After Deland Little League Registrations…What’s next for my Little Leaguer

01/09/24 – Major’s Baseball Division Assessments - DeLand Little League – 6:30 pm
01/09/24 – Major’s Softball Division Assessments – DeLand Little League – 6:00 pm

01/10/24 – Minor’s Baseball & Softball Assessments – DeLand Little League – 6:00 pm

01/11/24 – Juniors Division Assessments - Sperling Sports Complex - 6:30 pm

01/11/24 – Machine Pitch Assessments – DeLand Little League – 6:00 pm

01/12/24 – Evaluation Rain-out day

Please arrive 30 minutes early to assessments to allow for check-in and warmup

What are Assessments: Each Player will complete on the field drills to determine skill level; three ground balls are hit to them, three Popfly’s are hit to them, and three balls are thrown to them for batting (machine may be used). Drills may change based on Division. 

Players that are more advanced than their optional registered level of play can assess up.  Example: A 7 year old that has played baseball for several years and has a high level of baseball skills can assess up to Minor Player pitch versus playing in Machine pitch.  We encourage players to play in their respective age bracket level of play.  In unusual situations players with high skill levels at an early age will assess up for competition reasoning.  If your player falls into this category you would show up to the Assessment date listed for the level you would like them to play. Example from above would have the player show up for the Minor Player Pitch Assessment on 01/10 versus the Machine Pitch on 01/11. This player would be last to assess with the coaches and DLL Board members present. Once all assessments are completed the coaches and present DLL Board members will determine if this player has the skill set to play at that level without safety concerns.

How Teams are Determined:  At the end of assessments the coaches will do a Player Draft of all available ball Players.

Players not attending assessments:  All players should do their best to attend assessments. All players not at the assessments will be picked for a team via hat pick.

Player Uniform:  Players team sponsor and Uniform will be determined by the League.  Jersey and Hat will be provided to each player. 

Player Gear Needed: Players must provide their own baseball glove, USA Baseball bat or BBCOR for Juniors/Seniors, Little League approved batting helmet, cleats (rubber or plastic) (no metal cleats except Junior/Senior division), baseball pants, socks and belt. The coach of each team will communicate the color of pants, socks and belts for each player once the Uniform is designed and approved by the sponsor.  Please refer to on-line websites for sizing of gloves, bats and helmets for your player.  If you have any questions please email [email protected]. As a National Sponsor to Little League, Dicks Sporting Goods can assist with these selections.

How Coaches are Determined:  All coaches are volunteers and most often have their own little player.  Most started coaching at the T-Ball level and each year moved to the next level with their Ball Player.  We encourage anyone that is interested in coaching to identify as such.  There are often opportunities for new coaches at the intermediate levels; T-Ball and Machine Pitch.  The coaching opportunities are very limited at the Minor Player Pitch Level and above. 

Coaches Meeting: The Spring 2024 Mandatory coaches meeting will be on 01/07/24. Coaches meeting will be held at DeLand Little League Fieldhouse.

T-Ball - 2:00 pm 

Machine Pitch - 2:45 pm

Softball - 3:30 pm

Minors/Majors Baseball - 4:15 pm

Practice schedules: Practices will be begin on or around 01/16/24. Within one week of the assessment each coach will reach out to all players on their team.  At that time practice schedules will be discussed and the additional uniform needs for each player (socks, belt, and pants).

Game Schedule: Games will begin on 02/17/24.  Games schedules may vary from one week to the next but we try to schedule each division on similar nights each week. All game days are subject to change based on availability of fields. There will be no games scheduled during Volusia County Spring Break. Spring 2024 Tournament/Playoffs will be scheduled from April 22nd - May 10th. Please plan accordingly as games during this time period may be scheduled on days different than the regular season and may also play more than 2 games per week (No Tournament/Playoff for T-Ball or Rookie Softball). 

Opening Day: Opening day will be on 02/24 and will include raffles, prizes, vendors, food trucks, Home Run Derby, Fastest Pitch, Fastest Runner, Team Pictures, and games for all divisions. Please prepare to spend a lot of time at the DeLand Little League complex on 02/24.

All practice and game schedules are subject to change at any time.  DeLand Little League utilizes The Chipper Jones Complex, Sperling Sports Complex, and Valentine Park for practices and games. The Chipper Jones Complex is a City owned facility that we graciously use at no expense.  With that come restrictions on our use for City designated blackout dates.  The City requires use of our parking lot for events such as Stetson Football and Deland High School events.  Deland Little League will be prudent in coordinating the Little League scheduling with all city events; at the end of the day we are very fortunate to have an Amazing facility to play ball.

Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.