FCAA Frequently Asked Question
General
About the Game
Coaches
Equipment / Uniforms
Parents
Umpires
General:
- At what age can my child start playing?
- What age/grade levels play in what divisions?
- Can siblings be on the same team?
- Can my child and his/her friends be on the same team?
- Can the player choose what team to play on?
- What is the Draft? How does it work?
- What are "Divisions"?
- Do boys and girls play on the same team?
- Do boy and girl teams play against each other?
- Who sets the practice schedules?
- When do practices begin?
- Do teams practice throughout the season?
- What/Who is District 19?
- Is smoking allowed at games or practices?
- Is the drinking of adult beverages allowed at games or practices?
- Who determines what field games are played on?
- Who determines if and when make-up games are played?
- How are games cancelled due to inclement weather?
- Who cancels games due to inclement weather?
- How can I find out if a game is cancelled?
- If a game is cancelled how do I know if it is rescheduled?
- How many players are on a team?
- What is meant by "Coach Pitch"?
- At what age/grade/division does a coach start pitching to players?
- What is meant by "Kid Pitch"?
- At what age/grade/division do the players start pitching?
- Are Parents allowed on the field during games?
- How does my child get to a game?
- What do players need to bring to a game?
- At what age/grade/division do teams start traveling to other towns?
- Does the FCAA operate the Freeburg ballpark concession stand?
- Why do some ball parks sell adult beverages?
About the Game:
- Why do some fields have two first base pads?
- How many pitches does a player receive?
- Are balls and strikes called by the umpire?
- I see some T-Ball games where the Coach pitches, explain?
- What is the rule regarding lightening during a game?
- What is the 7 run rule?
- Does the 7 run rule apply in the last inning?
- How many innings do games last?
Coaching:
- How many Assistant Coaches can a team have?
- Can my child be on the team I Coach?
- Who can be a Coach?
- Are Coaches allowed on the field during games?
- Who do I contact regarding a Coaches behavior?
Equipment / Uniforms:
- What equipment does my child need to play?
- What team color will my child get?
- Do players need cleats? If so what kind?
- Is there a difference between Baseball and Soccer cleats?
- Can soccer cleats be used for baseball games?
- Can my child use their own helmet?
- Can my child use their own bat?
- I hear the term "Drop-10" or "Drop Number" regarding bats, what is that?
- Can I purchase extra shirts/hats/visors?
Parents:
- Can I purchase adult size team gear, shirt or hat/visor?
- What is involved in working the "Hamburger Stand"?
- Are Parents allowed on the field during games?
Umpiring:
- At what age can you start as an Umpire?
- How many Umpires are at each game?
- Are Umpires trained?
- Can an Umpire eject a Coach or Parent?
- Are Umpires paid or volunteers?
- When and how are Umpires paid?
General Answers:
- Do teams practice throughout the season?
- At what age can my child start playing?
Players must be currently in kindergarten or above to participate.
- What age/grade levels play in what divisions?
District 19 divisions are set by grade:
PeeWee
(boys & girls) - Grade K & 1
Atom
(boys) & Petites (girls) - Grades 2 & 3
Bantam
(boys) & Chic (girls) - Grades 4 & 5
Midget
(boys) - Grades 6 & 7
Robins (girls) - Grades 6, 7, & 8
Juvenile
(boys) - Grades 8 & 9
- Can siblings be on the same team?
Yes, if playing in the same division.
- Can my child and his/her friends be on the same team?
If there are multiple teams in a Division then a draft will determine if they
are on the same team. In this situation, it is possible but not guaranteed.
- Can the player choose what team to play on?
No. Players are
limited by grade to specific divisions, they may not elect to move out of
the division. If a parent is a Coach on a team within their division, they
will be on that team. There is no option if there is only one team
in a division.
- What is the Draft? How does it work?
If there are enough players to form
multiple teams in a division then the team rosters are determined by a draft.
Each Teams Head Coach alternates selecting players until all players are
assigned to a team. The Coach's and Assistant Coach's children are the
first selected for each team drafting, then they move to other players.
