General Information and Registration

How do I know if my child is eligible to play for Canal Little League?

Refer to the Canal Little League Boundary page to determine if you live or go to school within Canal Little League’s boundary.

Based on my child’s age, what division are they eligible to play in?

Refer to the Baseball and Softball Divisions and Special Rules page for information about the division(s) your child is eligible to play-in based on their age.  There is a link on page to determine your child’s “League Age” which may differ from their actual age.

When does the season start and end?

The spring season runs from early March through early June.    The exact dates will vary slightly by age group. 

The fall season runs from early September (after Labor Day) until late October.

What is the time commitment for playing at Canal Little League.  When are practices and games held?

Below is a summary of a typical schedule for players during the season.  Specific dates and times for practices will not be known until teams and schedules are created.  Your team’s schedule will be communicated to you by your team’s manager.

Kids 6 and under should expect practices/games to be between 1 and 1.5 hours.   Kids 7 and older should expect practices/games to be around 2 hours

Spring Season:

Team practices will begin in early March and expect two (2) practices per week until the games begin in late March or early April.  The day of the week and times will vary as there are many teams sharing the fields for practices. 

For the Sluggers, Minor T, Minor B, and Minor A (baseball and softball) you can expect one weeknight game and one game on Saturday each week.  The day of the week will vary for the weeknight game and the time of the Saturday games will also vary. 

No games will be held on Easter weekend and Memorial Day weekend.

For Majors and Junior/Seniors (baseball and softball) you can expect two (2) or three (3) weeknight games each week.  Games are rarely scheduled on Saturdays except for Opening Day.

Fall Season:

All age groups should expect two practices or games per week.  The specific day of the week and time will vary each week.

How do I register my child to play at Canal Little League?

Visit the Canal Little League website (https://www.canallittleleague.org/) and click the Registration tab on the top of the page.  This page will walk you through the registration process.

Registration has closed and I would still like my child to play, what should I do?

Email canal_ll@yahoo.com letting us know that you are still interested in playing and it may be possible that you can be added to a team or onto the waitlist.  Please include your child’s date of birth and the division they are interested in.

Is there any financial assistance available to help cover the registration fee?

Little League has partnered with T-Mobile to create the T-Mobile Little League Call Up Grant Program that helps families cover the registration fees associated with their local Little League.  Please visit  https://www.littleleague.org/call-up-grant-program/ for more information

If you are unable to gain the necessary assistance though the Call Up Grant Program, Canal Little League also offers assistance.  Please complete the Scholarship form and return to canal_ll@yahoo.com  .  Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis by the Canal Little League Executive Board of Directors.

Tryouts and Team Selection

Does my child need to tryout?  Does every kid make a team?

For the spring season, all kids playing in the Minor A or Majors divisions (baseball and softball) are required to attend a tryout, unless they are returning Majors players staying on the same team.

Every kid will make a team.  Tryouts are used to determine the abilities of players to create balanced teams.  Depending on the age group, eligible kids could get drafted to the Majors or otherwise they will remain in Minor A.  Refer to the Divisions and Special Rules page for additional details.

Tryouts are held in February.  Canal Little League will communicate the tryout date as soon as plans are confirmed.  Typically, this will be at least four (4) weeks before the tryout date.

For the fall season, there are no tryouts; teams are assigned by the division officer.

How are players selected to teams?

Minor A and Majors (baseball and softball) players are selected by a draft.  All other age groups will be assigned to a team by the division officer.

Can I request that my child be on the same team as a friend or request my child be placed with a specific manager?

For the spring season, kids playing in the Minor B (ages 7-8) and younger can make requests to play with a specific coach or friend during the registration process.  Please keep in mind that not all requests may be able to be honored.

For Minor A and Majors, kids are selected to teams in a draft. Requests to play with a specific coach or friend will not be accepted.  If you have a specific concern, please reach out to canal_ll@yahoo.com 

For the fall season, players can request to play with friends or a manager.  Please note your requests during the registration process.  An attempt will be made to honor requests, but all requests may not be able to be honored in order to create fair teams.

Equipment

Are there rules about the type of bat that can be used?

Yes.  Not all bats are eligible for use in Little League.  Please review the Little League Bat Rules before purchasing a bat.

What equipment is needed to play baseball/softball at Canal Little League?

Each player will need to provide their own:

1.      Glove

2.      Batting Helmet 

3.      Bat

4.      Cleats – are recommended, but not required, for all kids.  For kids ages seven (7) and older cleats are strongly recommended as they do make a difference running on the field.  Note: For Majors divisions and below only molded (no metal) cleats are allowed.

