Calgary West Little League: FAQ's
Frequently Asked QuestionsNOTE: This information is specific to our league and may change at any time without notice. Thank you for your understanding.
What are some of the main changes for 2009?
- There will be amendments to the Pitch Count regulation in 2009, specifically that required days of rest have changed once again depending on the number of pitches thrown, and changes that will allow pitchers to play the position of catcher if they have only thrown a certain number of pitches. A full update will be provided before the start of the season to all managers and coaches.
- There are new bat regulations in effect, please see our home page or check under Player Equipment for details.
- The Parent Pitch division will now be know as Rookie Ball.
When does the season start?
- This is largely dependant on the division and the placement and availability of managers and coaches, not to mention the weather and field conditions.
- Depending on field conditions, practices could start as early as early April for some divisions.
- BlastBall, T-Ball, Rookie Ball will start play around the end of April or early May and run through to the end of June.
- Minors, Majors, Juniors, and Seniors will start play around mid-April and run through to mid to late June.
How often do they play?
This is largely dependant on the division and manager and coaches.
- BlastBall and T-Ball generally play and practice 2 set days a week.
- Rookie Ball and upward will see 2-3 games scheduled per week plus 1-2 practices scheduled by the managers or coaches.
What days of the week do they play?
- BlastBall has traditionally played on Mondays and Wednesdays.
- T-Ball has traditionally played on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- For all other divisions, games and practices can and will be any day of the week, including weekends.
What times do they play?
- BlastBall and T-Ball games start at 6:00 PM and finish by 7:30 PM.
- Rookie Ball and Minor division games have two hour time limits and generally start at 6:00 PM on weekdays and variable times on the weekend.
- Majors, Juniors, and Seniors games do not have time limits, but do have limits based on darkness, etc.
- Most coaches ask that players are at the field at least 30-60 minutes before game time to properly warm up.
What equipment must be provided by the parents/guardians?
- Please see our new section labelled Player Equipment.
What are the differences between BlastBall and T-Ball
- BlastBall is a fun introduction to baseball for players league age 4-5. Teams are small with only 4-6 players and there is only one base, the BlastBase. The object of the game is for the batter to hit a foam ball off the tee and then run and jump on the BlastBase (which honks loudly) before the fielders get the ball and hold it up and yell "BLAST".
- T-Ball is the first step in more traditional baseball for players age 5-7. Players bat off a tee and play all positions in the field, except for pitcher, as the players hit off a batting tee.
I cant afford the fees what should I do?
Under the Little League charter, no child may be excluded from play based on inability to pay. Subsidies are available through Kidsport please visit www.kidsport.ca to print an application. Our league will also help if Kidsport is not an option, please contact president@cwll.org.
Unfortunately, I need to withdraw my child can I get a refund?
Our league will provide a full refund of your fees minus a $25.00 admin fee under the following circumstances: In BlastBall, T-Ball and Rookie Ball, until the uniforms have been issued. In Minors and above, until the player drafts occur or teams have been formed. Once the uniforms have been issued in BlastBall, T-Ball and Rookie Ball or the player drafts have occurred or teams have been formed in Minors and above our league has a NO refund policy.
How many players on a team?
- For BlastBall, there are 4-6 players per team, and for T-Ball 10-12 players.
- For all other divisions the ideal team consists of 11-12 players per team, however there may be up to 14 players on a team.
I registered in February and I havent heard anything yet whats happening?
- Once the registration information is collected and entered in the database, reports for each division are prepared for the various division coordinators.
- Player evaluations then take place in early March for Minors and upward.
- The number of teams is then determined and managers and/or coaches are assigned to each team, then players are assigned or drafted to the teams.
- There is a coaches meeting (to review rules, events, etc) with the division coordinator.
- The managers and coaches for each team receive the team roster and are then in a position to start contacting parents.
- Often, the managers and coaches will organize a parent meeting before the season starts. Practices can then commence.
- If you have any questions about this process, please contact the applicable division coordinator or vice-president (refer to the Executive section of the website at www.cwll.org).
What are evaluations?
