2025 Regulation II Update:
League Eligibility

a.

1.  LEAGUE CHOICE: Players league age seven (7) and under may register in any Little League program without respect to any geography-related eligibility or school enrollment eligibility requirements. 

NOTE: Players registering under this option are fully eligible to participate in all aspects of league play, including International Tournament play, for the duration of their Little League careers provided they have continuous and unbroken participation within the specific league where initially registered and provided all other participation eligibility requirements have been met.

a.

2. Players who have participated in the league without a break in participation since league age seven (7), OR the sibling of a player who is an active participant league age (7) or younger OR the sibling of an active player in the league who has participated in the league without a break in participation since league age seven (7), are eligible to continue participation in the league provided they maintain continuous and unbroken participation within the league and regular season play.

NOTE 1: This option only applies to players born on or after September 1, 2017 (Baseball) or January 1, 2017 (Softball).

NOTE 2: A player may only qualify based on a sibling who initially gained eligibility under Regulation II(a)(1) if that sibling is an active participant in the league for the current season.

3. Each league shall determine actual boundaries of the area from WITHIN which it shall select players. Only those participants whose residence or the physical location of the school where they attend classes is within the boundaries of the league shall be eligible to participate. “Residence” and “school attendance,” for the purposes of this regulation, are defined in “Residence and School Attendance Eligibility Requirements.”

NOTE: Any player not meeting the “Residence and School Attendance Eligibility Requirements” or does not have unbroken participation within a league from league age seven (7) in accordance with Regulation II (a)(2) must have an approved waiver issued by the Charter Committee at Little League International. All waiver requests to the Charter Committee must be submitted and approved in writing by the league president before the start of the league’s regular season or June 1, whichever occurs first. Requests must be submitted to the regional office through the District Administrator. Failure to properly document compliance with the “Residence and School Attendance Player Eligibility Requirements” and/or player registration data specific to league age 7 and under players or obtain a waiver through the Charter Committee may result in the disqualification of a player, team, or entire league from regular season and/or tournament play.

These boundaries MUST be described in detail AND shown on a map when making application for the charter. The league boundaries as detailed on the boundary map must be a physical structure (such as a road), or a geographic feature (such as a river). The boundary line will be considered to be in the center of such structures or features, unless noted otherwise. The boundaries must not encroach on the territory of any other chartered Little League’s boundaries.

b. When there are two (2) or more leagues within a locale, each must have separate boundaries, detailed by a map. No exception to this provision will be made without written approval of Little League International.

c. Team boundaries may be permitted where communities making up a league are widely separated.

d. The Board of Directors of the local league, at the request and consent of the player involved, reserves the right to participate as a player, any individual (1) whose residence or school enrollment/attendance changes from within the boundary to outside the league’s boundary or (2) who lives or school enrollment/attendance is outside the league’s boundaries because of a revision of such boundaries even if the child then resides in the territory of another league. Current players, or any sibling of a current player whose brother or sister met the criteria under II(d) at one time may be retained. Any player meeting (1) or (2) above may be retained for the remainder of his/her career.

NOTE: A player who qualifies under this regulation and elects not to participate for a regular playing season is not eligible to be retained for the subsequent season.

Regulation II(d) – Processing Procedure

The league president will process a Regulation II(d) form. Once the president completes the form, he/she must compile and attach qualifying “Residency or School Attendance Eligibility Requirements” verification specific to the players qualifying under Regulation II that verifies the player meets the conditions of II(d) as outlined above. The league president will present this information to the District Administrator for review. Once the District Administrator reviews the documentation in an effort to determine if it meets the regulations, the District Administrator will sign the II(d) form. The league and the district will maintain the form and documentation in their files. This review process is only required once during a participant’s career. The league must maintain this form and documentation for this player for the duration of his/her career until the player graduates from the program or breaks service with the league. Tournament team players will be required to carry a copy of this form and documentation with them throughout the tournament. If contested during tournament play, the league will be required to produce the documentation. Additionally, if it is determined at a later date that the player does not meet the conditions of II(d), the player is ineligible for further participation. Situations in which documentation is not available must be referred to the Charter Committee through the regional office for a decision. The decision of the Charter Committee is final and binding.

f. Boundaries approved by Little League International for a chartered league shall be protected. No other league will be chartered to accept player candidates from all or any part of the same territory for that calendar year. When necessary, the District Administrator shall have the authority to recommend adjusting the league boundaries and be subject to review and approval of the Charter Committee.

