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What does this involve, and what should you keep in mind?
We’ve listed a few important things for you, such as:
Little League is open to all youth players ages 10 to 16, and anyone who is a member of the KNBSB may participate.
Your child will play in the league (region) where they live or go to school. This is determined by postal code. You cannot choose a region yourself, and unfortunately, no exceptions can be made.
The information you provide during registration will be verified to prevent disappointment. For international tournaments, verification is even done using a birth certificate and the population register. If the information is incorrect, your child will unfortunately not be allowed to participate.
Once you have registered your child, you will receive a confirmation email. This email will also state which league he or she will be participating in. Check your spam folder if you haven’t received anything.
Please review the confirmation carefully to ensure that all information is correct, and report any errors or missing confirmation.
Before the training program begins, the regional coordinator will contact you regarding the dates and locations of the practices. Some leagues start indoors during the winter, while others begin only when the weather and temperatures are suitable for outdoor training. The regional coordinator for your child will provide you with further details.
The cost of participating in the Little League program varies by region. This is because each region organizes and runs the program differently for example, in terms of field rentals and trainer compensation. The best way to find out the exact cost is to contact the regional coordinator for your area. The participation fee must be paid no later than at the first practice session.
After the try-out practices, the trainers and coaches select the players who will join the league’s All-Star team to compete in the Little League National Championship. How exciting if your child is selected! The team will then continue preparing for the championship.
This usually includes a few additional team practices and scrimmage games. The coach will inform you about these details, and the regional coordinator will let you know if there are any additional costs associated with your child’s selection for the league’s All-Star team.
Before each game of the National Championship, all equipment used by the participating teams is checked by the umpires.
This is done to ensure everyone’s safety. If a bat or helmet is damaged, it will be disqualified and taken out of play so it cannot be used during the tournament. Once the tournament is over for their team, players will, of course, get their personal equipment back through the coach.
It’s best to repair or replace any damaged equipment beforehand—or simply leave it at home. The coach knows the specific requirements and safety standards the equipment must meet, so be sure to check with them before sending any gear with your child.
The National Championship is organized each year by a team of enthusiastic volunteers, including more than 40 umpires who officiate the games. We are extremely grateful for the help of all these dedicated people—this event wouldn’t be possible without them. Playing or officiating exciting, competitive games—and even winning—is, of course, amazing!
However, the most important thing is the joy of the sport. Sportsmanship and respect are our top priorities—both toward and from the organization, players, coaches, umpires, volunteers, and parents. This ensures that everyone can enjoy being part of this wonderful event.
Did you know that every year we present a “Respect The Game” Award at each location to the most fun and sportsmanlike team?
The teams that win the National Championship qualify for the European Championships (Regionals), which take place during the summer holidays in Italy, the Czech Republic, and Poland.
The teams that win the National Championship must attend the European Championship with the same roster, and if they win there, they advance to the World Series in the United States. Players must therefore be available during these dates, so it’s good to keep this in mind when making summer holiday plans.
For the Softball Seniors, participation in the European Championship is organized a bit differently. Due to a change by Little League International, and following a successful pilot in 2024, this format will continue. You can read more about that here.
Participation in the European Championship is entirely at the team’s own expense. Often, crowdfunding campaigns are organized, with players actively involved in raising funds.
The winners of the European Championship travel to the World Series in the United States at the expense of Little league Internationaal. For these teams, all costs and arrangements are covered.
Once the 2025 international tournament dates are announced, we will publish them here.
If you have questions about the program in your region, please contact your regional coordinator.If you have general questions about the Little League program or the National Championship, you can contact us here.