How are players assigned to teams?

Majors:

• Countryside LL has a complete redraft approach to Majors for the Fall Season. 
• All league age 12 players will be drafted, unless a waiver to stay in AAA has been requested and approved.
• All Majors division returning players from the previous Spring MUST be drafted onto a Majors team this Spring; Majors players from last Fall who did not play in the Majors in the previous Spring are NOT guaranteed to be selected onto a Majors team
• Coaches/assistants are assigned following the draft; a Manager wishing a specific coach must select the son/daughter of the coach.
• Little League rules establish the round in the draft the manager’s players are ‘drafted’. No other players can be ‘reserved’.
• The Majors managers (no coaches or assistants allowed) will meet at the conclusion of skills demonstrations to draft eligible players to complete their rosters.
• Managers, coaches and league staff are forbidden by Little League International regulations to discuss any aspects of the draft process outside of the meeting. Please do not ask, “Who was drafted first” or “What round was my child drafted in”, etc.

AAA:

The selection process for AAA is similar to Majors:

• As with Majors teams, above, AAA teams are reformed each year from the pool of all eligible players.
• All players who is Little League age 9, 10 and 11 that were not drafted onto a Majors team will be selected onto a AAA team.
• Players 8 years old may be selected on a AAA team if (1) the player attended a skills demonstration and (2) there is enough room on a team after all 9s, 10s and 11s have been considered.  

AA:

The selection process for AA is similar to AAA:

• As with AAA teams, above, AA teams are reformed each year from the pool of all eligible players.
• All players who is Little League age 7 and 8 will be selected onto a AA team.
• Players 6 years old may be selected on a AA team if (1) the player attended a skills demonstration and (2) there is enough room on a team after all 7s and 8s have been considered.

How are Siblings Allocated in the Draft?

Per the Little League Operating Manual rules governing the drafting of siblings, a Manager who drafts the first sibling automatically has the option of drafting the other sibling on their next turn.  The Countryside LL will strongly encourage Managers to exercise this option, unless the Player’s Parents indicate they will allow their children to play on different teams.  However, there is no guarantee that siblings will be on the same team.

How are Manager’s Children Allocated in the Draft?

If a Manager has children in the draft and wishes to draft them, they must indicate that they are exercising that option prior to the start of the draft.  Pursuant to the Little League Operating Manual, a Manager in the draft must select their children by the specific round specified for their League Age.

 A Majors Manager in the draft must select their children by the specific round specified for their League Age: 

Source:  Little League Operating Manual
 
Similar for the AAA Draft, a AAA Manager in the draft must select their children by the specific round specified for their League Age:

Similar for the AA Draft, a AA Manager in the draft must select their children by the specific round specified for their League Age:

“Hat Picks”

Majors

After all eligible players have been drafted, the registered and paid/approved 12 year-olds who did not attend a skills demonstration but must play in the Majors are assigned teams. This is completed by use of “Hat Picks.” As the name implies, each of the remaining 12 year-olds’ names are placed in a hat, and continuing in the same draft order each manager picks a player until all players have been assigned a team. (Recall that injured players who attended tryouts but could not physically tryout are part of the group eligible to be drafted and are not part of the Hat Pick group.)
 
AAA

After all eligible players have been drafted, the registered and paid/approved players who did not attend a skills demonstration but must play in the AAA are assigned teams. This is completed by use of “Hat Picks.” As the name implies, each of the remaining 9-12 year-olds’ names are placed in a hat, and continuing in the same draft order each manager picks a player until all players have been assigned a team. (Recall that injured players who attended tryouts but could not physically tryout are part of the group eligible to be drafted and are not part of the Hat Pick group.) 

AA

After all eligible players have been drafted, the registered and paid/approved players who did not attend a skills demonstration but must play in the AAA are assigned teams. This is completed by use of “Hat Picks.” As the name implies, each of the remaining 7-8 year-olds’ names are placed in a hat, and continuing in the same draft order each manager picks a player until all players have been assigned a team. (Recall that injured players who attended tryouts but could not physically tryout are part of the group eligible to be drafted and are not part of the Hat Pick group.) 

What is a “Call-up”?

Little League regulations require during the spring season, Majors Division teams to play with the same number of players on each roster. This means that if any Majors team loses a player during the season for any reason the local Little League must have a process in place to replace that player in a timely manner. The Player Call-up Process will be used.

What are a player’s choices if he or she is “Called Up?”

Countryside LL considers a “Call Up” an extremely positive experience. The player is acknowledged for a skill level considered appropriate for the next higher division. Players are typically only eligible for a Call Up if the Managers in their current Division have judged them capable of the physical and mental demands of playing at a higher level. In every way possible, managers, coaches and parents should promote this to players, especially the younger players who may be uncomfortable at the thought of moving to a new team and playing, developing a new set of friends.
  
You may elect before the draft to restrict upward movement for your player, but this must be done before teams are selected. If you have any concerns about the Call Up Process, please contact the Player Agent.

How are teams assigned for T-Ball and A-Ball?

Countryside LL experienced success in splitting LL aged groups of 4-6 yr olds into a T-Ball division and an A-Ball division

Generally,

• The T-Ball division is made of Little League 4 yr olds and 5-6 yr olds who have NOT played T-Ball
• The A-Ball division is made of Little League 5-6 yr olds who have played T-Ball

Countryside LL will divide the teams as equitably as possible while honoring as many parent requests as possible.