Spring 2025 Registration Open!
Click here for information on the Spring 2025 softball program.
Returning to Central Springfield Little League? Click here to log in to your Sports Connect account to register for the Spring 2025 season.
Thinking of registering your child for the next division? Please read the Registration Guidelines below, and then Click here to log in to your Sports Connect account to register for the Spring 2025 season.<
New to Central Springfield Little League? Please read the Registration Guidelines and FAQ below, and then click here to create a Sports Connect account to register for the Spring 2025 season.
Registration for our 2025 Spring Season is now open! It's wild to be thinking about next spring, but it will be here before we know it!
Register now so we have plenty of time to create teams!
Registration FAQ
Q: Where does my child have to live to join Central Springfield Little League (CSLL)?
A: If your child lives in or goes to school within the CSLL boundary, you can sign up for CSLL. Enter your home address or child's school's address into the official Little League League Finder to find out which league you should be a part of. A map with the CSLL boundaries can be found here.
Q: What are the dates for the Spring 2025 season?
A: Practices will begin mid-March. The season is scheduled to start on April 6 and conclude June 8. All Stars, a selection-based, optional season for players 8+, will run through July 3.
Q: How much does it cost to join?
A: The Spring 2025 registration fee is $255. This fee includes a $100 refundable volunteer deposit. If the volunteer requirement is met by completing 12 volunteer hours, you will be refunded $100 at the end of the season.
Q: Is there a discount for more than one child?
A: Yes, there is a sibling discount of $55 per child.
Q: What if I cannot afford the registration fee?
A: Please email [email protected] for scholarship requests. Requests will remain confidential, and no one will be turned away due to inability to pay.
Q: Which team will my child be on?
A: For T-ball (typically ages 4-5), Coach Pitch (typically ages 5-6), and Machine Pitch (typically ages 7-8), teams are created by the CSLL Player Agent. Minors (typically ages 9-11) and Majors (typically ages 10-12) teams are chosen in a draft by coaches following the pre-season player assessment. Unless the parent or guardian options to restrict their child to the Minors level, players remain eligible for the Majors draft. Juniors is the highest level for ages 13-14. For more information on the playing levels, please click here.
Q: Are there tryouts?
A: Every child who meets the age and location requirements will be placed on a team. Majors and Minors teams are chosen in a draft by coaches following the pre-season player assessment. Unless the parent or guardian options to restrict their child to the Minors level, players remain eligible for the Majors draft.
Q: What are the age requirements to join CSLL?
A: Your child needs to be at least 4 years old and no more than 14 at the time of registration.
Q: What is the expected time commitment for my child?
A: T-ball and Coach Pitch players should expect to commit one hour each week of the season, once during the work week and once on Saturday. Higher levels can expect two practices per week, one game during the week, and one game on Saturday. There are no CSLL events on Friday or Sunday.
Q: Can I manage a team or help coach?
A: YES! Please email [email protected].
Q: Where are games and practices held?
A: Games are held at Trailside Park, 6000 Trailside Dr, Springfield, VA, 22150. Any practices are held at nearby fields within a five minute drive of Trailside Park. Juniors games are held at Grove Point Park, 6429 Northanna Dr, Springfield, VA 22150.
Q: How do I add an additional account holder to my Sports Connect account?
A: 1.) Login to your Sports Connect account. 2.) Click the Person icon in the upper right. 3.) Click Account. 4.) Click the gear icon, then scroll to bottom. 5.) Click "Add Additional Account Holder" and follow the prompts.
Q: Who can I contact if I have trouble with registration via Sports Connect?
A: Please email [email protected].
Q: Who can I contact if I have more questions?
A: Please email [email protected] with any questions.
Click here NOW to register for the Spring 2025 Season at CSLL!
Registration Guidelines
These guidelines are intended to help inform parents which division is suitable for their child(ren) during the registration process. For the spring season, every player choosing to play at the A-Ball and higher divisions must attend player assessments. Please note that these guidelines are strictly informative, and player placement is done at the discretion of Central Springfield Little League (“CSLL”).
T-Ball
Coach Pitch
A-Ball (a.k.a. Machine Pitch)
Minors
Majors
Juniors
What is “playing up” or “playing down”?
T-Ball
The T-Ball division is the introductory division best suited for players just starting the game of baseball. Players are typically league-age 3-5; however, older players new to the game might benefit from a season of T-Ball.
What to expect: T-Ball parents can expect one hour-long game/practice during the week and one hour-long game/practice on a Saturday during the season. A parent or guardian must be present during an entire practice or game. Special soft-core baseballs are used for games, and coaches can choose to use lighter/softer balls for practice to get players used to throwing and catching while reducing the risk of injury.
