Have a question that isn't listed here?

Contact us at [email protected]

What are the different divisions available?

Please visit our Divisions of Play page for full description of each level.

How do I know what League Age my player is?

Please visit our Divisions of Play to use the Age Calculator tool.

Can my 4 Year Old Play?

Benicia Little League does not currently offer a program for 4-year-old players. Please visit our Divisions of Play page to review the information for Tee Ball.

What is the Challengers Division?

Any individual with a physical or intellectual challenge may participate. If an individual can participate in the traditional Little League Baseball or Softball program with reasonable accommodations they should do so. The Benicia Little League Challenger Division accommodates players ages 5 to 18; or up to age 22 if still enrolled in school.

Can I get text updates on rainouts, field status and other BLL activity?

YES - Get notified when the fields are closed or general updates by BLL. Even if you have used this in the past for BLL, you will need to opt-in again by following these instructions:

Text   to 84483.

Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to 84483 to cancel. For additional assistance, text HELP to 84483.

How long is the Little League season?

Typically, the Little League season runs from the beginning of March through early June (one-week of no practice/games for Spring Break). Through a voting process, some Major and Minor players continue with post-season tournaments and all-star games into late June and early July.

What is included with the League fees?

The registration fees pay for insurance, LL chartering, city and BUSD fees, equipment, players' uniform, picture services, umpires, support for the Challengers Division, All Star and TOC teams fees, and year-end trophy (Trophy hardware provided for Tee Ball thru Majors only).

Is financial assistance available for League Registration Fees?

Yes! Benicia Little League will not turn away any player due to their financial circumstances. Reach out to Benicia Little League's President at the email address below to find out more. 
     [email protected]

Why does each family need to provide $100 Volunteer fee?  

The volunteer fee is per household. Additionally, registration fees alone do not cover all of the expenses to operate the league. This fee also pays for league insurance, equipment, Challenger Division uniforms, All Star and TOC team fees, umpires, fees to the city for field rental and maintenance costs. In most cases, this can be a one-time fee provided each player has someone volunteering to support BLL activities. This also provides an option for those families who cannot provide volunteer time.

Please read the Annual Non-Refundable Volunteer Fee Policy to avoid paying the fee each year.

How many games / practices can we expect?

- TeeBall; 10 total games; one practice per week plus one game on Saturdays
- Farm; 10 total games; two practices per week plus one game on Saturdays with occasional weekday game
- Minors; 16-20 total games; two practices per week plus 2-3 weekday (1-2 during week and one on Saturday)
- Majors; 16-20 total games; two practices per week plus 2-3 weekday (1-2 during week and one on Saturday)
- Intermediate; 16-20 total games; two practices per week plus 2-3 weekday (1-2 during week and one on Saturday)
- Juniors; 16-20 total games; two practices per week plus 2-3 weekday (1-2 during week and one on Saturday)
- Seniors; 
- Challengers; 10 total games on Saturdays only, no practices 

What kind of equipment does my player need?

At the very least, a good glove and rubber-molded spikes / cleats. Before spending a lot of money on a bat, please click/refer to Baseball Bats under the Game Day Info section of the website.

Where are the games and practices?

Please visit the Fields Location link under the Game Day Info section of the website.

- TeeBall
- Practices typically are at Bridgeview Park, Francesca Park and Duncan Graham Park
- Games are at Jack London Park, Maria Field and Riberio Field
- Farm
- Practices typically are at Robert Semple Elementary
- Games are at Jack London Park, Maria Field and Riberio Field
- Minors
- Practices typically are at Jack London Park, Liberty Field and Jack London Park
- Games are at Community Park #1, #2 and Maria Field
- Majors
- Practices typically are at Liberty Field
- Games are at Community Park #1, #2 and Maria Field
- Intermediate; 
- Practices typically are at...
- Games are at Fitzgerald Field and out of town
- Juniors; 
- Practices typically are at...
- Games are at Fitzgerald Field and out of town
- Seniors; 
- Practices typically are at...
- Games are at Fitzgerald Field and out of town
- Challengers; 10 total games on Saturdays only, no practices 
- Games are held at Ribeiro Field

How does Tryouts / Player Evaluations work?

What

Tee Ball & Farm Division:

Tee Ball and Farm Division players do not attend tryouts. The Player Agent places them on teams. We do try to honor team requests if possible, although the number of returning players and the need to balance teams will occasionally make it impossible to honor all requests.

