District 27 Little League

PA Workbook

A Guide on How to Become a Better-Organized Player Agent

Produced by California District 27 Little League

Work your calendar for the season backwards.  The first date to determine is when closing day should be and work back up to sign-ups.  Are there any specific dates that need to be accounted for? See District Calendar

Refer to the Operations Manual for age requirements.  Ages 5 & 6 must play T-     Ball.  Ages 7 through 12 have many options.  Ages 13 through 18 play Juniors,         Seniors, or Big League.  See Possible Age Grouping Chart & Age Chart  for more details

Policies for late sign ups need to be determined prior to sign ups and approved by the board.  Will they be automatically placed on a lower division team?

Does your league have any policies in place for Major Division Call-ups?  Is there a cut off date where players can no longer be pulled up?  When will late sign-ups and those who did not try out be eligible for Majors?  What is the policy of the league regarding a player that refuses to go up to the next level?

Meet with league president & district personnel to see what is available to meet the needs of your league.  Need to know approximant team counts in the affected divisions.  District ADA will fill out Combined Play / Inter-league play forms as needed.

What sign-up forms and documents will you use?  What has your league used for the last few years?  Did they meet the needs of your league?  Do you need to update anything to bring it to your current needs or requirements?  What are your league boundaries?  Do you have a current Age Chart?  What is the acceptable proof of age & residency documents?  Have three (3) copies of the medical release form filled out at sign-up time to aid in the All Star process.  See Proof of Age & Residency documents from Little League that is attached.

Where will sign-ups take place?  When?  What information is needed on your sign-up flyer?  Where can you post / hand out the flyers.  What schools have kids from your boundaries?  Do the schools have special rules for handing out the flyers?  Are there any businesses in the area that will hand out flyers?  What other media resources are available to you?  Cable, radio, and newspapers are all good sources.  Will you be putting up banners?  What will be on the banner?  Can you use the same one from last year?  If you need new banners, will you be able to use them next year?  What is your budget for gaining sign-ups?

Will your league be drafting players to fill vacant spots on established teams OR re-drafting the divisions each year?  What are the criteria for being selected as a manager or a coach for the season?  These are both Board Decisions.  The Player Agent researches the needs of the league, what options are available, inform the board, and make a recommendation.  The decision is still voted on by the Board at a meeting.

The number of players on each team must be the same throughout the division.  Little League (Majors) and up: No more than 15 and no less than 12 players shall be placed on a team.  Tee Ball & Minors shall have no more than 20 players on a team.  This is a Board Decision that must be voted on at a meeting.  If less than 12 players per team is needed, you must obtain special, one season only, permission from the District Administrator and the Regional Director in writing. 

The board must release all Property Players who have NOT signed up by the end of registration (or date set by player agent and board).  The player should be informed in writing of his/her release.  The list of players that have been released needs to be available at the draft. 

Have the tryout schedule ready at sign-ups to give to all players required to attend.  Make sure you have extra help at tryouts.  What procedures will be followed at tryouts?  What equipment is needed for the tryouts?  Are the fields ready & available for tryouts?  Will the snack bar be open? 

Complete the tryout list immediately after the final registration date to distribute at the manager’s meeting.  Hold a manager’s meeting to discuss tryout procedures and sequence, player selection, draft process, and distribute the tryout list.

There are only 4 options available:

1.      Brothers/Sisters where both are in the draft.

2.      Brothers/Sisters of players who are currently on a team in that division.

3.      Sons/Daughters & Brothers/Sisters of managers.

4.      Sons/Daughters of coaches that meet both of these requirements:

A.      The coach has served as a manager or coach in the league (at any level) for the past two years AND,

B.      The coach must be returning to the same Major League team as last year.

Options 3 & 4 are NOT available for any Minor Division.  Both the manager/coach and son/daughter or brother/sister must live within the league boundaries to qualify for options 3 & 4 to be available.

The manager has the option to waive his/her right to claim an option.

Have the draft within one (1) week of the last tryout.  Have help available at the draft to assist you with paper work and note taking.  Note for the managers which children are brothers and/or sisters.  All managers’ options must be submitted to the player agent 48 hours before the draft.  If possible, hand out medical release forms and a player roster list to managers at the draft. 