Signs your child may be ready for the next division are that your child can: 1) consistently use a sound batting stance to hit fair balls off the tee, 2) run to first base after hitting the ball, 3) use a proper grip and stance to throw the ball.
If you have questions about whether your child is ready to move up to the next division, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].
Coach Pitch
Players are typically league-age 5 & 6; however, older players new to the game might benefit from a season of Coach Pitch. Coach Pitch players should be ready to wear catcher’s gear and learn how to crouch behind home plate. Outs are counted at this division, as well.
What to expect: Coach pitch parents can expect one hour-long game/practice during the week and one hour-long game/practice on a Saturday during the season. A parent or guardian must be present during an entire practice or game. Special soft-core baseballs are used for games and practices.
Signs your child may be ready for the next division are your child can: 1) consistently use a sound batting stance to hit fair balls from the coach, 2) pursue/field a batted ball, 3) stay engaged and attentive for the full hour of a game and practice, 4) can advance to second base, third base, and home based on a coach’s direction, 4) understand basic concepts of baseball (e.g. knowing the names of all the bases and defensive positions, how to make an out, how many outs are in an inning).
If you have questions about whether your child is ready to move up to the next division, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].
A-Ball (a.k.a. Machine Pitch)
Any player wishing to play A-Ball during the spring season must attend player assessments, unless already assigned to a team at that division.
A-Ball typically involves players league age 7-8.
Some of the big differences from the lower divisions are that the A-Ball division has strikeouts, three outs (or four-run limit) per half-inning, score is kept, and a catcher is responsible for catching and returning pitches to the pitcher position. Base coaches and an adult pitching machine operator are allowed on the field, but defensive coaches are not. During the spring season, awards are handed out to the first and second place teams and the end-of-season tournament.
What to expect: Players should be prepared to commit 2 weeknights and one Saturday per week to a practice or game. Practices last an hour and a half. On game days, warmups typically start 1 hour 15 minutes before gametime, and games last about an hour and a half.
Signs your child may be ready for the next division are: 1) consistently hit fair balls off the machine, 2) consistently throw to a target 30 feet away, 3) perform a two-hand overhead catch, 4) field routine ground balls, 5) stay attentive and make plays from their assigned position 6) understand the basics of situational baseball (i.e. knowing how many outs there are, baserunning during a fly ball versus grounder, how to make a force out, when to tag a baserunner, understanding the strike zone) 7) understands good sportsmanship and teamwork, and how to deal with failure/losing 9) know when to steal 8) aren’t afraid of catching, fielding, or standing in the batter’s box to hit the ball.
If you have questions about whether your child is ready to move up to the next division, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].
Minors
Minors involves players league 9-10. Any player wishing to play Minors during the spring season must attend player assessments, unless already assigned to a team at that division.
Now it’s looking like real baseball! The jump from A-Ball to Minors is one of the biggest changes for our young players, so we want to make sure they are ready.
Majors
Majors involves players league age 11-12.
Any player wishing to play Majors during the spring season must attend player assessments, unless already assigned to a team at that division.
Juniors
Juniors involves players league age 13-14.
What is “playing up” or “playing down”?
Some players demonstrate advanced ability for their league age. In such cases, a parent can request that their child play in a higher division than what is typical for their child’s league age, or “play up.” Playing up is typically reserved for players whose development would otherwise be inhibited by remaining in a lower division. Playing up requests are subject to league approval. Playing up requests are carefully considered by the league because there are several risks of prematurely advancing a player to the next division.
- First, there is a risk of injury to a player who cannot protect themself from a ball. Once fear of the baseball because of an injury is learned, it can become difficult to continue to develop baseball skills.
- Ideally, a player's baseball skills should progress proportionally. If a player is very good at batting but has difficulty catching or throwing, it’s better to hone those skills at a lower division before moving up.
- Learning how to manage failure is a key component to baseball. Strikeouts, errors, and outs are all a normal part of the game throughout Little League (not to mention winning and losing!), and young players need time to learn how to deal with the mental and emotional swings of the game, both on an individual and team level. The last thing we want to see is a player losing interest in baseball because they were placed in a higher division before they were ready.
Some parents and players don’t discover baseball until later in childhood. That’s OK! Also, some players progress slower compared to others in their league age. That’s OK, too! In such cases, particularly where player safety is a concern, playing in a lower division than what is typical for a child’s league age might be appropriate. This is called “playing down.” A playing down request can be submitted by a parent and is subject to league approval. For more information about playing up or playing down, please contact [email protected].