FAQs
This page contains Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to:
Location eligibility (aka 'catchment')
Does my address or school qualify me to play for GVLL?
- GVLL’s catchment (or zone) extends beyond Greenwich Village and includes Chelsea, Midtown West, and Soho. Our boundary map can be viewed here. Children who live or go to school in this catchment area can play for GVLL.
- Or you can put your address in here to see what Little League you belong to.
Can my child play for GVLL if we don’t live or go to school in GVLL’s catchment?
- Starting in Spring 2025, all children League age 4-7 are allowed to play in any little league they choose. They do not have to live or go to school in the catchment.
- Children League Age 8 and older and who have a sibling League age 4-7 who is registered for GVLL spring season, may also register for GVLL.
- Children 8 and older who do not live in or go to school in the GVLL catchment can request a waiver. Getting a waiver is not guaranteed. We encourage all children to play in the little league they are zoned for - whether that be based on their home address or their school address. If you would still like to inquire about a waiver, please send email to [email protected] with your request and rationale.
League Age and Division (aka Level) of play
How do I figure out which division my child should play in?
- Players should play in the division most appropriate for their age based on the Little League age calculator.
- For baseball, League Age is determined by how old the player is on August 31 of the year they are enrolled to play. For softball, League Age is determined by how old the player is on December 31 of the previous year.
- A quick snapshot of the Spring Baseball divisions and ages can be found here. For more details about the different levels of play, please view the Divisions of Play section.
How competitive are the games? I want my child to compete, but also to enjoy the experience.
- Our goal is to give players an opportunity to have fun while learning to play the game. To that end, we make sure the level of competition in each division is age-appropriate, starting with T-ball, where the emphasis is on teaching basic rules of baseball and softball through simple drills. The games are short and non-competitive at this age--no scores are kept and every player gets a chance to bat every inning. In older divisions, the games are longer and more competitive. Overall, we try to create an atmosphere that allows players to develop and challenge themselves while also enjoying the experience.
Can my child “play up” or “play down”?
- GVLL does not allow kids to play out of their age brackets. We sometimes make exceptions in baseball for kids born between September and December so they can play with their classmates, but this is the only exception we make and there is no guarantee that requests will be granted. Please email [email protected] with questions.
Can we ask to be put on a team with a friend? / How are teams formed?
- For Baseball T-ball, Junior Minors and Minors divisions, and for all Softball divisions we do our best to place children from the same school together and/or with friends (which you can specify during registration, it’s one of the questions). However, while every attempt is made to honor such requests, not all can be met if the requested team is full.
- For Baseball AAA, Majors, Juniors, and Seniors divisions we do not grant friend requests because these teams are created through a draft to form balanced teams. These levels will have tryouts (see below).
When are team assignments posted?
- All teams are posted in early to mid-March (with AAA and Majors Baseball typically earlier). Once your team is set, your player's Manager will contact you. You can also log onto your team webpage to see your child’s team roster by logging into your account.
Which divisions have tryouts?- Baseball AAA and Majors divisions have a tryout in January (see League Calendar for the specific date). If multiple teams are being fielded in Juniors and Seniors baseball, these divisions will have tryouts in late February. All tryouts are held at Pier 40.
How does the tryout work?
- About a week before the tryout, we will email you to sign up for a tryout timeslot. The tryout is run by P3 coaches and observed by division coordinators and team managers. Children take part in small group hitting, fielding, pitching, and catching. Tryouts typically last 1 hour.
How do the drafts work? (relevant for Baseball AAA and Majors)
- Children try out in January for the spring season. P3 coaches run the tryout and the managers for AAA and Majors are also there. First, Majors does their draft to fill teams. Second, players who were not selected for Majors are then considered for the AAA draft.
- The managers consider all the skills that were assessed during the tryout and try to create balanced teams and an equitable distribution of pitchers and catchers. Both drafts run in a round-robin fashion to create teams of 12 players.
- The Majors draft happens first. Most Baseball-12 children and children who played Majors in the previous Spring will be drafted into Majors, except in cases where a safety concern is noted. The remaining Majors slots are filled by Baseball-10 and Baseball-11 players who are selected based on skill-level.
