General Information
- What is Golden Junior Baseball Association (GJBA)?
- GJBA is a Colorado 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has provided youth baseball opportunities in Jefferson County since 1989.
- The GJBA Board of Directors is composed entirely of adult volunteers (parents and family members of players).
- GJBA is a founding member of the Rocky Mountain Junior Baseball League (RMJBL).
- GJBA teams play games against teams from neighboring baseball associations located generally within Jefferson County.
- Starting in spring 2024, GJBA will continue to form 13U and 14U teams within RMJBL, but players of league age 12 and under will now participate ONLY in Golden Little League (see below).
- What is Golden Little League (GLL)?
- The GJBA Board of Directors overwhelmingly approved an August 2023 motion by a 30-1 count to create an official chartered Little League Baseball® program. Little League International approved the creation of GLL in November 2023. Several existing neighboring leagues graciously adjusted their boundary areas to accommodate the creation of GLL, and GLL was subsequently assigned as a new member of Colorado District 2 (League ID#325300).
- As a result of this decision, starting in the spring 2024, players of League Age 12 and younger will be placed on teams under a new organization named Golden Little League (GLL).
- Are GLL and GJBA one-in-the-same organization?
- Why did the Board move from GJBA to GLL for players of League Age 12 and under?
- The Board critically analyzed information and feedback from current and previous parents, coaches, stakeholders, and strategic partners. The Board conducted numerous meetings, discussions, and planning sessions, formed a committee-level task force, and ultimately determined GLL was a better fit for our vision, which is: establishing a traditional, town-centered, competitive baseball league for boys and girls ages 12 and under based on a desired culture of back-to-basics, less-travel, and close-to-home values, wherein kids from the Golden area compete with and against each other in a healthy, friendly, and competitive environment, thereby resulting in Golden area families supporting one another and hence cooperating with future classmates, teammates, and neighbors, and thus creating a solid Golden-based community. A solid Golden-based community will serve families well, both during their time in the league and far into the future.
- Where can I learn more about Little League?
Registration Topics
- We live (reside) outside the boundary map – can my player still register with GLL?
- For the 2025 season, the answer depends on the following:
- If the player is of League Age 04 thru 07, the answer is YES.
- If the player is of League Age 08 or older and is a sibling of a registered player of Leauge Age 04 thru 07, the answer is YES.
- If the player is of League Age 08 or older and is NOT a sibling of a registered player of Leauge Age 04 thru 07, and does attend a school located within the boundary map, the answer is YES.
- If the player is of League Age 08 or older and is NOT a sibling of a registered player of Leauge Age 04 thru 07, and does NOT attend a school located within the boundary map, the answer is NO.
- In what Division should I register my player?
- My receipt says Waitlisted Registration. What does that mean?
- The GLLBOD will determine the maximum capacity for each Division based on reasonable preseason estimates of various planning factors, including but not limited to (1) volunteer coach availability, (2) team size parameters, and (3) field accessibility considerations.
- Parents are advised that registration for any particular Division will close with no prior written notice if/when the actual enrollment reaches the maximum capacity, and additional player registrations beyond that time will subsequently be placed on a Waitlist.
- Based on the above listed parameters, the GLLBOD is authorized at their sole discretion to consider creating new slots for additional teams utilizing the Waitlist on a first come first serve basis.
- Do waitlist registrations attend Evaluation Day?
- A player with a Waitlist Registration status should plan to attend Evaluation Day unless notified otherwise.
- Evaluation/Draft Process
- Adminstrative Placement Process
- Parents are advised that Waitlist Registrations will be either accepted or canceled during the last moment timeframe just prior to Evaluation Day.
- Only players with accepted registration status may attend Evaluation Day.
- Full payment will be collected at time of registration, and Waitlist Registrations that are not accepted will be provided with a full refund, as well as references for neighboring youth baseball associations.
- Does my player have to attend Evaluation Day?
- All registered players of League Age 10 and older must attend & participate.
- All registered players of League Age 08 or 09 who intend or desire to play in the Minors Division must attend & participate. Reference Evaluation & Draft Process.
- All registered players of League Age 08 or 09 who intend or desire to play in the Modified Player Pitch Division do not attend & participate. Reference Administrative Placement Process.
- Players of League Age 07 and below do NOT attend, and shall NOT participate.
- The GLLBOD realizes that many families are likely busy with other Colorado activities on a Sunday in January, however parents are highly encouraged to ensure registered players attend and participate. The League’s ability to establish team parity conditions within a particular division hinge primarily upon the opportunity for all coaches to collectively evaluate the relative ability of all registered players. The League’s ability to establish team parity conditions, and hence the experience of everyone involved, is greatly affected and reduced when an individual player’s skills can’t be properly assessed.
- My player can’t (or didn’t) attend Evaluation Day. What Happens Now?
- Properly registered players that don’t attend Evaluation Day will be assessed a ZERO SCORE and subsequently placed near the bottom of the pre-draft ranking list. Although the player will still nonetheless be drafted upon a Majors or Minors Division team, parents are hereby advised that it is probable that an individual player may not be drafted onto a team within the particular Division and/or relative competition level that they desire. This situation is neither ideal for the individual player or all the players in the League collectively.
