FALLS CHURCH KIWANIS LITTLE LEAGUE

Equipment and Supplies

Players should have the following equipment:

Baseball (Fielding) Glove — 10-11.5” is most common, with smaller generally being better for most ages.

Bat — Please refer to the chart below for size guidance. Bats MUST be USA certified or wood. Bats marked as USSSA or non-certified bats are strictly against Little League policy.
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Protective Cups — All male players at the A Level and above are required to wear protective athletic cups.

Batting Helmet — While FCKLL teams are outfitted with league-provided helmets, many players choose to wear their own helmet. Please be sure of a snug fit, and the helmet must meet NOSCAE certification standards.

Baseball Cap — FCKLL will provide players with a team hat, typically provided by our sponsor the Washington Nationals. However, during the early season, parents should provide players with a cap to wear to practice.

Water Bottle -- Please make sure player's bring water to practices. Coaches will not provide water.

The league outfits all teams with specialty gear such as catcher’s gear, catcher’s glove, first aid kits, baseballs, and other practice equipment. If you choose to purchase your own youth catcher's gear, please make sure the catcher's helmet is NOSCAE certified to meeting Little League's compliance standards.

Positive Coaching Alliance - Parent Resources

Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA)

FCKLL strongly advocates the PCA approach to coaching. This approach centers on teaching youth athletes to balance both the spirit of competition, through an effort-based approach, with continuous learning of life lessons, through embracing mistakes. This method is a proven approach, and created in conjunction with leading youth and sports psychologists, and professional coaches, based out of Stanford University. Parents play a critical role in the health of the coach/player relationship. The following resources have been provided to FCKLL by PCA, and are free for our parents to use. Resources for coaches are similarly posted on the Coach's Corner webpage.

Child Safety and Health

Child safety, health, and well-being is the top priority for FCKLL. Please visit the Player Safety site for an overview of health and safety protocols.

Scholarships & Financial Assistance

FCKLL believes that all of our community's youth should have the opportunity to experience Little League baseball. FCKLL's Scholarship Program ensures no matter the financial hardship, our local youth will have that opportunity. Learn more on the Scholarship Program webpage.

Children with Physical and Intellectual Challenges

FCKLL Challenger Division for Children with Physical and Intellectual Challenges

The Little League Challenger Division® was founded in 1989, and is Little League’s adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges. Any individual with a physical or intellectual challenge may participate. If an individual can participate in the traditional Little League Baseball program with reasonable accommodations they should do so. The Little League Challenger Division accommodates players ages 4 to 18.

How does the Challenger Division work?

Level of play based upon player’s size, age and skill level are recommended where numbers allow.
Teams can include as many as 15 players. Players can participate in one of three levels and some levels may use the “Buddy” system. However, it is not mandatory.
Every player on the roster is in the batting order and shall play defensively for the entire game. The side is retired when the offense has batted through the roster, or when three outs are recorded.
No score is kept during games.
Challenger Division players wear the same uniforms, shoulder patches, and safety equipment as other Little Leaguers.
Games are played Sunday afternoons in April and May.
There is no fee for participation.

Register your player here.

For more information, contact the FCKLL Challenger Coordinator.

Travel and Beyond Little League

Travel Baseball Opportunities
There are a wealth of travel baseball opportunities within Northern Virginia. Travel baseball affords highly talented and motivated athletes the opportunity to play in a more competitive setting than Little League, and play much of the year. Most travel programs accommodate "house leagues" such as FCKLL with their schedules and expectations. FCKLL strongly encourages parents who opt to play travel baseball to select a program which encourages Little League play, in addition to travel.

FCKLL maintains a unique relationship with the Falls Church Copperheads. This organization operates as a non-profit 501(c)(3), which explicitly prioritizes membership for players involved in FCKLL. The Copperheads practice and play home games on the FCKLL fields, and provide our league with financial support and significant amount of volunteer support.

Beyond Little League

The Age Determination Date for a Little League Baseball player is the actual age of a child on August 31 of the current year. Those who are no longer eligible for "regular" Little League are still eligible for baseball.

Matriculating 12 year-olds are given the opportunity to play FCKLL Intermediate division ball, which is played on a 50' pitching distance, and 70' base path field. There are many ways to keep playing this great sport. Check out the links below and contact our Development Coordinator with questions.

Staying in the FCKLL Family:

FCKLL offers a baseball experience for 13 year olds, on a 50-70 field, playing other local leagues.

Other Local Recreation Programs:

· Arlington Senior Babe Ruth (Age 13+)

· Greater Vienna-Falls Church-Annandale Babe Ruth (13+)

Travel Programs:

· Arlington Senators (13+)

· Cadets Travel Baseball (13+)

· Falls Church Colts (13+)

· Prime Time Aces (Alexandria) (9-18)

· General information about NVTBL tryouts