Atlee Little League will use this page to help keep our families informed of the latest information coming from our board of directors. Please stay safe everyone!
Update: Wednesday, June 10th, 2020
Dear Atlee Little League Families,
Based on Governor Northam’s announcement regarding Phase 2 and youth sports, we are able to move forward in resuming the season. Please see the attached guidelines regarding return to play that all players, coaches, family and friends are expected to follow when at the complex. Please remember these guidelines are subject to change if/when the state makes additional adjustments to Phase II or we move into Phase III.
Now that the guidelines are finalized, we need player commitment. Please let your manager know by Friday, June 12, if your child will be playing this season so that we can finalize teams and schedules if you haven’t already done so. Please reach out to your division director if you have not heard from your manager or if you no longer have his/her contact information.
Finally, regarding scheduling, older divisions will begin practice the week of June 15. The rest of the league will begin practicing the week of June 22, if at all possible. We still intend to schedule 2 games per week – 1 weeknight and 1 Saturday – to get in 12 games. Adjustments to the game schedule may be necessary, but we hope to finish up by August 8. There will be no games on Saturday, July 4.
We are very excited for the return to play. You can view our re opening plan by clicking the link below. The document will also be made available on our homepage.
Atlee Little Little League Re-Opening Plan
Update: Monday, April 13th, 2020
Dear Atlee Families,
The Atlee Little League Board has been diligently working on contingency plans for the commencement of our spring season. While there is still much uncertainty regarding when or if we will be able to play ball this spring/summer, it is our goal to play and we want to provide provisional schedules to allow everyone the opportunity to plan accordingly for the restart of the season.
Commencement of league operations: Atlee Little League will commence the spring 2020 season on Monday, June 15, 2020, five days after the current expiration date of Governor Northam’s temporary stay at home order. Should the Governor lift the order earlier, we will re-evaluate the schedule.
- The season will consist of one to two weeks of practices (more for the teams that had not already started practices in March) followed by six weeks of regular season games. Each team will be scheduled for 12 games; the season will conclude by Saturday, August 8th.
- In the event the Governor’s order is extended, we will implement an accelerated schedule. Each team will still be allocated practice times and scheduled for 12 games; the season will conclude for all teams by Saturday, August 8th.
- If league operations cannot commence by Monday, June 29th, the spring season will be canceled in its entirety.
These schedule scenarios are provisional. Atlee Little League will continue to follow the guidance of local/state officials. We will NOT begin our spring season until it is safe to do so.
Financial considerations: Atlee Little League is an entirely volunteer-run non-profit organization. We receive no funding from Hanover County for the operation of our league or maintenance of/improvements to our complex. Approximately half of our league’s annual revenue is generated through concession sales, field rentals, and business sponsorships, none of which we are earning at this time. Simply stated, we need baseball/softball games to be played in order to maintain the complex, pay our bills, and continue to serve future generations of Little Leaguers.
If you decide your child will no longer participate in the provisional spring season, or the league is unable to resume by June 29th, we hope you will consider donating some or all your spring registration fee. This will help offset costs that the league has already incurred for equipment and uniforms, as well as other recurring expenses such as insurance and grounds maintenance. We will be more than happy to provide you with a tax-deductible donation receipt should you wish to donate your fees. The league would be in financial dire straits if the majority of our families requested a full refund of fees. That said, should you require a reimbursement of spring registration fees, please contact our emergency planning committee who will send you a form to complete. Refunds will be provided via check; we cannot refund fees to credit cards.
Communication: In addition to this communication, we have posted a Q&A list on the ALL website for common questions we anticipate families may have. Please review these. Should you still have questions, please contact your Division Director for further information.
Thank you all for your continued patience and support. This is an extended “rain delay” like none we have ever experienced. We look forward to hearing the umpires yell “Play Ball!” at our fields again very soon. Please take care and be well.
Sincerely,
Atlee Little League Board of Directors
Question and Answer Section
Q. What if the governor rescinds the temporary stay at home order earlier than June 10th?
We will re-evaluate the provisional schedule should the order be lifted early.
Q. Are we allowed to practice at all as a team while we wait for the season to resume?
No. We will continue to act in full compliance with the Governor’s orders – no organized or voluntary team activities are permitted at either Atlee LL or offsite locations .
Q. Why did you set June 29th as the latest start date for the spring season?
This is the latest date that allows for a 12 game season and the opportunity for families to relax and enjoy summer prior to the start of a new school year.
Q. How will we be able to play the same number of games if the accelerated season scenario needs to be implemented?
We will schedule a third game for teams every week to accelerate the schedule and finish by August 8th.
Q. Do I have to re-register or will teams be re-formed for the provisional season?
No. We will resume the season with the teams formed earlier this spring. We recognize some teams may lose more players than others. Adjustments will be by Division Directors only if a team has fewer than nine players.
Q. Will the league still be accepting late registrations for the provisional season?
Registration will not be reopened. We want to resume our spring season as quickly as possible for the 70 teams which have already been formed and equipped.
Q Can my child still participate if they can’t attend all the provisional season practices/games planned for the summer?
Yes. Please communicate with the individual coaches regarding absences from games and practices.
Q If we play will we still have an opening day ceremony?
Opening Day festivities are yet to be determined. The league will make a determination once a firm start date has been set.
Q Will there be a postseason for all stars?
At the moment, Little League has not offered any guidance on the summer All-Star schedule. Regardless of their decision, our primary focus remains with providing our teams the opportunity to play a full season as previously detailed.
Q. Can I use my spring registration fee as a credit for playing in future seasons?
We considered and discussed this option. However, given the varied registration fees between divisions and spring/fall seasons, as well as our need to budget on an annual basis, we have decided not to extend credits into future seasons and/or years.
Q. How much money has been spent by the league for the spring season?
As of March 30, we estimate to have spent approximately $50 per player. That number will increase as we pay our recurring bills for grounds maintenance, electricity, taxes, etc.
Q. What measures has the league taken to reduce costs during this time of suspended play?
As with any business, we have taken action to cut expenses wherever possible. For example, we have suspended our trash disposal and the servicing of our portable sanitary facilities. All spending has been suspended except for essential items such as electricity, grounds maintenance, insurance and property taxes which have to continue to be paid during this time of closure.
Q. Will the fall season proceed as normally planned?
We are planning and preparing for a regularly scheduled fall season. Registration will open July 15th and the season will commence after Labor Day.
Q. If we decide not to play or the spring season is canceled can we still receive our uniforms?
If the spring season is canceled, all uniforms and optional uniform purchases will be retained by the league and repurposed for use in future seasons. The league will not have the ability to distribute any belt/sock or pant orders for those that ordered those items during registration.
Q. Can we still order/receive spirit wear from TSI?
If you purchased spirit wear from TSI, please contact them at (804) 798-7677