- What are "Divisions"?
Divisions are a way to group grade, gender
and skill appropriate players. This provides for fair competition and is
determined by District 19 Regulations.
- Do boys and girls play on the same team?
Yes for the PeeWee (t-ball) division
K and 1st grades. Divisions above PeeWee, grades 2nd and above do
not.
- Do boy and girl teams play against each other?
No with the exception of
mixed gender PeeWee teams.
- Who sets the practice schedules?
The coaching staff for each team determines
there own practice schedule.
- When do practices begin?
A teams coaching staff develops the practice schedule.
Team players will be notified by the coaching staff. Practices usually
begin sometime in April; it may be late or early.
Practices are determined by the
coaching staff, they should keep you informed.
- What/Who is District 19?
They are the governing body for
the ball league for our area. The following towns/communities are
currently members of District 19: Freeburg, Marissa, New
Athens, Smithton, St. Libory, Waterloo and Valmeyer.
- Is smoking allowed at games or practices?
There are no restrictions on Parents
and Adults attending games as spectators. The Coaching staff is prohibited from
tobacco use before or during games or practices. There are no restrictions on the Coaches after
the game or practice has concluded.
- Is the drinking of adult beverages allowed at games or practices?
There are no
restrictions on Parents and Adults attending games as spectators unless
prohibited by the park/ball complex rules. The Coaching staff is strictly prohibited from drinking alcoholic beverages
before or during games or practices. There are no restrictions
on the Coaches after the game or practice has concluded.
- Who determines what field the games are played on?
The FCAA Scheduling Committee Chair is responsible for assigning fields within
Freeburg once the schedule has been released by District 19 for the season.
- Who determines if and when make-up games are played?
The two teams Head Coaches
determine if and when make-up, rescheduled, games are played.
- How are games cancelled due to inclement weather?
The responsibility for
canceling games due to inclement weather lies with the Home Team field maintenance staff.
Games are called by 5pm. The home team notifies the
away team as soon as possible. The Coaches are then responsible for
notifying their players. If the game has started both coaching staff will
make a joint decision.
- Who cancels games due to inclement weather?
The responsibility for canceling
games due to inclement weather lies with the Home Team field
maintenance staff.
- What is meant by "Kid Pitch"?
A player from one team pitches to
players on the opposing team, like the big leagues. Balls and Strikes are
counted.
- At what age/grade/division do the players start pitching?
Grades 4 and above.
- At what age/grade/division do teams start traveling to other towns?
All
divisions can have games outside of Freeburg.
- Does the FCAA operate the Freeburg ballpark concession stand?
No. The concession stand is managed by the Village of Freeburg.
- Why do some ball parks sell adult beverages?
Many ball complexes are
multi-purpose, adult softball and baseball are played at the same time.
The sale of adult beverages is at the sole discretion of the home team complex.
- What is the 7 run rule?
There is no 7 run rule for PeeWee every player bats each inning. For divisions above PeeWee; A team may
not score more than seven (7) runs in any one inning with the exception, at the
Chic level, where a team may not score more than five (5) runs per inning. As
soon as the seventh (or fifth) run crosses the plate, there are automatically
three (3) outs for the team batting, and that half of the inning is over. The
seven (or five) run rule applies until the end of the sixth inning. After the
sixth inning, an unlimited number of runs may be scored. A 15 run rule applies
after the sixth inning. This rule is in effect for ATOM, PETITE, BANTAM, and
CHIC divisions.
- Does the 7 run rule apply in the last inning?
No, the seven (or five, CHIC) run rule applies until the end of the sixth
inning. After the sixth inning, an unlimited number of runs may be scored. A
15 run rule applies after the sixth inning for ATOM, PETITE, BANTAM, and CHIC
divisions.
- How many innings do the games last?
PeeWee games are to last 4 innings. If both coaches agree to shorten the game
because of weather or the time it is taking to complete innings, a game may be
shortened to 3 innings. For all other divisions games are seven (7)
innings.
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