FAQ

Table of Contents

1. Registration & Fees
2. Divisions & Age Groups
3. Drafts & Team Selection
4. Playing Time
5. Game Rules
6. Volunteers & Umpires
7. Conduct & Safety
8. Tournament Teams (All-Stars)

Registration & Fees

What does it cost to register for the Spring 2026 season?

The Spring 2026 registration fees are:

• First player in a family: $155.00
• Second and each additional player in a family: $75.00
• Volunteer Fee (per family): $100.00 — refundable upon completion of required volunteer hours
• Fairfax County User Fee (per player): $5.50
• Late Registration Fee: $15.00 (if registering after the two scheduled in-person registration events)

No child will ever be turned away due to a family's inability to pay. Scholarship requests may be submitted directly to the President for approval.

Is there a discount for referring a new family to CSLL?

Yes! A $25 referral credit will be applied at registration to any returning member who refers a new member that registers for the upcoming Spring season. Siblings of current members do not qualify as new members, and only one referral credit is issued per family.

What is the Volunteer Fee, and how does the refund work?

A $100.00 Volunteer Fee is collected from each family at registration. If a family would like their volunteer fee refunded, they must provide 12 hours of volunteer time during the season. Of those 12 hours, at least 4 hours must be concession stand duty. The remaining hours may be fulfilled through other mandatory volunteer activities such as field maintenance. All volunteer hours must be performed by an adult (age 18 or older). If volunteer hours are not completed, the fee is used to hire replacement workers.

Head Coaches and one assigned assistant coach (as determined by the Board of Directors) receive a full volunteer fee refund upon return of their equipment at the end of the season. Additionally, rostered coaches who umpire games can earn $25 credit per game umpired toward their volunteer refund, up to the $100 maximum, refunded at the end of the Spring season.

What is the refund policy if my child can no longer participate?

Refund eligibility depends on your child's division and when you withdraw:

• Majors and Minor League: A full refund is issued if your child withdraws before the published date of the division draft/player selection.
• Coach Pitch Tee Ball and Regular Tee Ball: A full refund is issued if your child withdraws before being assigned to a team.
• After the draft or team assignment: Refunds are only considered on an exceptional basis with approval from the President of the Board. Note that third-party credit card transaction fees are not refundable.

When does late registration begin, and is the late fee ever waived?

Late registration applies to any registration after the two scheduled in-person registration events. A $15.00 late fee will typically be charged. The late fee is waived if a weather make-up registration date was required, or if a player was initially registered in another Northern Virginia Little League and was subsequently found to be ineligible for that league and redirected to CSLL.

Is there a bonus for first-year adult umpires?

Yes! First-year adult umpires will receive a $75.00 refund upon completion of all required umpiring classes, one on-field training session, and the umpiring of at least five games during the Spring season.

Divisions & Age Groups

What divisions does CSLL offer, and what ages play in each?

CSLL offers the following divisions based on league age (determined per Little League Baseball rules — use the League Age Determination tool on the Little League website to find your child's league age):

• Regular Tee Ball (TB-2): League ages 4–5
• Coach Pitch Tee Ball (TB-1): League ages 5–6 (some inexperienced league-age 7 players may be placed here for safety)
• Tee Ball 3 (TB-3): CSLL is one of the only leagues in the area to offer a third Tee Ball division for our youngest players — contact us for details on age eligibility.
• Machine Pitch (A-Ball): League ages 7–8
• Minor League – AA: League ages 9–11 (not offered in Spring 2026 — we hope to have AA available in Fall 2026)
• Minor League – AAA: League ages 9–12 (with waiver)
• Little League Majors: League ages 9–12 (league-age 12 players are required to play here)
• Junior League: League ages 12–15

Softball: CSLL offers a Softball program with an A-Ball Division (Coach Pitch) and an AAA Division (Player Pitch). A Softball Majors Division is planned to launch in Fall 2026. Visit the Softball section of the CSLL website for more details.

