**PLEASE READ THIS PAGE BEFORE PRE-REGISTERING YOUR CHILD**
It's time to get ready for Spring Baseball and Softball at West LA Little League! It is our great privilege to invite you all to register (below) for the 2021 Spring Season at West LA Little League. Welcome back!
On December 14th, the California Department of Public Health (cdph.ca.gov) published their revised return to play guidelines for youth sports for the State of California. Importantly, the guidance cemented our shared belief that access to play for our kids is essential and all communities, regardless of COVID tier status, should be permitted to allow a degree of organized play while we work through the challenges of the pandemic. Like the recent guidance offered by the City and County of Los Angeles over the last 10 days, according to the State, while Los Angeles remains in the Purple Tier (Widespread), permitted little leagues will continue to be allowed to offer skills and drills training to their communities. The State's guidance additionally notes that competition for baseball and softball may potentially begin as early as January 25, 2021. if conditions improve locally and we are able to move to the Red Tier (Substantial).
With positive guidance from the City, County and State, the WLALL Board of Directors has voted to move forward with our Spring Season at West LA Little League and we plan to make the most of it! Here is what we have in store:
T-Ball and Coach Pitch are coming back! For Spring, we will be offering three sessions of play for our youngest players - Early Spring, Spring, and Summer. As parents, we appreciate how difficult it has been to find great programming for these kids and want to make it a priority to welcome these players back to their park. Session 1 will begin in mid-January, Session 2 will follow Spring Break and Memorial Day will kick-off Session 3. Three sessions will allow us to serve more families and give our players the best chance to hopefully enjoy the experience of game play next year.
Rookie Softball is also set to return to West LA Little League. Here, our league will be offering one extended session of play that will get started at the end of February. And, from what we hear, Max Haber has some really fun ideas to welcome these kids back to West LA!
Upper Division Baseball and Softball are set to begin in Mid-February. We are moving ahead with preparations for a traditional season, including evaluations, team formation and traditional player drafts, as we work toward the goal of resuming league play as soon as permitted. Even though there is a chance we may need to begin on a modified practice-only basis, by proactively organizing our league for future game play we hope to offer our players the best chance to make the most out of their season at West LA.
To continue to operate at the high standard our community deserves, our league needs to increase registration fees for 2021. This will allow us to promote the health and safety of our little league community and ensure we continue to comply with the reopening guidelines put forth by the City and County. Our investment in park hygiene as well as our increased security and staff presence have contributed not only to a safe and welcoming park, but also to a sustainable program. Please know that even though registration costs are higher this year, West LA Little League is committed to being an inclusive community where all are welcome. If your family has experienced financial difficulty, our scholarship program is available to support your family's participation with us. Please contact [email protected] for more information. And, if your family would like to support our evergreen scholarship program, your help has never been more needed. Last Fall, 10% of our program's participants took advantage of scholarships and we anticipate that need growing for Spring.
Thank you all again for your patience and support of our league. These past months have been challenging for our community, but our commitment to one another and belief in better days ahead keeps me positive. Against the backdrop of this year's many sacrifices, our Fall program's success and our hope for Spring reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light a candle that can guide us thru the darkness to a safe and sane future.
Our baseball divisions range from ages 4 to 12. Please visit our website for guidance on the appropriate division as well as the number of practices for each level.
Note: Girls Softball evaluations will be announced separately. Players registered for softball will be notified in February of evaluations or team placements.
MANDATORY EVALUATIONS FEBRUARY 20 AND 21:
All baseball players Little League Age 7 and older (Little League Age = age as of August 31, 2021) must attend evaluations. Those players registered for T-ball and Coach Pitch (unless he/she is a League Age 7) do not need to attend evaluations. Each registered player will be assigned a time and date. The league will post the evaluation schedule and location on its website about a week prior to evaluations, and will send out an email when it is ready. Wearing proper baseball gear (hats, cleats, pants), please arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your designated evaluation time to allow for parking, check-in and warm-up. Also bring a glove, helmet and bat.
Your player's fielding, throwing, hitting and running will be evaluated by league officials, managers, and coaches. Our goal is to create balanced teams and competitive games throughout the season.
Please note that West LA Little League is subject to the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health Reopening Protocol for Youth Sports Leagues and all participants in league related activities are required to adhere to mandated health and safety protocols prescribed by City, County and State health authorities. Please visit our website at www.wlall.org for more information.
FORMING TEAMS:
Teams in Majors and AAA divisions are formatted via a draft. The Majors draft will take place on February 25 followed by the AAA draft on March 2. After team rosters are finalized by the league, managers will notify parents via email. We expect Majors and AAA teams to be formed shortly after the drafts. Expect an email around that time. AA and A teams will be finalized shortly thereafter.
Importantly, it is not a certainty that players will move up a division every year. Following evaluations, the league will assess all of the players to determine placement in an appropriate division.
FIRST PRACTICES AND GAMES:
Majors and AAA practices may start as early as March 8 with AA and A division practices to follow shortly thereafter.
All volunteers and players must adhere to mandatory safety protocols - there are no exceptions.
Inter-team competitions are currently not permitted in California. We will keep you updated on return-to-competion dates.
REMINDER:
West LA Little League is a volunteer organization. The league officials, commissioners, managers, and coaches are volunteers. Please keep this in mind and be respectful to these people who spend countless hours trying to create a good experience for every little league baseball and softball player.
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COVID Authorization & Consent Form
COVID Release Form
LA County Department of Public Health - Reopening Protocol for Youth Sports Leagues
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