We have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions below. If you have additional questions not addressed here, please contact us at [email protected]. We will do our best to respond to your question promptly and/or we will add it to the FAQs here.
REGISTRATION
Who is eligible to play in Lake Forest Little League?
What divisions does Lake Forest Little League offer? Which one should my player play in?
My player played Little League Tee Ball last spring and will be League Age 5 this coming spring. The system only allows me to register for Tee Ball again, but I think they are ready to play Rookie. Can I adjust the registration to Rookie?
My player played Little League Rookie last spring and will be League Age 6 this coming spring. The system only allows me to register for Rookie again, but I think they are ready to play Single A. Can I adjust the registration to Single A?
My player is League Age 7 and played Little League Tee Ball last spring and would now like to play in Single A. Can they skip the Rookie division?
My League Age 8 player does not want to attend player evaluations and would like to play in Single A, but the system only allows me to register for AA. Can I adjust the registration to Single A?
My player has little/no prior experience in baseball, and I don't think they are ready for the division that they are age-eligible for. Can I adjust the registration to a lower division?
When is registration for the Spring and Fall seasons?
What if I missed the registration dates? Can my player still play for the current season?
What is the cost of registration?
What is the registration fee used for?
During checkout, I was presented with the option to purchase insurance to protect my registration fee. What does this insurance cover? Who do I make claims through?
I completed my online registration, what happens next?
Why do you need so many documents to verify age/residency? Why do you need to re-verify for returning players if none of the information has changed?
Can I cancel my registration and receive a refund of my registration fee?
Can I request to have my player play with a sibling/friend or request a specific coach?
How does the team selection process work?
What happens at player evaluations?
What if my player missed the player evaluation?
When/how will I find out what team my player is on?
SEASON
Where/when/how often are the games and practices held?
How does Fall Ball differ from the Spring Season?
When does Spring Season/Fall Ball begin and end?
Will my player receive a trophy/award at the end of the season?
What is Opening Day and when is it?
What equipment/apparel do I need to get for my player?
What is All Stars?
If my player gets injured at a practice or game, what should I do?
VOLUNTEERS
Why does the league require a volunteer commitment?
What roles can I volunteer for?
I volunteer to bring after-game snacks for the players. Do I still need to volunteer in another capacity?
GENERAL
I am a business owner and would like to become a sponsor, how do I do that?
How do I join the Board of Directors?
Who is eligible to play in Lake Forest Little League?
Boys and girls, league ages 4-16, who live or attend school within the District 55 Lake Forest boundary are eligible to play in Lake Forest Little League. Use this tool to check which league you are eligible to play with: https://www.littleleague.org/play-little-league/league-finder/
To complete player registration, proof of residency documents must be provided.
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What divisions does Lake Forest Little League offer? Which one should my player play in?
Click here for a description of divisions offered by LFLL.
Divisions are based on the League Age of the player. Click here to find out what League Age your player is for the current season.
First-time Little League players who are League Age 6 may play either Tee Ball (hitting the ball off a tee) or Rookie (hitting the ball pitched to them by a coach in a kneeled position).
League Age 8 players are encouraged to attend player evaluations (Spring season only). A limited number of league age 8 year olds will be drafted to a AA team. If your player does not get drafted to a AA team, then they will be placed on a Single A team.
League Age 9+ players MUST attend player evaluations in order to enter the draft process (Spring season only). All eligible players who attend evaluations will make a team.
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My player played Little League Tee Ball last spring and will be League Age 5 this coming spring. The system only allows me to register for Tee Ball again, but I think they are ready to play Rookie. Can I adjust the registration to Rookie?
Yes – please complete the online registration for Tee Ball and contact the Player Agent at [email protected] to adjust your registration manually. Please note that the registration fee is slightly higher for Rookie, and you will need to submit another payment for the remaining balance in your account before your player is placed on a team. Players who played in non-Little League Tee Ball programs (e.g. SVUSD, Pony) do not qualify for the exemption to play up.
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My player played Little League Rookie last spring and will be League Age 6 this coming spring. The system only allows me to register for Rookie again, but I think they are ready to play Single A. Can I adjust the registration to Single A?