My child is 12 years old — can they play in the Minor League instead of Majors?

All league-age 12 players are required to play in the Little League Majors Division. A parent-requested waiver, approved by both the CSLL Board of Directors and the District Administrator, is required to allow a 12-year-old to play in Minor League (AAA).

Can my 8-year-old play in the Minor League (AA/AAA)?

Possibly. Any 8-year-old player may request to be considered for the Minor League drafts. To be eligible, the player must attend one of the spring assessment sessions and the parent or guardian must submit a written request to the Board of Directors for approval. There are no guaranteed roster spots — the player must be drafted onto a team to participate at the higher level.

Drafts & Team Selection

Does my child need to attend assessments (tryouts) before the draft?

Yes, for players in league ages 9–12 who are not already on a returning Majors roster. Two assessment sessions are held each spring and players must attend at least one. Players who miss both sessions without an excuse approved by the Board of Directors will be assigned to a team via blind draw in the order of the draft rather than being evaluated and selected.

Tee Ball and Machine Pitch players (ages 4–8) do not attend assessments and are assigned to teams by the Player Agent and Division Vice President.

Can I request that my child be on the same team as their sibling?

If requested by the parent, a manager may exercise a sibling draft option. When the first sibling is drafted, the manager may declare the option and must then take the sibling in the very next draft round. Parents can also request that siblings not play together. Note that sibling options must consider playing ability — parents cannot force a sibling to be drafted purely for convenience.

CSLL encourages a welcoming community where players change teams from season to season and families build friendships throughout the park. We believe this enriches the experience for everyone.

Can parents request that their child NOT be placed in a higher division?

Requests to restrict a child to a lower division are considered only for safety reasons — for example, a documented physical concern. These requests are not granted because a player is new to the sport, still developing their skills, or a parent would prefer a lower level of competition. Parents must submit the request in writing to the Player Agent before the draft. Mandatory age constraints cannot be overridden regardless — for example, a league-age 12 player cannot be restricted to AA. Restrictions can be withdrawn in writing to the Player Agent no later than 48 hours prior to the relevant draft. Once a player has been drafted, restrictions can no longer change the placement.

How is the draft order determined for the Majors Division?

The Majors Division draft order is the reverse of the previous season's final standings — the team that finished last picks first. This order remains constant throughout all rounds, helping maintain competitive balance across teams.

Can players be traded between teams after the draft?

Yes, within limits. Managers may propose trades up until 14 days after the first scheduled regular season game. All trades must be approved in writing by the appropriate Division Vice President and then by the Player Agent. The Board of Directors must give final approval. Trades may only occur within the same division.

What happens if my child's team is short on players for a game?

CSLL maintains a player pool in each division. If a manager anticipates having fewer than the required number of players, they must contact their Division Vice President to request a pool player. A rotation system is used to ensure fairness in how pool players are distributed across teams. Key rules:

• Pool players may not pitch.
• Pool players are added to the bottom of the batting order.
• Pool players may not catch for more than two innings (Majors through AA).
• Pool players cannot play down to a lower division.

Managers may not borrow a player directly from the opposing team or recruit someone from the stands.

Playing Time

Is my child guaranteed to play in every game?

Yes. CSLL strongly emphasizes the participation of all players. Per Little League Baseball rules and CSLL policy, every rostered player present at the start of a game must play a minimum of six defensive outs and bat at least once. CSLL's rotating substitution policy further ensures equitable time on the field for all players.

How does the rotating substitution (bench rotation) policy work?

In all divisions from Tee Ball through Junior League, no player may sit out two consecutive defensive innings, and no player may sit a second defensive inning before all other players have sat out one inning. Similarly, no player sits a third inning before all others have sat two. A "defensive inning" is defined as three consecutive outs in the same inning. The only exception is a player who is ill or injured — pitchers are not exempt from rotation requirements.

Violations of this policy are treated as an ineligible player violation and are protestable.

