Website Manager

Bloomington Junior League Baseball Association

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Spring Season

 

Registration:

 

Q: My child participated in the spring league last year or did not play last year but did play in a previous year, do I need to re-register for the spring season this year?

Yes. Each year re-registration is required. During the registration your current address, phone number, e-mail address, and/or any other pertinent detail can be updated or corrected. Furthermore, if your child is playing in an older age group, the fee for playing could be higher this year.



 Q: I have a child who played in the spring season last year and another child who wants to or may like to participate now. Is it best to register them together?

If at all possible try to register one or more children at the same time. First, registering early insures that you obtain the “early bird” rate rather than the “normal” registration rate. Second, by registering together, you insure that you obtain the applicable family discount rate. Now you certainly can register them at separate times but you risk having one child registered at the “early bird” rate and one at the “normal” rate. It is also possible that the family discount could be overlooked.



Equipment:

 

Q: What equipment (clothes, gear) does my child need (purchase) to participate in games and practices?

Players need to have appropriate shoes (plastic cleats preferred), white (white ONLY) baseball pants an appropriate size glove and a water bottle. Each player will be given (as part of the playing fee) a hat, shirt and a pair of socks. Items such as batting helmets, catchers gear, balls and bats are provided to each team for use during the season. If a player or parents wants to purchase and use specific equipment such as a personal bat, first baseman’s glove etc. they may as long as it abides by all outstanding laws and regulations of the BJLBA organization. For further explanation, please see the Special Rules 1.00



Q: I want to buy a bat for my child, but I am unsure of what to get?

By Special Rule definition, the bat can not be more than 33 inches in length, nor have a bat barrel in excess of 2.25 inches. Specifically, BJLBA currently follows the Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth guidelines. **Please reference the new 2011 rules as they pertain to approved bats.

 

Use the age guideline as a starting point, but height and weight are usually better ways to determine your ideal bat length:

 




Practice and Games:

 

Q: When and where do practices and games take place?

April is primarily practice with games beginning the first week in May and going through the last week in June (at the latest). Each team is allowed three activities per week (with certain exceptions). An activity can be three practices, two games and a practice or any combination. Games and practices can be any day of the week. 7/8s will play and practice at either Bryan Park or the Winslow Sports Complex. 9/12 play and practice at Winslow Sports Complex. A coach is also free to find another spot for the third activity (practice) if desired. BJLBA philosophy is that 5 though 10s should not be out “late”. For example, no 7/8 game will start later than approximately 6:30 p.m.

Q: Who manages and determines the time slots of games and practices?

The short answer is Bloomington Parks and Recreation. BJLBA shares the Winslow Sports Complex with Parks & Recreation Girls softball, Girls Inc. softball, and Bloomington High School South softball. The demand on the Winslow fields is “high”. As a result, Parks & Recreation gives BJLBA our “slots”. BJLBA then assigns those slots as evenly as possible between all age groups/teams. BJLBA also uses Bryan Park for practice and 5/6 and 7/8 games.



Q: Due to other commitments, I will not be able to attend every practice and/or game is this a problem?

We understand that everyone juggles multiple commitments and sometimes things just come up. All that is usually asked is that you communicate with the manager what conflicts you have. And keep the manager informed as circumstances change. Managers usually just want to know who to expect and who won’t be there on any given night because most managers plan the night’s activities (at least with a mental sketch) and it helps to know who is going to be present.



Q: If I have a problem or question while at the ballpark, who can I talk to?

A representative of the Parks and Recreation Department will be present during each game and practice at Winslow Sports Complex. In addition, during each game at both Winslow Sports Complex and Bryan Park, a BJLBA board member will be on duty.



Q: I am interested in sponsoring a team, what is all involved?

A team sponsorship is $350. For the sponsorship the team name/logo go on the front of the shirt. BJLBA also provides a team hat which will carry the team’s name and/or a small logo. In addition, the sponsor gets a plaque, suitable for displaying, with a team picture and words expressing our sincere appreciation for the sponsorship. Furthermore, the sponsor can have their website imbedded in our website under sponsor links so that people visiting our website can go to the sponsor links and be directed to the sponsors website. If interested, please contact us and we will get a sponsorship form set right out to you.


Second Season

  

Registration:

 

Q: What is second season all about?

The concept behind our Second Season is an “organized sandlot”. The emphasis is show up and play baseball. Kids used to get together and play pickup games on their own. We (BJLBA) provide a basic structure, some adult leadership, but the primary emphasis is to show up and play some baseball. For the 5/6s and 7/8s, the Second Season is pretty similar to our regular season. The 9, 10, 11, and 12s are more loosely organized than during our regular season. If a child has never played this is a good place to start. If a child has played, this is an opportunity to try new positions (e.g., catching, pitching, etc.). There are no uniforms, and no scoreboards are used. That doesn’t mean the kids wouldn’t be able to tell you who won.



Q: How, when and where do I register for second season?

Signups will be announced near the conclusion of the Spring Season.  You can usually find the specific dates and locations on this website by visiting the online calendar, keeping an eye on the “news” and/or visiting our Second Season page.



Equipment:



Q: What equipment (clothes, gear) does my child need (purchase) to participate in games and practices ?

Players need to have appropriate shoes (plastic cleats preferred), appropriate size glove and a water bottle. Baseball pants recommended, but not required. Items such as batting helmets, catchers gear, balls and bats are provided to each team for use during the season. If a player or parents wants to purchase and use specific equipment such as a personal bat, first baseman’s glove etc they may as long as it abides by all outstanding laws and regulations of the BJLBA organization. For further explanation, please  see the Special Rules 1.00



Practice and Games:



Q: When and where do practices and games take place ?

All games are at the  Winslow Sports Complex and start at or around 6:00 p.m. Games will normally be scheduled on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Thursday is left for rainouts. We try to stay away from the final weekends of summer. Practices are up to the manager. Some teams will have a “get-together” practice. Some will practice once a week on a regular basis. Some teams will not practice.




In General …



Q: Is BJLBA a recreational league or competitive league?

We consider BJLBA a “full service” program. We provide baseball in four age groups, based on age (i.e., 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 11/12) including buddy ball for those with special needs. The season starts in the spring with league play and is followed up by a single elimination city tournament for those in our Junior Division and above. After completion of our regular season, BJLBA sponsors post-season play for children with more advanced skills to provide them with an opportunity to further grow their skills against more similarly talented players. In addition, we provide a Second Season program in August for children who are either new to our community or were not selected to play on a post-season tournament team. Finally, we provide a Fall Baseball program for all children who would like to work at acquiring and/or refining their baseball skills in anticipation of the next season. Please reference our divisional Mission Statements (Novice, Junior, Minor and Major) for more information.



Q: What are the field dimensions/distances?

The 4 junior (5-12yo) fields are 46′ (pitching mound to home plate) / 60′ (distance between bases). The “Blue” (13-14yo) field is 54′ (pitching mound to home plate) / 80′ (distance between bases). The “Gold” (15-19yo) field is 60′ (pitching mound to home plate) / 90′ (distance between bases).