- Properly registered PROTECTED PLAYERS that don’t attend Evaluation Day will be assessed a TOP SCORE and subsequently placed at the very top of the pre-draft ranking list.
- Properly registered draft eligible players that miss the Evaluation Day should plan to attend the Evaluation Makeup Day. However, parents are advised that the task of a Makeup Day is very difficult to implement and therefore will not likely occur, especially when considering volunteer availability and winter gymnasium space.
- What will happen during Evaluation Day, and what should my player bring?
- The GLLBOD and GLL volunteer coaches will conduct typical baseball drills to evaluate and score a player’s ability with regards to common skills such as running, throwing, fielding, and hitting. Players are required to wear a hat and bring their glove. Players may bring a bat (if they have one) and boys are required to wear a protective cup. If the Evaluation is scheduled at an indoor gymnasium, players should wear non-marking sneakers – no cleats are allowed indoors.
- Baseball is an outdoor game; why is Evaluation Day conducted indoors?
- The GLLBOD has determined that late winter / early spring is the most efficient and realistic timeframe for the all-volunteer organization to conduct a single annual Evaluation Day assessment that collects individuals & families from the various player pipelines.
- Springtime weather and field conditions are consistently unpredictable in Colorado and therefore an outdoor assessment, although preferable, offers a highly unreliable planning factor for an all-volunteer organization.
- I'm an existing coach in a local non-LL-affiliated organization. Can I bring my existing non-Little League team together intact to Golden Little League?
- No, Little League International regulations prohibit non-Little League teams from entering a Little League program intact.
- Also, the GLLBOD values parity conditions between teams in the same Division and therefore utilizes a player evaluation and draft process to assess the relative abilities of players within the Majors & Minors Divisions.
- Does my player need previous baseball experience to play in Golden Little League?
- No, GLL accepts players of all abilities and experience levels.
- What are age ranges and divisions of play?
- Can my player Play Up in an older-age Division?
- Yes, but GLL recommends all players participate in their respective age division.
- DIVISION COMPARISON CHART
- A player is allowed to participate in an older-age division if chosen during the player draft process only with pre-approved parent consent that is provided during the registration process.
- What is a Protected Player?
- A Protected Player applies to the Evaluation & Draft process, and is defined as either (1) the child of an Assigned Coach or (2) the sibling of a previously drafted player recognized as a Same Division Sibling, as identified and requested by the parent during the registration process.
Majors or Minors Division(s)
- Can I control which division (Majors or Minors) my player is assigned to?
- No, not unless the player is considered a Protected Player. Note that players of League Age 12 or League Age 12T must be drafted to a team within the Majors Division.
- Can I control which team my player is assigned to (in the Majors or Minors Division)?
- No, not unless the player is considered a Protected Player.
- How will my player be selected to a team in the Majors or Minors Division, and when will the teams be announced?
- Players will be chosen by coaches via the Evaluation and Draft process.
- Coaches will contact players approximately 1 week after the draft (see calendar chart) to welcome them to their team.
- I have multiple children registered for the Majors and/or Minors Divisions. Can they play together on the same team?
- Yes, but only if the siblings are (1) drafted into the same division and (2) the parent specifically elects this option (i.e. Same Division Sibling) during the registration process.
League Age 08 - Play Up Option (Parent Discretion)
- My player is League Age 08. Can my player Play Up within the Minors Division?
- The GLLBOD recommends that players of League Age 08 register & play within the Modified Player Pitch or Coach Pitch Division for a multitude of reasons, and the advice is primarily based on player safety reasons. It is possible that players of League Age 11 could be drafted/assigned to teams within the Minors Division, and there is typically a big difference in strength/speed between those age groups.
- However, Little League International regulations do allow players of League Age 08 to register & play within the Minors Division.
- Therefore, parents interested in this topic should contact the GLL/GJBA BOD for more information.
Tee Ball, Coach Pitch, or Modified Player Pitch Division(s)
- Can I control which Division (TB, CP, or MPP) my player is assigned to?
- Yes, parents/guardians may elect either the Modified Player Pitch, Coach Pitch, or Tee Ball Division during registration.
- Can I control which team my player is assigned to (TB, CP, or MPP)?
- How will my child be selected to a team in TB, CP, or MPP; and when will the teams be announced?
- I have multiple children registered for the TB, CP, or MPP Division(s). Can they play together on the same team?
Regular Season Topics
- What is a Player Pool?
- An on-call standby list of players that are willing to participate in extra games with minimal short notice during the regular season when other teams in the same Division face a shortage of rostered players.
- What is inter-league play? Is inter-league play the same thing as travel ball?
- A regular season game where a GLL team plays against another official LL team from a different official LL.
- The GLLBOD may choose to schedule a minimal number of interleague games, and those games may be located at either Golden fields or non-Golden fields.