How many players are on the field at once in the younger divisions?

In the AA, A-Ball (Machine Pitch), Coach Pitch Tee Ball, and Regular Tee Ball divisions, teams use ten (10) defensive players — the nine standard positions plus a fourth outfielder. This applies regardless of how many players the opposing team has available.

Can a manager bench a player as discipline?

Yes, but only under specific, limited circumstances such as repeated failure to participate in practice or disrespectful behavior. In some instances a manager may bench a player without prior approval, but must be prepared to demonstrate after the fact that all appropriate steps were taken — including speaking with the Player Agent, Division Vice President, and the player's parents. The manager must announce the benching to the umpire-in-chief and the opposing manager before the game, and note it on the official lineup card. Benching should always be used as a last resort.

How does the batting order work — do all players bat?

Yes. CSLL uses a continuous batting order in all divisions from Tee Ball through Junior League. All players present at the game are listed on the official lineup card and bat in order throughout the game, regardless of their defensive position. Players who arrive late are placed at the bottom of the batting order. Players who must leave early or are ejected have their spot removed from the order with no out charged.

Game Rules

How long are games? Are there time limits?

Time limits vary by division:

• Little League Majors: No time limit, subject only to a 10:00 PM curfew (no new inning after 10 PM; games end no later than 10:30 PM).
• Junior League (intra-league): No new inning starts after 2 hours. Tied games continue into extra innings.
• Minor League (AAA, AA, Machine Pitch): When a new inning would start after 1 hour 30 minutes, the umpire declares that the "final regulation inning." Tied games continue into extra innings until a winner is determined.
• Coach Pitch and Regular Tee Ball: No new inning after 1 hour 30 minutes; a minimum of one complete inning must be played for the game to be official.

Time limits are not "drop-dead" — they only prevent new innings from starting. Any inning already in progress is completed.

Are there run (scoring) limits per inning?

• Minor League (AAA, AA, Machine Pitch): Maximum of 5 runs per inning during regular innings. In the final regulation inning and extra innings, the limit doubles to 10 runs.
• AA Division special rule: The final (maximum) run of any half-inning may not score on a steal of home plate — it must score on a batted ball or a bases-loaded walk/hit batsman.
• Majors and Junior League: No run limits.
• Softball (A-Ball and AAA): 5-run limit per inning; this limit is lifted in the sixth inning.

What is the "mercy rule" or "must concede" policy?

For the Majors Division: If, after 4 complete innings (3½ if the home team is ahead), one team leads by 10 or more runs, the trailing team's manager may concede. If the game has exceeded 2 hours and one team leads by more than 10 runs at the end of an inning, the trailing team must concede before starting a new inning.

For the Juniors Division: The threshold is 15 runs after 4 innings or 10 runs after 5 innings, with the same 2-hour must-concede rule.

Each game must be played a minimum of 4 complete innings for Majors and 5 complete innings for Juniors before the mercy rule can apply.

What happens if a game is rained out or postponed?

Postponed games are rescheduled by the CSLL Scheduling Officer — typically on the first available make-up date (usually the first Sunday following the postponement). Managers may not reschedule games among themselves. If a game is stopped before becoming a regulation game, it will be resumed from the exact point where it was called the next time the two teams meet. Make-up games will generally not be scheduled on Easter Sunday or Mother's Day.

What is the minimum number of players needed to start a game?

For Majors through Junior League: A minimum of 8 players per team is required. If a team has fewer than 8 at game time, the umpire will delay the start up to 10 minutes. If the team is still short, the game is rescheduled. In AAA, AA, and A-Ball (which use 10 defensive players), a game will not be postponed if a team has only 8 players — they will play with 8.

For Coach Pitch and Regular Tee Ball: The minimum is 5 players. If a team has 4 or fewer, the game is rescheduled.

What are the "soft toss" rules for early-season AA games?