Minor and Major Divisions:

There are player evaluation/tryout sessions held for the Minors Majors Divisions. The draft happens shortly after these evaluations. The draft is a selection process by the managers of each team. Each division holds its own draft beginning with Majors, then Minor A, then Minor B. Managers will contact players within a couple days of the draft. All players are selected and draft order is not released.

When

Player Evaluations are typically scheduled for two weekends in mid January.

Weather may dictate tryouts are held indoors, or the tryouts may change dates depending upon field conditions and facility availability.

Players should show up ½ hr before the session to register and warm up. Tryout sessions usually last 2 hours, but may be shorter or longer based upon the number in attendance.

Where

Weather will dictate where we hold our tryouts. Historically, we have held tryout at Matthew Turner Elementary blacktop or Benicia Middle School Field. All players must try out to be eligible for postseason All Star or Tournament of Champions consideration.

Rain - The league may choose to hold the Tryouts indoors, and will update the website with actual location information.

What to Wear?

Players should attend evaluations prepared to play baseball. Full baseball attire is expected including: Baseball hat, shirt/jersey, baseball pants, protective cup (boys AND girls) socks, cleats, and glove. Bats and helmets will be available, but players may wish to use their own for best results.

Indoors - if tryouts are indoors, payers should wear non-marking athletic shoes.

Is it cold in January?

Evaluations often take place in inclement weather – rain – cold. Players should dress appropriately to stay warm and dry. If it rains too hard that Evaluation session may be cancelled, or moved indoors.

What if it rains?

All players and parents should show up at their scheduled Evaluation time. Do not assume your Evaluation session has been cancelled. If it is rescheduled you will likely be given an alternate Evaluation time later in the day. You must come to the Evaluation to reschedule. You may not phone in to reschedule.

What happens at the Evaluations?

Every player has the opportunity to hit 5-8 pitches from the pitching machine. Each player also displays their defensive skills by fielding ground balls and catching fly balls. Players should bring any gear they wish to use with them. Parents may volunteer to help at the Evaluations by indicating their interest during the registration process, and signing up for volunteer positions using our website. Additional parent volunteers may also be solicited during the Evaluation session.

What are the Managers and Coaches doing?

The Managers and Coaches are watching your player at the Evaluations and scoring the players on both the performance and the fundamental skills demonstrated during the evaluation session. The managers and coaches are also watching a player's hustle, attitude, and general athletic ability during the Evaluations. Coaches and Managers will utilize the list of players and their evaluation scores when drafting players onto their teams.

How does the PLAYER DRAFT work and what divisions are included?

After all Evaluations have been completed, the Managers meet to draft the players. Draft for Majors and Minors usually take place in late January but can creep into February if the weather is bad. For players less than 13 years old, the draft begins with the Majors teams selecting players needed to fill their rosters. After the Majors draft is completed, the Minors teams make their draft selections.

If a player who qualifies, by League Age, to play in two different divisions, like Majors and Minors, may be drafted up or down at the managers selection. If a player who registers for the Majors division and does not get drafted will automatically be drafted to a team in the Minor Division. Conversely, a player who registered for Minors may be drafted up to Majors. The determination is made by the manager's observation of the player during the evaluation/tryout process.

Players drafted in a higher division may be injured for the season or opt out of the League. When these vacancies occur a series of promotions takes place to re-balance the teams. Example – a player in Majors decides not to participate. A player from Minors is promoted to fill the vacancy in Majors. The Player Agent and Managers utilize their observations from the Evaluations to decide who to offer a promotion to.

The Intermediate and Juniors draft (ages 13 - 14) also takes place during this time. The Managers utilize their evaluations from the evaluation session to select their teams.

League officials do not influence the Managers in the selection process other than specifying the mix of age groups in each division. If your son or daughter was not selected to a division as high as you hoped it is because the Managers in that division did not select them – no other reason.

How and when do I know what team my child is on?

Players 9-12 receive an email from the league on behalf of the coach immediately following the draft. Soon after that email, players should hear what team they have been selected to within a few days. If you have not heard from the league or your manager by then please contact the League to find out about your team. Occasionally mistakes happen and when they do we will try and correct them as soon as possible. Please be patient – every player who registers will be placed on a team provided there is sufficient space. Registration date is used as the criteria to determine placement if the space limit for a division is reached

Players 5-8 – Tee Ball, Farm teams are formed after the draft is completed. You should hear what team you are on by mid-February. If you have not heard from the League or your Manager by then please contact the League. Occasionally mistakes happen and when they do we will try and correct them as soon as possible. Please be patient – every player who registers will be placed on a team. In the event that Tryouts are delayed more than one week because of rain these notification dates could also be delayed.

