Brick Little League

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Brick Little League offers several levels of play ... Tee Ball • Farm • Minor • Major • Junior • 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.

Little League International has established an age cutoff date to ensure players develop appropriately in terms of skills, knowledge, and sportsmanship. BLL has established age brackets that players need to participate in, however, there are situations where some players may play down due to safety risks upon approval of the BLL Board of Directors.

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

Yes, absolutely !!! Brick Little League believes that this program is about the kids. BLL does not frown upon having the kids play in other baseball programs ... recreational, school or travel league.

BLL will rely on the responsibility of the parent/guardian of the player to make this decision. No player is allowed to register with BLL without parental/guardian consent.

It is very important that the parent/guardian of the player informs the team’s manager if the player is playing in another baseball program. This is to protect the player from injury, especially if he/she pitches. It is a priority for BLL to protect the players from injury.

Please check the Brick Little League calendar on this website for exact league date.

SPRING SEASON
The Spring season usually begins on the first available weekend in April or last weekend in March
An Opening Day event kicks off the first games of the season

FALL SEASON
The Fall season begins on the first available weekend after Labor Day in Septemeber.

Brick Little League's seasons vary depending on the season.

SPRING SEASON
The Spring season usually lasts approximately 10-11 weeks, from April through June, including division playoff games.

The season is extended for players that are selected to any of the All-Star Tournaments available, both internal and through NJ Little League District 18. We ask that you please consider this in your family's vacation plans if you have a child is selected to one of these All-Star teams.

FALL SEASON
The Fall season usually lasts until about early Novemeber .. WEATHER PERMITTING

All teams playing at Brick Little League are scheduled for at least one game a week. Game days are typically Monday through Saturday.

It is BLL's desire to have all scheduled games be played but unfortunately the League can not control Mother Nature. Based on the League's schedule, rainout games may be scheduled on days not listed on the regular schedule. It is recommended that player's parent/guardian keep in contact with their coach in regards to schedule changes.

Game Times
Saturday games generally start at 9:00 am and continue throughout the day.
Weekday games generally will begin around 5:00 pm or 6:00 pm.

Brick Little League uses a combination of volunteer and paid umpires.
 
Tee Ball
There are no umpires. The mangers and coaches of the teams playing manage the flow of the game.

Farm League
BLL uses volunteer umpires [parents or coaches]

Minor League
BLL uses PAID teenagers (14 years old and above) to umpire at this level.  The teenagers are encouraged to attend the annual NJ District 18 Umpire classes.
 
Major League
BLL uses PAID certified NJ District 18 umpires. No coaches or parents are allowed to be umpires at this level unless certified and authorized by NJ District 18

Junior - Senior - Big League
BLL uses PAID certified NJ District 18 umpires. No coaches or parents are allowed to be umpires at this level unless certified and authorized by NJ District 18

Brick Little League targets the beginning of February for all teams to start practicing in our indoor training center. Actual first outdoor practices will depend upon weather. Your coach should be able to provide more details.

Practice frequency and duration are up to the team manager and vary based on the division. BLL encourages every team to practice at least ONCE a week. BLL will not get involved on the type nor duration of practices. BLL believes it best to leave it up to the best judgment of the team’s manager. BLL League officials may, on occasion, watch some practices to make sure that the players are being taught the game.

Brick Little League schedules field practice times at our complex on Cherry Quay Rd. prior to start of the season. However, there are other locations available to BLL that allow our teams to practice on. All PRACTICE LOCATIONS NEED TO BE APPROVED by the BLL Board of Directors. You will know where your child will practice once your child is placed on a team and the team’s manager contacts you.

Players should arrive at their practice and games with their personal bat and glove. Rubber molded cleats are allowed at all levels ... metal cleats are only allowed in Junior, Senior and Big League.

A baseball bag is recommended to transport the items mentioned above plus batting gloves, water bottles, and other items.

Contact your child’s team manager for proper practice attire.

For scheduled games, every player needs to be dressed in full team uniform [team hat, team jersey, baseball pants] and cleats.

Yes. Brick Little League does provide each player with a uniform depending on the season.

Due to individual fittings, each player need to provide the proper sizes when registering for the season. The uniform is for the player to keep.

SPRING SEASON
BLL will provide a full uniform which consists of a pair of baseball pants, a team baseball jersey, a team hat, and a pair of all-in-one baseball socks at no extra cost.

