What is the structure of Oakville Little League Baseball?

Oakville Little League Baseball is comprised of youth ages 4-18 that play in one of eight divisions: Blastball, T-Ball, Coach Pitch, Rookie Ball, Minor A, Minor AA, Major, Junior, and Senior. Depending upon the level, the playing fields are slightly different in terms of length of base paths, distance from pitching mound, and distance to the outfield fences from home plate.

Oakville Little League has established age cutoffs to ensure players develop appropriately in terms of skills, knowledge, and sportsmanship. Oakville Little League has established age brackets that players need to participate in. However, there are situations where some players may play up or down based on the ability of the player. The Player Agent, on behalf of the League, has the may authorize these moves

Oakville Little League is managed by an elected Board of Directors that administer the league in line with established bylaws. The league is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization.

When does the 2008 season begin?

The 2008 baseball season will start on Saturday, May 3 at various parks across Oakville. The schedule for opening day will be posted by mid-April. An Opening Day Event at the Cornwall Field of Dreams kicks off the first games of the season.

How long will the season last?

The Oakville Little League regular season lasts 12 weeks from May through the end of July Championship Day for Rookie Ball to Senior take place on August 16-17

Where are Oakville Little League games played?

Oakville Little League utilizes several fields over the Town of Oakville. Please click here for Maps and Addresses of the parks that are used for each division.

What days and times are the games played?

All teams in Oakville Little League, except for Blastball, are scheduled for at least one game a week, and in some divisions teams are scheduled for games twice a week. Teams will play 16 games over the regular season. Game days are typically Monday through Thursday, but there will be some games scheduled on Fridays before the end of the school year. Friday is the main day that rained-out games will be rescheduled. Games will start at 6:15 pm during the regular season, and 6:00 pm during the playoffs.

For division Coach Pitch through Senior, there is no one set day of the week that the division plays.

Blastball: Blastball will be played every Wednesday Night at 6:15 until approximately 7:45.

There is no curfew for the weeknight games.

Who umpires Oakville Little League games?

Oakville Little League uses a combination of parent volunteers and paid umpires in divisions Rookie Ball through Junior. All umpires are required to attend training clinics. A plate umpire and a field umpire are used in all games, unless a scheduling issue arises causing a shortage of available umpires. In the Coach Pitch division, coaches manage the flow of the game.

When will the practices begin?

Oakville Little League will start team practices the weekend of April 28. Most team practices will be held on Saturdays during the season, with the park and the time rotating each week. A practice schedule will be provided with the game schedule before the start of the season.

How often and long will my child practice?

Teams will practice once a week (usually on Saturday with the occasional Sunday). Practice Length will depend on field availability, but will typically run 90 minutes.

Where will my child practice?

Oakville Little League schedules field practice times at the same fields the games are played at.

What equipment will my child need before the first practice or game?

Players should arrive at their first practice with a glove, athletic support, and rubber molded cleats (highly recommended for Coach Pitch and up) or sneakers. Steel spikes are not allowed.

Are there any uniform supplies my child needs?

A uniform consists of a pair of baseball pants, belt (for Junior and Senior), a baseball jersey, a hat, and a pair of all-in-one baseball socks. Oakville Little League will provide each player with all of these. The player keeps all of this at the end of the season. The jerseys don't provide much warmth, so it is a good idea to purchase a long-sleeve baseball shirt to match the color of your child's team. A quality leather glove is a must - it is recommended to stay away from vinyl and simulated leather gloves that may be cheaper, but tend to cause the player a great deal of frustration. It is impossible to form a pocket in gloves made of vinyl or simulated leather. Therefore, the ball tends to pop out when the player attempts to catch it. All players should bring a windbreaker, jacket, or sweatshirt to every game and practice, especially early in the season.

When will I find out what team my child will play on?

Oakville Little League will be conducting Coaches' Meetings on April 12 and 18. Your child should be informed by April 24. If you have not heard from your coach by then, please call the League Office at (905)-827-1831.