Yes – please complete the online registration for Rookie and contact the Player Agent at [email protected] to adjust your registration manually. Please note that the registration fee is slightly higher for Single A, and you will need to submit another payment for the remaining balance in your account before your player is placed on a team. Players who played in non-Little League Rookie programs (e.g. SVUSD, Pony) do not qualify for the exemption to play up.
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My player is League Age 7 and played Little League Tee Ball last spring and would now like to play in Single A. Can they skip the Rookie division?
Yes – please select the Single A option during online registration.
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My League Age 8 player does not want to attend player evaluations and would like to play in Single A, but the system only allows me to register for the Drafted Division. Can I adjust the registration to Single A?
Yes – please complete the online registration and contact the Player Agent at [email protected] to adjust your registration manually.
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My player has little/no prior experience in baseball, and I don't think they are ready for the division that they are age-eligible for. Can I adjust the registration to a lower division?
Lake Forest LL is a recreational program, and we have players of varying skill levels on each team. For the overall safety and experience of the players in each division, we do not accept requests to "play down" a division simply due to lack of previous baseball experience. If there is a valid safety concern for your player, please contact the Player Agent at [email protected] and each issue will be dealt with on a case by case basis.
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When is registration for the Spring and Fall seasons?
Spring: Early bird registration with special discounted prices will run through the month of October. Regular registration will run through the month of November, as team counts are finalized during December. Late registrations will be accepted until Player Evaluation Day for drafted divisions (league age 9+) and until teams are full or the season has begun (whichever occurs earlier) for all lower divisions (Challengers, Tee Ball, Rookie, and Single A).
Fall: Early bird registration with special discounted prices begins in May. Registration runs through the end of August, as space is available.
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What if I missed the registration dates? Can my player still play for the current season?
Because teams are formed shortly after registration closes, LFLL will need to consider whether there is any available space on a team in the appropriate division for your player. For Spring drafted divisions (league age 9+), registrations after Player Evaluations will only be accepted for justifiable reasons. Please contact the Player Agent at [email protected] with any requests.
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What is the cost of registration?
Please check our Registration page for the current season’s registration prices.
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What is the registration fee used for?
100% of the registration fees are used for the operation of the Lake Forest LL program and cover the costs of player uniforms and keepsakes (photos and trophies), team equipment, field use fees, improvement/maintenance of facilities, insurance and other ongoing administrative costs. The board members who operate the program are all volunteers and take no compensation.
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I completed my online registration, what happens next?
In order to complete the registration process, you must provide proof of age and residency documents either online during registration or at the in-person Document Check*. The documents you need to provide include the following:
- Certified copy of player’s birth certificate - must have raised seal, photocopies will NOT be accepted. The birth certificate is the only acceptable form for verification of age - passports, hospital records, etc. cannot be accepted per Little League International rules.
- ONE document from EACH of the following groups of documents. All documents must be dated between February 1st of the prior year and January 31st of the current year (February 1, 2023, and January 31, 2024 for Spring 2024 season) and include at least one of the legal parent(s)/guardian(s) name and full residence address. The address MUST match across all documents.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: Players who have a completed Tournament Player Verification form (with all paperwork/staples intact) from the previous tournament season may present this packet at Document Check in lieu of current year proof of residency documents and birth certificate. All other documents listed above are still required. Those players who do not live within the boundaries of Lake Forest LL but attend a school within the boundaries may complete a School Enrollment Form in lieu of the 3 residency documents.
The completed/printed Medical Release Form will be collected by the Team Parent at the first team practice/meeting and must be submitted before your player can begin practice.
* There is no in-person document check for Fall Ball. Please refer to the Fall Ball registration page for additional details.
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Why do you need so many documents to verify age/residency? Why do you need to re-verify for returning players if none of the information has changed?
Lake Forest Little League is subject to the rules and regulations as set forth by Little League International. Annual verification of residency and obtaining three separate documents to verify residency even for returning players is required by Little League International. See their FAQs HERE.
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Can I cancel my registration and receive a refund of my registration fee?
We understand that circumstances may arise that result in a player needing to withdraw their registration. Our refund policy is outlined on our Registration Page. A $10 administrative fee will be withheld from all refunds issued in order to cover our costs associated with the transaction.
Our standard refund policy will apply to any and all closures (including COVID-related season cancelations).
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Can I request to have my player play with a sibling/friend or request a specific coach?
