Being selected to compete in the Little League® International Tournament is a dream that millions of kids have around the world each year, but it’s more than just being the best player or a random selection. While each local league determines how it will select its tournament teams, Little League provides recommendations for the process, which includes emphasizing a player-first mindset.
The Suggested Steps for Selecting Tournament Teams
To help share some best practices straight from the grassroots level, Little League sat down with volunteers from a handful of leagues across the nation for a Local League Spotlight – a series of content created each month to help other leagues learn straight from each other’s success stories – to showcase ways they make the tournament team selection process one that is a positive experience for all who are involved.
Fremont (Calif.) Centerville LL
Transparency is Key
“We are all about overcommunicating and transparency. I don’t want any miscommunication or misunderstandings, because I have witnessed firsthand what they can do to a group trying to work together. We want our league families and leadership, who might be new to the process or not have a clear understanding of how things work, to feel like everything is being explained and is transparent with no hidden agendas,” Anne Perez, Fremont Centerville Little League President. “As long as expectations are managed correctly and there is an open dialogue and board members are willing to make their decisions and back them up with reason, that’s all you can do to try and have the fairest process.”
Lexington (Ky.) Eastern LL
It’s All About Preparation
“We try to make sure our tournament coach is armed with as much information as possible. We encourage them to get to know the players they are evaluating by attending as many regular season games as possible and obtaining feedback from other coaches around the league,” said Nick Lynch, League President. “This is also when we start preparing them for different situations they might see during a tournament game, how to interact with parents, and any other scenarios that they might not be used to. The best thing we can do for our tournament managers is make sure they are prepared for anything, and that is what we strive towards every year.”
What to Consider When Selecting Tournament Team Managers and Coaches
South Durham (N.C.) LL
Tournament Season Brings Communities Together
“There is always an opportunity to play baseball and softball. I think one of the incredible things about Little League is the way it brings communities together,” said Kathleen Harrell, South Durham Little League President. “So, whether you are getting ready to play in your first tournament or simply playing Tee Ball, there are opportunities to continue to show up and support those teams as they play in a District or State tournament. That is the beauty of tournament season. It brings communities and families together, and it embodies what this program is all about.”
New Braunfels (Texas) LL
Always Encourage your Players
“Unfortunately, there are always going to be kids who are left off the team who absolutely deserve to make it. It’s important to encourage those players and their parents to remember that if they don’t make the team this year, there are still opportunities ahead,” said Derrik Haley, New Braunfels Little League President. “In my experience, players develop at different rates and in different ways. So, if a player is disappointed about not making All-Stars, the message should be ‘keep working.’ Different skills emerge at different times. One of the best parts is watching those players stick with it, improve, and eventually become leaders on those All-Star teams as they get older.”
Tournament Team – Player Eligibility
Dubois (Pa.) LL
Support your Tournament Manager
“Enjoy the process and stand behind your manager. We take a lot of pride in our manager selection process. We interview them, meet with them before games, and educate them on everything they need to know heading into a District or Sectional tournament”, said Scott Frano, Dubois Little League President. “We invest a lot of hard work, time, and energy into our managers, just like they invest in our league. Support your manager any chance you can, they are investing so much time into your children and this process, they deserve all the credit and more.”