FALL SEASON
BLL will only provide each player with a a team baseball jersey and a team hat at no extra cost.

The team jersey don't provide much warmth, so it is a good idea to purchase a long-sleeve baseball shirt to wear under the team jersey.

As previously mentioned, rubber cleats are allowed in all levels ... but metal cleats [spikes] are only allowed in Junior, Senior and Big Leagues.

A quality leather glove is also 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, depending on the weather.

Brick Little league targets to get all teams formed by late January. It really depends on an overall status of incoming registrations. Your child's manager will notify you of the team's first meeting. If you don't hear from a team manager by mid-March, please contact the League for status.

For the Fall season, BLL targets to have all the teams formed by mid-August.

Brick Little League allows friends to request to be placed on the same team together only in the Tee Ball and Farm League Divisions. In the Minor League Division on up, a request may be made, but there is no guarantee that it will be approved. Players are distributed based on ratings in a balanced process to form teams. In the Major League Division, there are absolutely no requests due to the player selection process of the draft. The upper division teams are created using a balanced draft process that helps to promote even and competitive teams.

YES ... but it depends on WHEN you request the refund
The breakdown is as follows ...

TIME PERIOD	REFUND
During Registration	100 % of PAID fee (minus any transaction fees)
Player Placed on Team and Uniforms Ordered *	50 % of PAID fee (minus any transaction fees)
After Opening Day / First Game Played *	NO REFUND

* actual dates are subject to change YEAR to YEAR

All request for refunds MUST be in writing, dated and mention a brief reason for the request
The request can be MAILED in ... or emailed to brickll@ymail.com

PLEASE DO NOT "TALK" TO SOMEONE AND/OR "TELL" A COACH ABOUT YOUR REQUEST
9 times out of 10 ... the message will not get to the proper people in the League
Your request MUST be in writing so that the League maintains a proper written official record of the request
All requested will be reviewed and authorized by the BLL Board

Brick Little League strongly supports age appropriate competition and development. BLL does not allow teams to move players [up or down] a division without approval from the BLL Board. The only other 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/guardian request needs to be made to the BLL Board of Directors. A decision will be made to allow the player to play down.

Yes ... for the most part, BLL enforces the Little League International rule for minimum play time ...each player must play a minimum of six consecutive outs and at least one plate appearance [at bat].

This rules does change during Little League NJ District All-Star tournaments. Please contact a League official for more details.

Yes. Due to the abundance of teams at Brick Little League, game times are limited. The time may vary year-to-year depending on how many teams are involved in a division. Your coach should provide more details. The upper divisions [Junior, Senior, Big League] are subject to rules set forth by NJ District 18.

Every team has a manager approved by the BLL Board of Directors. That manager needs to select and name at least [2] assistant coaches for the team.

During season games, only the manger and [2] assistant coaches are allowed on the field. There MUST be at least ONE coach in the dugout at all times during game.

Any manager or coach that comes into contact with players MUST submit a Little League International Volunteer application to the League.

Absolutely, Brick 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.

To view the BLL Codes of Conduct ==> click here

Brick Little League teams play an entire regular season with the final standings establishing the seeding for a post-season single-elimination tournament [playoffs]. This approach allows all of the teams to work on developing the skills of each and every player on the team throughout the season. Teams 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 in some cases, the lower seeded teams often rise up. This is by far the best approach to overall player development.

Brick Little League does encourage parents or coaches to help staff and run the Snack Stand at the complex. BLL have Board members overseeing the responsibilities for the Snack Stand.HELP IS ALWAYS WELCOMEDIf you would like a help out in the Snack Stand, please feel free to contact BLL.

It is not an obligation. Brick Little League relies on fundraising to help support the operations of the League. Player registration fees only account for a portion of the needed operating capital required for equipment, facilities maintenance and repairs, uniforms, etc. BLL supplements player registration fees with League sponsors and fundraising. It would be appreciated that every team participate in the League's fundraising activities throughout the season.

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 team manager, then with the division's player agent (who is a BLL Board Member assigned to oversee that division). Contact information is on this website under the "Front Office" link.

You are also welcome to attend a General Membership Meetings and express your concerns directly to the BLL Board of Directors. The BLL Board of Directors meet at least once a month throughout the year.