We attempt to place siblings who play in the same division on the same team.
For lower divisions (Challengers, Tee Ball, Rookie, Single A), we will make our best efforts to honor friend/coach requests that have been submitted during the online registration before the close of regular registration. However, requests cannot be guaranteed.
Friend/coach requests are not allowed in the upper divisions (AA and above) as all players are evaluated based on player evaluations and drafted to their teams.
Because there is no draft for Fall Ball, friend/coach requests may be made for all divisions. However, requests cannot be guaranteed, as we attempt to form balanced teams based on previous playing experience.
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How does the team selection process work?
For lower divisions (Challengers, Tee Ball, Rookie, Single A), teams are formed by the Player Agent after considering sibling/friend/coach requests.
For upper divisions (AA and above), players are drafted by each division’s team managers after the players attend an evaluation.
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What happens at player evaluations?
Players will be evaluated on their baseball skills by the team managers. Skills to be evaluated will include hitting, throwing, catching, fielding, and running abilities. Attitude and effort are considered as well.
Sample evaluation drills to be conducted:
- 3 pop flies: using a machine, pop flies will be hit into left field and player will catch and make a throw to 2nd base. They will then become the 2nd base player to catch the throw.
- 3 ground balls: ground balls will be hit to short stop and player will field and throw to 1st base. They will then become the 1st base player to catch the throw.
- Batting: 4-5 swings off of the machine or live pitches. On the last swing, batter will run to 2nd base.
- Pitching (if applicable): players that stay for pitcher evaluation will throw ~5 pitches.
Please remember that player evaluations are not "tryouts" - no one is "cut" and everyone will make a team! The purpose of the player evaluations is to ensure that players play in a division that will allow them to develop their skills at the appropriate level and that teams are formed evenly, so all can enjoy a fun and competitive season of baseball. If you have any questions or concerns about the player evaluation process, please contact the Player Agent at [email protected].
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What if my player missed the player evaluation?
We may or may not have a make-up day that will be announced after the player evaluations are held - weather and timing of draft permitting. If your player is unable to attend the make-up and is league age 9+, you will need to present a justifiable reason for absence to the Player Agent. Justifiable reasons include, but are not limited to: having a cast (with a doctor’s note), being away for planned travel, and other emergency situations. If you know that your player will not be able to attend the player evaluation or make-up, please contact the Player Agent immediately. If no justifiable reason exists, the player will not be eligible for the draft and will be unable to participate in the spring season.
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When/how will I find out what team my player is on?
You can expect an email from your player’s team manager between late January to early February for Spring and mid-late August for Fall.
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Where/when/how often are the games and practices held?
Where: Games and practices are scheduled and conducted based on city of Lake Forest field availability. Lower divisions (Tee Ball, Rookie, Single A, & Challengers) typically utilize Lake Forest Sports Park, Foothill Ranch Community Park, Tamarisk Park and/or Baker Ranch Community Park. Upper divisions (AA and above) typically utilize Heroes Park (as these fields have the proper infield grass, base path dimensions and pitcher's mounds required for these divisions). However, this is subject to change each season based on the number of teams for each division.
When: Practice time slots are selected by the team managers shortly before the first practice; therefore, requests cannot be accommodated for specific practice days/times during registration. Your team manager will inform you of their team’s assigned practice slots. Pre-season practices (before the first game) typically consist of 1-2 weekday (M-F) practices and 1 weekend (Sa-Su) practice. Once games commence, lower division teams will typically have just 1 weekday practice. Upper division teams will typically have 1 field practice on Sundays and additional batting cage practice at the discretion of the manager.
Fall Ball consists of 1 weekday practice with upper division teams having an additional batting cage practice at the discretion of the manager.
Game schedules are determined once teams have been formed and are typically available a week before the first game. First day of games will be on or after Opening Day. There will be no games during the SVUSD Spring Break. Lower division teams will typically play games only on Saturdays, although a weekday game in lieu of practice towards the end of the season is possible. Upper division teams will typically play 1 weekday game and 1 Saturday game. An occasional Friday or Sunday is possible in lieu of Saturday, depending on the total number of teams we have for the season.
For the Fall, games are typically played on Sundays (or Friday nights, based on interleague/field availability).