If possible, group Tee Ball & Minors by schools.

The Player Agent handles ALL trades.  You are the representative for the players.  When parents become managers or coaches and their children are on a different team, they may not automatically claim them; they must trade for them.

Any child who is living outside of your league’s boundaries must be ‘waivered’.  All waiver forms need to be completed & sent to the District Administrator at this time.  All waivers are due (to Williamsport) within two weeks of your first game played. The final cutoff date for the waivers to be received (signed be the League President, District Administrator, and in the hands of the person at Williamsport) is June 1^st of each year.  If the waiver is not received by the due date, those players listed will NOT be eligible for All Star play for that season.  There are ONLY two (2) types of waivers available when a player no longer resides within your league boundaries.  They are:

1.      II(d) This is for players and their siblings who have moved outside of your league boundaries or the changing of your league boundaries caused him/her to be outside.  They must have lived within your league boundaries while they were a Player and has continued to play in your league (with waiver) every year.  The brothers/sisters of this player may “ride along” on the same waiver (remember to complete form for all family members who qualify each year) as long as they continue to participate in your league.  If the player decides NOT to play for a season, he/she MAY NOT continue with this waiver.  This form MUST be filled out & sent in EACH YEAR.

2.      IV(h) This is for players whose family (legal guardian or parent) lived within the league boundaries before and now has moved outside of the boundaries.  They MUST MEET ALL THREE (3) conditions:

A.      The family lived inside the league boundaries for TWO (2) or more years AND was a manager, coach, or board member during that time AND will continue to be a manager, coach, or board member.

B.      MUST be able to list the years (without skipping any years) of service (manager, coach, or board member).  Two (2) minimum from before the move (including the last year when they lived within the league boundaries) AND one (1) or more years after their move (may be the current year only). 

C.      The league where the player(s) NOW live MUST waive their RIGHT to CLAIM this player.

The current president of the league that they live in now must sign the form.  This form MUST be filled out & sent in to District (the District Administrator will review and send to headquarters) EACH YEAR to remain valid. Waivers will be addressed at the District Meeting.  (see calendar for date and time)  Plan now to attend.

Will the managers, players, or a combination be making the player decisions?  How will the manager and coaches be selected?  Begin the decision making process now so that when the time arrives, the procedure will be easier to manage.  Work on the forms needed now.  The president of the league usually receives the Tournament Team Affidavit and Application in late May.  If not received by June 3, have the president call Williamsport to check on the mailing.

Are the managers and coaches working together for the children?  Do you have any teams in need of a manager or coach?

Verify that the trade(s) have been completed.  Trade forms need to filled out.  All trades must be completed by the 14^th day after the FIRST GAME of the SEASON.

Are the players showing up?  Has the manager contacted ALL of the players on the team?  Have they had a team meeting?

Are the players showing up?  Does anyone have an injury that may require him/her to be dropped from the team?  Has anyone quit?

Are the players getting their minimum play?

Address the teams during the season.  Have a list of questions for the kids.  Are the practices going well?  Is the snack bar good?

Fill out the affidavit for the president and yourself to certify & sign.  Only accept legal birth certificates of proof of age (this should have been done at sign-up time).  Do not place anyone on the affidavit that does NOT MEET the requirements.  Have two (2) medical release forms filled out & signed in ink for each player.  There are NO alternates for the All Star Team.  There will be a workshop on completing the All Star Affidavit at the  District Meeting (see Calendar for date and time).

Make sure that the managers are NOT over working the players.

Most families want the birth documents back as soon as possible.  District 27 will certify a copy of most birth documents.  When there is a need to add a player to the All Star roster after the team has advanced past District Play, you will need an ‘Original Birth Document’ to certify that player.  The All Star team manager is required to keep a copy of the birth document with the Affidavit.   It is helpful to make an extra copy for the leagues records before returning them.

District can help you, if needed, with guidelines, suggestions, and rules for TAD.

Times this page has been viewed since June 05

Last modified: 08/31/10

District 27 would like to thank Spiderlink for their continued efforts to keep this web site active.