g. Upon approval of the Little League International Board of Directors, each local Little League’s boundaries was “frozen” at the status as of April 23, 2007. “Frozen” means, each league will continue to operate under that boundary. The league shall limit its boundary to and draw its players, league age eight (8) and above, from an area approved by the District Administrator and Regional Director. Boundary maps for leagues (and any changes made after April 23, 2007, to the approved map on file at the Regional Office) must be signed and dated by the league president and District Administrator with a copy to be sent to the Regional Office and uploaded on the Little League Data Center. The approved map uploaded on Little League Data Center is the “official” map, provided it does not encroach on any other chartered Little League’s boundary. The Charter Committee reserves the right to grant waivers and adjust boundaries where needed. All requests for mergers and to expand league boundaries by adding additional territory must be provided to the Charter Committee through the District Administrator and Regional Director. The decision of the Charter Committee on these requests is final and binding.

NOTE 1: Each league will be required to have a current boundary map, approved by the District Administrator, and uploaded on the Little League Data Center. This will be required for tournament privileges for the current season.

NOTE 2: All leagues currently operating under a divisional format must continue to operate under this method. Exceptions to the divisional format can only be granted by the Charter Committee in Williamsport.

NOTE 3: Any request for newly chartered leagues will be reviewed by the Charter Committee under this regulation before a charter is granted. The decision of the Charter Committee is final and binding.

Central Registration will allow Little League to maintain an eligibility database that will be used to verify the eligibility of participants who elect to continue participating in a league where they first participated as a player league age 7 or younger.

No. Each local league is to conform with this change and amendment to Regulation II.

Each local league’s Board of Directors is encouraged to structure its league to best serve its community.  Just as in any playing season, the Board of Directors does have the discretion to set a “stop–date or cut-off date” for accepting player registrations based on physical factors such as field availability and access. 

No. When a league age 4–7-year-old is registered to participate within a local Little League program and placed on a regular season team roster, the Little Leaguer® will be dedicated to that Little League for the duration of that regular season (Regulation IV – The Players (c) Note 1). However, the player would not be restricted from playing in any other non-Little League program simultaneously while the Little League season is operating provided such participation is not deemed disruptive to the operations of the local Little League season. 

League Choice is not an option for any Little Leaguer who is league-age eight (8) or older. If a player league-age eight (8) or older wishes to participate in a league where residency or school eligibility is not met, the player would need to pursue a Charter Committee waiver which would need to be initiated through the player’s home league based on eligibility.  If the same child participated in a local Little League before turning league-age eight (8), that Little Leaguer may continue in that league and be tournament eligible. Any child league-age 4-7 years old may relocate to another Little League before turning league-age 8.

Yes. League Choice allows any child league-age 4-7 years old the opportunity to relocate to another Little League program without restriction from season to season, prior to turning league-age 8.

After a thorough review of data, feedback, and insight provided and collected by local league officials, parents, and District Administrators through Little League International, it was determined that League Choice provides an option for the youngest Little Leaguer to participate in a league that provides the best opportunity for a positive, rewarding, and fun Little League experience, while also taking into consideration the need of flexibility and convenience for families of players at these younger ages.

In 2015, Little League International first expanded participation opportunity to allow children to participate in a local Little League program based on the location of the school in which they are enrolled. This latest evolution provides even more flexibility and support to remove barriers of entry and provide all families and children the opportunity to enjoy a Little League experience, developing life lessons, and building stronger individuals and communities. Little League is committed to the continued strength and further development of the youngest divisions of play where all children have the opportunity to have a welcoming and rewarding first experience in youth sports.

Yes. League Choice is specific to league age children 4-7 without regard to residence or school eligibility, essentially allowing them the opportunity to select the local league of their choice.  Also, the older sibling(s) of a child league age 4-7 electing to participate in a league by choice are eligible to follow the younger sibling while having full participation eligibility.

Access to playing fields and governance of the playing facilities where a local Little League program operates must be taken into consideration. Each league is encouraged to work with its city/town officials in ways that positively impact the Little League experience for all children wishing to participate. If questions or concerns arise regarding external factors influencing and impacting the operation of the Little League program, the local league is encouraged to consult with the District Administrator and Region Office.