Note that game schedules are subject to change each season based on the number of teams for each division and the field allocations we receive from the city of Lake Forest.
How often: For the Spring, lower divisions (Tee Ball, Rookie, and Single A) typically meet 2 times/week (consisting of practice and games) beginning late January/early February (each running 60-90 minutes). Games are typically 60-90 minutes, with 15-30 minutes of warm-up/practice beforehand, as determined by each team manager.
AA and above divisions typically meet 3-4 times/week (consisting of batting cages, field practice, and games). Batting cages are typically 1 hour and practices are typically 1.5-2 hours each. Games are ~2 to 2.5 hours, with 30-60 minutes of warm-up/practice beforehand.
There are typically 10-12 games for lower divisions and 18-20 games for the upper divisions during the Spring season. Additional post-season games may be added on for upper divisions, and the number of added games are dependent on the team’s progress in the post-season tournament.
The Fall season typically has 9-10 games (1 game per week), with no post-season playoffs/tournaments.
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How does Fall Ball differ from the Spring Season?
Fall Ball is primarily focused on instruction and player development. Games are not scored and there are no season standings. Typically, teams practice once a week and play once a week during the Fall, so the time commitment is less than in the Spring.
Games are typically played on Sundays, in an effort to avoid conflict with other sports traditionally played on Saturdays in the fall. Instruction is stressed over gameplay and some of the formality of the Spring Season. Team photos, trophies, and tournaments are not included to keep the fees low. In general, Fall Ball has a more relaxed environment compared to the Spring Season.
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When does Spring Season/Fall Ball begin and end?
Spring: Practices for the Spring season typically begin late January/early February. Games begin on or after Opening Day. The regular season typically runs through mid-May, although if there is a delay to the start of our season or there are a lot of rainouts, we may extend the season for the lower divisions through mid-June. If your player is selected to play on All-Stars (AA and above only), the All-Star season may extend into the summer months.
Fall: Practices begin late August, with games beginning 1-2 weeks later. The Fall Ball season is 9-10 weeks and ends in mid-November (typically the week before Thanksgiving).
Will my player receive a trophy/award at the end of the season?
Every player in Challengers, Tee Ball, Rookie, and Single A will receive a participation award at the end of the Spring season. Each player on the Division Champion and Runner Up teams in the AA and AAA divisions will receive an award at the end of the Spring season. Each player on the Division Champion team in Majors and Intermediate will receive an award at the end of the Spring season. There are no awards for the Fall Ball season.
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What is Opening Day and when is it?
Opening Day is the official start of the Spring Season and is planned for late February/early March every Spring Season. All teams and family and friends are invited. There will be a parade of players with a keynote speaker, raffle prizes, and other activities (more information will be provided as the date nears). It is fun for the entire family!
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What equipment/apparel do I need to get for my player?
Your player must have his/her own baseball glove, a USABat approved bat, batting helmet, baseball pants and cleats (soccer cleats are fine for lower divisions). Please ask your Team Manager for color of pants, socks, and belts that should be purchased (it is their discretion). Boys should also have a protective cup. Your player should also bring a large bottle of water to every practice and game in order to stay well hydrated! If you are unsure of what size equipment to get for your child, please contact your team manager.
Optional equipment you may consider getting for your player: batting gloves, equipment bag/backpack, own set of catcher’s gear.
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What is All Stars?
All Stars are special post-season teams. Players who played the regular season in AA and above divisions are eligible to be selected to an All Star team. All Star managers are selected by their peer managers and the Lake Forest LL Board. Managers form their teams based on performance throughout the regular season and input from the managers within each division. All Stars are announced around June 1st each year. During the first tournament, Lake Forest teams compete against other cities within District 55. If they win the tournament, these teams progress to higher level tournaments until they are eliminated via double elimination. If a team is extremely successful, All Stars can compete through August. Majors All Stars, Intermediate All Stars, and Juniors All Stars can potentially travel and if they reach a high enough level, be televised on ESPN! The Little League World Series is the highest level of All Stars play.
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If my player gets injured at a practice or game, what should I do?
If your player sustains an injury during a practice or game, you (the parent) should notify the Safety Officer within 24-48 hours of the incident in writing/via email to [email protected]. Your player is covered under the Little League Insurance Program, but all claims must be received via mail by Little League International headquarters within 20 days of the date of injury, so it is critical to begin the claims paperwork immediately and our Safety Officer will assist you through the process. For additional details, please refer to What Parents Should Know About Little League Insurance.
