The Player Agent is responsible for looking out for the interests of the
players. The Player Agent handles problems that arise between coaches
and players when either:
- Initial efforts between coach/player/family have not been successful,
or
- Coach or player/family feel so uncomfortable with a situation that
they feel the intervention of the Player Agent is necessary as an
initial step.
Coach Expectations. Each coach should be clear about
the coach’s requirements of players and their parents. If a coach is
having difficulties with a player or parent, the coach should let the
Player Agent know about the issue early so that effective strategies
can be implemented (these may include Player Agent intervention).
Player Expectations. Each player can expect to be
treated with respect and dignity by his/her coach. Team policies will
be explained to all players (however, players who miss team activities
have responsibility to follow up to learn what they have missed). If
a player is not comfortable with the team/coach to which they have been
assigned, they are encouraged to communicate directly with the coach
and/or to discuss the situation with the Player Agent.
Skills Evaluation Sessions (SES). The VP of Registration
is primarily responsible for organizing the annual player SES. On-field
activities are the joint responsibility of the VP of Registration and
the Commissioners. Families with special concerns will be referred to
the Player Agent. The process of placing players into divisions is driven
by the VP-Registration, but the Player Agent has primary responsibility
for sorting out the difficult marginal cases. All spring season players
are required to attend the SES.
Team Formation (Draft). Shortly following the SES,
the Player Agent conducts the team formation process with coaches at
each level of play (division) to allocate players to teams for spring
baseball. Draft procedures vary by division. The most important objective
of team formation is to form teams that are equal in competitive strength.
Roster Changes. Player trades may occur after the draft only
with the approval of the Player Agent. No change may be made to team
rosters after the start of the season without the approval of the Player
Agent who will consult with each affected player/parent. Vacancies that
occur due to injury or player drops will be handled as follows:
- Players on a wait list may be added to the depleted roster if no
material change to competitive balance will result. If the player
being added would significantly change competitive balance, the Player
Agent will determine the best arrangement of player trades to maintain
competitive balance.
- Rosters with more than enough players may be asked to relinquish
a player (say from 13 to 12)
- The team may be asked to continue without the player(s) if they
believe that they can continue to field a team
- Players will be promoted from a lower division only in cases where
the need is urgent and the alternative options are non-existent.
Players who have not attended a SES are not added during the season,
except in unusual cases and with the approval of the Player Agent.
Strong players not eligible to be drafted during team formation
will be placed on a team only if both a space becomes available
and the Player Agent can see a way to make the placement without
materially affecting competitive balance.
Player Age. Age, for little league purposes, is a
player’s age as of July 31 of the year play takes place. For fall baseball,
the player’s age is determined as of July 31 of the following year.
SFLL age requirements by division of play are as follows:
FARM BASEBALL (Coach pitch)
Farm teams will be made up of 6-9 year olds. Exceptions will be 10
year olds with little or no experience who are not ready for Rookie
baseball, with parent and Player Agent approval. LL age six year olds
with no previous t-ball or baseball/softball experience are encouraged
to play t-ball for a year.
ROOKIE BASEBALL (Beginning kid pitch)
Rookie league teams will consist of players age 8-10. Exceptional
circumstances (safety issues, a player with very little or no experience)
may result in older Rookie players. Seven year olds will be approved
for Rookie only when the Player Agent recommends and the Board approves.
No players under age 7 will play Rookie.
MINORS BASEBALL
Minor league teams will be made up of players age 9 -11. Under exceptional
circumstances (safety issues, a player with very little or no experience),
a 12 year old may play Minors with Player Agent and parent approval,
but may not pitch. Eight year olds may play Minors only when the Player
Agent recommends and the Board approves. No players under age 8 will
play Minors.
MAJORS BASEBALL
Major league teams will be made up of 11 and 12 year olds. Ten year
olds may play Majors with Player Agent and parent approval. Nine year
olds may play Majors only when the Player Agent recommends and the
Board approves. No players under age 9 will play Majors.
JUNIORS BASEBALL
13 and 14 year olds.
SENIORS BASEBALL
15 and 16 year olds. 14 year olds may choose to play Seniors in one
of two instances:
- They are in high school and have made a high school team
- They attend the Juniors SES and request and receive Player Agent
approval to play Seniors.
BIG LEAGUE BASEBALL
17 and 18 year olds. 16 year olds may choose to play Big League if
they request and the Player Agent approves.
FARM LEAGUE SOFTBALL (Coach pitch)
Girls only. Farm teams will be made up of 6-9 year olds. Exceptions
will be 10 year olds with little or no experience who are not ready
for Minors softball.
MINORS SOFTBALL
Girls only. Minor league teams will be made up of players age 8-11.
Certain circumstances may result in a 12 year old playing Minors,
such as the league not having a sufficient number of slots available
on Major league teams or a 12 year old with little baseball or softball
experience where it is determined that the girl's overall experience
would be better in the Minors. No players under age 8 will play Minors.
MAJORS SOFTBALL
Girls only. Major league teams will be made up of 11 and 12 year olds.
Exceptional 10 year olds may be drafted to major league teams with
the approval of the player’s parents and the Player Agent. No players
under age 10 may play majors.
JUNIORS SOFTBALL
Girls only, 13 and 14 year olds. Girls that are 15 may play Juniors
if they are not on a high school team.
CHALLENGER BASEBALL
Disabled children. Age limits up to age 18.
Replacement Players. The Player Agent may manage a
pool of replacement players for spring Major League teams that risk
forfeiting games because of absent players. The decision to have a replacement
pool will be made by the Majors Commissioner and VP-Little League Baseball.
Absenteeism/Behavior. The Player Agent works with
coaches, division commissioners and player families to address situations
where players habitually miss games or practices or exhibit unacceptable
behavior. In such cases, consultation and communication are always the
first priority. However, consequences ranging from limiting playing
time, suspension from games/team activities and/or expulsion from the
League are all possible. Any disciplinary action taken by a coach must
first be approved by the Player Agent.
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