- The GLLBOD typically schedules inter-league games on weekends only, so that parents are not traveling to neighboring towns during school-year weeknights.
- The regular season for Little League baseball is not considered "travel ball".
- Will GLL teams play against non-Little League teams?
- What division will my player participate in? Are there any specific requirements about each division?
- What paperwork is required and how do I submit it?
- Parents will attest to several written affidavits during the regular season registration process.
- Official written notarized documentation will be collected as applicable during the optional postseason All-Star team tournament registration process.
- What do the registration fees cover?
- Reference registration information.
- Are there fundraisers throughout the season? Is there a fundraising buy-out option?
- Yes, fundraisers are optional; a buy-out option does not exist.
- Am I required as a parent to volunteer?
- No. You are free to watch other adults volunteer their free time to help your player. You are not required to volunteer unless the board provides financial aid.
- What is the time commitment? How many practices and games per week?
- Reference registration information.
- How does the team and/or local league communicate with parents? Does the league have a social media presence?
- Phone calls, texts, and other apps depending on the coach’s preferences. The League is working to establish a social media presence.
- Can I coach/manage my player's team?
- Interested volunteers should submit an online application during the player registration process.
- If my player is selected to a Minors Division team, is there a chance my player gets called up to Majors Division during the season?
- No. Occasionally however, a Minors Division Player Pool participant will partake in a Majors Division game.
- What will my child need to bring to practice?
- Typical baseball equipment. At a minimum, a glove, hat and protective cup (for boys).
- When is Opening Day, and what will be involved?
- CALENDAR CHART(s)
- The Opening Day atmosphere will include all players, teams, coaches, and parents gathering at the field for a ceremony, recognition, and community building event.
- How many players are on a Little League team?
- Does each player play every game?
- What exactly is the Mandatory Play Rule?
- Defensive: During regular season play, every rostered player present at the start of a game will participate in each game for a minimum of six defensive outs (basically, two full innings in the field, however those six outs do not need to be consecutive).
- Offensive: GLL utlizes a continuous batting order in all Divisions.
- Where can I find the Little League rules?
- Will my player get to participate with his/her existing classmates?
- Yes and No, answer depends on the player's Division.
- Can a player wear any jewelry on the field?
- Players are not permitted to wear jewelry such as, but not limited to, rings, watches, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.
- The only exception is jewelry that alerts medical personnel to a specific condition.
- Sunglasses and items used to control the hair, such as beads, are permitted.
- Are pitchers allowed to wear arm sleeves?
- A baseball pitcher can wear an arm sleeve, but it must be fully covered by an undershirt. And any part of the pitcher’s undershirt that can be seen must be a solid color, and the sleeves cannot be white or gray. Also, a pitcher cannot wear any items on his/her hands, wrists, or arms which may be distracting to the hitter. So, if your player wants to use an arm sleeve on the mound, keep a long-sleeved dark-color undershirt on hand.
- Are play calling bands by defensive players permitted?
- Yes, under the following conditions: The equipment must be worn as the manufacturer intended (i.e. on either the wrist or forearm); the play calling band may not be attached to the belt or any other location on the player’s person; baseball pitchers are permitted to wear a play calling band on their non-pitching (glove) arm, provided it is a solid color and not white, gray, or optic yellow. If the umpire considers it distracting to the batter, he/she may have it removed.
- Can my player use a bat weight on the bat to prepare for an at-bat?
- No. The traditional batting donut is not permissible, but a weighted bat sleeve is.
- In addition, the on-deck position is not permitted in the Little League (Major) Division and below.
- Why does Little League have pitch count regulations for baseball?
- To protect young arms. Player safety is paramount, and we’re proud of the regulations we’ve put in place.
- The healthier Little Leaguers® are, the more games they’ll play, which results in them having more fun with their friends. Pitch count rules differ for several divisions. Please visit Regular Season Pitching Rules for more information, and be sure to alert your team’s manager if your child pitches in youth baseball programs other that Little League.
- What does an uncaught third strike mean?
- Mistakenly called a “Dropped Third Strike,” this is when a batter becomes a runner after the third strike called by an umpire, or a pitch is swung on and missed by a batter, is not caught by the catcher. For the hitter to be eligible as a runner, however, first base must be unoccupied, or first base is occupied with two outs. To put the batter-runner out, the defense must tag the batter or first base before the batter touches first base. An uncaught third strike does not apply to play below the Little League (Major) Division.
- During a play at home plate, does a runner have to avoid the catcher, whether he or she is sliding or not?
- A play at the plate is no different than a play at any other base. A player can slide or attempt to avoid the defensive player. There is however no “must-slide rule” in Little League.
- Can players wear sunglasses on the top of their hat?
- Does the catcher need to wear a long-model chest protector?
- Catchers may wear either a long-model or short-model chest protector.
Postseason Topics
- Do I have to register my player to be an All-Star?
- What is an All-Star, and how is the team selected?
- When will the All-Star team be announced?
- If my player isn’t chosen to be an All-Star in my league, can my player go to another league to participate in All-Stars?