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Why does the league require a volunteer commitment?
Lake Forest Little League is a 100% volunteer run organization. It strives to keep registration fees low amidst rising costs by relying on fundraisers and Snack Bar revenues and volunteers to help run its operations.
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What roles can I volunteer for?
We are looking for enthusiastic and responsible parents/guardians/relatives who want to make a difference for the children in the league in the following roles:
- Manager/Head Coach: Being a Manager requires time, patience, and a basic knowledge of the game. You should be able to attend the majority of games and practices (as the Manager, you will be able to select your own practice slot). You will communicate with the parents/guardians of your players to keep them informed on practice times and games. The Manager is the head coach and is ultimately responsible for the team. The manager drafts the team (AA and above will have an official "draft meeting;" Single A and below may email requests for specific players to the Player Agent), plans and runs the practices, coaches the team, and is the primary contact between the league and the team. If you would like to be a Manager, please complete online registration and additional information will be emailed to you.
- Assistant Coach: An Assistant Coach primarily helps the Manager coach the team and run the practices and games. For AA and above divisions, the Manager can recruit as many coaches to assist during practice as needed, but there may only be two rostered Assistant Coaches with the Manager in the dugout during a game. For Single A and below, we encourage several Assistant Coaches to be on the field to help direct and coach players during a game and one coach in the dugout for teams in offense to supervise players and enforce bat safety. If you would like to be an Assistant Coach, please complete online registration and additional information will be emailed to you.
- Umpire: Aside from calling balls or strikes, safe or out, umpires should be demanding good sportsmanship from all game participants. Umpires are also called upon to interpret rules (a knowledge of Little League Rule Book rules is crucial, and a copy of the current year Rule Book is available for download for $2) and help settle minor disputes that may occur during games. Umpires are used in the competitive divisions (AA and above) and most games have one field umpire and one plate umpire. We require every team, even in lower divisions (Tee Ball, Rookie, and Single A) to fulfill umpire duties for AA and above division games. No previous experience necessary. Umpire training is provided by both LFLL as well as District 55 and is required for any new/inexperienced umpires.
- Team Parent: A Team Parent helps the Manager with communication and administrative matters relating to the team. This may include: picking up and distributing uniforms, coordinating volunteer schedules, collecting Angels Day ticket orders, picking up/distributing/collecting Picture Day order forms, and organizing team social events. The Team Parent will also ensure that all applicable trainings and background checks are completed for each volunteer at the beginning of the season. Attendance at a Team Parent meeting prior to the season start is required to obtain detailed information about this role.
- Snack bar: Assists the Snack Bar Manager with running the Snack Bar (either at LF Sports Park or Heroes Park). This can include taking orders from customers, filling orders, and/or running the grill.
- Event helper: The league may from time to time request volunteers to help with events.
Additionally, each team will need help with the following for each game.
- Scorekeeper/Pitch Counter: The home team for any competitive division (AA and above) game must provide a Scorekeeper and the visiting team must provide a Pitch Counter. The Scorekeeper uses provided scoresheets to keep track of balls, strikes, hits, plays, and the final score. The Pitch Counter simply keeps track of the number of pitches each pitcher throws on a provided sheet in order to help team managers maintain compliance with Little League’s maximum pitch count and required rest day rules. No previous experience necessary - training is offered by LFLL.
- Field prep: The home team is responsible for prepping the field for a game (N/A at LF Sports Park due to lack of equipment storage). This includes watering, dragging, and chalking the field. The visiting team is responsible for field takedown (i.e. putting bases/equipment away).
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I volunteer to bring after-game snacks for the players. Do I still need to volunteer in another capacity?
Yes - each player is required to provide a volunteer to help spread the various volunteer duties across the entire team and league (unless he/she has paid the volunteer opt-out fee of $250/player/season) for the benefit of the entire league's players' experience playing baseball.
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We would love to hear from you! Please contact the Sponsor Fundraising Manager at [email protected] for more information.
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How do I join the Board of Directors?
We hold an annual election for the Board of Directors in May of each year. Please reach out to the Secretary at [email protected] to add your name to the annual ballot.
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