To ease young players into live pitching, the AA Division uses a soft toss rule from Opening Day through the first Saturday at least three weeks later. Under this rule, instead of issuing a walk on ball four, the batter's manager tosses the ball to the batter:

• Batters receive 2 soft-toss pitches if the count is 4 balls and 2 strikes, or 5 balls and 1 strike.
• Batters receive 3 soft-toss pitches if the count is 4 balls and 0 strikes.
• If the ball is not put in play after the maximum soft tosses, the batter is declared out.
• Swinging strikes and foul balls during soft toss still count as normal.

After the soft-toss period ends, regular Little League pitching and batting rules apply for the rest of the season.

How are ties in the standings resolved at the end of the season?

The first tiebreaker is head-to-head record between the tied teams. If that does not resolve the tie, the next tiebreaker is the lowest average of total runs allowed per game between the tied teams. If still tied, it expands to the lowest average runs allowed per game against all opponents during the entire regular season.

Are there pitching restrictions for league-age 11 players in AA?

Yes. League-age 11 pitchers in the AA Division have special limits to protect development opportunities for younger pitchers:

• Maximum of 2 innings per game.
• Maximum of 4 combined innings per calendar week (Sunday–Saturday), regardless of how many games are played.
• Managers must identify league-age 11 pitchers on the lineup card with their eligible innings remaining.

Standard Little League pitch count rules also apply to all pitchers in all divisions.

Volunteers & Umpires

What volunteer opportunities are available at CSLL?

CSLL depends on a large and dedicated volunteer community. Opportunities include concession stand duty, field maintenance, umpiring (Junior and Adult), official scorekeeping, team volunteer positions (Team Parent, Fundraising Coordinator, etc.), managing and coaching, and Board of Directors service. All adult volunteers in regular contact with players must complete a Little League Volunteer Application, pass a nationwide background screening, and complete abuse awareness training each season before beginning their duties.

Can my child be a junior umpire?

Yes! Junior Umpires must be at least league age 12. A limited exception allows league-age 11 players who will turn 12 in the Fall to umpire Machine Pitch games only, with a parent or guardian present on the field, upon submission of a waiver request. All new umpires — junior or adult — must complete the CSLL six-session training program before officiating games. Experienced umpires attend annual refresher courses.

Are managers and coaches required to umpire?

Yes. Each manager, designated coach, and assistant coach is required to umpire a minimum of two regular season games at the Machine Pitch level or above. Coaches may not umpire in their own division. As an added incentive, rostered coaches who umpire can earn $25 per game umpired toward their volunteer fee refund, up to the $100 maximum, refunded at the end of the Spring season.

Who provides umpires for Tee Ball games?

For Coach Pitch Tee Ball and Regular Tee Ball, the two participating teams provide the game umpires. League-assigned umpires are not provided for these divisions.

Conduct & Safety

What is CSLL's policy on unsportsmanlike conduct?

CSLL has a Zero Tolerance Misconduct Policy. Key consequences include:

• Ejection for a verbal altercation or unsportsmanlike conduct during a game: suspension for the team's next physically played game, plus removal from all team activities until the suspension is served.
• Ejection for a physical altercation: immediate suspension for the remainder of the current playing season.
• Verbal altercation or unsportsmanlike conduct at non-game CSLL activities (by any participant, parent, guardian, or official): barred from CSLL activities for one calendar week.
• Repeated or severe incidents: the individual may be barred for two calendar weeks or, by a two-thirds Board vote, suspended or removed from the league entirely.

Any person disciplined beyond the standard one-game ejection suspension has the right to appeal to the Board of Directors within three days.

What is the policy on umpire harassment?

Harassment of umpires is not tolerated at CSLL. Many of our umpires are volunteers and junior umpires still developing their skills — they deserve patience and respect from all managers, coaches, and parents. Harassment includes repetitive berating, belittling, excessive criticism, or any action intended to intimidate. Fans who harass umpires may be immediately ejected from the park. The escalation process for manager violations is: (1) first incident — Division VP contacts the manager; (2) second incident — manager appears before the Executive Board and a CSLL official observes their next game; (3) third incident — manager removal.