Can my child be placed on a team with one of their friends?

Oakville Little League allows friends to request to be placed on the same team together, but there is no guarantee that it will be approved. Players are distributed based on ratings in a balanced process to form teams. This balanced process helps to promote even and competitive leagues.

If my child is unhappy with the team they are placed on, can they switch teams?

Only in extreme cases does the league allow children to switch teams after the teams have been formed. Such requests must be made in writing to Oakville Little League's Player Agent consideration by the VP of Baseball Operations. Approval requires extenuating circumstances, so any request is highly unlikely to be approved, and in most cases we will ask the player remains with their team. Team balance is established early on, and changes of this type are difficult if not impossible to implement without upsetting the balance that has been established.

If my child decides to quit, is it possible to get a refund?

A refund (minus a $25 administration fee) is available upon request prior to April 1. After this date, NO REFUNDS are allowed.

Can I keep my child down in a lower division or bring him/her up a division a year early?

Oakville Little League strongly supports age appropriate competition and development. Oakville Little League does not allow players to move up a division early or to play down a division to develop additional skills without approval from the VP of Baseball Operations. The only time an adjustment may be made is when there is a safety risk to a player playing in their age appropriate division. At that time, a parent request needs to be made to the VP of Baseball Operations. A decision will be made to allow the player to play down.

Note: No MInor aged player can play in Major, or no Major aged player can play in Junior.

Are there any rules around minimum playing time?

All divisions use a "Fair Play" model to ensure that all players play an equal number of innings and bat an equal number of times. There are minimums for innings played in all divisions. Refer to the Fair Play Manual posted on the Oakville Little League web site.

Are there Time Limits on games?

There are no time limits or curfews that are placed on the games. Darkness is the deciding factor on the length of the game.

How many managers/coaches can be on a team?

Every team has a manager approved by the Board of Directors. Each team's manager can have as many assistants as they can find for practices, but only two assistant coaches are allowed in the dugout during games.

What are the responsibilities of a manager and a coach?

The team manager oversees the management of the team throughout the season. They are responsible for developing a practice format, creating a lineup card for every game, and ensuring kids get their minimum playing time in each game. Managers are the focal point of the team and must be committed to following through with managing the team from mid-April tothe end of August. Time commitment is usually around 5-6 hours a week depending upon division.

Managers need to be able to commit to be at all practices and games. Managers also must attend a pre-season coaching clinic provided by the league, and a manager's meeting with the division representative. As well, they must schedule and conduct a parent meeting prior to the first practice of the season.

Two assistant coaches are allowed in the dugout during games. However, a manager may elect to use more than two coaches during practice. Coaches provide support during practice to ensure kids get enough attention while developing their skills. Coaches are under the guidance and direction of the manager. Typically, a manager will design a practice format and have assistants take care of coaching small groups of players, assisting with batting practice, hitting fungos, or other assistant duties. Coaches are strongly urged to attend a pre-season clinic provided by the league. All actions of an assistant coach during games are the ultimate responsibility of the manager.

Are there conduct rules that apply during games?

Absolutely. Oakville Little League does not tolerate foul language or taunting at any level by the players, parents, managers, or coaches. Any spectator, player, manager or coach that is warned is subject to being ejected from the premises and banned from the complex for additional games.

What is the playoff structure?

Oakville Little League teams play an entire regular season with the final standings establishing the seeding for a post-season Playoff tournament tournament. This approach allows all of the teams to work on developing the skills of each and every player on the team. Managers do not have to win every game, and as a result, they can play kids in positions where they can learn without the overriding pressure to "not lose". The end product is a playoff tournament where every game is a good contest, and the lower seeded teams often rise up. This is by far the best approach to overall player development.

Who do I contact if I have a problem that needs to be resolved by the league?

If at any time you have a problem or just want information, you can e-mail the league at any time. However, please first discuss any concerns with your child's manager, then with the division's Convenor Contact information is on the OLL Board page. You are also welcome to attend a Board meeting and express your concerns directly to the Board with prior approval from the President.