Evaluation sessions provide the opportunity for division coordinators and managers and coaches to assess the ability of players. This process assists the league in placing players appropriate to their skill level. There are a number of stations (pitching, fielding, hitting, speed and agility) through which the players rotate; they are observed and assessed according to specific criteria.
My child needs to attend an evaluation session but the day/time conflicts with another event what do we do?
Please contact the registrar at registrar@cwll.org or the applicable division coordinator (as noted on the Executive section of the league website at www.cwll.org) and advise them of the situation. They may be able to switch sessions if one is available.
I have heard there are drafts for some divisions how do they work?
- For the Major division and upward, depending on numbers, each division has a draft where assigned team managers are given evaluation information and can select their teams based on their criteria. Drafts are operated by rules set forth by our league and Little League.
- For all other divisions, Minors and down, the division coordinator assigns players to each team. In Minors, the goal is to try and balance teams based on evaluation results. There are no evaluations to use to form BlastBall, T-Ball and Rookie Ball teams so the teams are randomly formed, and every attempt is made to place players with friends, etc.
- Player may indicated if they are interested in being in the Major or Junior drafts, and if not they will be placed in the Minor or Junior AA divisions. All registered players will participate, no players are 'cut'.
What is the All-Star season and how does it work?
Little League tournament play (All-Stars) is a program of excellence for skilled and interested players in our league aged 9 and upwards. Our teams compete against other leagues throughout our District and the Prairies during the months of July and August, and have traditionally done quite well winning several District and Prairie titles at all levels.
For players selected to the Major or Junior All-Star teams, there is the potential of playing in a Canadian Championship and also the Little League or Junior League World Series in the USA. If you think this is a long shot, our Major team won the Canadian Little League title and went on to a strong showing in the Little League World Series in 2001. Again in 2007 our Major All-Stars had a strong showing and were in the final of the Canadian Championship.
Players should be available and committed to play throughout the month of July and part or all of August depending on their tournament division. There may be travel involved to tournaments in such places as Airdrie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Saskatchewan, and as mentioned other Canadian and U.S. location.
Effective 2005, all players MUST have a valid, original birth certificate to participate (this is the only allowable proof of age) and parents must also supply three approved items for proof of residence when requested. Starting in January 2007, a valid passport is required to travel to the U.S. Our league recommends all players league age 11 and older have a valid passport that does not expire before September of any given season due to the possibility they may have the opportunity to travel to the Little League or Junior League World Series.
Traditionally, our league enters at least 6 teams into District tournament play:
Minor AA 9 & 10 year olds
Minor - 9 & 10 year olds
Major AA 11 & 12 year olds
Majors 11 & 12 year olds
Junior AA 13 & 14 year olds
Juniors - 13 & 14 year olds
There may also be the opportunity to enter teams in Seniors (15 & 16 year olds) or Big League (17 & 18 year olds) tournament play if numbers warrant.
How does my child apply to participate on an All-Star team?
There is no application process for All-Stars. Players are either recommended by their regular season team managers and coaches and invited to an All-Star evaluation session (usually held mid-June)or an open evaluation may be held depending on the division. The All-Star team managers and coaches select their teams based on the evaluations and their criteria.
How do you select All-Star Managers and Coaches?
Regular season team managers and coaches are eligible to apply to manage an All-Star team. The league will send out an invitation to apply in the month of May.
If more managers or coaches apply than there are available positions, the league forms a coach selection committee made up of members of the league executive to select the team managers.
The league president must then appoint the selected managers and the board must approve them. The manager will select their coaches after the players are selected.
My child is not an All-Star calibre player, but would like to continue playing in the summer months are there any baseball programs available?
Currently there is not a summer baseball in place other than tournament play, but hopefully in the future there will be something offered. Our league is supporting the idea of using the AA tournaments as a way to get as many players involved in summer play as possible. Little League Alberta also offers the Rocky Mountain Baseball School in the summer months - more information is available at www.littleleagueab.ca.
I have concerns with my childs team manager and/or coaches what should I do?
Please discuss your concerns with the team manager or coaches away from the field of play. If you feel your concerns have not been addressed, then please contact the division coordinator (as noted on the Executive section of the league website at www.cwll.org)