NLLL is a community-based baseball and softball program FIRST and will never steer away from that because that is who we are at our core. Any player that either lives or attends a school within our boundaries and wants to play baseball or softball, has a home with us.

Every player that registers with us and attends a player assessment will be placed on a community-based team that will play 14-20 community-based games within the Little League program playing other teams from NLLL or other Little Leagues within our District (typically within 30 minutes). All of this is included in the much lower registration fee than any other league around us. No other fees will be charged by the league.

Weekend Tournament Baseball for 2026

NLLL also understands there are families that desire to have their kids play in a limited number of weekend tournaments from outside organizations not affiliated with Little League (CABA, USSSA, or Triple Crown) and we are happy to provide these opportunities. We do feel this is also important.  In 2025 by a vote of the members who attended the announced meeting, NLLL changed our Constitution to formally provide these opportunities for 11 to 14 year olds. No player will ever be allowed to play in these tournaments that are not part of a community-based team described above. We are NOT a travel ball organization and will never become one.

The following is important language directly from NLLL's Constitution that is critical to spell out to here to ensure there is no confusion on where NLLL's priorities will remain. From page 1 of NLLL's Constitution:

"The Local League shall always be a Community Based program first serving players within our geographical boundaries. The Local League shall not at any time adopt a travel team program mentality. The Local League shall be allowed to create teams that play in tournaments at the 11-year-old and above divisions, but this shall be secondary, voluntary to players at no detriment to them for not participating, and in addition to the Community Based program."

NLLL acknowledges that having players play in both the community-based program and on a weekend tournament team will at times involve issues arising between the two. NLLL expects a give-and-take from both sides on this, particularly related to when and where a pitcher pitches. Close communication between the tournament team coach and the community-based Team Managers of their players is expected and critical for success. Significant problems may arise if this does not occur. The league has stressed this importance to the people managing those teams playing tournaments.

With the above said, it is NLLL’s expectations that our community-based teams will not needlessly and consistently suffer at the benefit of any the tournament teams and the community-based teams will be prioritized.

NLLL understands this may occur from time to time and accepts that. But this cannot be allowed to be the norm. As stated above, there has to be some give and take from both the tournament coaches and the community-based team managers.

In February, the Board approved a formal tournament team policy. This can be read HERE. The league will ensure this policy is enforced throughout the season. If you have any questions or issues regarding tournament teams, please reach out to Dave Kulmann at [email protected].

Some important points on forming of these teams:

• These opportunities are invitational only from the coaches and managers who form the teams.
• NLLL has no part in managing or organizing these teams. This is 100% on the coaches and managers and they will decide what limited number of tournaments the team will play.
• A player who pitches in these tournament games will have their pitch counts tracked and follow the Little League pitch count limits and days’ rest requirements between these tournaments and Little League play.
• Families are responsible for costs of tournaments, indoor facility rental if desired, and any needed travel. The coaches and managers will provide estimates of those costs.