What are the rules about throwing a bat or removing a helmet on the field?

Throwing the bat: The first offense results in an official warning to the batter. A second offense results in the player being removed from the game (not an ejection, and not an automatic out unless the swing itself produced an out). The next batter in the order will bat in their place.

Removing a helmet on the field: The first offense results in a team warning. Any subsequent player who removes a helmet while still on the playing field will be removed from the game.

What safety equipment is required during warm-ups?

• Any player warming up a pitcher must wear a catcher's mask and helmet. Male players must also wear a protective cup.
• During pre-game infield/outfield practice, the player catching throws near the coach must wear a helmet/mask.
• When a pitcher warms up in the bullpen during a game, a player wearing a batting helmet and glove must serve as a "protector" facing the plate to watch for batted balls.
• Players wearing any type of cast are not allowed on the field — they may sit in the dugout to support the team.

What are the rules for using the batting cages?

Batting cages at Trailside Park are scheduled by the CSLL Scheduling Officer. Key safety rules include: only soft training baseballs or wiffle balls may be used for soft toss; cages should only be used with adequate lighting and firm, dry footing; pitching machines must not be operated in storm, rain, or lightning conditions; only the manager or a coach may pitch to batters or operate the pitching machine; batters must wear a helmet at all times and be the only player in the cage while batting; and players waiting their turn outside the cage must not swing bats. Junior League teams must use the batting cage at Franconia Park — they are not permitted to use the Trailside Park cages.

Does CSLL recognize outstanding sportsmanship?

Yes. At the end of each regular season, every manager selects one player from their team who best demonstrated the character of a true sportsman throughout the season. Winners are reported to the Division Vice President and presented with a commemorative plaque at the close of the season. CSLL values players who can take a loss without complaint, celebrate a win without gloating, and treat opponents, umpires, and teammates with fairness and courtesy both on and off the field.

Tournament Teams (All-Stars)

How are Majors Division tournament (All-Star) players selected?

Approximately two weeks before the end of the regular season, all Majors Division players (ages 10–12), managers, coaches, and participating umpires receive ballots to vote for tournament team members. Voters may not vote for players on their own regular season team. The eight players receiving the most votes automatically earn a spot on the tournament team, pending eligibility verification. The tournament team manager and coaches then select an additional 4 to 6 players to complete the roster, in consultation with the Player Agent and CSLL President.

Tournament team member names are kept strictly confidential and will not be released until announced by CSLL.

How are 9-to-11 and 8-to-10 tournament team players selected?

A five-member Selection Committee — appointed by the CSLL President and approved by the Board — evaluates eligible players throughout the season by attending games, practices, and clinics and interviewing coaches and division vice presidents. Prior to final selections, the committee holds two official tryout sessions. The committee selects 8 players per team, and the tournament team manager and coaches select an additional 4 to 6 players to complete the roster. All players must have been members of their division team for at least one-half of the regular season to be eligible.

Can a player be on more than one tournament team?

No. Players league ages 9 through 14 selected for any tournament team (Juniors, Little League Majors, 9–11, or 8–10) are not eligible to participate on any other tournament team within the league. This decision is irrevocable once made.

Are there post-season championships in addition to tournament play?

Yes. The CSLL post-season championship format for Little League Majors and Minor League divisions is determined by the Board of Directors no less than two weeks before the end of the regular season. All regular season rules apply, including pitching eligibility which carries over from the final scheduled regular season game. There are no post-season championships in the Tee Ball divisions, though the Board may organize a "Fun Tournament" to coincide with other divisions' playoffs.

Trophy awards: the top 3 teams in A-Ball, AA, AAA, and Majors divisions receive trophies. For Junior League, a trophy goes to the first place team only if there are fewer than 5 teams — or the top 3 teams if there are more than 5 teams.