2024 Burbank Little League Frequently Asked Questions
When does registration close?
Registration for the 2024 season opened November 10, 2023 and will close on January 17, 2024. Early Bird Registration ends December 15th!
When are player evaluations, and do I need to attend ?
Evaluations will be January 20th, 2024, at Brace Canyon Park. Specific times for each age group will be confirmed as we get closer to that date, but a general window will be 9am - 1pm.
Attendance at evaluations is required for baseball players born before Sept 1, 2017 (i.e. all players League Age 7 and above). The purpose of evaluations is to assess the player's skill level and to use that information to create evenly matched teams, while also placing players in divisions that are safest for them to play in.
What baseball division is best for my child?
Tee Ball is the entry level division for players, ages 4-6. The experience is grounded in fun, fitness, and fundamentals, with the aim of sparking a child’s love for the game. Every player bats off of a tee and every player plays in the field each inning. Tee Ball players use bats and softer balls designated specifically for use in this division. There are no wins or losses at this level. One evening practice a week and a Saturday morning game. Practices begin in mid-February and the season ends prior to Memorial Day. There is no postseason or all-stars at this level.
Our Coach Pitch Division is for kids ages 5 - 7 years old. It is ideal for kids that have had at least one year of Tee Ball. In this division kids will face pitches from their coach or a machine. There are no walks or strike outs. After receiving 3 or 4 pitches from the coach and not reaching base by hit, all players will be given a chance to hit the ball off a tee. One evening practice a week and a Saturday morning game. Practices begin in mid-February and the season ends prior to Memorial Day. There is no postseason or all-stars at this level.
The Farm division is for kids ages 6 - 8 who have had at least one year of Coach Pitch or two years of Tee Ball. In this division kids learn to pitch and will face opposing batters. It is the beginning of competitive play, but there are no walks given. When the count to a batter reaches 3 balls and less than 3 strikes, the coach for the batting team will come in to finish pitching the at-bat. Typically one evening practice a week and usually one game per week. Practices begin in mid-February and the regular season ends before Memorial Day. In Farm, there is a possibility that your player's team may qualify for a weeklong postseason tournament typically beginning right after Memorial Day. In addition, players may be selected for an All Star team that practices in June and typically plays in a local tournament prior to the 4th of July.
Our Minors division is for kids ages 8 - 10. It is recommended that all participants have had at least one season in the Farm Division. The Minors division is a competitive play division with runs, outs, wins and losses. All of the fundamentals learned in the lower divisions are put to work allowing each child to grow at their pace within the game. One to two practices a week, and one to two games per week, including weeknights and weekends. Practices begin in mid-February and the regular season ends before Memorial Day. In Minors, there is a possibility that your player's team may qualify for a weeklong postseason tournament typically beginning right after Memorial Day. In addition, players may be selected for an All Star team that practices in June and typically plays in a local tournament that begins right after the 4th of July. If the team is successful in that tournament, they move on to successive tournaments and could potentially play into August.
Our Majors division is for ages 10-12. The Majors division is a competitive play division with runs, outs, wins and losses. One to two practices a week, and one to two games per week, including weeknights and weekends. Practices begin in mid-February and the regular season ends before Memorial Day. In Majors, there is a possibility that your player's team may qualify for a weeklong postseason tournament typically beginning right after Memorial Day. In addition, players may be selected for an All Star team that practices in June and typically plays in a local tournament that begins right after the 4th of July. If the team is successful in that tournament, they move on to successive tournaments and could potentially play into August. These tournaments ultimately culminate in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA!
Juniors is a competitive division designed for ages 12 - 14. The Junior Division is an introduction to play on a larger, full-size baseball field. This division's schedule largely mirrors the Majors as described above. Please note, we may not have enough players to field a Juniors team. In the event that you register and we cannot form a team locally, you may have the opportunity to play in Glendale, Tujunga, or Crescenta Valley, if they have openings at this level.
If you are not sure which division your child is best suited for, please use your best guess. Remember that all players in Farm and above will likely be required to participate in the player evaluations. It is possible that after the evaluations some players will be moved up or down a division based on the results.
What is my child's League Age?
For baseball, click here. For softball, click here.
What sponsorship opportunities are available?
There are many sponsorship opportunities available, from sponsoring a team to providing food or entertainment for an event. We are open to new opportunities as well, so please reach out to learn more!
How can I help?
There are a lot of ways to help the league, many do not require a lot of time. If you want to offer some time to the league, please reach out to the league ([email protected]) or view some of our open volunteer positions.
How do I keep up with the latest news and announcements for Burbank Little League?
Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest news and information!
When does the season start and end?
Teams will be finalized at the end of January and practices will start in early February. Opening Day is usually the first Saturday in March and games usually begin the following Saturday. The spring season runs from March through the end of May for Tee Ball and Coach Pitch. For softball and older baseball divisions, the regular season and playoffs (if applicable) run from March through the end of June. For those involved in All-Stars (Minors, Majors), those games run from June to August.
When/Where are my games and practices?
-Tee Ball and Coach Pitch: One weeknight practice and one Saturday morning game, typically held at Brace Canyon Park.
-Farm, Minors, and Majors: One or two weeknight practices and two weekly games (one weeknight game, one Saturday game). Practices typically held at Brace Canyon, games at Brace and other neighboring leagues.
-Softball: One or two weeknight practices and potentially two weekly games (one weeknight game, one Saturday game).
In the Baseball-Farm level and above, Burbank Little League offers inter-league play against teams from Tujunga, Glendale, Foothill and other area Little Leagues. For Softball, games are against a wider selection of greater Los Angeles area teams, requiring local travel.
What equipment do I need to provide? What does the League provide?
The League provides each player with a jersey and a hat. Each participant is responsible to provide that player's pants (usually white or gray at the coach's option), socks and belt (color TBD based on team colors/coach decision), a properly-fitting helmet, an approved bat (see below), baseball mitt/glove, protective cup (boys only), and rubber (not metal) cleats. Big 5 in Burbank typically has all of the above equipment. Used equipment is typically also available at Play it Again Sports in Sherman Oaks and Pasadena.
What about bat types, sizes, and rules?
Follow this link to the Little League International website. https://www.littleleague.org/playing-rules/bat-rules/
Do I have to live in Burbank?
The player must live or go to school within Burbank city limits, otherwise, a waiver must be supplied by your home city's Little League. When it comes to All-Stars it is mandatory that the player fulfills the residency requirement. This can be waived by authority of the Little League District 16 administrator.
What will the COVID policies be for the season?
For the latest information regarding LADPH guidelines for youth sports, please visit the following link: http://ph.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/docs/covidguidanceeducation.pdf