5.      Athletic protective cup – required for boys to play the position of catcher.  Optional for other positions. 

6.      Baseball/softball pants, socks, and belt – your team manager will communicate the details about style and color.

The league will provide each player with:

1.      Jersey

2.      Hat

The league will make shared catcher’s gear available to each team in the Minor T, Minor B and Minor A divisions.  For the Majors and Junior/Senior divisions, most catchers have their own gear, but it is available from the league if needed.

If you are new to baseball or softball, there are many online resources to assist with finding the correct size equipment by the player’s age, height, and weight. 

If you do not have a piece of equipment for the start of practices, please reach out to your team manager and they will be able to assist you.

Canal Little League Complex and Rules

What is the address of Canal Little League?  Is there a map of the complex?

For GPS use: (address not for mail)

2548 Glasgow Avenue

Newark, DE 19702

Refer to Complex and Directions page for a map of the complex.

What safety measures are in place during the season?

Canal Little League follows the Player Safety guidelines of Little League International.  This includes background checks and mandatory abuse awareness training for all volunteers. 

Each season, Canal Little League reviews and updates its safety plan though Little League’s A Safety Awareness Program (ASAP).  The ASAP safety plan is available on Canal Little League’s website.

Are pets allowed at the Canal Little League Complex?

Pets are not allowed on the Canal Little League complex.

Who owns Canal Little League?

Canal Little League operates exclusively as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization so there are no shareholders.  A board of directors is elected each year at the annual meeting who are responsible for the operation of the league.  Canal Little League is governed by its constitution.

The Canal Little League complex is adjacent to the Peoples Plaza Shopping Center in Newark, DE.  The use of the land for Canal Little League is generously provided by Robert C. Peoples Inc.

Post Season Play / All-Stars

Is my child eligible to play all-stars?  Tell me about the selection process and time commitment?

Post Season play (All-stars) is available for baseball and softball players starting at age eight (8).  All-stars practices begin in early June and the games run through early July (potentially later for some age groups).   All-stars is a large time commitment with teams typically holding 5-6 practices per week.

In May, the league will distribute additional information about All-Stars and ask each player to opt-in or out of being eligible for All-Stars.   Once the list of players that have opted-in is finalized, the All-Star team will be selected by a vote of the managers in the age group.

Volunteering / Work Bond

I’m interested in volunteering at Canal Little League, how do I get involved?

Canal Little League is run 100% by volunteers so we are always looking for volunteers.  If you are interested in being a team manager, assistant coach, or team parent you can indicate this during the online registration.  All managers, coaches, and team parents must complete a background check and online abuse awareness training.

What is a work bond and how do I get it returned?

A work bond is a fee collected at the time of registration for each family.  Families are required to volunteer six (6) hours to have their work bond returned to them.  Volunteer hours can be earned though the following:

·         Being a rostered Manager, Coach, or Team Parent

·         Volunteering at one of the advertised Field Clean Up days.

·         Volunteering at Opening Day

·         Working in the Concession stand

At least three (3) of the volunteer hours must be worked in the concession stand to meet the requirements of the work bond.  Please refer to Canal’s Policies and Documents for the more details about the Work Bond Policy.

Canal Little League will communicate volunteer opportunities though Facebook and email.

Why do I have to work 3 hours in the concession stand to have my work bond returned, I already volunteer as a coach?

Canal Little League is run 100% by volunteers.  The concession stand is a significant fund-raiser for Canal Little League that helps to pay for the costs of the league.  Requiring all families to work three (3) hours in the concession stand is a way to make sure the concession stand is open.

How do I sign-up to work at the concession stand?

During the season an online signup sheet will be available to sign up for the concession stand.  The online sign-up sheet will be communicated by Canal Little League via email, Facebook posts, and available on the website.

Canal Little League Communication

How does Canal Little League communicate with families?

League-wide announcements and information will be communicated via email and on our Facebook page.

During the season, your team manager will be your point of contact for all information related to your team’s practice and game schedule.  Many teams will utilize the GameChanger app (Available for free on Apple and Android) for team schedules and communication. 

Who do I contact if have a question or concern during the season?

If you have questions or concerns during the season the best place to start is with your team manager.  If the situation cannot be resolved with the team manager, you can elevate the concern to the division officer, player agent, VP of baseball/softball, and league president.  The board members are listed on the Canal Little league website.

Please keep in mind that managers are very busy on game days, including before and after the game.  It is recommended to find a time outside of game day to speak to your manager.  The exception being player safety – that should be addressed immediately.

Who do I contact if I cannot find the answer to a question here?

If you cannot find the answer to question here or on the website, please contact canal_ll@yahoo.com .

Sponsorship

I am interested in, or know a business owner interested in, becoming a sponsor for Canal Little League. who do I contact?

There are multiple levels of sponsorship available.  Please visit our sponsorship  page for more information.

Are donations to Canal Little League tax deductible?

Yes, donations are tax deductible.