What bats are legal?

As in years past - Little League International has adopted a new set of bat rules that you will need to know about when purchasing a bat for the 2018 season.

Old Bats are Illegal

With the exception of BBCOR bats in Seniors, Juniors, and Intermediate, all bats must have the USA Baseball logo. Those that have the USSA / BPF 1.15 stamp may no longer be used in Little League games or practices.

Types of Bats

To understand the rules - you first need to understand that there are three basic categories for bats:

-       Aluminum - An aluminum bat is any any bat with an aluminum barrel (the part you hit the ball with). Handles (the part you grip) can be aluminum, composite, or even wood. So long as the bat has an aluminum barrel - it is considered and aluminum bat.

-       Composite - A composite bat is any bat with a composite barrel. In general the bat with be marked with Composite somewhere on the barrel. Often you can tell by looking at the barrel material or tapping it.

-       Wood - any bat with a wood barrel is considered a wood bat. There are bats with composite handles and wood barrels. Those are still considered a wood bat. Generally speaking, wood bats have far less rules on them than aluminum or composite barrel bats.

For full detail on the bat rules you'll want to check the green book and the Little League international (www.littleleague.org) website [search for bat rules] for full rules.

Here are the keys that our Umpires use to determine if a bat may be used for little league play:

Tee-Ball

Under the USABat standard, certified Tee Ball bats (26" and shorter) will feature the USA Baseball mark and text which reads ONLY FOR USE WITH APPROVED TEE BALLS. All Tee Ball bats must feature the USA Baseball mark and accompanying text. Tee Ball bats that were produced and/or purchased prior to the implementation of the new standard can be certified using an Approved Tee Ball Sticker via the USA Baseball Tee Ball Sticker Program (USABaseballShop.com) beginning September 1, 2017.

Majors and Minors

-       Bat must be no longer than 33 inches

-       Bat diameter must be no more than 2 5/8 inches (big barrel)

-       Wood bats may be not be less than 15/16 inch in diameter

-       All bats must bear the USA Baseball logo signifying the bat meets the USABat standard.

-       Note: solid wood bats are not required to have the USABat logo

Intermediate 50/70 and Juniors

-       Bat must be no longer than 34 inches

- The bat is no more than 2 5/8 inches in diameter (big barrel)

-       The bat is no longer than 34 inches

-       Wood bats may be not be less than 15/16 inch in diameter at its smallest part and wood bats taped or fitted with a sleeve may not exceed eighteen (18) inches from the small end

-       All bats must EITHER bear the USA Baseball logo signifying the bat meets the USABat standard, OR be marked signifying it meets the BBCOR performance standard.

-       Note: solid wood bats are not required to have the USA Baseball logo

Senior League

-       The bat is no more than 2 5/8 inches (big barrel)

-       The bat is no longer than 36 inches

-       The bat must not weigh more than 3 oz less than the length. (e.g. 33" bat must weigh at least 30 oz.)

-       All non-wood (aluminum or composite) bats must have the BBCOR stamp present and the bat is not on the LL list of prohibited bats, or must bear the USA Baseball logo certifying the bat meets the USABat standard.

More detail for bats in all divisions is available on the Little League Website - LittleLeague.org

Little League's Statement for the 2018 Bat Rule Change

With the Little League® International Board of Directors formally adopting USA Baseball’s new standard for bat performance testing, Little League International fully supports this program. For more than seventy-five years, Little League has used improvements in science, engineering, and technology to take the sport of baseball to higher levels. By utilizing the most current advancements available, manufacturers can now develop bats with a wood-like performance, which is important for the long-term success of the game. Developed by a USA Baseball committee of scientific experts, Little League Baseball® has decided to adopt the new bat standard for mandated use effective January 1, 2018. All national members of USA Baseball, including Little League, are encouraged to adopt this new standard. Little League-approved bats can be used through December 31, 2017, and our current bat regulations will be in effect until then. That includes the moratorium prohibiting the use of all 2 ¼ inch barrel baseball bats constructed with composite material in the barrel, unless approved. Visit LittleLeague.org for detailed information. Little League looks forward to working with USA Baseball, and will begin educating our local leagues, and the parents of our 2.1 million baseball players, preparing them for the important change coming in 2018.