For a child to be a Little Leaguer®, eligibility must first be established by way of residency inside the boundaries of a local Little League®, or the location of the school where the child attends is located inside a local league’s boundaries that is approved by Little League Baseball, Incorporated.
For additional information on Establishing Player Eligibility in a Local Little League® please visit Little League University.
Will a parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of returning players without a Tournament Player Verification Form need to provide documentation from proof of residency or school attendance requirements, or is their eligibility to participate in the league for the regular season “grandfathered?”
Parents or guardians will need to provide appropriate proofs of residence or school attendance as outlined above, regardless of a child’s previous participation in the league.
However, players who have a completed Tournament Player Verification form from a previous tournament season, along with the accompanying approved residency or school attendance documentation, will be grandfathered to participate in the appropriate league using this form from a previous tournament season.
Why is Little League requiring its local leagues to collect a minimum of three specific forms of residency documents?
While the 17 accepted residency documents are the same as in past seasons, this change further enhances and refines the residency policy by assuring that local leagues or districts are determining a player’s place of residence by using documents from multiple origins.
Are leagues required to have a parent(s) or legal guardian(s) complete a Tournament Player Verification Form at registration?
No. Only players participating in tournament play MUST complete the Tournament Player Verification form. Some leagues are finding it useful to have all players fill out the Tournament Player Verification Form at registration, but it is not required, as is only becomes valid for tournament team players.
Parents or legal guardians may request to complete a Tournament Player Verification form at player registration or download the document, and present the completed form at registration. If a player is subsequently selected for participation on a tournament team at the completion of that league’s regular season, the completed form and accompanying residency or school attendance documentation that was submitted during registration would satisfy this requirement for Tournament eligibility.
What documentation is acceptable to support school attendance?An official/certified school enrollment record, or the Little League school attendance form. Either document must be completed by the principal, assistant principal, or administrator authorized to sign on behalf of the school that lists the schools address as well as verification that the student has been enrolled and attending prior to October 1 of the current academic school year.
How do I obtain the official Little League School Enrollment form?The school enrollment form is available on the forms and publications page at LittleLeague.org.
What documents is a parent(s) or legal guardian(s) expected to bring to a local league’s player registration?
Documents that support residence or school enrollment per Little League rules and regulations.
Residence – The acceptable residency documents outlined in the residency requirements, along with the child’s original birth certificate. These documents must contain the full residence information which includes a parent(s) or legal guardian(s) name, street address, city, state, and zip code information, dated, or in force, between February 1 of previous the year and February 1 of the current year, from one or more documents from each of the three groups.
School Enrollment – An official/certified school enrollment record, of the Little League school attendance form. Either document must be completed by the principal, assistant principal, or administrator authorized to sign on behalf of the school that lists the schools address as well as verification that the student has been enrolled and attending prior to October 1 of the current academic school year.
What is the document collection procedure for local leagues that conduct online registration?Leagues that offer online registration are expected to schedule a specific time when the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of online registrants must bring their documents to be verified. This meeting date also provides an opportunity for leagues to share league-related information and recruit volunteers for the coming season.
Are leagues required to photocopy/scan all residency/school attendance documents? How will parents know what documents will be needed to register their child?An explanation of the required registration Information is available at: LittleLeague.org/Residence.
What should a league’s response be to a parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who arrive at registration without the expected/appropriate documentation?
Local League officials should make note of the request to register and ask the parents to return with the proper documentation at some point prior to the close of registration.
Will a returning player(s) who lives inside the local league’s boundaries be able to use school attendance documentation if the player(s) attends school inside the league’s boundaries?
Does Little League prefer a local league use the residency documentation, or the school attendance documentation form when both are applicable for registering a player?
Families are encouraged to use the registration method that meets the regulation and is most convenient for them.
What is the information that a local league is looking for on the documents?Residency documents must be dated, or in force, between February 1 of the previous year and February 1 of the current year.
Documents supporting school enrollment form must be dated prior to October 1 of the current academic school year.
What if I no longer have the documentation from the first year my child was eligible using the Tournament Player Verification Form?
You must follow the current residency and school enrollment form requirements.
Will the modified residency requirements affect a volunteer’s ability to be approved as a coach, manager, or a member of the local league’s Board of Directors?
No. Volunteers for a league do not have residency requirements.