- Once the Majors draft is over, the remaining children from the tryout are considered for AAA. Most Baseball-11 players who were not selected for Majors will be drafted onto a AAA (with the exception of safety concerns). The remaining AAA slots are filled by Baseball-9 and Baseball-10 players who are selected based on skill-level. The Baseball-10 and Baseball-9 players who are not drafted into AAA will be placed on a Minors team.
Can girls play in the baseball divisions?
- Yes. Girls may play either baseball or softball.
Registration and Registration Portal
How do I register?
- After you have reviewed the Divisions of Play section above (select the appropriate season) and determined which division is appropriate for your child, go to the Register Now section (above) to sign up for the upcoming season.
When is Spring Registration?
- Registration for our main Spring Season opens on November 1st every year. Registration for the Baseball AAA and Baseball Majors division closes on January 15th in advance of the mandatory tryout (see League Calendar for the upcoming dates for this year). Registration for the other baseball divisions and for all softball divisions goes through March if space is available. Divisions do fill up so we recommend registering early.
What documents do I need to provide for my player?
- Everyone must provide proof of your player's age (passport, birth certificate, state ID), as well as proof of residence or school location during registration.
- Acceptable proof of residence documents are:
- Utility bill or rent statement (within the past 6-months)
- Parent drivers’ license (not expired)
- Acceptable proof of school location documents are:
- A completed Little League of America School Enrollment Form (our LL number is 232-23-16)
- Proof of school enrollment (current school year)
- Tuition payment
- School portal screen shot (with child’s name and current year)
- Report card (with child’s name and current year
What are the registration fees for GVLL and what form of payment is accepted?
- The prices for each division appear on the Register Now page and vary by division and season. GVLL accepts payment by credit card.
Are scholarships available for families needing financial assistance?
- Yes. Requests for financial assistance should be sent to [email protected] and will be held in strict confidence.
Are there discounts for siblings?
- Yes. After the first sibling, each additional sibling receives a $25 discount and the discount is automatically applied within the registration system.
What is the GVLL refund policy?
- GVLL offers refunds prior to February 15th, after that we will apply a credit to your account.
What does my registration fee pay for?
- Your registration fees help to cover the costs of: Uniforms, Team Equipment, Winter Workouts, Clinics during the season, Professional Umpires, League Charter, and Insurance.
Equipment
What equipment does the League provide?
- We provide a team jersey, hat, and socks. We also provide one pair of white baseball pants, a heart guard (baseball AAA and Majors), and a belt (Minors, AAA, Majors).
- In addition, each team has the following shared equipment: bat, batting helmet, and catcher’s gear. You may bring your own equipment if you like (though see bat requirements below).
What equipment should each family provide?
- All children must have their own baseball/softball glove, allowable footwear (no metal cleats/spikes), and an athletic cup (catchers at all levels, and boys in AAA and above).
What bats are allowed?
- For children 12 and under, Little League of America approved metal (aka “USA bats”) or wooden bats are allowed. For children 13 and older, Little League of America-approved wooden bats or BBCOR bats. Full list of approved bats can be found here.
What is a heart guard?
- A heart guard is an undershirt designed to protect players’ chests from hit or thrown balls. The League provides them to all players in AAA and Majors and those players are required to wear them.
Does my son need to wear an athletic cup?
- Yes. We require all boys to wear an athletic cup for AAA, Majors, Juniors and Seniors and all catchers, regardless of division, in order to play.
What kind of shoes should my child wear? Are cleats allowed?
- All-purpose athletic shoes are allowed, as well as turf shoes. Metal cleats and spikes are not allowed.
Other
Does my child need to attend every game and practice?
- We ask that you make every effort to have your child attend all practices and games, particularly if your child is in an older, more competitive division. If you know your child will miss a practice or game, please let the Team Manager know as far in advance as possible. In cases of illness or injury, alert the Team Manager as soon as you know your child will not be able to play.
When are team assignments posted?
- For the spring season, all teams are posted in early to mid-March. However, AAA and Majors Baseball draft results may be posted earlier. Once your team is set, you can log onto your team webpage to see your child’s team roster.
How can I find out if a game is cancelled due to weather?
- Your Team Manager will send out an e-mail on game day to let you know if the game has been cancelled.