Clarification of Feb. 1 Deadline for Proof of Residence

Print

In the 2011 Little League Rules, Regulations and Guidelines, the requirement for proof of residency documents was changed as follows to reflect the latest date that could be listed on such documents: “Residence shall be established and supported by documents, dated on or before February 1 of the current year…”

So, Feb. 1 of the current year is established as the LATEST date. Questions have arisen regarding the EARLIEST date such documents could show.

There is no earliest date in the Rules, Regulations and Policies, so a document (such as a valid driver’s license) that was issued two years ago could be used as one proof of residence, PROVIDED THE DOCUMENT IS CURRENTLY IN FORCE.

So while a valid driver’s license issued two years ago may be currently in force, a utility bill from three years ago is not, and should not be accepted as a proof of CURRENT residence. A utility bill from January of the current year, however, would be acceptable.

Local leagues are cautioned to ensure that the documents presented as proof of residence represent the residence as “a bona fide residence of continuous habitation” during the current regular season for the mother or father, or for the player’s guardian as appointed by a judge/court of jurisdiction.

For instance, if a local league accepts three proofs that were issued more than a year previous to the regular season (even if they are official records such as a driver’s license, insurance records, tax records, etc.), and it is discovered that the address has not been “a bona fide residence of continuous habitation” of the parent or guardian during the current regular season, the player will be deemed ineligible by the Tournament Committee, and/or the team may forfeit one or more games, and/or the team may be removed from Tournament play.

For that reason, Little League strongly recommends that the proofs of residence reflect a recent date that helps to establish “a bona fide residence of continuous habitation.”