to all of those participants instantly saving those phone calls to the hotline or waiting for a call from the manager or coach.  Speaking of the manager or coach, the third way to get information to you is through your manager or coach.  We will provide them and the team parent with all important information to pass to those without email capability or who simply did not receive the notice.  Fourth (and last) you may always contact our hotline at 271-0160.  That hotline will be updated with important news, weather cancellations, and other items of interest and also provides the opportunity for you to leave a message if you need someone to contact you with additional information.  The county hotline at 748-1001 is also available but only to check for weather related field closings.  The last way is to follow us on Facebook and/or Twitter.  We will be using these two sites to post information about events and field closings.